Bears Ears lawsuit puts outdoor access and monument protections back in court
A September 2 filing challenges Trump’s Bears Ears reduction as excluded lands reach the proclamation’s mineral-entry transition date, with access still unresolved.
Public lands
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USDA Extends Roadless-Rule Comment Deadline to Oct. 6
USDA extended public comments on its proposed repeal of the national roadless-area rule to Oct. 6, giving people 15 more days to respond.
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2026 Park Fee Changes: What September 17 Visitors Need to Know
The next federal fee-free date is September 17, but 2026 rules limit free admission to U.S. citizens and residents and add fees at 11 major parks.
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BLM bars motorized travel across 9,100 Wyoming acres after fire
A BLM order restricts motorized travel on roads and trails in Fremont County while officials protect unstable soils, habitat and post-fire recovery work.
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Federal refuges add 1,488 hunting and fishing opportunities
A final federal rule expands hunting and sport fishing at 111 stations in 32 states, while rescinding scheduled non-lead requirements at nine refuges.
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EPA Seeks More Comments on Which Waters Get Clean Water Act Protection
A new EPA and Army Corps proposal asks how to define protected wetlands and streams after Sackett. Nothing changes now; comments are due October 9.
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Grand Canyon expects South Rim water service within weeks
The Grand Canyon expects reliable South Rim water service within weeks after a flash flood, but major inner-canyon trails and facilities remain closed.
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USDA Proposes Rescinding National Roadless Rule
USDA wants to end nationwide roadless protections, shifting more decisions to individual forests while leaving current rules and project reviews in place.
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Federal officials move to speed historic-preservation reviews as tribes warn of weaker protections
Interior issued an order to speed Section 106 reviews while a separate ACHP rewrite remains under review, drawing objections from four national Tribal organizations.
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Mount Rainier Expands Closures as Wildfires Affect Park Access
Mount Rainier closed Sunrise and White River roads, trail sections and backcountry camps as fires disrupted visitor access and firefighting operations.
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AP: Park maintenance projects sidelined for Freedom 250 priorities
AP reports that about 1,500 approved park projects may miss contracts by Sept. 30 as White House-linked Freedom 250 work receives priority.
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Forest Service proposal would end national roadless rule for about 59 million acres
The Forest Service proposed rescinding the 2001 roadless rule. No logging or road project is approved, but future decisions could shift to individual forests.
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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.
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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.”