** States oppose National Environmental Policy Act rollback
------------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, March 12, 2020
Browns Canyon National Monument in Colorado, one of the states opposing the rollback, BLM Colorado ([link removed])
In January, the Trump administration announced sweeping changes to the National Environmental Policy Act, one of the country's bedrock conservation laws. The comment period for the regulatory change ended yesterday, and many states voiced opposition to the rollback. Attorneys general from 18 states called on ([link removed]) the administration to withdraw the proposal, emphasizing that "these changes grant extraordinary discretion to federal agencies and project proponents while limiting consideration of environmental and public health impacts from federal actions."
The rollback would limit the scope and timeline of the review process, which is used to assess the environmental and cultural impacts of government projects. The new rule "would trade reasoned and informed decision making for unjustified expedience," the attorneys general argue ([link removed]) .
** Taxpayers paid billions to clean up mines
------------------------------------------------------------
A new report ([link removed]) from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that over the past decade, taxpayers have paid $2 billion ([link removed]) to clean up mining sites, and there are still nearly 600,000 sites on federal land that will cost billions more. Although mining companies are required to put up bonds intended to cover the reclamation costs, companies only paid $1 billion of the $3 billion spent over the past decade, leaving taxpayers to cover twice as much as polluters.
Quick hits
** Utah natural gas plant could help curb flaring on Navajo Nation
------------------------------------------------------------
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** States ask Trump administration to withdraw environmental rollback
------------------------------------------------------------
The Hill ([link removed]) | Colorado Springs Gazette ([link removed])
** Watchdog report finds mine cleanup has cost taxpayers billions
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Glenwood Springs group sues over mine expansion
------------------------------------------------------------
Associated Press ([link removed]) | Post Independent ([link removed]) | Aspen Daily News ([link removed])
** After oil crash, Utah lease sale draws few bidders
------------------------------------------------------------
Reuters ([link removed])
** Reflecting on ten years of conservation in the West
------------------------------------------------------------
Westwise ([link removed])
** Wyoming proposes bringing in new sage-grouse to boost population
------------------------------------------------------------
Jackson Hole News&Guide ([link removed])
** Opinion: We must demand our government decrease emissions from public lands
------------------------------------------------------------
The Hill ([link removed])
Quote of the day
This year, the data in New Mexico, for example, shows that oil and gas companies reported releasing three times as much methane as they did the year prior. All the while, technology is supposedly getting better as new systems are in place. But what we see is really unchecked releases of methane into the atmosphere…. In a place like the Four Corners region where you’ve already got levels of methane that are literally detectable from space, that’s a problem.”
—Jesse Prentice-Dunn, Policy Director at the Center for Western Priorities, Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Picture this
** @Interior ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Explore another world at Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness. No spacesuit required! Take that @NASA ([link removed]) .
Pic courtesy of Jeremy Walls #NewMexico ([link removed])
============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2020 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
