July 20, 2017 — Yesterday, a federal appeals court ruled that the Forest Service is liable for toxic waste cleanup costs from a mining operation in New Mexico. The appeals court remanded the case back to district court … More
Ground Truth
Prosecutor or Referee?
July 17, 2017 — Last week, as jury selection was underway in the retrial of four men accused of brandishing weapons during the 2014 standoff between federal agents and supporters of scofflaw rancher Cliven Bundy, Attorney General Jeff … More
Congress Debates Land Swap for Minnesota Copper Mine
July 13, 2017 — A land swap that could clear the way for a massive copper and nickel mine near Lake Superior in northern Minnesota will be up for debate during a House Natural Resources Committee hearing tomorrow. … More
Feds Seek Prison Terms for Bundy Backers
July 11, 2017 — Jury selection began this week as the government tries once again to secure convictions against four men who brought assault-style rifles to a 2014 standoff between federal agents and supporters of Nevada rancher Cliven … More
Deep Workforce Cuts Proposed for BLM
June 21, 2017 — As many as 1,000 jobs at the Bureau of Land Management may disappear next year, according to an email sent to agency employees last week by BLM Acting Director Mike Nedd, as the Trump … More
Bill Would Roll Back Environmental Rules on Logging Projects
June 15, 2017 — Arkansas Rep. Bruce Westerman has reintroduced a bill that would roll back environmental regulations governing logging on national forests. The Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017 would allow the Forest Service to sidestep laws … More
Zinke to Trump: Roll Back National Monument Designation
June 12, 2017 — Department of Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wants President Trump to narrow the boundaries of Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument, marking a significant advance in the administration’s pledge to roll back national monument designations. In … More
Forest Service Approves Controversial Copper Mine
June 8, 2017 — A proposal to dig a $2 billion, mile-wide, half-mile-deep copper mine in southern Arizona cleared a significant hurdle yesterday when the Forest Service granted formal approval for the controversial project. Toronto-based Hudbay Minerals wants … More
Fighting for Survival
June 5, 2017 — In the waning days of 1973, Richard Nixon signed into law the Endangered Species Act. It was anything but a controversial step for the embattled president, who a few months later would resign his … More
An Emphatic Ruling Against a Montana Mine
June 1, 2017 — Question: How many laws can the federal government violate by giving the green light to a copper and silver mine in a wild corner of Montana? Answer: At least five. Earlier this week, U.S. … More