Remember that some things aren’t for sale

Remember that some things aren’t for sale: Wyoming's congressional delegation should review the "Code of the West" before they sell off our public lands, attorney Ryan Semerad writes.

Lex Anteinternet: Capitalism is based on the idol of money.

Lex Anteinternet: Capitalism is based on the idol of money.: 

Capitalism is based on the idol of money.

In reality, capitalism is based on the idol of money. The lure of gain gradually destroys all social bonds. Capitalism devours itself. Little by little, the market destroys the value of work. Man becomes a piece of merchandise. He is no longer his own. The result is a new form of slavery, a system in which a large part of the population is dependent on a little caste. 

Robert Cardinal Sarah.

Scott Talbott, 63, pushed Wyoming Game and Fish colleagues to be wildlife advocates

Scott Talbott, 63, pushed Wyoming Game and Fish colleagues to be wildlife advocates: Beloved warden rose through the ranks to become second-longest-tenured director in the state agency’s history.

Blog Mirror: DOI Prepares To Fire 1,500 Further National Park Staff Reduction in force would take total park service losses to 25 percent of full-time workforce

 

DOI Prepares To Fire 1,500 Further National Park Staff

Reduction in force would take total park service losses to 25 percent of full-time workforce

Blog Mirror: 100 Days: Every Harm Trump Has Done To Public Lands, The Environment, And Wildlife A comprehensive list of every action the administration has taken to harm our planet, the places we go outdoors, and the plants and animals that live on it

 

100 Days: Every Harm Trump Has Done To Public Lands, The Environment, And Wildlife

A comprehensive list of every action the administration has taken to harm our planet, the places we go outdoors, and the plants and animals that live on it

Leaked federal roadmap for public land called ‘industry wish list’

Leaked federal roadmap for public land called ‘industry wish list’: The draft four-year plan for Western lands proposes developing natural resources for American prosperity.

Blog Mirror: Game And Fish Sick Of People Blasting Their Signs With Gunfire

 

Game And Fish Sick Of People Blasting Their Signs With Gunfire

Shooting signs might seem like a redneck cultural tradition, but it costs taxpayers big money. It’s also prompted Wyoming Game and Fish to close some public recreation areas to shooting.

Blog Mirror: The Plan To Beat Trump On Public Lands

 

The Plan To Beat Trump On Public Lands

Real, actionable, proven steps each of us can take to protect our land from being destroyed

Scientist who recovered grizzlies warns Trump’s assault on conservation risks irreversible losses

Scientist who recovered grizzlies warns Trump’s assault on conservation risks irreversible losses: As the president seeks to log, mine, drill and develop, Yellowstone researcher Chris Servheen calls the administration's proposed policy "management based on ignorance."

Administration to Rescind Public Lands Rule, Shirking Public Engagement

 

Administration to Rescind Public Lands Rule, Shirking Public Engagement

No, selling public lands won’t solve America’s affordable housing crisis

No, selling public lands won’t solve America’s affordable housing crisis: Columnist Kerry Drake questions why Wyoming’s congressional delegation is so gung-ho for this wrongheaded approach when more effective solutions exist.

Blog Mirror: Mammoth featured heavily in Western Clovis diet

Lex Anteinternet: Blog Mirror: Mammoth featured heavily in Western ...: 

Blog Mirror: Mammoth featured heavily in Western Clovis diet

Mammoth featured heavily in Western Clovis diet

Mammoth, it's what was for dinner.

No vegans on the paleo steppes.

Labels: Food, Mammoths, Megafauna, nature, Paleo Indians, Prehistory, The West

Is this a good idea? The Return of the Dire Wolf

 Apr 7, 2025 6:50 AM MT

The Return of the Dire Wolf

I'm all for rewilding, but Dire Wolves have been extinct for 10,000 years and preyed, in their day, on megafauna.  Presumably any return of the Ice Age species will be limited to captivity. .  at least for now.

I'm not so sure about this.

Notable, the company that cloned them back into existence says they have not, so far, shown any dog like behavior, which is perhaps not too surprising given their evolutionary history, which is debated.  Some classify the large canine as Canis dirus dirus, a species in the canine family that shares a distant canine ancestor, Canis chihliensis, with wolves and dogs, with the wolf, canis lupus, being the direct descendant of that species with the dire wolf has an intervening one.  Others proposed that dire wolf has essentially the same linage, but is sufficiently separate such that it deserves its own genus, and should be classified as aenocyon dirus.  Frankly the cloning effort would suggest that those who disfavor a separate genus are correct, as a domestic dog hosted the puppies as embryos.

