Capital Watch Archives

Target: Bureau of Land Management Action: Submit comments in support of strong protections for sage-grouse by April 6   The greater sage-grouse is often called an icon of the American West. Known for their elaborate mating rituals in which males strut, pop and dance in open areas called leks, sage-grouse are found on millions of acres of public lands largely managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The sagebrush ecosystem supports more than 350 species in addition to sage-grouse such as pronghorn, deer and elk, giving rise to a phrase often heard in sagebrush country [...]

Target: White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Action: Submit your comments by March 10 and tell the CEQ not to gut NEPA to fast-track development   The Trump administration is once again attacking the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a bedrock environmental law that empowers us, the American people, to have a say in federal decision-making and to speak out against federal projects that put our interests at risk. If this latest rollback succeeds, this administration will eliminate opportunities for you and me to participate in federal decisions that affect us and the environment [...]

Target: The U.S. Forest Service Action: Submit comments to let the Forest Service know it's unacceptable to cut the public's voice out of decisions made for our national forests.   Under the direction of the Trump administration, the U.S. Forest Service has put out a plan that would leave the public with no role in more than 90 percent of the decisions made for our national forests. This is a clear violation of the public trust and of major laws like the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and it's designed to ramp up clearcutting and [...]

Target: Rep. Scott Tipton ACTION: Call Scott Tipton, 970.241.2499 (Junction), 970.259.1490 (Durango), 202.225.4761 (D.C.). Thank him for voting YES on the Natural Resources Management Act to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and protect 2.3 million acres of public lands across the United States. Also urge him to support the CORE Act to permanently protect the Thompson Divide, the Continental Divide landscape and other public lands across protections to Colorado. Key Messages: I am calling to thank Rep. Scott Tipton for voting YES for the Natural Resources Management Act, which successfully passed [...]

Target: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management Action: Submit comments to stop oil and gas drilling on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge's coastal plain.   December 22, 2018 was the one-year anniversary of the GOP tax bill, which among its many harmful provisions, mandated oil and gas development in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — jeopardizing pristine public lands, the Gwich’in people, and our climate. The provision to allow oil and gas development in the Arctic Refuge was jammed into the bill, despite the long history of bipartisan opposition to drilling there. Protecting this [...]

Target: BLM and Department of the Interior Action: Despite pending litigation over the Trump Administration's 2017 proclamation to reduce Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, the Department of the Interior is moving forward with new land use management plans for the reduced Monuments. Submit your comments today and tell DOI to continue to manage both Monuments under the existing Monument Management Plans — choosing the no action alternative in its current planning process.   CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT LETTERS.

Target: Mary Neumayr, Chief of Staff, Council on Environmental Quality Action: Submit your comments telling the Trump Administration that it is unacceptable to undermine NEPA, which ensures public input, and important review and analysis of projects on our public lands.   CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT LETTER.

Target: Sen. Cory Gardner and Rep. Scott Tipton Action: Call Senator Gardner and Representative Tipton and ask them to preserve the integrity of the Wilderness Act by opposing S. 2877 in the Senate (Human-Powered Travel in Wilderness Areas Act) and H.R. 1349 in the House (amendment to the Wilderness Act). Tipton: (970) 241-2499 (Grand Junction) or (202) 225-4761 (D.C.). Gardner: (970) 245-9553 (Grand Junction) or (202) 224-5941 (D.C.). Key Messages: For Tipton: I am calling to ask Congressman Tipton to oppose H.R. 1349 (an amendment to the Wilderness Act), which would remove protections for Wilderness Areas [...]

Target: Sen. Cory Gardner Action: **UPDATE** Since issuing this Capital Watch alert, Senator Gardner formally signed on as a co-sponsor for permanent reauthorization and full funding of LWCF. Please call and thank him for listening to his constituents! (970) 245-9553 (Grand Junction) or (202) 224-5941 (D.C.). Key Messages: I am calling to thank Senator Cory Gardner for co-sponsoring permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and fully funding the program. LWCF has helped protect some of America's most iconic landscapes, including Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and Glacier National Park in [...]

Target: Sens. Cory Gardner and Michael Bennet and Rep. Scott Tipton Action: Call Senators Gardner and Bennet and Representative Tipton and ask them to support a final version of the Farm bill that mirrors the Senate version. Tell them that a Farm Bill that undermines protections for our public lands and national forests is unacceptable. Tipton: (970) 241-2499 (Grand Junction) or (202) 225-4761 (D.C.). Gardner: (970) 245-9553 (Grand Junction) or (202) 224-5941 (D.C.). Bennet: (970) 241-6631 (Grand Junction) or (202) 228-5097 (D.C.) Key Messages: For Tipton: I am calling to urge Representative Tipton to support [...]