U.S. moves to terminate leases on public lands.

[muted reborn]

Ok, I saw Cody Townsends post about all this and I've had a change of heart. As usual he cuts through the bullshit and has smart perspectives about complex subjects.The LLC map he showed isnt super clear except that it I think shows a LOT of LCC and BCC could be sold in and around the ski areas. it's hard to see but it seems to include parts way high up off of Twins in Snowbird, which is ridiculous because I would LOVE to buy that parcel and build a shack near there and call it affordable housing for myself. Ski-in and ski-out for the common man - yes please. Thanks Cody for changing my mind.

[evdog]

I think the intent is to open up protected areas for resource extraction (mineral, fossile fuel, timber, etc), along with providing the billionaire class new opportunity to buy up vast swathes for their ranches/estates... there are currently way more people with money looking for huge acreage in the west to build a compound, than there is available, desireable land to buy. This would fix that. The obvious concern is that this would actually eliminate access to your shangri-la, because it would either now be on private property, or the trail/road access to it would be on private property... and timber sales would greatly impact the ecology and aesthetics of way more places. On the whole this is a terrible, awful, shortsighted idea. But, if it does go through, i garauntee there will be more than a few TGR mags looking to buy up mountain acreage themselves, or to pool money into buying up large mountain acreage. It could be interesting.

The stated purpose of the land sale is to provide more housing. But from what I've read the bill does not provide much in the way of limitations to make sure housing is the actual use - in fact it provides a system for land to be sold or re-sold for other uses after 10 years. There is a separate part of the bill that will provide for more manditory resource extraction (oil and gas and logging).

You are right to be worried about these parcels but local governments and states will protest poor choices or recommend certain parcels to develop.

From what I've read things like hearings, debate and public input are not part of the sale process.

Yes, (for sale) is not correct. (qualifies to be sold) is more accurate and its a huge distinction. I just hope it plays out that if this passes very few of these parcels will actually end up for sale.

3M acres out of hundreds of millions of acres of public land doesn't sound like a lot. But remember, someone is going to nominate the parcels for sale (haven't been able to learn who that is). If it comes from buyers or from billionaires looking for a hookup from their pals in politics they won't be nominating garbage land in the middle of nowhere. It will be the most desirable parcels with lakes, streams, views, etc.

[evdog]

Also, should this topic be moved to its own thread?

[coldfeet]

"Affordable" housing is a sickening smokescreen, if any housing is built on desirable parcels of land it's going to be market-price expensive. It's taking land forever out of the public domain, and whether it goes into trophy homes or resource extraction, the places that people with money are going to want to buy are places they can get to. Which means locking up the frontage areas between the road and the interior. Take every access issue we already have to deal with, where private land restricts access to trailheads, MTB trails, skiing, rivers, whatever, and multiply it by a large number.

[tBatt]

https://www.publicdomain.media/p/uta...ds-pr-campaign

"PLPCO officials were also wary of featuring too many scenic vistas in their ad campaign. Commenting on a batch of photos and b-roll that Penna Powers compiled for the campaign, PLPCO official Dillon Hoyt wrote, “I'm held up thinking ‘how scenic is too scenic.’ Those are some great scenery shots, but I think they are what Redge wants us to avoid.”

In another instance, Hoyt was even more explicit. “I would like to use a video clip that is a little more desert and sagebrush than redrock. If the footage is too pretty and scenic people will start to agree that we should ‘conserve’ (meaning protect) these landscapes with PLR,” a reference to the BLM’s Public Lands Rule, which sought to put conservation on par with other public land uses. “We view ‘conserve’ as active land management,” he added."

[Whiteroom_Guardian]

This is a chance to do a Crazy Mountains / YC chckerboard clusterfuck on a massive scale. Block the access first, buy up the interior. Fuck this shit. Is has nothing to do with "affordable housing".

Do you guys think calling or emailing your senators really helps? I am willing to try. Just not sure which method works better. Do they really listen to hundreds of voicemails a day? Do the emails actually end up on their desks in DC?

[skaredshtles]

This is a chance to do a Crazy Mountains / YC chckerboard clusterfuck on a massive scale. Block the access first, buy up the interior. Fuck this shit. Is has nothing to do with "affordable housing". Do you guys think calling or emailing your senators really helps? I am willing to try. Just not sure which method works better. Do they really listen to hundreds of voicemails a day? Do the emails actually end up on their desks in DC?

