Tasked with managing millions of acres of public lands, the federal Bureau of Land Management has announced plans to perform detailed ecological studies of some of its most notable properties.
This represents a sharp turnaround from the policies of the Bush Administration, which had taken a hands-off approach to the ecology of these lands, focusing on approving uses that some environmentalists have found controversial.
"Heidi McIntosh of the Southern Utah Wilderness Association says the Obama administration's concerns over climate change are driving the studies. McIntosh says the Bush administration took few of these considerations into account when it adopted long-term management plans for public lands in Utah and other states in late 2008."
Thanks to InfraNet Lab
FULL STORY: Feds to study notable public lands across West

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.

Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.

Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.

MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.

Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
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