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SPECIAL REPORT | How Federal Policy Prevented the Use of Fire Retardant in the Dragon Bravo Fire
Discover how the Red Book’s fire retardant avoidance areas, enforced across public lands, blocked aerial retardant use in the 2025 Dragon Bravo Fire, leading to the loss of the Grand Canyon Lodge. Despite NPS’s discretionary property exceptions, strict ESA-driven policies prioritized species over heritage, costing a landmark. Explore the fire’s $124M toll, firefighter J. Hank…
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VICTORY | US Forest Service rescinds roadless rule reopening millions of acres to motorized use
Celebrate a major victory for public lands: The US Forest Service has rescinded the 2001 Roadless Rule, reopening millions of acres of national forests to motorized access, timber harvesting, mineral exploration, and wildfire mitigation under Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration. Discover how this boosts recreation, rural economies, and forest health.
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Making the case for state management of federal public land in Arizona
Explore the benefits of state control over public lands in Arizona, including improved land management, enhanced recreational access, and a constitutional framework that ensures federal interests are balanced with state sovereignty. Learn about interest-only legislative jurisdiction and the restoration of RS 2477 rights-of-way for motorized access.
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U.S. Forest Service proposes sweeping changes to enforce state laws on federal lands.
The US Forest Service has proposed a new rule to enhance its law enforcement on National Forest System lands by enforcing state laws, raising constitutional concerns. Critics argue it oversteps federal authority, infringes on state sovereignty, and creates potential conflicts with state law enforcement, given that the Tenth Amendment reserves such powers for states. The…
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This map Visualizing Road closures on public land will shock you
We have compiled an interactive map illustrating road closures through travel management planning on Bureau of Land Management land and National Forest land in Arizona. Although this map is incomplete and does not include travel management plans completed between 1997 and 2014 on Bureau of Land Management land, it showcases federal agencies’ extensive efforts to…
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The Unconstitutional Reach: Federal Overreach into State Jurisdiction on NFS Roads
Order #03-00-23-002, issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Forest Service, imposes sweeping motor vehicle restrictions on National Forest System (NFS) roads in the Southwestern Region, encompassing parts of New Mexico, Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma. While the order claims to be in the interest of public health and safety, it represents a…
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ACTION ALERT | City of Sedona proposes ban on aftermarket equipment within city limits
The Sedona City Council has proposed a city ordinance that will prohibit the use of motor vehicles and decimate small business within city limits. Minute AB 2950 at the City Council’s May 23, 2023 meeting introduced discussion regarding an amendment to title 10 of the city code that adds chapter 10.30 Improper Motor Vehicle Equipment.
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U.S. Fish and Wildlife releases biological opinion on the use of fire retardants on National Forest lands
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a Biological Opinion on February 15, 2023 as part of a Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the use of aerial fire retardant on National Forest lands. If finalized, the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement will establish additional “avoidance areas” that prohibit the use of fire retardant within…
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Arizona Backcountry Explorers files FOIA request seeking information on USFS & BLM Employees
We have filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking information on U.S. Forest Service employees in Arizona. We are requesting the first and last name, year hired, professional title, position of employment, job description, yearly salary including bonuses and tips, Forest Service employee phone number, and Forest Service employee email address.