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U.S. Forest Service Proposal to Weaken Motorized Travel Protections Draws Opposition from State Attorneys General

U.S. Forest Service Proposal to Weaken Motorized Travel Protections Draws Opposition from State Attorneys General

Attorney General Raúl Torrez, leading a coalition of state attorneys general, has formally opposed the U.S. Forest Service's proposed revisions to the Travel Management Rule. The proposed changes would shift the current 'closed unless designated open' system for motorized vehicle access on nearly 200 million acres of National Forest System lands to a 'open unless closed' presumption. This revision would eliminate requirements for minimizing environmental harm before allowing motorized travel, reduce public involvement, and pressure local managers to open more roads and trails without adequate environmental review. The coalition argues that this proposal, coupled with another recent Forest Service proposal to rescind the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, would significantly expand motorized access and roadbuilding in forests, leading to potential environmental damage and management instability. The attorneys general also criticized the Forest Service for providing only a 30-day public comment period for...

USDA Proposes Revisions to Forest Service Travel Management Regulations, Sportsmen’s Alliance Supports Increased Access

USDA Proposes Revisions to Forest Service Travel Management Regulations, Sportsmen’s Alliance Supports Increased Access

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is proposing new rulemaking to revise the U.S. Forest Service’s travel management regulations. The core of the proposal is to establish a uniform national policy that favors increased access to National Forest System lands. This would mean that existing roads, trails, airfields, trailheads, and other access routes would be presumed open to 'appropriate public use' unless specifically closed or restricted. This approach reverses a two-decade-old policy that required designated routes for motor vehicles and prohibited them elsewhere. The Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (SAF) has submitted formal comments supporting these proposed revisions, advocating for increased access for hunters, anglers, and trappers. SAF emphasizes the need for a balanced approach that includes enforceable safeguards for wildlife habitat. The proposal also includes an annual review process for each forest unit to identify closed or restricted routes that may warrant reconsideration for opening...

Virginia Democratic Delegation Opposes Trump Administration's Proposal to Rescind Roadless Rule

Virginia Democratic Delegation Opposes Trump Administration's Proposal to Rescind Roadless Rule

Congressman James Walkinshaw (VA-11) and Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan led six members of the Virginia delegation, including U.S. Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Tim Kaine (D-VA), and Representatives Bobby Scott (VA-03), Don Beyer (VA-08), Eugene Vindman (VA-07), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), in sending a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The letter expresses strong opposition to the Trump Administration’s proposal to rescind the Roadless Area Conservation Rule, commonly known as the “Roadless Rule.” This rule, implemented in 2001, has protected 45 million acres of forest lands nationwide, with nearly 394,000 acres in Virginia. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Forest Service filed a proposal in August to repeal the rule, which the lawmakers argue could have severe impacts on water quality, biodiversity, and economic development in these regions. The proposal would strip protections from approximately 84% of Virginia’s roadless areas, potentially opening them to road constr...

U.S. Department of Interior Auctions Nearly 3,000 Acres of Wayne National Forest for Oil and Gas Development

U.S. Department of Interior Auctions Nearly 3,000 Acres of Wayne National Forest for Oil and Gas Development

The U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management has leased nearly 3,000 acres of the Wayne National Forest in Ohio for oil and gas development. This decision followed an announcement in July and a mandatory protest period, culminating in an online auction where 40 parcels were sold for over $11 million. The highest bid reached nearly $10,000 per acre for a parcel in Monroe County. Critics, including Nathan Johnson, attorney of land and water for the Ohio Environmental Council, warn that this development could significantly impact the region through increased pipelines, well pads, truck traffic, and air pollution. Ecologist Glen Matlack of Ohio University notes that the area has not fully recovered from past deforestation in the 19th and 20th centuries due to logging, mining, and farming industries. The Wayne National Forest is also home to endangered species like the Indiana Bat, which federal laws protect. The Ohio Environmental Council has filed a lawsuit, alleging violations of environmental...

CBP Intercepts Unprecedented Giant Scale Insects and Straw Crest Moth at U.S. Ports of Entry

CBP Intercepts Unprecedented Giant Scale Insects and Straw Crest Moth at U.S. Ports of Entry

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agriculture specialists at Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW) made a first-time discovery of giant scale insects (Aspidoproctus genus) in a traveler's luggage. The insects, though small at 5 millimeters, were found feeding on fresh pine bark brought from Cameroon for medicinal purposes. This marks the first recorded instance of this genus at a U.S. port of entry. Earlier in the year, Detroit inspectors also identified a non-native straw crest moth, another first for a U.S. port of entry, found in luggage arriving from Ghana. These discoveries highlight the ongoing efforts by CBP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prevent the introduction of foreign plant pests and animal diseases into the United States.

Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge DOI to Halt Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor

Bipartisan Lawmakers Urge DOI to Halt Yosemite Land Transfer to Trump Donor

A bipartisan group of 153 lawmakers, led by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), has formally urged the Department of the Interior (DOI) to abandon a proposed transfer of federally managed public land within Yosemite National Park. The proposal involves exchanging a quarter-mile strip of land to facilitate private access to an 83-acre parcel known as Hazel Green Ranch, adjacent to the park. This ranch is owned by Kingsbarn, a company whose CEO began making donations to President Trump's campaign and the Republican National Committee shortly after acquiring the property in late 2024. Lawmakers contend that this transfer appears to provide a private benefit at the expense of public land, lacking a clear and compelling public benefit. Previous attempts to gain private access to this property were blocked by federal courts in 2007 and 2012. The current proposal also raises concerns as the DOI considered using Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) authority for the exchange, despite congressional objections...

