This week’s Wild Line covers a sweeping set of developments across federal land policy, wildfire response, public access, environmental regulation, and conservation funding — from Capitol Hill maneuvering that threatens the Boundary Waters, to Interior Department shakeups, EPA rulemaking decisions, and the 25th anniversary of the Roadless Rule.

Bill and Anders also highlight new investments in outdoor recreation, discuss the implications of America’s largest private land purchase, and share voices from the front lines of conservation advocacy.

Wildfire Policy on Capitol Hill

The House Natural Resources Committee’s Federal Lands Subcommittee heard testimony on the Wildfire Response and Preparedness Act, introduced by Rep. Young Kim (R-CA). The bill would impose strict response timelines on federal agencies — raising alarms for those who remember the failed “10 AM Rule” that worsened wildfire conditions for decades.

Boundary Waters Under Threat — Again

Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN) introduced a Congressional Review Act resolution aimed at overturning protections for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and forcing mining in its headwaters. The Boundary Waters is the most visited wilderness area in the United States, and its future is now at risk.

The move exploits a never-before-used procedural maneuver following the Trump Administration’s resubmission of a previously finalized mineral withdrawal — a decision that had protected over 250,000 acres of the Superior National Forest for 20 years.

We hear from Ingrid Lyons, Executive Director of Save the Boundary Waters, on what this latest threat means:

Representative Stauber has been pushing advancing this copper mine on the headwaters of America’s most visited wilderness in every way he can this Congress… This really opens a Pandora’s box of unfortunate opportunities to overturn public land orders, mineral withdrawals—you name it.

For more on the Boundary Waters, listen to our previous conversations with Senator Tina Smith and Ingrid Lyons.

Interior Department Updates

The Department of the Interior announced a major step toward establishing a U.S. Wildland Fire Service, appointing Brian Fennessy, former Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, to oversee implementation across DOI bureaus. While the move aims to unify fire management within DOI, Congress recently rejected efforts to merge DOI and USDA wildfire agencies.

“Open Unless Closed”: Expanding Access on Public Lands

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum issued a new Secretarial Order designating DOI-managed lands and waters as “open unless closed” for hunting and fishing, requiring bureaus to justify any continued restrictions.

Cumberland Island Visitor Use Management Plan

The National Park Service is nearing completion of its Visitor Use Management Plan (VUMP) for Cumberland Island National Seashore, a process that could affect wilderness protections, wildlife habitat, and public access on one of Georgia’s most unique barrier islands.

🗓️ Public comments are open through February 6 – learn more and register for the upcoming virtual town hall on January 21, and share your comments on the public comment portal.

EPA Drops Public Health from Cost Calculations

The Environmental Protection Agency announced it will no longer factor future healthcare savings or human lives into cost-benefit analyses for new air pollution rules.

America’s Largest Private Landowner

A December land purchase in New Mexico made Stan Kroenke — billionaire owner of the LA Rams and Colorado Rapids — the largest private landowner in the United States, with more than 2.7 million acres across the U.S. and Canada.

Pennsylvania Invests Big in Conservation & Recreation

Governor Josh Shapiro announced nearly $82 million in new funding for 295 recreation and conservation projects across Pennsylvania, administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR). The funding supports parks, trails, river restoration, open space conservation, and local economies — building on a growing outdoor recreation industry now worth $19 billion statewide.

25 Years of the Roadless Rule

This week marked the 25th Anniversary of the Roadless Rule, which protects nearly 60 million acres of national forest lands.

Anders attended a press event hosted by the Southern Environmental Law Center, Virginia Wilderness Committee, and Senator Tim Kaine, who previously joined the show for an episode on his conservation legacy.

At the event, Anders caught up with Lynn Cameron, Co-Chair of the Friends of Shenandoah Mountain:

I came down here from the Shenandoah Valley today because the roadless areas are so important to me… They provide clean water for us to drink, outdoor recreational opportunities, biodiversity, and I want to keep them like they are so that future generations can enjoy them the way I have.

Explore the Roadless Rule with our month of dedicated episodes.

Next Week

That’s our report for Jauary 9, 2026. We’ll be back next Friday with another Wild Line.

Next week brings the third episode in our month-long exploration of the Roadless Rule, plus another full report from across the world of public lands, conservation, and environmental policy.

Until then — Act Up and Run Wild.

January is Roadless Month on The Wild Idea.

Throughout the month, we’re exploring the landscapes, communities, and ideas shaped by America’s roadless public lands — and what’s at stake as these protections face renewed threats.

Why? Because decisions being discussed right now affect public land forever.

Join us all month long for conversations about roadless landscapes across the country, from the Southern Appalachians to the Tongass, the Gila Wilderness, and beyond. Check back for new episodes, resources, and opportunities to engage all month long, and please follow us on social media or share this episode with a friend. 

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