An analysis of western ranching politics brought to you by the Public Lands Council
IN THE NEWS
Energy: solar energy project, spanning over 22 million acres of public land in 11 Western states
Feds Unveil Plan for Solar Energy Projects on Millions Acres of Public Land in 11 Western States, Times of San Diego — The announcement is part of the Interior Department’s push to site more renewable energy facilities on federal lands, a cornerstone of President Joe Biden’s goal to decarbonize the U.S. electricity grid by 2035 and combat climate change. The draft plan published on Wednesday would update an Obama-era policy that established special zones for solar projects in just six states — Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. Interior said changes to the Bureau of Land Management‘s 11-year-old Western Solar Plan were necessary due to advances in technology, soaring demand for renewable energy and increased interest in solar development in northern states. The new plan includes areas in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming and is focused on lands within 10 miles of existing or planned transmission lines because those areas are easier to develop, Interior said. It also excludes 126 million acres from development due to conflicts with things like critical wildlife habitats, recreation, historic places and old growth forests. While identifying 22 million acres of suitable land, the plan envisions development on only 700,000 acres over the next 20 years. Feds Unveil Plan for Solar Energy Projects on Millions of Acres of Public Land in 11 Western States the Biden administration on Wednesday unveiled a proposal for solar energy projects on federal lands that identifies 22 million acres in 11 western states best suited for development.
Grizzlies: USFWS restoring breeding program in Bitterroot ecosystem
Feds announce plans to restore grizzly bears to the Bitterroot Ecosystem, Montana Public Radio — The federal government announced Wednesday it’s planning how it will restore a breeding population of grizzlies to the Bitterroot and it wants the public to weigh in. A key decision for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be whether to manually reintroduce bears into the ecosystem or manage conditions to allow grizzlies to naturally settle in the area themselves – something the service believes may happen within 15 to 20 years. No breeding grizzlies live in the Bitterroot, although individual bears have been seen in the ecosystem in recent years. In 2000, the agency published a plan to reintroduce bears to the region, but that plan was never acted on. Those 20 years of inaction led a district court last spring to order the service to develop a new plan. The service will hold three virtual public information sessions in February and accept comments on what should be considered in its restoration plan until March 18. The agency expects to have a draft Environmental Impact Statement evaluating options by the end of 2025. The court ordered a final plan by fall 2026.
Wildlife: Oregon prohibits the taking of coyotes on public lands
Oregon Bans Coyote Hunting Contests on Public, Grand View Outdoors — The Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission voted five to one abstention to prohibit contests for the taking of coyotes and other unprotected mammals. The decision, in September, came after hearing testimony from more than 40 people at the Commission’s meeting in Bend. The decision affects state lands but does not prohibit the contests on private lands. The new rules are in line with the Commission’s regulatory authority. They establish a definition for contests and make it unlawful to organize, sponsor, conduct or participate in a contest that has the objective of killing unprotected mammal’s native to Oregon. The Commission has the authority to regulate the take of unprotected mammals. But state statutes adopted by the Oregon State Legislature classify coyotes and some other unprotected mammals as predatory animals when they are causing agricultural damage on private land. Predatory animals are defined in statute and do not include carnivores such as bears, cougars and wolves, which are classified as game mammals. Under state statute, the Fish and Wildlife Commission does not have the authority to regulate the take of predatory animals. Statutes state, “The Commission shall not prescribe limitations on the times, places or amounts for the taking of predatory animal” (ORS 496.162) and “nothing in the wildlife laws is intended to deny the right of any person to control predatory animals” (ORS 610.060). Another statute, ORS 610.105, also recognizes that landowners or their agents can control predatory animals on their property.
Monuments: Biden admin proposes 245,000-acre monument in Luna County, limiting valuable grazing land for New Mexico ranchers
Ranchers concerned over 245k-acre N.M. monument proposal | AGDAILY, AgDaily — Groups and interests outside Luna County are leading the charge, notably state Sen. Carrie Hamblen, a Democrat from Las Cruces, who also heads the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce. Las Cruces itself is located about 1.5 hours east of the proposed monument. If designated, Mimbres Peaks would be the second monument established in New Mexico. The first is the 500,000-acre Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in Doña Ana County, which conveniently butts up against the proposed boundary for parts of the MPNM. A campaign was held at the Rockhound State Park near hiking trails in the Florida Mountains on Dec. 6. But none of the area ranchers who hold public land leases in the areas were informed about the meeting.
Conservation: In the West, ranchers worry about potential harm from natural asset companies
Natural Asset Companies “Disastrous for Our Nation’s Citizens,” Budd-Falen Says, Western Ag Reporter — On October 4, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published a notice of a proposed rule (rule) which would allow the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to adopt a new listing called Natural Asset Companies (NACs). The rule, brought forth by the Intrinsic Exchange Group (IEG), explains that NACs “would be corporations that hold rights to the ecological performance producer {land} by natural working areas, such as national reserves or large-scale farmlands.” In simple terms, the IEG website states that NACs bring “nature’s value into the mainstream of our economy” by “forming and deploying capital to solve pressing environmental and social challenges.” Following the rule’s proposal, 21-days were initially granted for public comment. However, legislators and various state-level groups took immediate issue with the concept of NACs. The SEC granted a minor extension to the comment period, with a new deadline set for January 18, 2023. In the meantime, individuals in D.C. and organizations at both the state and national levels have voiced grave concerns with the concept of monetizing what the Garfield County (Colorado) Commissioners called “the unmonetizable” in a November letter to the SEC.
Drought: South Dakota hoping for increased snow fall this winter to help rebuild water supply
South Dakota producer says snow is needed – Brownfield Ag News, Brownfield — A South Dakota cow-calf producer says she hopes the winter storm moving across the region rebuilds water supplies. Marcia Bunger tells Brownfield, “We do need that snow.” “We have stock ponds that need to be regenerated because, while we didn’t have to haul water for the first time in three years, we might have to if we don’t get that much needed snow,” she shares. Bunger says their crop yields this fall were unexpected given the fact eastern South Dakota has been in at least a moderate drought for more than a year. “We had a decent harvest, I think we were maybe surprised because in June it got terribly hot and windy and dry,” she shares. Bunger and her husband have a 200-head cow-calf operation and farm 1,200 acres in Spencer. She is also serving as USDA’s Risk Management Agency Administrator.
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