Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities


** Are oil and gas leasing reforms being implemented in Nevada?
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Monday, April 3, 2023
Modern oil and gas drill rig and pad near Railroad Valley. Source: BLM Nevada, Flickr ([link removed])

The landmark Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) passed last year contained important and overdue reforms to federal oil and gas leasing, a system that had long benefited the fossil fuels industry. Among the reforms in the IRA was an effort to crack down on speculative leasing ([link removed]) which allows companies to lease public land for up to ten years without developing it for oil and gas production, thereby preventing the land from being managed for other purposes, including conservation, recreation, and wildlife.

The problem of speculative leasing is particularly rampant in Nevada, but an upcoming lease sale by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has raised concerns the agency is shirking the reforms ([link removed]) outlined in the IRA, according to reporting by The Nevada Independent ([link removed]) . In November, the BLM released an internal memorandum ([link removed]) providing guidance for enforcing the oil and gas reforms in the IRA that recommended federal land managers reject all nominations that are over three years old or submitted anonymously. But in Nevada, more than 50,000 acres that meet BLM's criteria for rejection are being considered for a lease sale in July.

“What we've found is that in Nevada, 89 percent of the 63,000 acres that they are preparing to lease off were nominated more than three years ago,” said ([link removed]) Aaron Weiss, deputy director of the Center for Western Priorities. “[This land] shouldn’t even be up for consideration.”

The BLM is still reviewing the parcels proposed for Nevada’s July lease sale. A spokesperson for the agency said ([link removed]) it will comply with the recommendations of the instruction memoranda for implementing the reforms in the IRA, but would not say whether it will remove the Nevada land parcels nominated anonymously and more than three years ago from consideration.
Quick hits


** For the first time, U.S. renewable energy generation beat coal
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Popular Science ([link removed])


** California salmon fishers face prospect of canceled season
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CNN ([link removed])


** Are oil and gas leasing reforms being implemented in Nevada?
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The Nevada Independent ([link removed])


** Eastern New Mexico ranchers unite to help save imperiled lesser prairie chicken
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** Interior's proposal to lease public lands for conservation
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CNBC ([link removed])


** Mining giant Rio Tinto faces shareholder revolt over 70% executive pay hike, broken promises
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City AM ([link removed])


** Colorado's wildfire season has begun. Here's how counties are preparing
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Why the U.S. leads the world in weather catastrophes
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Associated Press ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” In New Mexico, this is the last stand. It’s not just slapping down an easement. It’s doing long-term conservation. They (the birds) need large, unfragmented prairies. They need grassland.”
—Wayne Walker, CEO of LPC Conservation, Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])
Picture this


** @BLMNational ([link removed])
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BREAKING NEWS: #Aliens ([link removed]) have been spotted on #YourPublicLands ([link removed]) . They do not appear to be hostile. One of them asked for directions to recreation areas across the country! Seems like they are just on #Vacation ([link removed]) and looking for fun on public lands. Happy #AprilFools ([link removed]) Day!

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