Dire wolves, it should be noted, were absolutely huge, which makes sense as they killed megafauna.

So the question, I suppose, is now what?

Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production

 Apparently almost all or all of Wyoming's National Forest lands are included in this order:

Immediate Expansion of American Timber Production

The White House

March 1, 2025

By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:

Section 1.  Purpose.  The production of timber, lumber, paper, bioenergy, and other wood products (timber production) is critical to our Nation’s well-being.  Timber production is essential for crucial human activities like construction and energy production.  Furthermore, as recent disasters demonstrate, forest management and wildfire risk reduction projects can save American lives and communities.

The United States has an abundance of timber resources that are more than adequate to meet our domestic timber production needs, but heavy-handed Federal policies have prevented full utilization of these resources and made us reliant on foreign producers.  Our inability to fully exploit our domestic timber supply has impeded the creation of jobs and prosperity, contributed to wildfire disasters, degraded fish and wildlife habitats, increased the cost of construction and energy, and threatened our economic security.  These onerous Federal policies have forced our Nation to rely upon imported lumber, thus exporting jobs and prosperity and compromising our self-reliance.  It is vital that we reverse these policies and increase domestic timber production to protect our national and economic security.

Sec. 2.  Directives to the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture. 

(a)  Within 30 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Director of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Chief of the United States Forest Service (USFS), respectively, shall each issue new or updated guidance regarding tools to facilitate increased timber production and sound forest management, reduce time to deliver timber, and decrease timber supply uncertainty, such as the Good Neighbor Authority described in 16 U.S.C. 2113a, stewardship contracting pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 6591c, and agreements or contracts with Indian tribes under the Tribal Forest Protection Act as contemplated by 25 U.S.C. 3115a.  The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall also each submit to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget any legislative proposals that would expand authorities to improve timber production and sound forest management.

(b)  Within 60 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Secretary of Commerce, through the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, shall complete a strategy on USFS and BLM forest management projects under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (16 U.S.C. 1536) to improve the speed of approving forestry projects.  The Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the FWS, shall also examine any applicable existing authorities that would permit executive departments and agencies (agencies) to delegate consultation requirements under section 7 of the ESA to other agencies and, if necessary, provide a legislative proposal to ensure consultation is streamlined.

(c)  Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall together submit to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, a plan that sets a target for the annual amount of timber per year to be offered for sale over the next 4 years from Federal lands managed by the BLM and the USFS, measured in millions of board feet.

(d)  Within 120 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior, through the Directors of the FWS and the BLM, and the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Chief of the USFS, shall complete the Whitebark Pine Rangewide Programmatic Consultation under section 7 of the ESA.

(e)  Within 180 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture shall consider and, if appropriate and consistent with applicable law, adopt categorical exclusions administratively established by other agencies to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act and reduce unnecessarily lengthy processes and associated costs related to administrative approvals for timber production, forest management, and wildfire risk reduction treatments.

(f)  Within 280 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of the Interior shall consider and, if appropriate and consistent with applicable law, establish a new categorical exclusion for timber thinning and re-establish a categorical exclusion for timber salvage activities. 

Sec. 3.  Streamlined Permitting.  All relevant agencies shall eliminate, to the maximum extent permissible by law, all undue delays within their respective permitting processes related to timber production.  Additionally, all relevant agencies shall take all necessary and appropriate steps consistent with applicable law to suspend, revise, or rescind all existing regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, settlements, consent orders, and other agency actions that impose an undue burden on timber production.

Sec. 4.  Endangered Species Committee.  (a)  Agencies are directed to use, to the maximum extent permissible under applicable law, the ESA regulations on consultations in emergencies to facilitate the Nation’s timber production.  The Secretary of the Interior, as Chairman of the Endangered Species Committee, shall ensure a prompt and efficient review of all submissions to such committee, to include identification of any legal deficiencies, in order to ensure the timely consideration of exemption applications and, where possible, to resolve such applications before the deadlines set by the ESA.  

(b)  Federal members of the Endangered Species Committee, or their designees, shall coordinate to develop and submit a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, that identifies obstacles to domestic timber production infrastructure specifically deriving from implementation of the ESA and recommends procedural, regulatory, and interagency improvements.

