** The most anti-conservation president in history
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Thursday, May 21, 2020
Bears Ears National Monument, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])

A new analysis ([link removed]) finds that President Trump is the most anti-conservation president in history. The Center for American Progress found that over the past three years, the Trump administration has attempted to remove protections from 35 million acres, around 1,000 times more land than it has protected. Trump is the only president in history to remove more land protection than he added. “The numbers reveal an administration that has handed extractive industries access to public lands at a scope and scale we’ve never seen before,” said ([link removed]) Jenny Rowland-Shea, senior public lands policy analyst and the report's co-author.

The eliminated protections occurred in 12 states and include national monuments, wildlife refuges, and wilderness areas. Meanwhile, of the 37,000 acres that were protected during this administration, 30,000 of those acres come from the extension of an existing mining ban near Yellowstone National Park. Many of the reductions directly benefit the oil and gas industry. Not including Alaska, the Trump administration has removed 11.5 million acres of mineral withdrawals, opening up sensitive ecosystems for oil and gas development.

As the country continues to deal with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, public lands are more important than ever. "Protected lands and waters are a xxxxxx against the rapid decline of nature, offering a refuge for people and wildlife alike. But in parts and in sum, the Trump administration’s attacks have stalled the nation’s progress toward conserving nature and wildlife," the report concludes ([link removed]) .


** Royalty cuts may get watchdog investigation
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House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva has requested the Government Accountability Office look into whether the Bureau of Land Management is skirting federal law as it issues royalty rate reductions for all oil and gas producers that have requested it. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt has failed to provide even basic data to the House Natural Resources Committee. "I am concerned that in its haste to approve huge numbers of royalty cuts, BLM may not be fully following the requirements in the regulations," Grijalva wrote ([link removed]) .
Quick hits


** Oil companies get break on royalties, while solar and wind firms get past-due rent bills
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) | High Country News ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Comment period on Chaco area drilling to be extended
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Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])


** BLM chief spent career opposing public lands and wildlife protections
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The Guardian ([link removed])


** The most anti-nature president in U.S. history
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Center for American Progress ([link removed]) | HuffPost ([link removed])


** Coronavirus is coming for wildland firefighters, and they’re not ready
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Grist ([link removed])


** New Mexico oil and gas regulators remain vigilant during market downturn
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])


** The squawking, stomping chicken of the grasslands is back in Colorado
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Editorial: Take the time to get things right with Resource Management Plans
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Rocket Miner ([link removed])
Quote of the day
When it comes to a public debate, you can’t be heard if you aren’t given a seat at the main table. Video conferencing can work as a short-term stop-gap, but screen-to-screen communication is not advanced enough to properly attract audiences and convey information to the degree demanded by this [Resource Management Plan].”
—Editorial Board, Rocket Miner ([link removed])
Picture this


** @COParksWildlife ([link removed])
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How many times per day in Colorado do you just stop in your tracks and think, "whoa"? Too many times to count on both hands? Same.

Photo: Justin Krauth #WildlifeWednesday ([link removed])

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