Please note - Montana public lands are completely excluded from this. Presumably to try to get the support of the MT senators. A total dickbag move, IMO.

[evdog]

Yes it helps. Especially in a Red state. Call Senators in other states too if you visit often. Tell them you will have nothing to visit if the lands you came for get sold off.

[skaredshtles]

Oh - and calling them is definitely the way to go. Give 'em hell, WG.

[Phall]

Call, [emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]]]%. BHA is also a great avenue. UT chapter is going to be bringing some heat to Mr. Lee’s desk next week. It’s big.


Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[m2711c]

theres no emoji on my rotary phone.

[old goat]

The public part of Alpine Meadows is on the list, Kiva Beach on Lake Tahoe, and the public part of Fallen Leaf Lk., as well as the public lands leased to Heavenly as previously mentioned.

[jackstraw]

Republicans can eat a bag of dicks.

[soul_skier]

Just here to say that this is worth getting pissed off over if you were not already furious. Even the possibility of selling public lands to fund tax breaks for the rich is absurd and rolling it back in the future would be difficult to impossible. Call your senators, donate if you can, and fight against this bullshit because this is a fight that we have to win.

[The SnowShow]

Utah is so damn backwards. Mike Lee is a cunt. Make sure to get all your friends in red states to call their senators and tell them this cannot happen. Fuck this bullshit.

[singlesline]

This is a chance to do a Crazy Mountains / YC chckerboard clusterfuck on a massive scale. Block the access first, buy up the interior. Fuck this shit. Is has nothing to do with "affordable housing".

Do you guys think calling or emailing your senators really helps? I am willing to try. Just not sure which method works better. Do they really listen to hundreds of voicemails a day? Do the emails actually end up on their desks in DC?

The senators/reps don't literally listen to voicemails or read the emails. But their staffers do listen to them (or actually answer the phone and talk to you) and catalogue the emails.

They will prepare reports that say "we got 300 emails against X and 100 emails for it" and might include excerpts or summaries of the opinions being expressed. That's what the senator will actually see.
While organizations will give you form letters to send, its often a good idea to write your own. The form letters are easy to identify and discount, but a customized letter indicates you are a real constituent who took the time to write it. Doesn't have to be fancy or long or persuasive--just get your point across: "Don't sell off public lands, you know how much they are valued by your constituents". Allegedly calling is even better and honestly, probably takes just as long to voice a quick opinion as it does to type one out and fill out the form on their website.

FWIW, Sheehy's office form letter response indicated that he voted FOR a D-sponsored amendment that would have prevented the sale of lands. Daines' office sent a generic form response, but it looks like he was the only other R that voted for that amendment (which failed to pass). Zinke didn't send anything, but he's on record at least pushing back against the sale provisions.

Those three know that even though Montana land isn't on THIS list, people in Montana are going to be touchy about public lands. It absolutely helps to remind them that the voters care about an issue.

[North]

Jeff Hurd's response to my email:

Thank you for contacting me to express your concerns regarding public lands in Colorado. I appreciate the opportunity to respond.

Public lands are part of what makes Colorado, Colorado, and I take the obligation to protect them seriously. The first piece of legislation I introduced in Congress was H.R. 1125, the LOCAL Act, which permanently relocates the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) headquarters within our district in Grand Junction. I strongly believe that the people that are tasked with managing our federal lands should be located in the west, with the vast majority of our public lands.

I also believe that the commitment we make to protect our public lands does not preclude the responsible development of our abundant energy and mineral resources, grazing access, and recreation. In addition, active management of our public lands can help proactively deter risks from natural disasters such as wildfires. That is why I also introduced H.R. 1997, the Productive Public Lands Act, on March 10, 2025. This legislation requires the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to reissue nine Biden era Resource Management Plans (RMPs) which prevented access to lands in Colorado, Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana. According to the BLM's own mission which states, "Congress tasked the BLM with a mandate of managing public lands for a variety of uses such as energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting while ensuring natural, cultural, and historic resources are maintained for present and future use." This legislation would hold the BLM to their own mission.

While we may not see eye-to-eye on this issue, rest assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind should related legislation concerning our public lands comes to a vote on the House Floor.

[The SnowShow]

The senators/reps don't literally listen to voicemails or read the emails. But their staffers do listen to them (or actually answer the phone and talk to you) and catalogue the emails.

