** BLM hands drillers royalty cuts
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Wednesday, May 20, 2020
Arizona Oil and Gas Conservation Commission ([link removed])

From continuing lease sales ([link removed]) to reducing royalty rates ([link removed]) [link removed] the Trump administration is encouraging unnecessary oil and gas production. The coronavirus pandemic has caused a decrease in demand globally and prices have dropped as a result. Over the past two months, producers have scrambled to find storage options, as available storage filled up. “Not only does this boneheaded move shortchange American taxpayers and Western states at the worst possible time, it incentivizes oil production during the worst oil glut in history,” said ([link removed]) David Jenkins, president of Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship.

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt promised to grant royalty relief for companies that request it and over 1,000 applications ([link removed]) have been submitted to BLM offices in the West, according to documents reviewed by E&E News. However, only a few of the requests are visible in the BLM's public database, and Interior officials have not released more information about the requests despite scrutiny. In Utah, all 76 submitted applications ([link removed]) were accepted, decreasing royalties to as low as 2.5 percent from the standard 12.5 percent.

Reduced royalty payments mean that taxpayers are not getting a fair return for the extraction of public minerals. This is especially problematic for states that rely heavily on oil and gas revenue, such as New Mexico and Wyoming, whose budgets have already been hit hard by impacts of the pandemic.


** Navajo Nation urges Grand Canyon to stay closed
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As the number of coronavirus cases continues to spike on the Navajo Nation, President Jonathan Nez is urging the National Park Service to keep the Grand Canyon closed. The park shares its eastern border with the Navajo Nation, which has experienced the most coronavirus cases per capita in the U.S. "The Navajo Nation is blessed to be surrounded by natural beauty, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Chaco Canyon, and Canyon de Chelly, just to name a few. Our federal partners need to understand that we have a voice in how these parks impact our communities,” Nez stated ([link removed]) .
Quick hits


** Oil services firm under federal investigation receives $6.8 million in coronavirus stimulus funds
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** Thousands of maskless visitors flock to Yellowstone as park reopens
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The Guardian ([link removed])


** Navajo president urges National Park Service to keep Grand Canyon closed as cases continue to rise
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Grand Canyon News ([link removed])


** Oil and gas companies ask for reduced royalty rates, Bernhardt delivers
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Bloomberg ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Renewables on federal land created $660 million windfall
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Bloomberg ([link removed])


** Trump administration tests drilling demand with big New Mexico lease sale
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Reuters ([link removed])


** Public rebuts Alaska national forest logging, roadless exemption plan
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Bloomberg ([link removed])
Quote of the day
In addition to a public health crisis, we face dual climate and nature crises, that threaten life as we know it. And these crises are interconnected... Protecting nature is about protecting humanity. It's just that simple.”
—Senator Tom Udall, on the importance of protecting 30 percent of America, Road to 30 ([link removed])
Picture this


** @BLMNational ([link removed])
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The sapphire blue waters of this glacial cirque lake are fed by melting snows from the surrounding 13,000 foot peaks. The lake is located in the Handies Peak Wilderness Study area on #publiclands ([link removed]) managed by
@BLM_CO ([link removed]) . #ArmchairAdventure ([link removed]) #TravelTuesday ([link removed])

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