We’re back after a short break with an urgent update on threats to U.S. public lands, major environmental policy rollbacks, and ongoing oil and gas fights in New Mexico.

Main Topics Covered:

• USDA’s plan to reorganize and consolidate Forest Service operations.

• The SPEED Act and its potential to roll back NEPA protections.

• Oil and gas accountability battles in New Mexico: abandoned wells and fracking wastewater.

• Sneak peek of the Ecocide pilot episode on the Boundary Waters mining threat.

Subscribe to our newsletter for in-depth coverage and extra stories we don’t have time for on the podcast: theoutdoorminimalist.com

Subscribe to our YouTube channel (@theoutdoorminimalist) so you don’t miss the Ecocide pilot episode release this September

Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Resources & Links:

• USDA reorganization info & public comment: ⁠

  Email reorganization@usda.gov⁠

• Outdoor Alliance Action Alert: https://www.outdooralliance.org/blog/2025/8/7/the-forest-service-wants-to-hear-from-you-about-its-staffing-and-reorganization-plan ⁠

• NEPA Rollbacks & the SPEED Act: https://westernlaw.org/nepa-rollback-bill-speed-act-would-threaten-environment-communities-provide-legal-immunity-to-polluters/

• Abandoned wells in New Mexico: https://westernlaw.org/coalition-of-environmental-groups-tribal-leaders-experts-public-health-and-environmental-safety-public-funds-protection-central-to-preventing-abandoned-wells-in-nm/

• Fracking wastewater ban challenge: ⁠https://westernlaw.org/the-fix-is-in-clean-water-advocates-file-objection-in-big-oil-bid-to-reverse-state-ban-on-fracking-wastewater-discharge/

• Save the Boundary Waters update: https://www.savetheboundarywaters.org/did-twin-metals-just-get-leases-mine-watershed-boundary-waters-nope

We're taking a short break from regular episodes while we film our new YouTube series: Ecocide.

Ecocide: the destruction of large areas of the natural environment as a consequence of human activity

Ecocide is going to be an ongoing investigative video project that explores how extractive industries, like mining, impact wild spaces, clean water access, and outdoor recreation economies.

Our first episode, launching early September, takes you into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, where we’re partnering with Friends of the Boundary Waters to examine the growing threats of copper-nickel mining and climate change.

This series will be exclusively available on YouTube, and this episode is a pilot — a test run to gauge interest and support. If it resonates, we’ll grow it into a recurring reporting series.

To stay independent, we rarely accept brand sponsorships. That means we rely on support from listeners and viewers like you.

Want to help us produce more stories like this?

→ Donate directly: buymeacoffee.com/outdoorminimalist

→ Subscribe and share the video on YouTube once it launches.

Thank you for supporting clean water, public lands, and responsible storytelling.

We’ll be back with new podcast episodes on Friday, August 15.

We can’t shop our way out of climate change. And we definitely can’t rely on capitalism to save the planet. But what happens when a brand tries to flip that script?

In the outdoor industry, we’ve seen a rising trend: companies weaving sustainability and advocacy into their marketing. But are those efforts genuine, or just another version of greenwashed consumerism? Can a brand really center advocacy over product—and still survive?

To explore this topic from a brand’s perspective, in episode 192 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re talking with Matt Moreau.

Matt is the founder and CEO of The Landmark Project, an outdoor lifestyle brand known for its art-forward designs, sustainable apparel, and advocacy for public lands. Under Matt’s leadership, The Landmark Project has grown from a small, garage-based print shop into a nationally recognized brand sold in retail stores and national parks across the U.S. Passionate about connecting people with the outdoors, Matt has shaped the company’s mission around celebrating and protecting natural places through thoughtful design, meaningful partnerships, and a commitment to conservation.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-----------------

Landmark Project

Website: https://thelandmarkproject.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelandmarkproject

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-landmark-project/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thelandmarkproject

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/landmarkproject

In this episode, we cover two urgent and unfolding stories:

1. The Trump administration’s rollback of safeguards in the Western Arctic with Andy Moderow from the Alaska Wilderness League

2. The USDA’s plan to rescind the Roadless Rule with Jamie Ervin from Outdoor Alliance

These changes could open millions of acres of public lands to industrial development.

But there’s still time to take action.

