Facing backlash from hunting and angling groups, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz withdrew legislation that would have transferred millions of acres of federal lands to state governments in the West. But news wasn't good for other environmental bills.
"Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) withdrew legislation Thursday [Feb. 02] that would have transferred 3 million acres of land from federal to state ownership, citing objections from constituents who complained that the move would limit access to public hunting and fishing grounds," reports Juliet Eilperin for The Washington Post.
In addition to limiting access by the public, the land transfers would have affected the "$646bn each year in economic stimulus from recreation on public lands and 6.1m jobs," reported The Guardian (posted here) last month.
Chaffetz's change of mind may give encouragement to individuals and groups who have demonstrated against other proposed legislation.
"The Disposal of Excess Federal Lands Act [of 2017], which would have shifted federal holdings to state governments in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Wyoming, prompted an outcry among hunters and anglers’ groups," adds Eilperin.
Introduced three weeks after House Republicans enacted a rule change to make it easier to sell off federal land, the measure prompted two separate rallies in Santa Fe, N.M., and Helena, Mont., this week that drew hundreds of people opposed to the measure.
I am sensitive to the perceptions this bill creates in the current environment,” Chaffetz wrote in his letter to House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Rob Bishop (R-Utah).
Indeed! Backcountry Hunters & Anglers President and CEO Land Tawney offered the following response to the news:
“Representative Chaffetz should never have introduced this ill-conceived bill, but the instant and overwhelming response by sportsmen and women forced him to listen and ultimately abandon H.R. 621, which would have seized millions of acres of public lands. His fellow lawmakers should take note of the ire and rapid response by hunters and anglers. We aren’t going away.
However, the news may be more of the exception when it comes to legislation of interest to environmental and outdoors groups.
On Feb. 1, the House approved the repeal of the Stream Protection Rule using the Congressional Review Act. The Senate followed suit on Feb. 2.
"President Donald Trump is now poised to be the first president in 16 years to sign a regulatory repeal resolution," reports Bloomberg News.
It will be only the second rule overturned by the Congressional Review Act -- and for Republicans it’s just a start. They have a long queue of other rules they want to repeal the same way.
Hat tip to Mike Keenly.
FULL STORY: Facing backlash, Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz withdraws bill to transfer federal land to the states
Get Ready for a Wave of Federal Land Transfers in Western States
It's the antithesis of what former President Obama and his predecessors did when they gave federal lands and waters more protection. But don't blame Trump's executive actions for this one (not yet, anyway), as it's being proposed by Congress.
Energy and Environmental Regulations Under Attack—by Congress
Two environmental regulations enacted by the Obama Administration are expected to be rescinded under the Congressional Review Act: the Stream Protection Rule that protects water from mountaintop coal mining and limits on flaring methane emissions.
Congress Fails to Roll Back Obama-Era Methane Emissions Rule
Current events that have nothing to do with the environment but everything to do with politics might have caused the defeat of a bill to overturn an Obama-era rule designed to reduce methane emissions on federal lands.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
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.
Bend, Oregon Zoning Reforms Prioritize Small-Scale Housing
The city altered its zoning code to allow multi-family housing and eliminated parking mandates citywide.
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.
LA Denies Basic Services to Unhoused Residents
The city has repeatedly failed to respond to requests for trash pickup at encampment sites, and eliminated a program that provided mobile showers and toilets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie