Presentations and Resources from the 2026 Friends Summit Day 2
New NEPA Regulations and Guidance (Updated April 2026)
Our presenter, Davina Smith-Idjesa, Co-Chair of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition, provides her lived-experience perspective on how nonprofit organizations can engage with Tribal Nations in respectful, ethical, and effective ways.
Join us for a round-table webinar dedicated to building resilient, long-term partnerships between Friends groups and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Sarah Burak, Education Director at the Bears Ears Partnership (BEP), presents on her organization's Dark Skies Program.
This comprehensive Policy Handbook details the foundation and future vision for the National Conservation Lands
While National Conservation Lands are generally protected from oil and gas development, adjacent leasing and drilling can undermine their ecological integrity and conservation values. Oil and gas planning and leasing remains a critical area of engagement to safeguard vulnerable BLM lands—including Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs) and lands with wilderness characteristics—that may be eligible for future conservation designations. This training will provide an overview of how the Bureau of Land Management’s oil and gas program works—from long-range planning in Resource Management Plans (RMPs) to individual lease sales—and how the Friends Grassroots Network can effectively engage at every stage. Participants will learn how oil and gas development decisions are made on public lands, including how areas are designated for leasing, how lease sales are conducted, and where public input fits into the process. The attached resources will also cover threats to public lands and conservation goals posed by recent policy shifts, administrative rollbacks, or expanded leasing efforts. Explore: How the oil and gas program is structured and how decisions move from RMPs to lease sales. Where and when grassroots advocates can intervene effectively. Strategies for submitting public comments, organizing community pressure, and using local media and storytelling to elevate. About our presenters: Nashoba Consulting was formed by Nada Wolff Culver, former Principal Deputy Director for the BLM, and Natalie Landreth, former Deputy Solicitor for Lands for the Department of the Interior, to connect Tribes and the public with their public lands - and each other - drawing from their extensive experience working with advocates and the federal government on public lands and Tribal policy issues. 📚 Resources From The Webinar: CLF Workshop - Oil and Gas 101 DOI New NEPA Regs - Guidance - Advocating for Public Lands Current DOI Authority Governing Lease Sales BLM Planning Process Flowchart Leasing Flowchart 2025
These tools will train participants to write strong, effective comments in response to BLM Resource Management Plans (RMPs) and other implementation activities without relying on weakened NEPA regulations. The materials presented focus on using enduring statutory authorities—FLPMA, NHPA, and National Conservation Lands laws—to ground comments in legal requirements that remain intact. Further, we’ll discuss high-level talking points to keep campaigns on message, rather than succumbing to distracting announcements from the administration. Key Objectives: Learn how to utilize enduring legal mandates to write strong comments. Use FLPMA’s multiple-use and sustained yield requirements and the laws and mission of the National Conservation Lands to challenge extraction-heavy plans. Emphasize NHPA’s consultation obligations and the need to protect cultural/historic resources. About our presenters: Nashoba Consulting was formed by Nada Wolff Culver, former Principal Deputy Director for the BLM, and Natalie Landreth, former Deputy Solicitor for Lands for the Department of the Interior. 📚 Resources From The Webinar: Workshop slides BLM planning process flowchart Advocating for public lands in the new NEPA environment Advocating for BLM landscapes through commenting Relevant laws and regulations for comments
Bruce Passmore of TREC co-hosted our August call as we rolled out our National Public Lands Day Action campaign. Viewers will learn about events from around the Network and access tips to assist their NPLD activities.
