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?
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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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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/)