Environment and Natural Resources

Last week, the House Natural Resources Committee included a provision in the budget reconciliation package allowing federal public land sales in Nevada and Utah. Yet the proposed provision has sparked pushback from some members of Congress and environmental activists. It shouldn't: The provision represents a vital step toward restoring Americans' a ...

New affordable housing is impossible without affordable timber. With housing costs increasing, now would be the time to encourage growth in the American lumber industry, especially in areas that are rich in timber. The Tongass National Forest can help provide the lumber we need to provide affordable housing to more people … if only the federal ...

A remarkable story emerged as The New York Times rewrote an infamous 1970s trope when it revealed that scientists had invented an 'endangered species' -- a tiny fish called the snail darter -- to stop a southeastern energy project. "Saving" the snail darter became a model for how to leverage laws designed to protect the environment to kill energy a ...

There are countless stories of governments tramping on individual rights, causing extreme financial burdens along with mental and emotional stress. For PLF client Tom Hamann, the violation of his property rights and the subsequent economic losses and stress were accompanied by physical injuries that have forever altered his life. On top of fight ...

Good news for North Dakota's Northland Township this month, as it appears its case against the federal government will come to an end before it even began. Represented by Pacific Legal Foundation, the small town of just 56 people was gearing up to take on the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) over its regulatory abuse of what is known as a "pr ...

Ethan Blevins, legal fellow at Pacific Legal Foundation, recently joined The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast for a lively discussion on the issue of federal land in the United States. Charles and Ethan explored the history of federal land management, the federal government's shift away from homesteading toward a policy of land retention, the issue o ...

Robert White built a thriving seafood business in North Carolina. With his hard-earned profits, he bought some coastal property as an investment he could one day leave to his children. Eager to improve the property, Robert set out to make the land more productive by reducing its flood risk. But the work ground to a halt and Robert's plans were pu ...

When Mike Colosi moved to Florida, he had a simple but big dream: to build a beautiful home nestled within the serene, natural beauty of his newly acquired 5.07-acre property. He envisioned using only about an acre for his residence, leaving the rest untouched to preserve its natural tranquility. But instead of enjoying a home in his new surroundin ...

Legend says the outlaw Butch Cassidy hid vast stashes of loot across the West. But those still hunting for Cassidy's treasure could join the Wild Bunch in outlaw status. Hunting for buried treasure on federal lands, it turns out, is a federal crime, and almost all the West where Cassidy roamed is federal land. But that's not all. If you were to ...