Saved
To archaeologists and environmentalists in the Southwest, this decision probably marks the first real day of the Obama Administration.
I’ve covered the rancorous archaeology/energy/public lands debate extensively over the last few years, most recently here, here, and here.
Those days look over. Hey guys, what am I going to write about now?
Keith,
Thanks for your insightful reporting on public lands. You have a nose for the big issues.
I think you will still find plenty to write about in the future. This ship will not turn around in one day.
The Bush Administration has left a disastrous land use plans that will cement its legacy and paradigm into the management of public lands for the foreseeable future. Many lands are now confronted with serious air quality problems that have not been addressed. The Department of the Interior must completely overhaul the Bush Administration’s terrible interpretation and management of wilderness quality lands and wilderness study areas. The Sagebrush Rebel’s Trojan horse–R.S. 2477, that right-of-way provision that is the great hope of every county wishing to prevent wilderness designation or seeking to counter federal management of public lands–must be dealt with. And one of the greatest problems–rampant, destructive, and overwhelming off-road vehicle use–is nowhere near being addressed properly, let alone solved.
That should keep you busy for a while.