Sierra Club Statement on House Votes to Overturn Public Lands Protections - CleanTechnica

House Republicans have passed resolutions using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) aimed at overturning protections for millions of acres of public lands in Alaska and Wyoming. These resolutions target land management plans for the Arctic Refuge and Western Arctic in Alaska, as well as the Buffalo region in Wyoming, threatening over 13 million acres of critical habitat for species such as caribou, migratory birds, and polar bears. While the resolution concerning the Western Arctic has been sent to the White House for expected approval by former President Donald Trump, the others await Senate action. The Sierra Club strongly condemns these moves, with Athan Manuel, director of its Lands Protection Program, accusing Congressional Republicans of prioritizing corporate interests over environmental preservation and public health. Rob Joyce, director of the Sierra Club Wyoming Chapter, criticized the attempt to revive coal leasing in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin, noting that recent lease sales have failed due to lack of demand and that coal mining is not economically viable. The Sierra Club emphasizes the importance of protecting public