2 conservation groups sue Bureau of Land Management over Colorado, Wyoming oil and gas leases. Lawsuit claims that the Bureau of Land Management violated procedure and federal law in leasing parcels in June that overlap with sensitive public lands and wildlife habitat. NewsNews | Sep 9, 2026 The Carbondale-based Wilderness Workshop and national nonprofit The Wilderness Society are suing the federal government, alleging that the Bureau of Land Management's June approval of oil and gas lease sales in Colorado and Wyoming violated federal law and disregarded potential harm to big game migration corridors and environmentally sensitive areas. The suit was filed by the two conservation nonprofits in the United States District Court in Denver on Tuesday, Sept. 9. It names the U.S. Department of the Interior, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, the Bureau of Land Management, Thomas Heinlein, Colorado's acting BLM director, and Kris Kirby, Wyoming's acting BLM director, as defendants. "The Bureau of Land Management's failure to follow its regulations and consider the impacts of these oil and gas lease sales on pristine public lands and wildlife violates the law," said Clay Samford, attorney with Earthjustice, which is representing the two nonprofits, in a statement. "The significance of these centuries-old big game migration corridors cannot be overstated. That the agency would ignore the potential impacts on wildlife, the hunting community, and millions of public lands users to please the fossil fuel industry is both unlawful and shortsighted." The suit alleges that the federal government ignored its regulatory criteria and violated federal laws - including the Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Administrative Procedure Act - in offering up oil and gas parcels for sale on "environmentally sensitive public lands." Among the suit's allegations is that "although BLM's own analysis showed numerous conflicts with crucial big game habitats and migration corridors and with the preservation of pristine wilderness-quality lands, BLM's June 2026 lease sales offered hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands for lease without withholding any parcels based on the preference criteria, in violation of BLM's own regulation and [the Federal Land Policy and Management Act]." It asks the court to vacate the lease decisions and send them back to the BLM for further consideration. The Bureau of Land Management did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit and allegations by deadline. Feds' new era of energy development draws protests. The June oil and gas lease sales included the sale of 249 parcels covering 248,612 acres in both Colorado and Wyoming, amassing around $69.9 million. The Colorado sale generated over $35.26 million from 147 parcels covering 134,173 acres in Arapahoe, Garfield, Jackson, Mesa, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt and Weld counties. The lawsuit claims that the parcels overlap with antelope, mule deer and elk habitat and migration corridors in both states. It claims that oil and gas development "destroys and fragments big game habitat," and that even if habitat is not directly impacted, these species will avoid development areas, which can lead to overcrowding and impacts such as overgrazing and increased disease transmission. "The mule deer populations in Northwest Colorado have seen significant declines in recent years and additional habitat loss and fragmentation from oil and gas development will only worsen conditions for the species," said Luke Schafer, a Wilderness Workshop member, in a statement. "It is disheartening that productive public lands that are enjoyed by so many - lands that are critical to sustaining wildlife populations - could soon be carved up by well pads, pipelines, and access roads." It also alleges that the parcels sold in June overlap with "public lands with wilderness character," including two areas in Moffat County, the Crooked Wash area and BLM's Serviceberry unit. Wilderness Workshop and The Wilderness Society were among a group of 18 conservation groups that filed a complaint in May against the Bureau of Land Management's June sales in Colorado. The protest raised 22 issues spanning from policy and procedure questions to concerns about impacts to public health, wildlife, climate and more. The BLM denied all claims. In its denial, the BLM argued that it followed proper procedure and applicable laws, including the four that the lawsuit alleges it violated. In response to some of the environmental impact concerns raised, the federal agency wrote that it "has analyzed the impacts that may occur as a result of leasing," and that more site-specific environmental analysis will be conducted later on in the process when companies apply for drilling permits. The lawsuit claims that the concerns in the protest were ignored. Colorado Parks and Wildlife filed its own protest of the June lease sales, citing concerns about how several parcels overlapped with existing conservation easements and could have negative consequences for wildlife and habitat. The BLM also denied this protest, arguing that subsurface mineral rights are separate from surface ownership and conservation easements and that more specific review would occur when companies apply for drilling permits. In response to this protest, Kemba Anderson, BLM Colorado's acting deputy state director, wrote that the agency received 19 comments during its public comment period that also expressed concerns around air quality, wildlife habitat, land eligibility, policy and procedure, water resources and more. Any substantial concerns were addressed during the environmental assessment, she added. The June sales were among those occurring under a new era of energy development on federal lands under President Donald Trump. Trump has said the goal of his executive order to "unleash American energy" is to achieve energy independence, increase affordability and provide jobs by reducing red tape and reopening public lands for development. The Bureau of Land Management is required to hold quarterly oil and gas lease sales when eligible lands are available under a 1920 legislative mandate. While the Biden administration pulled away from fossil fuel development amid concerns about how BLM's oil and gas development was negatively impacting the environment and climate, the Trump administration has leaned back in, making good on his campaign promise to "drill, baby, drill." In total, BLM has offered 403 parcels in Colorado this year - a large jump from 290 leased in the previous seven years. The increased pace of leasing and the parcels being included have raised significant concerns across the state. In Routt County, commissioners recently raised concerns about a proposed federal oil and gas lease sale covering nearly 14,000 acres of national forest land north of Hayden. In Garfield County, the inclusion of several parcels on the Roan Plateau in the proposed December sale have reignited a battle to keep the development away from the plateau's untouched reaches. Sep 9, 2026 Pitkin County will be taking over operations of the Maroon Bells Scenic Area beginning in 2027 following unanimous approval from the Board of County Commissioners Wednesday to authorize a special use permit from the U.S. Forest Service and the creation of an enterprise fund for management under the permit.

