Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Biden's conservation sprint
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Monday, January 6, 2025
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement ([link removed])
President Joe Biden is taking major steps to protect American lands and waters in his final weeks in office. Monday morning, the White House announced the president was banning new oil and gas drilling ([link removed]) across 625 million acres of water off the U.S. coast.
The ban, which is authorized under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act of 1953 ([link removed]) , blocks new drilling off the Northern Bering Sea in Alaska; the Pacific coasts of California, Oregon, and Washington; the entire Eastern Seaboard; and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. In all, the offshore drilling ban affects about 20 percent of the ocean floor controlled by the United States.
In a statement, Biden acknowledged that the coastal communities covered by the ban are not major oil and gas producers.
“The relatively minimal fossil fuel potential in the areas I am withdrawing do not justify the environmental, public health and economic risks that would come from new leasing and drilling,” Biden said ([link removed]) .
The drilling ban comes on the heels of a number of environmental actions over the holidays:
* The Bureau of Land Management finalized its Western Solar Plan ([link removed]) , identifying preferred areas for solar energy development on public lands;
* The National Park Service purchased the Kelly Parcel ([link removed]) , 640 acres of pristine land adjacent to Grand Teton National Park that was at risk of being sold to developers;
* The Biden administration proposed a 20-year ban on oil, gas, and geothermal development in Nevada's Ruby Mountains ([link removed]) , but a final decision on the mineral withdrawal will come during the Trump administration.
The company that wants to drain a Mojave Desert aquifer
In the last episode of The Landscape for 2024 ([link removed]) , Kate and Aaron talk to Chris Clarke, host of the 90 Miles from Needles podcast ([link removed]) , about the Cadiz pipeline project, a proposal that poses a huge threat to the Mojave Desert. This project has been around in some form or another for over four decades and critics say the latest iteration is especially insidious. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts ([link removed]) , Spotify ([link removed]) , or wherever you get your podcasts ([link removed]) .
** Quick hits
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Biden expected to honor Tribes with two new national monuments in California
Washington Post ([link removed]) | Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | Record Searchlight ([link removed]) | Desert Sun ([link removed]) | NBC Palm Springs ([link removed])
Biden permanently bans offshore drilling across 20 percent of U.S. waters
Associated Press ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | NBC News ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed]) | BBC News ([link removed]) | The Guardian ([link removed])
House rules make it easier for Congress to give away federal land
New York Times ([link removed])
Jimmy Carter's environmental legacy set the foundation for today's climate action
NPR News ([link removed]) | Politico ([link removed])
BLM nixes Trump-era highway in Utah tortoise preserve
E&E News ([link removed])
In the shadow of Arizona's data center boom, thousands live without power
Washington Post ([link removed])
Why is Utah leasing pristine desert to developers for $1,200 a year?
KUTV ([link removed])
Editorial: Utah's twisted lawsuit is corrupting the West's commitment to public lands
Denver Post ([link removed])
** Quote of the day
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” Never to be accused of subtlety, House Republicans are making clear on Day 1 of the new Congress that they are ready to drive Trump’s drill-baby-drill agenda by making it quicker and easier to sell off America’s public lands to the highest bidder.”
—Representative Raúl Grijalva, New York Times ([link removed])
** Picture This
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@usinterior ([link removed])
Zion National Park transforms into a peaceful winter wonderland, where snow and frost add a unique charm to its iconic landscapes. Nearly half of Zion Canyon's annual precipitation falls between December and March, creating stunning scenes of hoarfrost-kissed trees and snow-dusted sandstone cliffs.
Depending on the elevation, the snow may accumulate or melt quickly — either way, it’s a magical time to visit. Check current conditions on the park's website before heading out and prepare for an unforgettable winter experience.
Photo at @zionnps ([link removed]) by Shauna Sprunger
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