New report details state conservation leadership and more
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Biden releases final oil and gas rule
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Monday, April 15, 2024
California oil and gas. Photo by Bob Wick, BLM. ([link removed])
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) released its final Oil and Gas Rule ([link removed]) last Friday, bringing forth long-overdue updates ([link removed]) to the regulations governing onshore oil and gas development on national public lands ([link removed]) .
The Biden administration inherited a federal oil and gas program that was broken and rigged in favor of the oil and gas industry ([link removed]) . In August 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), an important piece of legislation that brought about some long-overdue changes to the federal oil and gas leasing program, including the first-ever increase to the onshore royalty rate for new leases in over 100 years and the elimination of the practice of leasing lands “non-competitively” for just $1.50 per acre. Less than a year later, the BLM proposed new rules for the onshore leasing system ([link removed]) to reflect the provisions in the IRA and address other issues that have long plagued the program, such as outdated bonding rates that for decades have allowed oil and gas companies to shift the responsibility for cleaning up federal well sites onto taxpayers.
“The reforms in the final Oil and Gas Rule are common-sense and long overdue. Updating royalty, rental, and bonding rates—and ensuring those rates don’t fall out of date again in the future—ensures a fair return for taxpayers and is the fiscally responsible thing to do,” said ([link removed]) Center for Western Priorities Policy Director Rachael Hamby. The rule also discourages companies from locking up lands they are not actually interested in drilling.
According to a sentiment analysis ([link removed]) conducted by the Center for Western Priorities, the final Oil and Gas Rule has overwhelming support. CWP's analysis found that over 99 percent of the public comments on the rule encouraged the Interior Department to adopt the rule largely as written.
A closer look at state leadership to conserve nature
As momentum builds nationally to address the nature and climate crises, state leaders across the country have stepped up with a variety of measures aimed at conserving lands and waters. A new report ([link removed]) from the Center for American Progress (CAP) and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators reviews a variety of land conservation policy models that have been adopted at the state level ([link removed]) —from the tried and true to creative new approaches—highlighting recent examples of each. “While recent state actions are encouraging, more is still needed,” said ([link removed]) Drew McConville, senior fellow at CAP and a co-author of the report. “As the pace of nature loss and
species extinctions grows, scaling up the impact will require even more committed leadership and deeper investment from governors and legislators, as well as effective support from Congress and federal agencies.”
** Quick hits
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Biden releases final oil and gas rule
Associated Press ([link removed]'s%20rule%20raises,remained%20unchanged%20for%20a%20century.) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | Wyoming Public Media ([link removed]) | KRQE ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Blog: In defense of the BLM's Oil and Gas Rule
Westwise ([link removed])
Poll: Where do you stand on designating the Dolores Canyons region as a national monument?
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])
Feds' renewable energy rule provides new assistance for wind and solar projects
New Mexico Political Report ([link removed]) | Cowboy State Daily ([link removed])
Four South Dakota Tribes block Gov. Noem from visiting their lands after her remarks stoke fears, denigrate heritage
New York Times ([link removed])
Report: Taking CO2 out of the air is an absurdly expensive way to fight climate change
The Verge ([link removed])
Men caught on camera destroying ancient rock formations in national park
FOX5 ([link removed])
Conservation easements eyed for Western groundwater
E&E News ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” The Biden administration knows the value of protecting our public lands to combat climate change and ensure our communities have access to the outdoors. I look forward to working with them to safeguard some of California’s most treasured natural landscapes and ensure they are around for future generations to enjoy.”
—California Senator Alex Padilla, New York Times ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
We could all use a bit of sunshine.
A male collared lizard enjoys the sun and shows off its vibrant colors at the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in Colorado.
Often seen around the ruins and on rocks, these colorful reptiles can run on their hind legs, giving them an enormous stride and helping them run away from danger.
Photo by Bob Wick / @mypubliclands ([link removed])
#moutainboomer ([link removed]) #lizard ([link removed]) #wildlife ([link removed])
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