USDA Announces New Era of Companion Animal Welfare Oversight Under Trump Administration

USDA Announces New Era of Companion Animal Welfare Oversight Under Trump Administration

Secretary Brooke L. Rollins of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new actions to enhance companion animal welfare oversight, marking a new era under the Trump Administration. These initiatives were revealed during a Strikeforce roundtable with federal agency partners, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Justice (DOJ). The USDA plans to strengthen oversight, enforce existing laws, and hold individuals accountable for mistreating animals. Key actions include advancing updates to standards of care, issuing over 2,000 regulatory refresher notices to dog breeding facilities, and deploying the Animal Protection Bureau (APB). The APB is a dedicated unit of specialists focused on enhancing nationwide oversight, strengthening enforcement, and promoting humane treatment for animals covered under federal law. In 2026, the USDA prioritized removing repeat bad actors, denying or terminating 8 dog breeder licenses, suspending 6, and revoking 5. For 2027, the...

Delaware Forest Service Renews Chesapeake Bay Shared Stewardship Agreement with Regional Partners

Delaware Forest Service Renews Chesapeake Bay Shared Stewardship Agreement with Regional Partners

The Delaware Forest Service, led by State Forester Kyle Hoyd, has renewed the Chesapeake Bay Shared Stewardship Agreement, reaffirming a regional commitment to conserve, restore, and actively manage forests throughout the watershed. This renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) builds upon the initial agreement signed in 2020 and involves the U.S. Forest Service and state forestry agencies from Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, along with Washington D.C. The agreement aims to advance shared stewardship and coordinate forest management and restoration efforts across jurisdictional boundaries. Forests are considered crucial for the Chesapeake Bay restoration, and active management is deemed essential for maintaining their health and resilience. The renewed agreement strengthens collaboration and provides a framework for forestry partners to work together to manage, conserve, and restore forests throughout the watershed, supporting goals established in the revised 2025 ...

Savannah Morning News

‘Jane Goodall of Sea Turtles’ honored for lifetime research | Exclusive

‘Jane Goodall of Sea Turtles’ honored for lifetime research | Exclusive

From a remote outpost on Cumberland Island, naturalist Carol Ruckdeschel led research efforts that saved Georgia's sea turtles.

Star Meat Delivery Inc. Recalls Over 167,000 Pounds of Uninspected Meat Products Nationwide

Star Meat Delivery Inc. Recalls Over 167,000 Pounds of Uninspected Meat Products Nationwide

Star Meat Delivery Inc. has issued a Class I recall for approximately 167,639 pounds of raw beef, pork, and goat products distributed nationwide. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall because the products were produced without federal inspection and bear a false USDA mark of inspection, 'EST. 1363'. A Class I recall signifies a health hazard where there is a reasonable probability that consuming the product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death. The recalled products were distributed in bulk under the A&D Foods label to restaurants and retail locations across the country, packaged in vacuum-sealed bags within cardboard boxes. The issue was identified during FSIS surveillance activities. Consumers, retailers, and restaurants are advised not to consume, sell, or serve these products and should return them or dispose of them immediately.

USDA Recalls Over 167,000 Pounds of Meat with False Inspection Labels, Citing Class I Health Risk

USDA Recalls Over 167,000 Pounds of Meat with False Inspection Labels, Citing Class I Health Risk

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced a nationwide recall of over 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat products. The recall, classified as Class I—the highest health risk—stems from the meat being produced without federal inspection and bearing false USDA inspection labels. Star Meat Delivery Inc. of Lucama, North Carolina, is responsible for the products, which were distributed to retailers and restaurants via A&D Foods in Georgia. The issue was identified during a routine food safety inspection. The products carried the number 'EST. 1363,' which does not correspond to a federal grant of inspection, rendering them misbranded and unsafe for consumption. Federal law mandates that all commercially sold meat must be inspected and passed to ensure it is safe, wholesome, and properly labeled by the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service. While no illnesses or injuries have been confirmed, the USDA warns of potential undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminant...

USDA Recalls Over 167,000 Pounds of Meat Due to Falsified Inspection Labels

USDA Recalls Over 167,000 Pounds of Meat Due to Falsified Inspection Labels

More than 167,000 pounds of raw pork, beef, and goat are being recalled nationwide by Star Meat Delivery Inc., based in Lucama, North Carolina, due to falsified USDA inspection stickers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that the products were not properly inspected by federal authorities. The meat in question was produced on various dates before September 22 and bears an establishment number, EST. 1363, which the agency states does not have a federal grant of inspection. The USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) discovered the issue during routine checks. The agency warns that food produced without proper inspection may contain undeclared allergens, harmful bacteria, or other contaminants. While there have been no confirmed reports of illnesses or injuries, consumers are advised to discard or return the misbranded products. Star Meat Delivery Inc. has stated that the establishment number was legitimately reserved as part of their USDA application process, which is still underw...