Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Senators push BLM to update oil and gas bonding rates
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Friday, October 27, 2023
Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])
A coalition of U.S. senators, led by Colorado and New Mexico's delegations, are pushing the Bureau of Land Management ([link removed]) to finish updating the bonding requirements for oil and gas companies that drill on American public lands.
“Our public lands are essential to fishing and hunting, wildlife and land conservation, livestock grazing, and our states’ outdoor recreation economies. However, orphaned wells left behind by oil and gas companies litter our landscapes,” wrote the senators in a letter released by Senator Michael Bennet's office ([link removed]) . “These wells leak powerful, climate-harming methane emissions, release other dangerous pollution affecting our air, water, and wildlife, and prevent lands from being used for other purposes.”
The current minimum bonds that oil and gas companies must post in order to extract publicly-owned oil and gas haven't been updated in 50 years, and the Government Accountability Office has warned that taxpayers face millions of dollars in liability ([link removed]) when drillers abandon wells without cleaning up.
The rates were on track to be overhauled in the Inflation Reduction Act, but the provisions were removed ([link removed]) on procedural grounds by the Senate parliamentarian. The Interior Department then proposed to update its bonding rates as part of its oil and gas leasing rule ([link removed]) . Ninety-nine percent of public comments ([link removed]) encouraged the agency to finalize or even strengthen the final rule.
** Quick hits
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BLM battles misinformation, distrust on Wyoming land use plan
New York Times ([link removed])
Conservationists rally against possible billionaire homes in Grand Teton National Park
Jackson Hole News & Guide ([link removed])
Colorado’s latest tool to fight forest fires: Mushrooms
Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Four rare and endangered wildflowers given federal protections in Southern California
Salon ([link removed])
Conservationists unveil campaign to save Great Salt Lake
E&E News ([link removed])
10-year study finds cattle and sage-grouse can coexist, even help each other
Idaho Business Review ([link removed])
Opinion: Better oil and gas management benefits everyone
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])
Specialized wheelchairs to bring more opportunity for outdoor exploration in Colorado
KRCC ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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”
At some point, we have to say where can we balance industry with making sure we protect the public lands we love to recreate on. It’s a way of life, using our public lands, so I get why everyone is leading with emotion on this. We’re a very red state and it’s to the point where people believe anything Biden is bad.”
—Former Wyoming oil and gas worker RJ Pieper, New York Times ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
Despite the name, red foxes can range in color from red, silver, black or a cross between red and silver, known as "cross fox." A prominent, white-tipped tail is a distinguishing feature they all share.
These gorgeous creatures have excellent eyesight, a keen sense of smell and acute hearing. They can hear a mouse squeak more than 100 feet away and often dive or dig in the snow to catch their prey!
Photo by Jodi Garrison
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