Public lands and waters getting attention in DC
Our public lands are a treasured and beloved resource that deserves sound management, investments and stewardship. They are increasingly seen as an important contributor to the national economy. But with that economic activity comes increased responsibilities by both the managers and the users.
Here are some things in the good news, bad news world of government actions that got my attention recently.
A comprehensive public lands legislative package in the Senate
On March 16, Senator’s Manchin (WV) and Barrasso (WY) reintroduced the America’s Outdoor Recreation Act. This legislation is very similar to the package of bills including the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, Recreation Not Red Tape (RNR) Act, Biking on Long-distance Trails (BOLT) Act, Outdoor Recreation Act, that was reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in December but never made it to a vote in the Senate.
The legislation is a grab bag of different policy initiatives, many with their own constituency. With more than 40 separate substantive provisions (sections) in this package, there is something for everyone.
The word on the street is similar legislation is being discussed in the House.
I’d like to think Congress will take a pragmatic approach to this type of legislation, but my cynical side continues to whisper in my ear. It's important for Congress to address the challenges our public lands face as more and more citizens and visitors use them for outdoor recreation.
Hopefully, the committees of jurisdiction will use this legislation as an opportunity for a wide variety of user groups to share their knowledge and experience, so our public land resources are well-managed, well-funded and well taken care of.
Time will tell…
Here is a section-by-section summary from the Outdoor Recreation Roundtable.
White House Conservation in Action Summit
On March 21, the President Biden announced a number of policy initiatives and updates at the White House Conservation in Action Summit.
“At the White House Conservation in Action Summit today, President Biden will announce major new actions to conserve and restore lands and waters across the nation. These new commitments build on President Biden’s historic climate and environmental record, including delivering on the most ambitious land and water conservation agenda in American history.”
Here are a few that caught my eye:
Establishing Avi Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain) National Monument in Nevada
Establishing Castner Range National Monument in Texas
Directing the Secretary of Commerce to consider initiating a new National Marine Sanctuary designation within the next 30 days to protect all U.S. waters around the Pacific Remote Islands.
New Partnership to Protect Military Readiness and Preserve Green Space
The proof in this pudding will be seeing actions follow the words. The monuments are done deals. The Sanctuary may be a tougher row to hoe.
Ocean Climate Action Plan
As you can imagine, I’ve been looking over the Ocean Climate Action Plan (or OCAP, as the beltways types call it) for my day job. This thing is 105 pages. It’s going to take a while to get through it.
From a quick scan, it sets out goals and priorities, none of which are surprising. "The plan outlines the ocean climate actions needed to meet three goals: (1) Create a carbon-neutral future without harmful emissions that cause climate change, (2) Accelerate nature-based solutions to protect and support natural coastal and ocean systems that store greenhouse gases, reduce the climate threat, and protect communities and ecosystems against unavoidable changes, and (3) Enhance community resilience to ocean change by developing ocean-based solutions that help communities adapt and thrive in our changing climate."
The focus on environmental justice and engagement with tribes and indigenous peoples was good to see and long overdue. The OCAP lays out objectives (with timelines) to meet the actions nested under those objectives.
Details on the objectives are in the appendix, starting on page 68.
"This Appendix provides additional information for how to advance each of the ocean climate actions and expected timeframes.” Timelines are essential but quickly beg the question: what happens if they don’t meet the deadlines? Hopefully, the agencies will be held accountable.
I’m currently focused on the climate-ready fishery management details (pages 22 and 95-98). Which is the objective most closely aligned with my day job. I may write more about that in the future.
Waters of the United States aka WOTUS rule
The regulation of wetlands has been a topic of legal and political machinations for much of my conservation career and continues to be so.
Today the Senate passed H.J.Res.27 - Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense and the Environmental Protection Agency relating to "Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'".
H.J.Res.27 passed the House earlier this month.
I expect President Biden to veto the resolution. Whether the veto will be overridden remains to be seen.
If you want some background, check out this information from Trout Unlimited and the Izaak Walton League of America.
Energy and Natural Resources Committee Assigns Members to Subcommittees for 118th Congress
U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee held a business meeting appointing members to the four subcommittees for the 118th Congress. Here’s the resolution assigning members to subcommittees.
Senator Jon Tester
If you want to know why I think Jon Tester is one of the best U.S. Senators, watch him school the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service on the use of Categorical Exclusions.
Brook trout salvation
Matt Labash is a gifted and entertaining chronicler of the human condition. He is one of those writers whose work one reads whenever the opportunity presents itself. His Slack Tide tops my must read list.
Astute readers and friends will not be surprised that I found his recent offering, Brook Trouting Through Armageddon, highly relatable.
“When you’re crusted over by all the grime, sometimes it helps to rub up against real beauty for the contact high, just to remind yourself of the possibilities that our flawed world still holds.”
It’s a read very much worth your time.
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