Environment (Public Lands)

in committee · United States · House Sep 8, 2026

HR 10307: Anaktuvuk Pass Food Security Access Act

The Anaktuvuk Pass Food Security Access Act amends the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to allow local residents of Anaktuvuk Pass to use snowmobiles, motorboats, and various off-road vehicles for subsistence purposes. This change overrides existing restrictions that generally prohibit such vehicle use on federal lands in the area. The bill directly affects residents who rely on these modes of transportation to hunt, fish, or gather food. It also specifies that certain other provisions regarding land management do not apply to these authorized subsistence activities.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill overrides existing restrictions on motorized vehicle use in a conservation area, potentially increasing environmental impact to allow subsistence access.65% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationThe bill expands access to snowmobiles and motorboats for subsistence, directly enhancing transportation capabilities for local residents.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Roads & Highways

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in committee · United States · Senate Aug 5, 2026

S 5262: Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026

The Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2026 significantly narrows the federal definition of "navigable waters" by excluding wetlands without continuous surface connections, intermittent streams, and groundwater from federal jurisdiction under the Clean Water Act. The bill prohibits federal agencies from using aggregation methods or the "significant nexus test" to assert authority over these excluded water bodies and invalidates existing regulations that expand the definition of covered waters. Additionally, it requires federal agencies to obtain written consent before entering private property for data collection and mandates that they pay affected landowners double the value of any economic loss caused by new federal water regulations.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentThe bill narrows the federal definition of navigable waters under the Clean Water Act, explicitly removing wetlands and intermittent streams from federal jurisdiction and invalidating existing regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Lands Water Quality

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 16, 2026

S 4795: FREEDOM Act

The FREEDOM Act aims to speed up energy infrastructure development by establishing strict federal deadlines for reviewing applications for oil, gas, and mineral projects on public lands. It requires agencies to publish project schedules and issue final decisions within specific timeframes, with automatic legal consequences if those deadlines are missed. The bill also creates a new Permitting Performance Fund to pay for independent contractors who can help complete stalled environmental reviews when agencies fail to meet their timelines. Additionally, the legislation introduces specific measures for geothermal energy, including a new ombudsman to resolve disputes, updated permitting guidelines, and revised royalty rates for electricity generated from geothermal sources.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill accelerates energy infrastructure development by enforcing strict deadlines for oil, gas, and mineral project reviews, directly advancing energy production.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill accelerates fossil fuel project approvals and weakens environmental review standards to prioritize industry over conservation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Jun 11, 2026

S 4765: Let America Build Act of 2026

The Let America Build Act of 2026 primarily streamlines the process for leasing and permitting oil, gas, and mineral resources on federal lands while expanding state and tribal regulatory authority. It requires the Interior Department to resolve lease protests within 60 days and prevents lawsuits from delaying drilling permits or invalidating leases, even if environmental reviews are challenged. The bill grants states and tribes the power to issue drilling permits and regulate hydraulic fracturing on available federal land, provided they meet specific effectiveness standards. Additionally, it accelerates the approval of liquefied natural gas export projects by setting strict deadlines for federal decisions and limiting the scope of environmental reviews for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

Topics ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill streamlines oil and gas leasing, reduces permitting delays, and expands state/tribal authority to facilitate fossil fuel production.95% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill streamlines oil/gas leasing, limits lawsuits, and removes delays for drilling, directly weakening environmental protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Pipeline Infrastructure Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House Sep 10, 2026

HR 8674: Geese House Site Conveyance Act

The Geese House Site Conveyance Act directs the Secretary of the Interior to transfer approximately 21,578 acres of federal land within Denali National Park and Preserve to the Doyon, Limited corporation within one year of the bill's enactment. This transfer excludes specific lots and bodies of water while reserving public easements and adjusting the park's official boundaries to remove the conveyed area. The law imposes strict limits on the recipient, prohibiting them from selling the land to others, conducting mining activities, or developing the site in ways that would harm the cultural significance of the Geese House. Additionally, the bill waives certain standard federal regulations and past land withdrawals that would normally apply to this type of property transfer.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentTransferring federal land from a national park to a private corporation likely reduces conservation protections and limits public access to natural resources.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Parks & Recreation Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8688: Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act