Make a comment on development in the Western Arctic: https://alaskawild.org/

Write to lawmakers about the Roadless Rule: https://www.outdooralliance.org/roadless

Want more updates?
Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get the full public lands news roundup delivered straight to your inbox:
🔗 www.theoutdoorminimalist.com

Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Other Resources:

• ⁠Alaska Wilderness League response⁠ (https://alaskawild.org/blog/interior-withdraws-special-area-safeguards-in-npr-a-advancing-oil-and-gas-agenda/)

• ⁠DOI press release on NPR-A⁠ (https://www.doi.gov/pressreleases/interior-withdraws-restrictive-special-area-policies-alaskas-national-petroleum)

• ⁠USDA Press Release⁠ (https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2025/06/23/secretary-rollins-rescinds-roadless-rule-eliminating-impediment-responsible-forest-management)

  Roadless Rule Timeline – Earthjustice⁠ (https://earthjustice.org/feature/timeline-of-the-roadless-rule)

• NRDC Press Release – Legal Action on Campbell Plant⁠ (https://www.nrdc.org/press-releases/public-advocacy-groups-take-trump-administration-court-illegal-coal-plant-extension)

When we think about reducing the environmental impact of our outdoor gear, we often focus on the materials we can see, like recycled fabrics or plant-based alternatives.

But what about the processes behind the scenes? A significant portion of the climate footprint actually comes from the production process of those materials.

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at insulation and the invisible side of sustainability in outdoor manufacturing.

I’m joined by Andrea Paulson, the SVP of Innovation and Technology at PrimaLoft Inc., the global leader in high-performance, sustainable insulation. Andrea has over two decades of product development, engineering, manufacturing, and functional testing experience. At PrimaLoft, Andrea guides her team towards breakthrough innovation on both data-driven highways, and creative dusty-switchbacks.

At the heart of today’s conversation is PrimaLoft P.U.R.E.—a manufacturing method that reduces carbon emissions by more than 50% compared to conventional processes.

As of January 2025, PrimaLoft’s flagship Gold Insulation is now made exclusively using P.U.R.E., a milestone in their shift toward cleaner production and renewable energy integration.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-----------------

PrimaLoft

Website: https://primaloft.com/

PrimaLoft P.U.R.E: https://primaloft.com/pure/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrimaLoft/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primaloft/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/primaloft-inc-/

This week in the Outdoor Minimalist public lands news review, we cover:

• USDA’s major reorganization plan

  • What it means for the U.S. Forest Service and wildfire response

  • How agency relocations and office closures could impact conservation work

  • Centralization of services like civil rights, tribal affairs, and grants management

• H.R. 1 “The Big Ugly Bill” with 🎙️ Guest: Justin Meuse, Government Relations Director for Climate and Energy at The Wilderness Society

  • How it opens up over 200 million acres of public lands to oil and gas drilling

• Federal funding updates

  • Budget cuts to the National Wildlife Refuge System

  • EPA enforcement and staffing reductions

• Culture war policy in parks

  • Enactment of proposals to restrict education on climate change, Indigenous history, and LGBTQ+ history in National Parks

• State-level conservation wins

  • Vermont’s wildlife corridor law

  • Texas’ vote to protect the Fairfield Lake site

  • New York’s new bird-safe buildings legislation

  • Virginia’s trail access protections

Subscribe to the full newsletter at theoutdoorminimalist.com

Have tips, testimonials, or insights on public land changes? Submit them through our Google Form (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/JwC73G8wLvU6kedc9⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

Links & Resources:

• ⁠Wilderness Society: “Open for Drilling” Report⁠ (https://www.wilderness.org/articles/press-release/map-reveals-200-million-acres-now-open-oil-and-gas-drilling)

• ⁠Refuge Association on House Budget Cuts⁠ (https://www.refugeassociation.org/press-releases/2025/7/23/house-funding-bill-chips-away-at-national-wildlife-refuges-with-deep-cuts-amp-damaging-riders)

  American Bird Conservancy State Legislation Wins⁠ (https://abcbirds.org/news/state-legislation-wins-july-2025/)

In episode 190 of the Outdoor Minimalist podcast, we’re discussing urgent threats facing wildlife protections in the United States: the ongoing dismantling of the Endangered Species Act under the Trump Administration.

The ESA has long been considered the backbone of wildlife conservation in this country, credited with saving iconic species like the bald eagle and the gray wolf.

But legislative and administrative changes are eroding the very foundation of this landmark law and pushing for changes that could reshape how, or even if, we protect threatened and endangered species in the years to come.

Joining me to break this all down is Ramona McGee, Senior Attorney and Wildlife Program Leader at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Based in North Carolina, Ramona has been on the legal front lines for nearly a decade, defending the rich and often overlooked biodiversity of the South.

In this conversation, we explore what’s at stake if the legal definition of “harm” disappears from federal wildlife protections, how these changes could affect ecosystems and communities across the South, and the industries poised to benefit from deregulation.

INSTAGRAM: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/outdoor.minimalist.book/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

WEBSITE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theoutdoorminimalist.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

YOUTUBE: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theoutdoorminimalist⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

LISTENER SURVEY: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://forms.gle/jd8UCN2LL3AQst976⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-----------------

Southern Environmental Law Center

Website: https://www.selc.org/

Ramona McGee: https://www.selc.org/staff/ramona-mcgee/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/southernenvironment/

Podcast: https://www.selc.org/broken-ground-podcast/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southern-environmental-law-center/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/selcva