Biden’s First 100 Days: What It’s Meant for the Outdoors
Young Lakes, Yosemite National Park. Photo credit: Julian Bialowas
Today, the Biden administration reaches the end of its first 100 days in office, an oft-discussed milestone for presidencies. Back in January, Outdoor Alliance shared its 100 Days Checklist for Public Lands, a checklist of key actions that we hoped the new President and new Congress would take to protect public lands, fix core conservation laws, advance equitable access, and reverse rollbacks. Here’s how the outdoors fared at the conclusion of these first 100 days:
Climate
On his first day in office, President Biden recommitted America to the Paris Agreement – the reentry officially went into effect February 19. In his January 27 Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, President Biden committed to conserving 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030. This goal, also called 30x30, has benefits for biodiversity, climate, and outdoor recreation. The Department of Interior is expected to soon release a report about how America can work to achieve 30% protection for lands and waters by 2030.
Alaska
In its final days, the Trump administration moved to lease off the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska for oil and gas drilling, and open the state’s largest national forest to logging. These activities have significant climate impacts, actively undermine the state’s growing outdoor recreation economy, and actually cost taxpayers money. The Biden administration has paused all new oil and gas leases (existing leases will be maintained, but new ones will not be offered), and has asked the Department of the Interior to review potential new leases in light of the agency’s larger responsibilities to steward public lands, including potential climate impacts. The administration also released a memo putting a pause on road construction, logging, and more on roadless lands, including those in the Tongass National Forest.
Land Protections
The House moved quickly to reintroduce the eight landscape protection bills that it was considering last year, repackaging them as the Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act (PAW+). The House recently passed this package of protections, and it is now up to the Senate to move the bills forward.
NEPA
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is a core conservation law that ensures that big projects on public lands – from new trails to new mines – get a thorough environmental review and that Americans get a chance to weigh in on what they want to happen. The Trump administration revised how the government implements NEPA, with damaging effects for climate and the public review process. On January 20, President Biden signed an executive order mandating review of agency actions over the past four years that are in conflict with the new administration’s climate and environmental objectives, and based on this direction, we expect CEQ will begin expeditiously working to correct the NEPA changes enacted under the Trump administration.
Equity Outdoors
Along with the Outdoors for All Act, which passed the House as an amendment with its package of landscape protections (PAW+), the Biden administration’s January executive order prioritizes environmental justice, including building an interagency council to pursue environmental justice, and strives to incorporate equity in all its environmental policies and programs. Other members of Congress, including Sen. Heinrich, have supported the creation of programs like the Outdoor F.U.T.U.R.E., a national outdoor equity initiative created by Black, Indigenous, and leaders of color from states and organizations across the country, including Gabe Vasquez, Outdoor Alliance board member.
Economic Recovery
The Biden administration has been focused on a number of economic recovery efforts. The planned infrastructure bill, for example, includes a number of climate-related and green energy initiatives. And Sen. Wyden and Rep. Neguse have recently re-introduced their 21st Century Conservation Corps Act, which would establish a new Conservation Corps meant to provide employment for Americans who need it and invest in public land infrastructure, trails, wildfire mitigation, and climate resilience for the benefit of all. Congress has begun the appropriations process for FY2022, and we are hopeful for increased resources for over-taxed land management agencies.
Utah Public Lands
In his first days in office, President Biden called for a review on Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, which were rolled back by President Trump. Secretary Haaland recently met with the Utah delegation and local leadership to plan for how to restore protections for the area.
Mining Reform
On February 1, the Acting Deputy Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the USDA directed the Forest Service to pause actions on most large-scale mining projects pending review, and we understand this to include Boundary Waters and the Midas Gold Stibnite project at the headwaters of Idaho’s S. Salmon River. On March 1, the Forest Service withdrew the final EIS that would precipitate the transfer of Oak Flat to the Resolution mining company and set in motion the destruction of sacred sites and climbing resources. These protections are temporary, and Outdoor Alliance will continue to work on longer-term efforts to update mining laws and to protect the Boundary Waters, Oak Flat, the South Salmon and other watersheds.
Outdoor Recreation Policy
The administration and public land management agencies have not yet released guidance on human-powered recreation, but this will be and should be a process. We look forward to working with land management agencies to implement more effective management for outdoor recreation.
You can get involved in advancing these key priorities: