The Mountain Pact strives to keep our constituents informed on federal public lands, climate, and conservation policies that are relevant to western mountain communities. Below is a compilation of news alerts, policy, and campaign updates. Subscribe to receive these alerts.

President Trump Slashes Protections in Utah: What This Means for Your Mountain Town

On December 4, 2017, President Trump traveled to Utah to announce that he would cut Bears Ears National Monument by 85% and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument by half--the largest reductions to federal land protections in history.

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Toolkit

The City of Aspen recently released a helpful resource for mountain towns: The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Toolkit - How to Take Action in Your Community. It's a comprehensive guide to help communities develop climate action plans that fit their unique conditions. 

DOI Secretarial Order Will Streamline Development on Public Lands

The Department of Interior (DOI) recently issued an order to help streamline infrastructure projects, allowing for increased industry development on public lands.

America's Most Popular National Parks May See Large Fee Increase

National public lands are an integral part of the fabric of western communities and a major driver of local economies. Yet the Trump Administration recently released a proposal to significantly increase the entrance fees on some of our most visited national parks, a move that would leave many Americans without access. 

New Bill Threathens America's Public Lands System

The Antiquities Act and the national public lands it protects are under attack yet again. On October 6, Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) introduced the National Monument Creation and Protection Act (H.R. 3990) in the House of Representatives. 

The Federal Land Freedom Act Threatens our National Public Lands

In a continued effort to keep you informed on the most relevant federal public lands policies, this memo will discuss the Federal Land Freedom Act of 2017. This Act would decrease safeguards and open up large swaths of national public lands to increased oil and gas drilling and exploration. 

EPA Works to Revise and Rescind Stream and Wetlands Protections

At the Mountain Pact, we strive to keep you informed on environmental and public lands policies relevant to your community. Today, we are writing to inform you about the upcoming public comment deadline regarding the Waters of the United States Rule. 

Secret Report Leaves the Fate of National Monuments Unknown

We're writing you with an update on the Department of Interior national monument review. This unprecedented review of existing land protections came to a close on August 24 when Secretary Zinke issued his recommendations in a secret report to President Trump,informing the public only that changes would be made to a 'handful' of national monuments - keeping us in the dark as to the fate of large swaths of our national public lands. 

The Link Between Climate Change and Public Lands

This Mountain Pact email looks at the relationship between America's public lands, climate change and the important role that mountain communities can play. Public lands not only provide a cultural foundation for the American West, but also a variety of environmental benefits to our communities (i.e. ecosystem services). 

Sec. Zinke's Final Decision on the National Monument Review is Fast Approaching

On April 26, President Trump issued an Executive Order instructing Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke to review all national monument designations over 100,000 acres that have been made since January 1, 1996. Then, on May 5 the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced a public comment period, and released a list of the 27 national monuments that would be under scrutiny.  

Latest on Fire Funding Fixes in Congress & the Implementation of the Outdoor REC Act

The federal climate change and public lands policy landscape is ever changing and the work is never done. In this Mountain Pact newsletter we share the latest news on fire/public lands funding in Congress and the implementation of the Outdoor REC Act - two areas we have worked on extensively with our local government and chamber partners. 

USDA Reorganization Hurts Forest Conservation and Rural Communities

A major United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) reorganization is underway and will eliminate important programs that assist rural communities, including those surrounded by US Forest Service lands. This reorganization is part of a broader review in response to the March 13, 2017 Executive Order (EO) Comprehensive Plan for Reorganizing the Executive Branch, as well as a directive in the 2014 Farm Bill to create a new Under Secretary of Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs. 

Now is Your Chance to Stand with the Paris Climate Agreement

Calling all mountain communities concerned about climate change: you can join The Mountain Pact along with 1,000 U.S. governors, mayors, businesses, investors, and colleges and universities, who are publicly stating their support for the Paris Climate Agreement, at We Are Still In. 

The Mountain Pact & Elected Officials Travel to Washington D.C. to Talk Public Lands Investment & Outdoor Recreation Economies

Last week, The Mountain Pact went to Washington D.C. to meet with Western Senators, the USDA/Forest Service and the new Interior Department to discuss the importance of public lands to the well-being of our communities. Executive Director Diana Madson was joined by local elected officials from Bend, OR, Telluride, CO, Alta, UT, and Aspen, CO.  

Public Comment Opportunity to Inform How the Outdoor Recreation Economy is Defined

Last year, Congress directed the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to measure the outdoor recreation economy per the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact (REC) Act of 2016. Now the BEA is seeking public input in defining what activities should be considered part of the outdoor recreation sector - the first step in measuring the industry's contribution to the U.S. economy.   

Public Lands Under Attack

National public lands are an integral part of the fabric of western communities and a major driver of local economies. Through tools such as the Antiquities Act, the American government can act to protect and enhance the American public land system.

US Climate Goals Under Fire

In 2015, nearly 200 nations came together to seal a historic climate change deal in Paris, a culmination of 20 years of United Nations talks. The deal calls for nations to implement greenhouse gas reduction standards in order to keep global temperatures well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 

President Trump Rolls Back Key Climate Efforts

For the past two years, with your help The Mountain Pact has worked to address issues in the federal coal program. Federal coal, that is coal coming from federal public lands, is often sold to coal companies at prices significantly lower than market value, shortchanging taxpayers on millions of dollars. 

Mountain Towns, Chambers & Economic Development Corps. Urge Trump Administration & Congress to Move Forward with Outdoor Economy Study

On Monday, The Mountain Pact, together with 14 chambers of commerce and economic development corporations, sent a letter to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, and the White House asking them to implement the outdoor economy study authorized by the U.S. Congress as part of the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and Economic Impact Act (Outdoor REC Act) of 2016, and support the national public lands on which communities depend. 

Policy Alert: Federal Public Lands

Federal public lands are important to our national economy, the economies of mountain towns, and the overall quality of life for citizens in our communities. Yet federal public lands have been under fire in Congress. The Mountain Pact is keeping track of these policy developments to keep you informed.