GOP Uses CRA to Roll Back Land Management Plans

0:00Anchorage stories making news on March 9th. Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration have turned to the Congressional Review Act over the past year to roll back federal land, management plans. They've cleared the way for more coal mining in Montana, oil drilling in Alaska, copper mining in Minnesota, and reduced protections around a national, monuments in Utah. This 1996 law lets lawmakers vote to scrap new agency rules within 60 working days of submission. For the first time, it's being applied to detailed public land plans that guide everything from drilling to wildlife protection. Conservation advocates worry this short cuts years of public input and research, risking endangered species and even jobs in mining. Republicans counter that it's essential for energy independence, calling public lands America's balance sheet for resources like oil and timber. Legal experts say the bigger issue is fallout from this new tactic.

1:00It could invalidate well over 100 older land plans never reviewed by Congress, throwing thousands of oil leases, grazing permits, mining, claims, and recreation areas into legal limbo. Ongoing moves include house approval to allow a mine near Minnesota's boundary waters and efforts to alter Utah's grand staircase Escalante plan. Industry voices fear chaos, as agencies might struggle to replace revoked plans without repeating old ones. This story is shared with support from our sponsor, headphones and a pillow. Once you try it, it just makes sense, S-O-L-I, solelypillow.com.