public lands

The lawsuit follows the decision by the Department of the Interior last month to revoke protections of land alongside the Trans-Alaskan pipeline.

Using a new tool, Republicans have revoked plans that restricted mining and oil production on federal lands in Alaska, Montana, North Dakota and Wyoming.

Sen. Ellie Boldman and Rep. Josh Seckinger write, "This bill does one simple thing. It clarifies in Montana law that corner crossing — when no private land is touched and no property is damaged — is lawful."

The amendment would apply to land acquired by the state from the federal government.

The Bipartisan Public Lands Caucus, which was co-founded by Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke and New Mexico Rep. Gabe Vasquez in May, made its first official endorsement of a bill.

Nick Gevock writes, "Daines can show he’s truly a friend of public lands by voting against the confirmation of Steve Pearce."

Resource extraction industries would be allowed to exploit more than 175 million acres of public lands nationwide if all the Trump administration proposals go through, according to the report.

Land is leased for grazing until 2032, but state officials believe they can make millions by selling to highest bidder.

With public lands facing the greatest threat in his lifetime, Mountain Home-based filmmaker Andy Anderson is setting out across the West filming a documentary about public lands and the people who love them.

Anne Hedges writes, "While Montanans were right to celebrate removing the sale of public lands from the recent Congressional budget bill, some may not know that our representatives still voted to put millions of acres of public lands on the chopping block."