** Bernhardt promises former clients cuts to oil royalties
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Thursday, April 9, 2020
Offshore oil and gas platforms | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management ([link removed])
As oil markets collapse, oil industry players and their allies in Congress have asked the Trump administration to reduce or suspend royalty payments companies make for producing publicly-owned oil and gas, money that is then divvied up between state and federal governments. Such a move would deprive states of critically-needed revenue ([link removed]) in the economic downturn, while benefitting former clients of Interior Secretary David Bernhardt.
While President Trump is rumored to oppose ([link removed]) a blanket suspension of royalties, Secretary Bernhardt, a former oil lobbyist, has promised that he will swiftly reduce ([link removed]) royalties for any company that asks for it. One former client ([link removed]) in particular stands to benefit—the main trade association representing offshore drillers, the National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), which cheered the idea in a press release ([link removed]) last week.
A new Center for Western Priorities analysis ([link removed]) finds companies on NOIA's board of directors paid $3.8 billion in oil and gas royalties in 2018 alone, and $19.4 billion in royalties from 2013-2018. Similarly, companies that met last week with President Trump paid $6 billion in royalties over six years.
Quick hits
** With no coronavirus guidance from the top, national parks face vandalism, trespassing, and even arson
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National Geographic ([link removed]) | Government Executive ([link removed])
** Former chair of White House Council on Environmental Quality defends bedrock environmental law
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Westwise ([link removed])
** Trump administration forges ahead with agenda, environmental rollbacks amid pandemic
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** Scientists worry BLM plan to prevent wildfires may actually make them worse
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Bloomberg Environment ([link removed])
** Permian oil and gas flaring emissions are triple EPA estimates, according to new study
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed]) | Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])
** Forest Service discourages dispersed camping amid coronavirus, wildfire concerns
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Denver Post ([link removed])
** Interior Department to open more national wildlife refuges to hunting
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Bloomberg Environment ([link removed])
** Coronavirus tears across Navajo Nation
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New York Times ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Oil and gas companies have a core responsibility to protect health, safety and the environment. This data shows that operators in the Permian are failing to meet that basic obligation.”
—Matt Watson, Environmental Defense Fund, Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])
Picture this
** @Interior ([link removed])
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Compared to the 150 million year old fossils @DinosaurNPS ([link removed]) , these canyons are new additions to the landscape #Colorado ([link removed]) #Utah ([link removed]) #VirtualVisit ([link removed])
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