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Don’t Sacrifice the Desert National Wildlife Refuge!

Wilderness Watch generally doesn’t ask our members and supporters to comment on issues not directly affecting designated Wilderness, but right now Congress is debating whether to turn over nearly 1 million acres, including potential Wilderness, of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) to the military for training.

On July 1, the House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act by notoriously anti-public lands Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) that would give the U.S. Air Force control over 850,000 acres of the Desert NWR in southern Nevada. The Air Force has had its sights on the Desert NWR as a potential expansion of its Nevada Test and Training Range.

The 1.6 million-acre Desert NWR is our nation’s largest refuge in the lower 48 and is home to native wildlife such as desert bighorn and desert tortoise. The amendment would remove five percent of all refuge lands in the lower 48 states from our National Wildlife Refuge System.

The Nevada state legislature, Governor, and congressional delegation have all spoken loudly against the amendment, but the military and its allies in Congress are pressing on.

Please urge your Representative to oppose this giant land grab and to protect the Desert National Wildlife Refuge in Nevada. A vote by the full House could come early next week, so please take action today.

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Raise Your Voice to Defend Wilderness and Wildlife on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho!

House

Subject: Don't give away the Desert National Wildlife Refuge

Message:

I urge you to oppose the amendment to the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act by Rep. Rob Bishop (R-UT) that would give the U.S. Air Force control over 850,000 acres of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in southern Nevada. The 1.6 million-acre Desert NWR is our nation’s larges in the lower 48 and is home to native wildlife such as desert bighorn and desert tortoise. The amendment would remove five percent of all refuge lands in the lower 48 states from our National Wildlife Refuge System. Our National Wildlife Refuge system was created specifically to conserve and protect wildlife across the country. The amendment to cede control of nearly 1 million acres of the Desert NWR to the Air Force runs counter to this purpose, as these lands would cease to serve as a refuge for the wildlife that lives there. The Air Force could build roads, drop zones, and other developments, and drop bombs and conduct other military training, including within proposed Wilderness. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would have zero authority to override Air Force decisions on these lands. The Nevada state legislature, Governor, and the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee have all so far opposed the Air Force takeover of this national wildlife refuge. I urge you to join the opposition to sacrificing our Desert National Wildlife Refuge to the Air Force. Please vote against Rep. Bishop's amendment to the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act.

Remaining:

Don’t Sacrifice the Desert National Wildlife Refuge!

Raise Your Voice to Defend Wilderness and Wildlife on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in Idaho!

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