January, in brief
What you may have missed and need to know
Key news from January:
- The Trump administration announced a proposal to weaken how federal agencies will handle environmental reviews for energy and infrastructure projects under the National Environmental Policy Act. The Center for Western Priorities reviewed ways the administration has systematically cut the public out of land management decisions.
- The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed weakening enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, preventing oil and gas companies from being held liable for most migratory bird deaths. The action was requested by Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s former client.
- The Trump administration plans to remove protections from more than half of America’s wetlands, giving property owners and developers the green light to dump pesticides and fertilizers directly into waterways and destroy wetlands for construction projects.
- Interior Secretary David Bernhardt signed a Secretarial Order to restructure the agency’s Freedom of Information Act, which could further hinder the public disclosure of information.
- Methane emissions from venting and flaring in New Mexico’s booming Permian Basin have doubled since 2017.
- New legislation would stop federal land managers from auctioning off parcels of public land that have little potential for oil and gas development.
- Interior Secretary David Bernhardt extended the temporary appointment of anti-public lands extremist William Perry Pendley to continue to oversee the Bureau of Land Management.
- The House Natural Resources Chairman wants answers from Interior officials on how the Bureau of Land Management headquarters move was justified and is closer to issuing subpoenas over documents. Bureau of Land Management employees are working towards unionizing over the move.
What to watch for in February:
- Colorado College will be releasing its 10th anniversary State of the Rockies Poll on February 20th.
- Public hearings over the proposed NEPA rollbacks will be held in Denver and Washington D.C.
- The Trump administration could release Resource Management Plans for the remaining lands in Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments.
Best Reads of the Month:
The road to the Green New Deal lies through the Department of the Interior
Koch-backed group waged relentless, well-funded campaign to rescind Bears Ears National Monument
Under Trump administration, environmental agencies run by extractive industry veterans
Former clients of Interior Secretary Bernhardt ramp up lobbying under Trump administration
Top Interior lawyer falsely testified to Congress about contact and meetings with Koch network
Interior is speeding harm to lands before election day
From the Center for Western Priorities:
Cutting the Public Out of Public Lands
An analysis of millions of public comments submitted in response to 10 major Interior Department rule changes shows the extent to which the public has opposed policies proposed by the Trump administration. Although more than 95 percent of public comments opposed each of the proposed rule changes, Interior ultimately moved forward with 8 of the 10 proposals.
Tracking the Interior Department’s remaining policy changes impacting lands, water, and wildlife
An analysis by the Center for Western Priorities identifies 74 policies the Interior Department is seeking to implement, further weakening protections for wildlife and expanding fossil fuel development on public lands.
Westwise Blog:
Time for public lands to step up to the climate plate
Coal’s demise highlights the necessity of Interior Department action to reduce carbon emissions
How inaction on climate change threatens skiing and public lands recreation
Whether it is in the sun or the snow, climate change is impacting your recreation on public lands
Go West, Young Podcast:
Climate in Colorado
Garrett Garner-Wells of Conservation Colorado joins us with a look at why Colorado has become “an island of sanity” on climate policy.
Quote of the month:
The job of BLM leaders in Washington, D.C. is to make decisions that respond to directives from the president and Congress. Moving them west won’t change that dynamic — but it could impoverish agency decision making in several ways.”
Picture this:
