Okefenokee Swamp Saved, Trump Targets Roadless Rule, Lee’s Land Sale Hits a Snag

This week, Bill and Anders bring a fast-moving update on the wins, losses, and looming questions surrounding public lands, clean water, and wild places.

Good News for the Okefenokee

Twin Pines Minerals LLC has announced the sale of its property on Trail Ridge, effectively halting its controversial mining proposal near the Okefenokee Swamp. This is a major win for the swamp’s ecology, surrounding communities, and one of the most iconic landscapes in the South.

Hear from Kim Bednarek, Executive Director of Okefenokee Swamp Park, about what this means for the future of the refuge.

“It is absolutely a victory—transformational for Southeast Georgia, the Okefenokee region, and the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. So many organizations and individuals across Georgia, the Southeast, and the U.S. came together to make this happen. It’s a moment to celebrate and a time to reflect on how working in parallel tracks is what made this a success.”
— Kim Bednarek, Executive Director, Okefenokee Swamp Park

Hog Farm Ban in the Buffalo River Watershed

After more than a decade of advocacy, large-scale swine farms are officially banned from the Buffalo River Watershed in Arkansas. The Arkansas Legislative Council approved permanent protections last Friday.

Stuart Nolan of the Ozark Society weighs in on this bipartisan victory and what it means for clean water and recreation

“When you look at the history of the Buffalo, there’s always been a bipartisan effort to get protections in place. Governor Sanders was instrumental in upholding the moratorium on large-scale hog farms. She and her husband, through the Natural State Initiative, understood the link between clean water and tourism. That connection might have been overlooked by others, but it made a real difference here. We’re grateful for her support.”
— Stuart Nolan, Ozark Society

The Roadless Rule is Under Attack

As announced at the Western Governors’ Association meeting, Secretary Rollins intends to rescind the 2001 Roadless Rule. This puts 58 million acres at risk for new roadbuilding and commercial logging, including the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska, the world’s largest intact temperate rainforest.

Andrew Thoms of the Sitka Conservation Society shares what’s at stake.

“Southeast Alaskans—from guides to Alaska Natives to small timber operators—support the Roadless Rule because we depend on these lands. Repealing it would benefit a few well-connected interests and leave the rest of us dealing with the damage, just like we’re still dealing with the impacts of past logging today.”
— Andrew Thoms, Sitka Conservation Society

For a deeper dive into what this rollback could mean, check out our bonus episode with Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited.   Listen here →

Land Sell-Off Drama in the Senate

Senator Mike Lee has revived his effort to open public lands to private sale. His latest draft would allow the sell-off of over 1.2 million acres of Bureau of Land Management lands near undefined “population zones.” These local lands are the most accessible and well-used public spaces. Once sold, public access is lost for good.

Lee faces some stiff opposition, both in the Senate where Montana Senator Steve Daines says he has the votes to sink any effort to sell off public lands, and in the House, where Montana Representative Ryan Zinke and four other Republican Members sent a letter to Speaker Mike Johnson saying they would vote against any bill that carried public land sell-off language with it.

Even without this sell-off language, the reconciliation bill still includes provisions to let private industry bypass environmental reviews and mandates a 125 percent increase in logging on some public lands.

A vote-a-rama in the Senate could begin at any moment. Stay tuned and make your voice heard.

Bills That Passed the Senate This Week 

Amid the noise, the Senate passed a few smaller bills this week. Below are the highlights:

• A boundary adjustment for Big Bend National Park

• A bill to improve access near Katahdin, Maine

• An extension of the Secure Rural Schools Act, which helps fund essential services in counties with large amounts of federal land

New NEPA Guidance Coming Soon

The Forest Service is expected to release new guidance for following NEPA, the National Environmental Policy Act. This comes in response to the White House Council on Environmental Quality’s recent rollback of federal review standards. New regulations could be issued as soon as next week.

Remembering Rep. Pat Williams

Montana’s longest-serving Congressman, Pat Williams, has passed away. He championed wilderness protections, including the last new wilderness designation in Montana, the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, in1983. He also introduced a sweeping wilderness bill that passed Congress in 1988 but was pocket-vetoed by President Reagan.

Zack Porter of Standing Trees reflects on his legacy and impact.

“Nearly 20 years ago, I walked into Pat Williams’ classroom at the University of Montana, and my life was changed forever. Pat wasn’t just a champion for wilderness—he inspired generations to fight for wild places. He protected the Rattlesnake and Lee Metcalf Wilderness Areas, and nearly secured over a million more acres in a bill that passed both chambers of Congress before being pocket-vetoed by Reagan. Pat’s legacy goes far beyond any list. May we all try to follow in his footsteps.”
— Zack Porter, Standing Trees 

Advocacy Spotlight

We check in with Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, Executive Director of the Virginia Wilderness Committee, about her recent meetings with members of Virginia’s Congressional delegation.

“We’ve been advocating for the Shenandoah Mountain National Scenic Area and the Virginia Wilderness Additions Act. While these areas are in western Virginia, they protect headwaters that feed the Chesapeake Bay, impacting water quality across the state and into Maryland. This legislation matters well beyond the districts where the lands are located.

At the same time, the Forest Service is being told to increase timber sales while facing hiring freezes and staff losses. In Virginia, we’ve lost 22 percent of Forest Service staff—double the national average. That makes it incredibly difficult to implement new guidance or manage forests responsibly.”
— Ellen Stuart-Haentjens, Executive Director, Virginia Wilderness Committee

____________________________________

Next Week on The Wild Idea:

Coming Tuesday: A new episode of The Wild Idea featuring leadership from the Conservation Alliance and Osprey.

Programming note: We’ll be off next Friday for the 4th of July. The Wild Line returns on July 11.

Subscribe, share, and keep standing up for what’s wild.
Act up. Run wild.

.

Subscribe to our show on your favorite podcast player, and be sure to follow us on social media, too: we’re on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. We also send out a weekly newsletter with updates on our show: sign up for that list right here.