** Rollbacks continue despite pandemic
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Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Environmental policy rollbacks continue despite the outbreak ([link removed])
Despite the pandemic, the Trump administration is continuing to advance rollbacks of environmental policies. The Center for Western Priorities updated its ongoing tracker ([link removed]) , finding 76 policies Interior is seeking to implement, including efforts to expand fossil fuel development on public lands and further weaken protections for wildlife.
Currently, the White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing ([link removed]) seven controversial Interior Department proposed and final rules, which may soon be published in the Federal Register. Within the last two weeks, OMB has ([link removed]) held ([link removed]) meetings ([link removed]) with executives from the American Petroleum Institute, ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips, Shell, BP, Occidental Petroleum, and the Independent Petroleum Association of America on a proposal to reopen loopholes allowing oil and gas companies to skirt royalty payments to taxpayers on publicly-owned oil and
gas.
As the country continues to fight the coronavirus pandemic, organizations representing the nation’s states, cities, and counties have called for a formal pause ([link removed]) on all active comment periods, stating they are unable to provide thoughtful input. Yet, the administration continues to move forward with rulemakings and announce new public comment periods.
Quick hits
** Interior moves forward with oil and gas lease sales, changes to Migratory Bird Treaty Act during outbreak
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | Reuters ([link removed]) | Westwise ([link removed])
** Oil industry group asks Trump administration to lessen regulations amid coronavirus
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The Hill ([link removed])
** Congress debates how to help fossil fuels and renewable energy in coronavirus stimulus measure
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** More public lands in New Mexico to be leased to oil and gas industry as market collapses
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])
** Layoffs whip through Wyoming coal, oil, gas industries
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
** With oil price crash, coal becomes world's most expensive fossil fuel
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Bloomberg ([link removed])
** Interior, Agriculture Departments under fire for encouraging continued visits to parks and national forests
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | Mountain Journal ([link removed]) (opinion)
** Secretary Bernhardt orders Interior employees to work from home
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E&E News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
.@Interior ([link removed]) just started a protest period for its May New Mexico oil and gas lease sale but protests must be filed by hand or mail--forcing citizens to violate the state's #coronavirus ([link removed]) order. The sales must be halted or the public must be given another way to protest. #nmpol ([link removed]) "
—@WstrnPriorities ([link removed])
Picture this
** Some of the most amazing geologic formations are in the Owyhee Canyonlands | @BLMOregon ([link removed])
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