** Colorado regulators delay implementation of oil and gas reforms
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Wednesday, April 1, 2020
Credit: Colorado State Land Board ([link removed])

With increasing restrictions to fight the coronavirus pandemic, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) will postpone public hearings ([link removed]) on the implementation of the landmark oil and gas reform legislation passed by the state legislature and signed into law by Governor Jared Polis last year.

Jeff Robbins, the director of the COGCC said of the decision ([link removed]) , "These rule-makings are very important. They’re very complex. They have stakeholders that have vastly different perspectives about the right place to land with regards to issues around the rule-makings." As part of the law's requirements, state agencies are in the process of writing new rules related to air quality, underground oil and gas lines, the structural integrity of wells, and public involvement on proposed oil and gas development.

Jeremy Nichols, the climate change energy program director with WildEarth Guardians expressed misgiving about the contradictory nature of suspending a rule-making process while continuing to lease oil and gas, saying ([link removed]) , "They want to help us through this crisis, but they’re still approving (drilling) permits. Let’s not keep the permit machine going even as they delay rule-making on public health safeguards for Colorado." The new law requires a policy shift from emphasizing the development of oil and gas to balancing that objective with other priorities, including public health, safety and the environment.


** Podcast: Environmental rollbacks in the time of coronavirus, and why NEPA matters
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In the latest episode of the Center for Western Priorities' "Go West, Young Podcast ([link removed]) ," we discuss how the Trump administration is using the Coronavirus pandemic as cover for its environmental rollbacks; then former White House official Christy Goldfuss explains why the National Environmental Policy Act is so important.
Quick hits


** Massive amounts of water are freed for other use as coal power plants shut down
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Despite calls for closure, national parks remain open after seven park service employees test positive for COVID-19
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed])


** Podcast: Environmental rollbacks in the time of coronavirus, and why NEPA matters
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Go West, Young Podcast ([link removed])


** Colorado regulators delay implementation of oil and gas reform law
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Denver Post ([link removed])


** Trump administration's proposal to gut the Migratory Bird Treaty Act could lead to billions of bird deaths
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | Al Jazeera ([link removed])


** Interior Secretary David Bernhardt tells employees to "fulfill their duties and responsibilities" in face of pandemic
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Bloomberg Environment ([link removed]) | National Parks Traveler ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Groups call on BLM to halt leasing of oil and gas on public lands during coronavirus pandemic
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** Opinion: Federal government is weakening rules to protect air, water & wildlife during pandemic
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Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Removing that obligation [to assess criminal penalties against companies for unintentional bird deaths], if it stands, over the next several decades will result in billions of birds being casualties. It will be catastrophic.”
—Former U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director, Dan Ashe ([link removed])
Picture this


** @ ([link removed]) USFWS ([link removed])
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Think Kenny Loggins had Clark’s grebes in mind when he wrote “Footloose,” which hit No. 1 today in 1984? Their courtship includes “rushing” across the water. They resemble synchronized water skiers. This and more bird dance moves: [link removed] ([link removed]) Photo by Dave Menke/USFWS

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