Ralph previously noted how the Western Lands Project monitors public land privatization, which let people know about a great book, Carving Up the Commons (pdf), freely available for download. The book gives great history and analysis of. Here’s a recent book review :
Required reading: How Congress crafts public land bills – Missoula Independent
Perhaps the most succinct summary is provided by former congressional public lands committees staffer Erica Rosenberg in the introduction.
“Armed with insider know-how, Janine distills an astoundingly complex political process into an accessible manual. Although the process remains unwieldy, Janine’s illumination of the legal framework and political context makes it far less so. In Carving Up the Commons, Janine has provided a much needed window into a shady world of back-room deals, special interests and cronyism, while offering pragmatic information and a tactful approach to citizen involvement.”
