Current News Coverage
Idaho’s Tom Schultz Appointed Head of U.S. Forest Service
Tom Schultz, a former director of the Idaho Department of Lands and executive with the Idaho Forest Group, will be the next chief of the Forest Service.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins chose Schultz to succeed Randy Moore, who will retire Monday.
“Tom is the right person to lead the Forest Service right now, and I know he will fight every day to restore America’s national forests,” Rollins said in a news release. “Together, Tom and the incredible employees at the Forest Service will work to execute the agenda of President Donald J. Trump to make America’s forests healthy and productive again.”
Schultz now serves as chief of staff for the undersecretary of agriculture for natural resources and environment. President Trump tabbed Michael Boren for that position, which directly oversees the Forest Service, but he has yet to be confirmed by the Senate.
The fate of Idaho public lands (Opinion)
Idaho State Journal, 2-27-25
In January of 2024, the Idaho Land Board adopted a policy for commercial leasing of Idaho public lands/endowment lands/open spaces. The policy reads in part: : “A. The Department has the discretion to evaluate commercial ground lease applications, initiate the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, and create and maintain leasing processes for activities falling within the purview of an existing commercial ground leasing portfolio. These include ground leases for industrial enterprises, retail sales outlets, business and professional office buildings, hospitality enterprises, commercial recreational activities, multifamily residential developments, and other similar businesses.”
It is very alarming that the Idaho Department of Lands Commercial Ground Leasing Policy includes no public involvement, environmental review, or compliance with local land use requirements. It also does not include public hearings or public notices. This is a severely lacking policy and the leasing policy competes directly with the private sector. It violates most of the norms of contracting in the State. You should immediately contact your legislators about this critical issue before it is too late. This is a statewide issue. Do you want the State lands near you commercially developed? Save our public lands from commercial development!
Liberty Gold files draft mine plan for Black Pine
Creamer Media's Mining Weekly, 2-27-25
US-focused Liberty Gold has reached key permitting milestones for its flagship Black Pine oxide gold project in Idaho, with the submission of the draft mine plan of operations (MPO) and the execution of an interagency memorandum of understanding (MoU) to streamline the permitting process.
The draft MPO has been submitted to the United States Forest Service (USFS), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and the Idaho Department of Lands. It is based on a recently published prefeasibility study and marks the start of the federal permitting process under the National Environmental Protection Act. The process will include the preparation of an environmental-impact statement (EIS), co-led by the USFS and BLM.
Liberty Gold has engaged stakeholders, regulatory authorities, and the local community to ensure environmental and operational standards are met. The EIS will involve public scoping meetings, analysis of baseline studies, and assessments of environmental and socioeconomic impacts, along with proposed mitigation measures. Stantec has been appointed as the independent third-party contractor to oversee the EIS process.
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Marina decision handed down in favor of Templin's expansion
Coeur d'Alene Press, 2-22-25
POST FALLS — The expansion of Red Lion Templin's Hotel on the Spokane River received the OK from the Idaho Bureau of Lands on Feb. 14.
The decision clears the way for Stancraft to expand a commercial marina, reconfigure existing fuel lines and build a new ship store on the Spokane River.
Post Falls residents Scott and Sheryl Scofield, Jose Jara and Dick Teich filed for an administrative hearing to contest the proposal, objecting to the additional boat slips.
The Marina 33 expansion would add 127 slips to the Templin’s holdings.
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Stop Invasive Species Before They Take Root!
Posted February 26, 2025
Not all threats to Idaho’s forests are here yet—and we’re working to keep it that way.
The spongy moth is a destructive defoliator that has devastated forests in the eastern U.S. Luckily, it’s not established in Idaho—and IDL’s Forest Health Team is working hard to keep it out!
Every year, our experts lead a statewide trapping survey to detect and eliminate any new introductions before they can spread. This proactive approa…
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