This bill, known as the Forest Health and Wildfire Risk Reduction Act, allows the Bureau of Land Management to skip certain environmental reviews for specific small-scale forest treatments. It designates tree density modification projects under 5,000 acres as exempt from preparing environmental assessments or impact statements, provided they do not involve clearcutting or converting forests into non-forest vegetation. The exemption covers activities like selective tree removal, chipping, and burning fuel piles, which may include building up to five miles of new permanent roads or temporary access routes. To ensure environmental protection, the bill requires agencies to document how these projects address concerns such as erosion, soil compaction, and the preservation of snags and riparian areas.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill exempts small-scale forest treatments from environmental reviews, weakening regulatory protections and reducing oversight on potential ecological impacts.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 8682: Accelerating Forest Management Act

The Accelerating Forest Management Act streamlines the environmental review process for salvage harvesting on Bureau of Land Management lands by categorically excluding certain actions from requiring an environmental assessment or impact statement. This change applies specifically to the removal of dead or dying trees caused by natural disturbances like fire or insects, provided the work stays within specific acreage limits and follows existing land use plans. The bill also permits the construction of limited new permanent roads, maintenance of existing roads, and the building of temporary roads for harvest operations, while mandating that operators disclose how they address environmental concerns such as erosion, soil compaction, and invasive species. Additionally, the legislation extends the funding period for the Forest Ecosystem Health and Recovery Fund from 2020 to 2033 to support these management efforts.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill weakens environmental protections by categorically excluding salvage harvesting from environmental reviews, effectively deregulating standards for forest management.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Forestry Public Lands

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in committee · United States · Senate Apr 28, 2026

S 4412: No FED in West Texas Act

This bill, known as the No FED in West Texas Act, prevents the Secretary of the Interior from finalizing or enforcing a specific land protection plan for the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge. The legislation directly affects federal management of the refuge by prohibiting the implementation of a February 2023 document that would have restricted land use. By blocking this plan, the bill aims to stop the designation of certain areas as protected zones within the refuge.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill blocks a federal land protection plan for a National Wildlife Refuge, weakening conservation efforts and environmental safeguards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Public Lands Wildlife

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in committee · United States · House May 21, 2026

HR 7695: To provide that the final rule titled "Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation" and issued on January 12, 2001 (66 Fed. Reg. 3244) shall have no force or effect and require the Secretary of Agriculture to construct certain roads on National Forest System lands, and for other purposes.

This bill would cancel a 2001 federal rule that restricted road building on National Forest System lands and direct the Secretary of Agriculture to construct new roads on those lands. The legislation specifically nullifies the Roadless Area Conservation rule and prohibits the Agriculture Department from creating any similar restrictions in the future. Under the bill, the Forest Service must build permanent and temporary roads to support forest restoration, reduce wildfire risks in at-risk communities and municipal watersheds, replace roads harming forest health, and fulfill the intent of the 1897 Forest Management Act. The changes directly affect federal land management decisions and would impact communities and organizations that rely on forest access and wildfire prevention efforts.

Topics ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill cancels roadless area conservation rule and mandates new road construction, weakening environmental protections and increasing development on National Forest lands.92% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill mandates construction of new roads on National Forest lands and removes restrictions on road building, directly advancing transportation infrastructure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Conservation Forestry Public Lands Roads & Highways

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passed · United States · House Jul 29, 2026

HR 7831: License to Drill Act

This bill, known as the License to Drill Act, extends the deadline for collecting fees on new oil and gas drilling permit applications from 2026 to 2037 under the Mineral Leasing Act. It requires the Secretary of the Interior to continue collecting these fees for each new permit application throughout the extended period. The bill also directs that all fees collected between fiscal years 2027 and 2037 be transferred to the BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund instead of being distributed as previously required. These changes affect the Bureau of Land Management's administrative process for managing oil and gas leasing on federal lands.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill extends fee collection period for drilling permits, directing funds to BLM Permit Processing Improvement Fund, strengthening fiscal management and government revenue collection.75% confidence ✓ EnergySupports EnergyBill extends fee collection period for oil and gas drilling permits, potentially increasing revenue for energy infrastructure improvements under the Mineral Leasing Act.65% confidence ✗ EnvironmentOpposes EnvironmentBill extends fee collection period for oil and gas drilling permits, facilitating increased fossil fuel extraction which may harm environmental protection and climate goals.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Oil & Gas Public Lands

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