Interior rule adds 1,488 hunting and fishing opportunities nationwide
A final Fish and Wildlife Service rule will add 1,488 hunting and fishing opportunities at 111 refuges and hatcheries across 32 states.
Public lands
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Federal agencies seek comments on wilderness climbing policies
Climbers have until August 14 to comment on proposed federal guidance covering anchors, historic routes and wilderness management across three agencies.
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National Park Service fee-free day is August 25. What visitors need to know
Entrance fees will be waived for eligible visitors on August 25, but reservations, parking, camping and crowd controls may still affect park access.
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Interior Says Federal Lands Hold 356 Billion Tons of Potential Coal Resources
A new Interior Department and USGS assessment estimates 356 billion short tons of available coal resources in the lower 48 states, plus at least 140 billion in Alaska.
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BLM closes Idaho public lands through Aug. 17 as crews suppress Tartar Fire
The Bureau of Land Management closed specified lands, roads and trails east of Brownlee Reservoir while crews work on fire suppression and post-fire recovery.
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Western wildfires complicate emergency response as Utah crash site remains inaccessible
A Utah wildfire blocked emergency responders from safely reaching a helicopter-crash site as fires in Washington and Oregon prompted closures, threatened communities and continued to spread.
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Interior Reports 356 Billion Short Tons of Coal Resources Beneath Federal Lands
A new Interior Department assessment identifies 356 billion short tons of available coal resources beneath federally managed public lands, but it does not authorize mining or approve new leases.
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Trump cuts Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments by about 90% each
President Donald Trump signed proclamations reducing the two southern Utah monuments from more than 3.2 million acres combined to less than 303,000 acres, reversing protections restored by the Biden administration.
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National Park Week set for Aug. 22–30 with nationwide entrance-fee waiver on Aug. 25
The National Park Service will observe National Park Week from Aug. 22–30, 2026, with entrance fees waived for U.S. citizens and residents on Aug. 25.
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Federal agencies finalize Endangered Species Act rule changes, removing regulatory definition of “harm”
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries finalized nationwide revisions to regulations implementing the Endangered Species Act, including removal of the regulatory definition of “harm.”
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OIRA schedules review of USDA proposal to repeal roadless-area conservation rule
A federal review meeting is scheduled for August 6, 2026, on the Agriculture Department’s proposed repeal of the Roadless Area Conservation Rule. The proposal remains under review and is not final.
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Interior releases USGS estimate of 356 billion tons of coal resources beneath federal lands
A new U.S. Geological Survey assessment estimates 4.2 billion short tons of reported coal reserves beneath federal lands and 356 billion short tons of additional available resources in the lower 48 states.
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Revised Canada Lynx Critical-Habitat Rule Covering 14,030 Square Miles Takes Effect Aug. 17
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finalized a revised critical-habitat designation for threatened Canada lynx across Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Washington.
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National Park Service sets Aug. 25 fee-free day during National Park Week
The National Park Service will waive entrance fees for U.S. citizens and residents on Aug. 25, 2026, during a week of nationwide programming marking the agency’s 110th birthday.
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USGS Finds More Than 355 Billion Tons of Coal Resources Beneath Federal Lands
A new USGS inventory identifies vast coal resources beneath federal lands, but the totals do not mean the fuel is permitted, economic or ready to mine.
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Federal Colorado River plan puts Lake Powell and Mead on deadline
A federal proposal could require deeper Colorado River cuts as low reservoirs threaten water deliveries, hydropower and recreation before Oct. 1.
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BLM: Trump order did not automatically reopen closed public-land routes
A new BLM directive keeps current OHV rules and route designations in place while the agency begins rulemaking under President Trump’s May access order.
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BLM reopens Utah lands after Babylon Fire closure
BLM lands in Utah’s Monticello Field Office reopened July 29, but fire restrictions remain and nearby park and forest access may differ.
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Nevada governor again asks Congress to make federal land available for housing and infrastructure
Gov. Joe Lombardo is urging Congress to advance two pending Nevada land bills, but no federal parcels have been transferred and no homes are approved through the proposals.
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Montana’s federal oil and gas lease sale advances as cleanup-bond debate continues
A July 14 BLM decision advanced a 66-parcel lease sale spanning Montana and North Dakota. A separate proposed rule would lower minimum bonds and change public participation, with comments due Aug. 24.
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Trump’s Utah monument rollback starts a new public-lands fight
Trump’s July 13 proclamations shrink two Utah monuments and set a September 11 path toward possible leasing, mining claims and new access plans.
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BLM expands Tartar Fire closure across Idaho public lands
BLM expanded a temporary Tartar Fire closure across public lands, roads and trails near Brownlee Reservoir. The order is scheduled through August 24.