(c)  The Secretary of the Interior shall ensure that the Director of the FWS, or the Director’s authorized representative, is available to consult promptly with agencies and to take other appropriate action concerning the applicability of the ESA’s emergency regulations.  The Secretary of Commerce shall ensure that the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries, or the Assistant Administrator’s authorized representative, is available for such consultation and to take such other action as may assist in applying the ESA’s emergency regulations.

Sec. 5.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b)  This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.

(c)  This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

THE WHITE HOUSE

    March 1, 2025.

Except to the extent Trump is creating them, there are no "emergencies" justifying this sort of dictatorial bypass of the law.

 

Are U.S. or UK Sporting Dogs Better?

Wyoming’s Nesvik touts ‘America first,’ deregulation during his congressional hearing to lead Fish and Wildlife

Wyoming’s Nesvik touts ‘America first,’ deregulation during his congressional hearing to lead Fish and Wildlife: Trump’s appointee emerges from two-hour-long confirmation hearing without fielding much criticism from congressional Democrats.

Grizzlies killed record high number of cattle in Wyoming, 2024 data shows

Grizzlies killed record high number of cattle in Wyoming, 2024 data shows: Despite some experimental attempts to reduce depredation, state biologists report that last year was riddled with strife, especially between bears and domestic livestock in the Upper Green rangeland complex.

Lex Anteinternet: Blog Mirror: Wyoming Meteorologist Says Cutting W...

Lex Anteinternet: Blog Mirror: Wyoming Meteorologist Says Cutting W...:   Wyoming Meteorologist Says Cutting Weather Balloon Launches "Dumb And Unacceptable"

Blog Mirror: Wyoming Meteorologist Says Cutting Weather Balloon Launches "Dumb And Unacceptable"

 

Wyoming Meteorologist Says Cutting Weather Balloon Launches "Dumb And Unacceptable"

Wyoming to absorb ~3,500 Bureau of Reclamation acres near Glendo Reservoir

Wyoming to absorb ~3,500 Bureau of Reclamation acres near Glendo Reservoir: Tract in Converse, Platte counties would be gifted, not sold, and continue to be managed as a Wyoming Game and Fish Department wildlife habitat management area.

The good guys win one. Iron Bar Holdings v. Cape, Smith, Yeomans, and Slowensky.

 

Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: Gun Rack

Wyoming Catholic Cowboys - raw and real: Gun Rack: Part of properly outfitting the rectory is getting my cowboy corner sent up. I've made a few strides, but I had yet to find the right pl...

Disaster.

 

Federal Land Can Be Home Sweet Home  

Wall Street Journal

America needs more affordable housing, and the federal government can make it happen by making federal land available to build affordable housing stock.

The Interior Department oversees more than 500 million acres of federal land, much of it suitable for residential use. The Department of Housing and Urban Development brings expertise in housing policy and community development. Together we are creating the Joint Task Force on Federal Land for Housing to increase housing supply and decrease costs for millions of Americans.

Under this agreement, HUD will pinpoint where housing needs are most pressing and guide the process by working with state and local leaders who know their communities best. Interior will identify locations that can support homes while carefully considering environmental impact and land-use restrictions. Working together, our agencies can take inventory of underused federal properties, transfer or lease them to states or localities to address housing needs, and support the infrastructure required to make development viable -- all while ensuring affordability remains at the core of the mission.

Streamlining the regulatory process is a cornerstone of this partnership. Historically, building on federal land is a nightmare of red tape -- lengthy environmental reviews, complex transfer protocols and disjointed agency priorities. This partnership will cut through the bureaucracy. Interior will reduce the red tape behind land transfers or leases to public housing authorities, nonprofits and local governments. HUD will ensure these projects align with affordability goals and development needs. This isn't a free-for-all to build on federal lands, although we recognize that bad-faith critics will likely call it that. It's a strategic effort to use our resources responsibly while preserving our most beautiful lands.

This is about more than building houses. We want to build hope. Overlooked rural and tribal communities will be a focus of this joint agreement. We are going to invest in America's many forgotten communities. As we enter the Golden Age promised by President Trump, this partnership will change how we use public resources. A brighter future, with more affordable housing, is on its way.  

###

What total bullshit.

And a disaster.

Scott Turner

@SecretaryTurner

We need 7 million affordable homes in America and 20% of America’s landmass is owned by the Department of Interior. Today,

@SecretaryBurgum

and I are announcing a partnership between

@HUDgov

&

@Interior

to identify and open under utilized federal lands for affordable housing.

1:30

HUD and DOI Open Under Utilized Federal Lands For Affordable Housing

8:00 AM · Mar 17, 2025

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