"How do we know if we are on track to meeting those targets?"
Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Colorado gets ready to measure methane
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Wednesday, May 29, 2024
Methane flaring from oil and gas operations in Coalmont, Colorado. Tony Webster, Wikimedia Commons ([link removed])
Colorado is about to start measuring how much methane pollution the state's oil and gas operations release into the atmosphere. The Colorado Sun reports ([link removed]) that the Air Quality Control Commission adopted methane intensity regulations last July, and finalized protocols for how to measure methane earlier this month.
Until now, oil and gas regulations have been focused on detecting leaks and fugitive emissions from oil and gas operations. The new rule goes further, and is designed to measure all methane emissions across the industry. By law, Colorado has to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 50 percent by 2030, and 90 percent by 2050.
The first count of Colorado methane emissions is expected by the end of this year. Under the protocol, the state will measure emissions from nine counties in the Front Range, three counties on the West Slope, and calculate an emission level for the rest of the state, excluding Tribal lands.
“There was no method to quantify methane emissions,” said the Environmental Defense Fund's Nini Gu ([link removed]) . “We have all these statutory emission targets, but how do we know if we are on track to meeting those targets if we aren’t quantifying those emissions.”
** Quick hits
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Biden administration blocks drilling on 28,000 acres to protect New Mexico caves
Carlsbad Current Argus ([link removed])
BLM announces conservation criteria for lands the government might purchase in 12 states
New Mexico Political Report ([link removed])
Extra money for Interior could be a boon for recreation
E&E News ([link removed])
California builds world's largest wildlife bridge to stop roadkill epidemic
Washington Post ([link removed])
Judge recommends cutting commercial logging from Oregon forest plan
Bloomberg Law ([link removed]) | Cascadia Wildlands ([link removed]) [Press Release]
They took the children: The hidden legacy of Indian boarding schools
Washington Post ([link removed])
Opinions: New Public Lands Rule is good for rural Oregon and Utah
The Bulletin ([link removed]) | Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Public trails on Los Alamos National Laboratory land offer access to scenic landscapes
Santa Fe New Mexican ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Unfortunately, despite the popularity and benefits of the final Public Lands Rule, Utah’s Rep. John Curtis and his anti-public lands partners in the House recently pushed legislation that will keep the scales clearly weighted in the favor of old, dirty extractive industries ([link removed]) . The legislation, which I believe has no chance of being enacted into law, prevents the BLM from finally balancing management across the over 245 million acres they manage. People across the West and around the country support the balance between conservation and extraction ([link removed]) the Public Lands Rule creates.”
—Ann K. Leppanen, The Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@mypubliclands ([link removed])
Ready to hit the trail this summer? 🚲 Many bike trails can be found on public lands all across the country for amateurs and experienced mountain bikers! What are your favorite trails?
Here's a few ideas....
🚲 Alaska: 12 miles of trails winding through the woods of a 730-acre Special Recreation Management Area called Campbell Tract.
🚲 Idaho: Discovery Hill Trail has 32 miles of trails!
🚲 The Dona Ana Mountains have extensive mountain bike trails within New Mexico's Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument
🚲 Meadowood Special Recreation Management area in Virginia has 6.6 miles of mountain biking trails through a mosaic of terrains including meadows, forests, and steep slopes!
Just to name a few....What are your favorite trails?
Find a trail near you today. Check out the link in our bio.
📸 Meadowood Special Recreation Managment Area; BLM-Eastern States
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