Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Supreme Court weakens a key environmental law in Utah oil train ruling
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Friday, May 30, 2025
A train travels along the Colorado River in western Colorado. The Library of Congress, Carol M. Highsmith Archive ([link removed])

The Supreme Court issued a ruling ([link removed]) that will limit the scope of environmental reviews ([link removed]) for major federal projects such as pipelines and railways. The unanimous 8-0 ruling centered around the Uinta Basin Railway, a proposed 88-mile oil railroad expansion in Utah. The justices reversed a 2023 lower court decision ([link removed]) that stated the railway’s initial NEPA review was incomplete because it failed to consider risks like wildfire or water pollution.

Yesterday's ruling ([link removed]) is likely to have significant implications for future NEPA reviews, setting a precedent for less elaborate reviews that only focus on immediate impacts, not broader environmental concerns. It grants federal agencies broader power to decide which environmental harms to analyze. “Simply stated, NEPA is a procedural cross-check, not a substantive roadblock. The goal of the law is to inform agency decisionmaking, not to paralyze it,” said Justice Brett Kavanaugh ([link removed]) in the court opinion.

If the proposed railway moves forward, it would more than double ([link removed]) the total amount of oil transported in the U.S. and increase hazardous material transport through sensitive areas, including along the Colorado River. A potential derailment would have severe environmental and public health consequences. “Today’s decision undermines decades of legal precedent that told federal agencies to look before they leap when approving projects that could harm communities and the environment,” said Sambhav Sankar ([link removed]) , senior vice president of programs at Earthjustice.


** Quick hits
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U.S. Supreme Court rules on Utah oil train

Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | Utah News Dispatch ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed])

Trump, DOGE officials target USGS research program with budget cuts

Vox ([link removed])

Senator Heinrich pushes Interior for list of national parks that could be sent to states under Trump plan

Source NM ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])

More industry lobbyists take positions at Interior department

Public Domain ([link removed])

'Lowest staffing in modern history': National Park Service short thousands of seasonal employees

SFGATE ([link removed])

Opinion: Wyoming’s congressional delegation should follow neighbors’ lead on public lands

WyoFile ([link removed])

Could Colorado be home to the BLM’s national headquarters — again?

CPR News ([link removed])

Map: Wildlife habitat, migration routes under threat

The Wilderness Society ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” The killer is that all of the money is appropriated, they have the money to hire these folks. They don’t have to stretch people thin. Congress has to hold the administration responsible and tell them to hire folks and get boots on the ground. The administration made a big show of hiring seasonal staff, and they’re not doing it. There’s no commitment to staff our parks.”

—Kristen Brengel, National Parks Conservation Association senior vice president of government affairs, SFGATE ([link removed])


** Picture This
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[link removed]

@usinterior ([link removed])
Amboy Crater is a striking landmark that has guided travelers along Route 66 for generations. Located within Mojave Trails National Monument, it offers easy access for visitors looking to explore the unique landscapes of the California desert.

Mojave Trails spans 1.6 million acres east of Los Angeles and features rugged mountain ranges, ancient lava flows, fossil beds and sweeping sand dunes. It’s one of the best places to experience the vast spirit of the Mojave Desert. The desert heat can be intense, so bring extra water and check the weather before heading out.

Photo by Bob Wick / @mypubliclands ([link removed])

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