** Grading state drilling enforcement around the West
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Thursday, April 30, 2020
The Colorado Piceance Basin lights up at night with drilling operations | E ([link removed]) coFlight ([link removed])

The Center for Western Priorities released a new report ([link removed]) that examines oil and gas safety enforcement programs across six Western states. The report ([link removed]) found vast differences in the way states approach oil and gas safety, from an active and successful enforcement program in Colorado to a scandal-plagued and toothless program in Utah.

States play a critical role in protecting public health and the environment by inspecting oil and gas facilities, identifying violations, and, when appropriate, issuing financial penalties.

However, the new analysis finds that few Western states issue financial penalties that are adequate to ensure oil and gas companies are complying with regulations, with some states issuing no financial penalties at all. Western state oil and gas enforcement programs only collected 62 fines in 2018, with more than 95 percent of the total $5.5 million value assessed in Colorado. New Mexico, Utah, and Nevada collected zero fines in 2018. Critically, some state enforcement programs also lack transparency, leaving the public in the dark.

Enforcing environmental and safety regulations is especially critical as the coronavirus pandemic intersects with market forces to send oil prices tumbling. With widespread operations and crashing oil prices ([link removed]) , companies are looking to cut costs, and many face the prospect of bankruptcy ([link removed]) . With low financial consequences for violations, concerns are increasing ([link removed]) that companies may see noncompliance as a cheaper option than correctly monitoring their operations or shutting down wells.
Quick hits


** Colorado oil and gas regulators punt regulation overhaul as permits plunge and noncompliance concerns mount
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C ([link removed]) olorado Sun ([link removed]) | Denver Post ([link removed]) | Denver Business Journal ([link removed])


** National parks begin planning for phased openings
National Parks Traveler ([link removed]) | Peninsula Daily News ([link removed])
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** Coronavirus provides cover for Trump's environmental roll-back
The Guardian ([link removed]) | Nature ([link removed])
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** Judge blocks Trump from giving aid for Native Americans to corporations even as other tribal aid is delayed
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Salon ([link removed]) | HuffPost ([link removed])


** Plan to revive uranium mining called unneeded, unwanted by advocates
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C ([link removed]) ronkite News ([link removed])


** New Mexico has higher percent of oil and gas producing federal land than most western states
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** Grading state drilling enforcement around the West
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Medium ([link removed])


** National parks balancing demands for cell service, silence
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Associated Press ([link removed])
Quote of the day
What we want is for the courts to encourage or institute a climate recovery plan that lowers our fossil fuel rates to the point where we're not harming the environment anymore, and to uphold our constitutional rights for a clean environment."

—Kathryn Grace S.
One of 16 youths suing to keep the state of Montana from promoting the use of fossil fuels
I ([link removed]) nside Climate News ([link removed])
Picture this


** @USFWSRefuges ([link removed])
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Even while you're sticking close to home, you can still deepen your knowledge of the natural world and entertain yourself in the process. [link removed] ([link removed]) #FunforKids ([link removed]) #KidsatHome ([link removed]) #WildlifeRefuge ([link removed])

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