From Parks to Profits: The Quiet Push to Sell Off U.S. Public Lands

In a recent interview with Forbes senior editor Maggie McGrath, Jennifer Novak discussed a controversial proposal by House Republicans to sell or swap thousands of acres of public land in Western states like Nevada and Utah. These lands are owned by the federal government and have been protected for years. Supporters of the proposal argue that local cities and counties need more land to grow and build things like homes, airports, or water treatment plants. However, many people are concerned that the decision was added to the national budget talks at the last minute, without any public input, and could set a dangerous precedent for opening up more public land across the country.

According to Jennifer, the concept of selling public land isn’t new.  But, thinking of a land sale as a one-time financial transaction misses potential long-term environmental and economic risks. There are numerous examples throughout the country where mining and exploration have damaged these lands and left pollution behind, putting the clean-up burden on the taxpayers.  Federal environmental laws, like the National Environmental Policy Act, exist to make sure these types of decisions go through proper review—and they can’t be waived through an Executive Order or a budget amendment.  Still, although this proposal is still in the early stages, Jennifer advised that the public can let their elected representatives know how they feel. 

Click below for the full interview:
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