This week on The Wild Line, we dig into major developments for America’s public lands. The USDA has extended the comment period on its controversial Forest Service reorganization plan. At the same time, Secretary Rollins has opened public comment on a move to rescind the Roadless Rule, threatening 45 million acres of backcountry lands. In Texas, plans to expand Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge have been abandoned, even as a court ruling weakens protections for the lesser prairie chicken. We also bring you updates from Montana’s Western Policy Caucus, the Alaska Oil and Gas Association meeting, new wildfire research in California, and a union vote among Yosemite rangers.

Forest Service Reorganization Comment Period Extended – USDA

Agriculture Secretary Brook Rollins has quietly extended the public comment period on USDA’s proposed Forest Service reorganization until August 31. The plan would phase out nine regional offices, consolidate research stations into a single Fort Collins hub, and relocate 2,600 DC-based employees into five new regional hubs. Critics say the restructuring, coming on the heels of Trump’s civil service firings, could weaken the agency and pave the way for privatization. Public comments can be submitted to reorganization@usda.gov through the end of the month.

Public Comment Tool Disabled – Washington, DC

The General Services Administration has removed the POST API, a tool that advocacy groups used to collect and submit public comments on proposed rules. Without it, citizens must rely on the less accessible regulations.gov platform. We spoke with Liz Zepeda of the Southern Environmental Law Center about what this means for civic participation.

“In addition to removing the API, they are publishing notices that are confusing, that omit key documents and key information, [which] makes it harder and harder to understand even what the public should be responding to, while also giving historically short comment periods, so forcing people to figure out a lot of information in a very short time period.” – Liz Cepeda, Federal Regulatory Director at the Southern Environmental Law Center

Refuge Expansion Abandoned, Prairie Chicken Ruling – Texas

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has scrapped plans to expand Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge through conservation easements, a first-of-its-kind reversal. At the same time, a federal judge sided with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, ruling that the lesser prairie chicken was improperly classified as endangered. We spoke with Taylor Rush of Defenders of Wildlife about the implications for wildlife habitat in the region.

“Fish and Wildlife has a strategic growth mandate and by policy only works with willing sellers. Their plan reflected that, and many landowners—people who see themselves as great stewards of the land they live on—really wanted to work with the Service to protect the places they care about. Even a self-proclaimed Trump supporter testified in Congress that blocking the plan was an attack on his property rights. The Service spent 15 years researching and collaborating with local stakeholders, and there was clear interest from property owners in moving this plan forward.” – Taylor Rush, Defenders of Wildlife

Western Policy Caucus Summit – Montana

Representative Ryan Zinke joined lawmakers and conservative groups, including Americans for Prosperity, in the Flathead Valley for the Western Policy Caucus Summit. Zinke, who once led opposition to selling off public lands, has now pivoted to supporting more state control of federal lands. Speakers cited the Supreme Court’s rollback of the Chevron Doctrine as justification, though the Supremacy Clause has historically given the federal government ultimate authority. Coverage by the Flathead Beacon provides additional details.

Oil and Gas Association and Tongass Tour – Alaska

Members of the House Natural Resources Committee visited the Hecla Greens Creek Mine, toured the Tongass National Forest, spoke at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association meeting, and met with Governor Mike Dunleavy. Committee chair Bruce Westerman told reporters that Congress should focus on “getting more mining done” and voiced support for increased logging in the Tongass. 

Study Links Wildfire Severity to Logging Practices – California

A new study on wildfires around Plumas National Forest found that private lands used for commercial logging were more vulnerable to severe fire than nearby public forests. Researchers caution against leaving forests completely untouched, but conclude that diverse, fire-adapted ecosystems are more resilient than tree plantations. 

Park Rangers Unionize – California

Park Rangers in Yosemite and Kings Canyon voted overwhelmingly to join the National Federation of Federal Employees, with 97% of ballots cast in favor. The move comes after steep workforce reductions across the National Park Service, which is down 24% since January following massive layoffs and early retirement offers.

Roadless Rule in the Crosshairs – USDA

USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has announced that the Forest Service will seek public comment on rescinding the Roadless Rule. Repeal would end nearly 25 years of protections for some of America’s most important backcountry areas, opening 45 million acres to logging and extraction. The move follows President Trump’s Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.” Conservationists warn this would devastate wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, recreation, and hunting and angling opportunities. The public comment period runs through September 19 at roadless.org.

To learn more about the Roadless Rule, check out our bonus episode: Roadless Rule Rescinded, where Bill and Anders sit down with Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited, and a central figure in the original creation of the 2001 Roadless Rule, to unpack what’s at stake now that Secretary Rollins has announced plans to rescind it.

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Next Week

The Wild Line returns September 5 with more headlines from our public commons. The Wild Idea Podcast continues with a Labor Day bonus episode featuring former federal employees impacted by mass firings, followed by a conversation with Chris Hill of the Conservation Lands Foundation.

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