Don’t Fence Us In: Western States Seek Return of Land From D.C.

According to the United States Geological Survey, nearly half the land in the Western United States is owned by the federal government. This includes 84.9 percent of land in Nevada (hiding UFOs requires lots of space), 64.9 percent of Utah, 61.6 percent of Idaho, 61.2 percent of Alaska, 52.9 percent of Oregon, 48.1 percent of Wyoming, and 45.8 percent in California.
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Western states coalition disputes ‘biased’ federal science on sage grouse

A coalition of rural Western counties and business interests is contesting the science being used to decide whether to list the Greater sage-grouse as endangered or threatened, accusing the Obama administration of relying on “selective, false and biased” research.

Denver attorney Kent Holsinger filed three Data Quality Act challenges Wednesday with the Department of the Interior on behalf of the coalition, which includes the Western Energy Alliance, ranchers, mining and drilling companies and 19 counties in Colorado, Montana, Nevada and Utah.

“We’ve documented real issues with transparency and scientific integrity,” said Mr. Holsinger in a statement.

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Supporting The Transfer Of Public Lands Act: Klamath County The ‘Tip Of The Spear’ In Oregon

By Dennis Linthicum, Sept. 28, 2014: This month, Klamath County, Oregon, became the “Tip of the Spear” as they are the first county in Oregon to formally support the Transfer of Public Lands Act (TPLA). The TPLA would properly transfer federal land jurisdiction to the respective state bodies. The Board of County Commissioners issued a proclamation expressing the county’s support for the full and present implementation of the Transfer of Public Lands Act. ✧ In essence, the TPLA would codify independent and sovereign control over the public lands within respective state borders. More importantly, it would limit federal overreach and bureaucratic control over public lands that are rightfully within a state’s jurisdictional boundaries. These managerial and operational changes would positively impact state and county economic opportunities while improving habitat management and reducing the danger from wildfires and insect infestation.

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Western lawmakers gather in Utah to talk federal land takeover

It’s time for Western states to take control of federal lands within their borders, lawmakers and county commissioners from Western states said at Utah’s Capitol on Friday. More than 50 political leaders from nine states convened for the first time to talk about their joint goal: wresting control of oil-, timber -and mineral-rich lands away from the feds.  "It’s simply time," said Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan, who organized the Legislative Summit on the Transfer for Public Lands along with Montana state Sen. Jennifer Fielder. "The urgency is now."

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Federal judge throws out Obama drilling rules

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A judge on Friday threw out Obama administration rules that sought to slow down expedited environmental review of oil and gas drilling on federal land. ✧ U.S. District Judge Nancy Freudenthal ruled in favor of a petroleum industry group, the Western Energy Alliance, in its lawsuit against the federal government, including Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. ✧ The ruling reinstates Bush-era expedited oil and gas drilling under provisions called categorical exclusions on federal lands nationwide, Freudenthal said. Read more: Seattle PI

Note: Judge Freudenthal was appointed by President Obama.

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Congressional deal halts Interior Dept.'s western wilderness program

CORVALLIS GAZETTE-TIMES, 4/13/2011 - A last-minute budget deal reached by Congressional leaders would block an Obama administration plan to make millions of acres of undeveloped land in the West eligible for federal wilderness protection. ∴ Republican lawmakers had complained that the wilderness plan would circumvent Congress's authority and could be used to declare a vast swath of public land off-limits to oil-and-gas drilling. Read more in the GT... Read More......