Angeles National Forest gets a new boss, someone who's worked on the forest as a ranger. Jamahl Butler was recently installed as the supervisor of the Angeles, the vast, 700,000-acre wilderness that is recreation to millions. PUBLISHED: August 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM PDT UPDATED: August 10, 2026 at 4:53 PM PDT The Angeles National Forest has a new boss. Jamahl Butler, 47, began as the new supervisor of the vast Angeles National Forest on Friday, moving into the permanent spot after serving as acting supervisor since March 8, the USFS reported. Butler will be responsible for the 700,000-acre forest, as well as 452,000 acres of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument, which is located within the Angeles. The monument, first established by President Barack Obama in 2014, was expanded in May 2024 by President Joe Biden to include closer-in areas in the western Angeles, including historic Chantry Flat north of Arcadia, the Arroyo Seco near Pasadena and forest lands near Sunland, Tujunga and Santa Clarita. "I am deeply honored to serve as Forest Supervisor of the Angeles National Forest," he said in a statement. "The Angeles has shaped much of my understanding of public service, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation created by those who have served before me." Butler is very familiar with the Angeles. From 2016 to 2023, Butler was the deputy district ranger, then the district ranger, of the Los Angeles Gateway Ranger District of the Angeles. That area included the southwestern parts of the forest that later became part of the national monument. He started as an intern on the San Gabriel River Ranger District, he said. He has worked in conservation and reforestation with the U.S. Forest Services for decades. Before that, he worked with the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Earlier in his career, he worked for the Memorial Park Conservancy in Houston, Texas, one of the largest and most heavily used parks in the country. Butler also served as deputy forest supervisor for the San Bernardino National Forest since September 2023. "I am really excited he is taking on this position. He has had a career with a strong connection to this landscape," said Daniel Rossman, executive director of One Arroyo, a nonprofit working to preserve the Arroyo Seco, in partnership with the city of Pasadena. Previously, Rossman was with The Wilderness Society and was involved in preservation of the Angeles, as well as improving recreation and the visitor experience. The 700,000-acre federal forest stretching from Santa Clarita to Upland makes the northern border of Los Angeles County, becoming the largest urban-interface forest in the United States and known as "L.A.'s Playground." The Angeles draws 3 million to 4 million visitors per year who hike, bird watch, swim in the San Gabriel River, picnic, ride off-road vehicles, mountain bike and hunt. The area provides 70% of the area's open space and 30% of its drinking water. Previously, forest supervisors were long-time bureaucrats at the end of their careers, serving as caretakers, awaiting retirement or a promotion in Washington D.C., said John Monson, long-time forest watcher, hiker and naturalist who chairs the Sierra Club Angeles Chapter's Forest Committee. "We think it is a great choice," Monson said on Monday. "He is a home-grown product," that will actually take an active role in managing the forest, he said. Roman Torres was the last supervisor. He retired last year when President Trump with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) cleared out thousands of government jobs at various departments, including many at the USFS working at the Angeles headquarters in Arcadia. Torres himself left at that time and retired. Before that, Jerry Perez, a high-ranking bureaucrat in the first Trump Administration, became forest supervisor in October 2018. At age 60, he left the post in January 2022 to take a top-level position in the U.S. Forest Service as national director of fire and aviation management. After Torres, there have been many interim or acting supervisors, which Monson described as "pretty disruptive." "From what we know, he's a pragmatist. And he's not likely to be seeking any position in D.C.," Monson said. He added many people in the Sierra Club and in other conservation and environmental groups are also pleased with the selection. Butler, in an interview late Monday, said he was humbled by the positive remarks from long-time forest watchers. "I don't have any plans of going anywhere any time soon," Butler said. "What this forest needs to be successful is someone who can embrace local partnerships," Rossman said. "And Jamahl comes from that. He's starting off miles ahead of someone who had to come in and learn all the places and the players." Butler said partnerships, with nonprofits, corporations or those who help fix trails and provide engineering help are more than important. "They are vital," he said. "For forest restoration and trail management, we have to do those things in an itegrated way. We have started to get better by coordinating with partners," Butler added. His priorities should be the forest ecology and reforestation while adapting to climate change, and ensuring the forest above Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties - only 90 minutes from close to 20 million people - remains a place millions can come to find solitude and recreation, Rossman said. Pacific Southwest Region Acting Regional Forester Jacque Buchanan praised Butler's hands-on experience and integrity. "His knowledge of the Angeles - its landscapes, communities, and complexities - positions him well to lead this forest into the future," she said in a prepared statement. "My game plan is to be of use," Butler said. "To be of value. I'd like to help move things along and establish some orders of operation that are useful to the public."