Public Lands Archives - High Country News https://www.hcn.org/topic/public-lands/ A nonprofit independent magazine of unblinking journalism that shines a light on all of the complexities of the West. Wed, 06 Mar 2024 17:29:38 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.hcn.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/cropped-HCN_Logo-Monogram_White_Sq-2-32x32.png Public Lands Archives - High Country News https://www.hcn.org/topic/public-lands/ 32 32 229054741 Could building on public land address the housing crisis? https://www.hcn.org/articles/could-building-on-public-land-address-the-housing-crisis/ Thu, 07 Mar 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=323230

The West has a plethora of land and a shortage of houses. Some are wondering if a solution lies within.

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]]> 323230 The good, the bad and the ugly of the state legislative season https://www.hcn.org/articles/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-the-state-legislative-season/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=323036

While Congress does nothing, Western state lawmakers pass a flurry of consequential and/or crazy — bills.

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]]> 323036 How states make money off tribal lands https://www.hcn.org/articles/how-states-make-money-off-tribal-lands/ Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=322974

Ten states own 1.6 million acres of land within 83 tribal nations’ reservations. How did they get there?

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]]> 322974 What happened to the Great American Outdoors Act? https://www.hcn.org/articles/what-happened-to-the-great-american-outdoors-act/ Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/?p=322473 The South Platte River runs through Denver, Colorado. Once surrounded by warehouses, this section of the rivers hosts Confluence Park, which is known for recreation.

A historic public lands act passed in 2020. Here’s what it’s done so far.

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]]> 322473 Biden plan will earmark millions of acres of public land for solar development https://www.hcn.org/articles/solar-energy-biden-plan-will-earmark-millions-of-acres-of-public-land-for-solar-development/ Mon, 29 Jan 2024 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/articles/solar-energy-biden-plan-will-earmark-millions-of-acres-of-public-land-for-solar-development/ Solar farm installation on BLM land in the Nevada Crescent Dunes.

Proposed updates to the Western Solar Plan would also close sensitive areas to utility-scale solar projects.

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]]> 321805 Is Biden waging a war on energy? Or on the climate? https://www.hcn.org/articles/landline-is-biden-waging-a-war-on-energy-or-on-the-climate/ Fri, 29 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/articles/landline-is-biden-waging-a-war-on-energy-or-on-the-climate/ Fajada Butte in Chaco Canyon, New Mexico. The Biden Administration Banned new oil and gas leasing within a 10-mile radius of Chaco Culture National Historical Park for the next 20 years.

A year-end review of the administration’s policy on fossil fuels and public lands.

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]]> 321337 Forest Service proposes storing CO2 under public land https://www.hcn.org/articles/forest-service-proposes-storing-co2-under-public-land/ Mon, 11 Dec 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/articles/forest-service-proposes-storing-co2-under-public-land/ Forest Technician Jacob Floyd studies Longleaf Pine on Palustris Experimental Forest, part of the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana in October 2023. The U.S. Forest Service manages 173 million acres of land and is proposing that some land under its forests be used to store carbon captured from industries to prevent it from being released into the atmosphere.

‘It’s the opposite of a virtuous cycle.’

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]]> 321326 Pondering public lands and the energy transition conundrum https://www.hcn.org/articles/landline-pondering-public-lands-and-the-energy-transition-conundrum/ Thu, 30 Nov 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/articles/landline-pondering-public-lands-and-the-energy-transition-conundrum/ A solar panel covered parking lot on the Arizona State University campus in Tempe, Arizona.

Fighting the climate crisis will require difficult choices.

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]]> 321587 Outrage, disinformation and threats rise up in Wyoming around a BLM land plan https://www.hcn.org/articles/landline-outrage-disinformation-and-threats-rise-up-in-wyoming-around-a-blm-land-plan/ Thu, 26 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/landline-outrage-disinformation-and-threats-rise-up-in-wyoming-around-a-blm-land-plan/ Geologic formation in the Red Desert, Wyoming.

Is there a new Sagebrush Rebellion flaring in the Cowboy State?

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]]> 197637 Private development inside Grand Teton National Park possible https://www.hcn.org/articles/wyoming-private-development-inside-grand-teton-national-park-possible/ Wed, 25 Oct 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.hcn.org/wyoming-private-development-inside-grand-teton-national-park-possible/ From fragile nighthawk eggs to views of the rugged summit of the Grand Teton, this 640-acre state school trust parcel in Grand Teton National Park holds significant natural resource values. Should Wyoming sell it, private interests could develop the land as a residential subdivision.

‘Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.’

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