A federal judge in Montana blocked William Perry Pendley from serving as the acting director of the Bureau of Land Management, finding he served unlawfully for over a year. Pendley was given the top spot at the BLM through a series of temporary appointments, and has been a controversial head due to his history opposing federal ownership of public lands. And, our radio partners report on the U.S. Forest Service’s volunteer wilderness ranger programs that help patrol the backcountry. Plus, members of the Northwest Band of the Shoshone Nation are working to restore sacred land at the sight of the Bear River Massacre with the help of students from Utah State University.

Show Notes:

Photo: Volunteer wilderness stewards like Joyce Fabre are a critical part of wilderness education, especially when managers have limited budgets for paid staff. Amanda Peacher/Mountain West News Bureau.

The Hill: Pendley court ruling could unravel Trump’s public lands decisions

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/518619-court-ruling-undercutting-pendleys-authority-could-unravel-trump

NPR: Federal Judge Ousts Trump’s Top Public Lands Chief

https://www.npr.org/2020/09/25/917116718/judge-ousts-trumps-public-lands-chief

Mountain West News Bureau: As Wilderness Areas Attract More People, Volunteer Rangers Hit The Trail

https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/wilderness-areas-attract-more-people-volunteer-rangers-hit-trail

UPR: USU Team Working With Shoshone Nation To Restore Bear River Massacre Site

https://www.upr.org/post/usu-team-working-shoshone-nation-restore-bear-river-massacre-site