They will prepare reports that say "we got 300 emails against X and 100 emails for it" and might include excerpts or summaries of the opinions being expressed. That's what the senator will actually see.
While organizations will give you form letters to send, its often a good idea to write your own. The form letters are easy to identify and discount, but a customized letter indicates you are a real constituent who took the time to write it. Doesn't have to be fancy or long or persuasive--just get your point across: "Don't sell off public lands, you know how much they are valued by your constituents". Allegedly calling is even better and honestly, probably takes just as long to voice a quick opinion as it does to type one out and fill out the form on their website.

FWIW, Sheehy's office form letter response indicated that he voted FOR a D-sponsored amendment that would have prevented the sale of lands. Daines' office sent a generic form response, but it looks like he was the only other R that voted for that amendment (which failed to pass). Zinke didn't send anything, but he's on record at least pushing back against the sale provisions.

Those three know that even though Montana land isn't on THIS list, people in Montana are going to be touchy about public lands. It absolutely helps to remind them that the voters care about an issue.

If you call every day, does that count each time (assuming they take down your info)? Or does it count for just one yea or nay?

[Holtenfrau]

<p>
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers is organizing a day of action on June 25th to flood the lines with 25,000 calls to senate offices opposing the sale of public lands. More info on the BHA website (backcountryhunters.org) If you feel inclined to participate, I urge you to call versus email (or do both!). The BHA action site makes it very easy to email, and you have to look a bit for the phone option (look for the telephone icon). It gives you your reps contact info and an easy script to use.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
Five calls (5calls.org) is another helpful resource for making calling your representative easy.&nbsp;</p>
<p>
Anecdotally, I&#39;ve heard that changing the scripts a bit and making them personal to you can be more effective. Who knows. But don&#39;t let perfection be the enemy of progress. Whatever you do, call and let your rep know what you think!</p>

[raisingarizona13]

Could this all be a distracting tactic? What else is part of SERNA or whatever the acronym for the BBB.

[altacoup]

[emoji638]][emoji640][emoji639]][emoji638][emoji638][emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji637][emoji[emoji6[emoji640][emoji638]][emoji640][emoji6[emoji640][emoji637]]]]If you call every day, does that count each time (assuming they take down your info)? Or does it count for just one yea or nay?

As someone who’s done this. I can tell you for a fact that the staffers get sick and tired of you calling every day. But hey that’s what you get when you go work for these scumbags. If one of Senator Lee’s staffers looses their mind I’m sure they come looking for me

[Trackhead]

Went from terminating leases on public lands to terminating public lands.

[evdog]

Could this all be a distracting tactic? What else is part of SERNA or whatever the acronym for the BBB.

That is very possible. Saw this post recently, someone loaded the entire bill into Chat GPT and asked for a summary. GPT called it authoritarianism wrapped in bureaucratic language&quot; and didn&#39;t really mention the economic impacts of the bill.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLDaBuOvzUw/

[climberevan]

That is very possible. Saw this post recently, someone loaded the entire bill into Chat GPT and asked for a summary. GPT called it authoritarianism wrapped in bureaucratic language" and didn't really mention the economic impacts of the bill.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLDaBuOvzUw/

It has all sorts of shit like allowing the executive to ignore the courts and worse.

WRT the public land sale proposals, obviously we all need to call and email. I'm begging my less political friends and acquaintances to do so as well. Especially if you have friends from Montana and the other places where the Sens and Reps might actually listen. Our rep, Amodei, is the one who put it in the house bill, so I'm not expecting him to reverse course but I still call.

[raisingarizona13]

Ok, I saw Cody Townsends post about all this and I&#39;ve had a change of heart. As usual he cuts through the bullshit and has smart perspectives about complex subjects.The LLC map he showed isnt super clear except that it I think shows a LOT of LCC and BCC could be sold in and around the ski areas. it&#39;s hard to see but it seems to include parts way high up off of Twins in Snowbird, which is ridiculous because I would LOVE to buy that parcel and build a shack near there and call it affordable housing for myself. Ski-in and ski-out for the common man - yes please. Thanks Cody for changing my mind.

Ahh, so a distractor that will get the general public to light up their torches and then storm the capitol over is probably very likely. The public land grab could be like a ski resort expansion proposal where theres always a controversial component thats put in there to basically let go and let the public feel like they got a win all the while the ski resort gets the things that theyre really after. My gut is currently telling me that the land grab isnt going to actually happen but the bill has much more concerning and detrimantal aspects about it that theyd rather us not be focussed on.