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


** National Park Service loses only employee tracking leaky wells
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Monday, November 3, 2025
Workers plug an orphaned well with cement at one of six oil and gas sites that have been restored recently at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Source: NPS Photo ([link removed]) .

Forrest Smith was forced to step down ([link removed]) last month as the National Park Service’s chief petroleum engineer after the agency did not renew his contract.

Smith was the sole employee responsible for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells ([link removed]) at national parks across the country, most of which were drilled before a park was established.

“There’s nobody left in the national parks who can confidently oversee this work with the expertise that I have,” said Smith in an interview with the New York Times ([link removed]) . “I don’t think you could just pick somebody up and throw them in and expect them to do a really great job.”

The wells are a threat ([link removed]) to the environment and public health as they can release harmful gases like methane and benzene into the atmosphere and risk contaminating groundwater.

Report: Idled oil and gas wells on public lands threaten wildlife and communities

A new report ([link removed]) , “A Growing Risk on Public Lands” examines the threat of idled oil and gas wells on wildlife, recreation, and communities in five Western states: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The report is co-authored by the National Wildlife Federation, Public Land Solutions, and the Western Organization of Resource Councils, and makes the case ([link removed]) for keeping current bonding reforms in place so that oil and gas companies (not taxpayers) pay to clean up the mess left behind after drilling.


** Quick hits
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National Park Service loses the only employee tracking leaky wells

New York Times ([link removed])

Trump cuts have hindered key wildfire prevention efforts

Washington Post ([link removed])

Planned Interior layoffs could cripple New Mexico wildfire research

Source NM ([link removed])

Toxic wastewater poured from Oklahoma oil fields—regulators failed to stop it

Grist ([link removed])

Experts break down the sticking points holding up Colorado River negotiations

Colorado Sun ([link removed])

Trump's federal funding cuts stress neighborhood and city parks, too

Bloomberg ([link removed])

Interior opens land adjacent to Zion, other national parks to coal leasing

St George News ([link removed])

Opinion: Former Forest Service supervisor criticizes Trump admin's staffing cuts, impact in rural communities

Klamath Falls Herald and News ([link removed])


** Quote of the day
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” From funding cuts to staffing shortages and now a lengthy government shutdown he created, Donald Trump is going out of his way to put Western communities in the literal line of fire and undermine fire prevention efforts.”

—Oregon Senator Ron Wyden, Washington Post ([link removed])


** Picture This
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@nvstateparks ([link removed])
It’s time to name that park!

Located in Northern Nevada, this recreation area offers year-round adventure, from boating and fishing in the summer to ice fishing and snowshoeing in the winter.

Think you know which Nevada State Park it is? Drop your guess below! 👇

#namethatplace ([link removed]) #whereintheworld ([link removed]) #travel ([link removed]) #nevada ([link removed]) #northern ([link removed]) #elko ([link removed]) #horses ([link removed]) #guess ([link removed])

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