** May, in brief
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Oil and gas leases cancelled this month were adjacent to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument | Bob Wick, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])


** Key news from May:
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* The Bureau of Land Management was slammed ([link removed]) [link removed] ([link removed]) [link removed] ([link removed]) for pushing drilling near Chaco Culture National Historical Park via virtual meetings ([link removed]) . Many of those living in the area lack solid internet connectivity, and tribes in the region have struggled with the coronavirus pandemic. After repeated
requests, Interior Secretary Bernhardt finally agreed to extend the comment period ([link removed]) for the region’s land management plan.
* National parks have begun to reopen over the course of this month with minimal guidance ([link removed]) and over objections ([link removed]) from rangers and tribes. The reopening of parks drive concerns about spikes in coronavirus ([link removed]) cases ([link removed]) resulting from overcrowding ([link removed]) .
* W ([link removed]) estern ([link removed]) leaders ([link removed]) are pushing Congress ([link removed]) to include full funding ([link removed]) for the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) and provide resources for national park maintenance backlog projects in the next coronavirus aid bill.
* The Interior Department was sued over the ([link removed]) sustained use ([link removed]) of “acting” directors ([link removed]) , after Interior renewed the temporary appointments ([link removed]) of several Interior officials. Both William Perry Pendley (currently in charge of the Bureau of Land Management), and David Vela (currently in charge of the National Park Service) had their terms extended. This was the fourth time that Mr. Pendley’s tenure was extended.
* The Bureau of Land Management slapped solar and wind operators with retroactive rent bills ([link removed]) in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, the BLM handed drillers ([link removed]) royalty cuts ([link removed]) and continued lease sales, bypassing normal processes ([link removed]) .
* The collapse of the oil industry is set to devastate oil-dependent state budgets ([link removed]) . With many oil workers laid off, states are asking the Trump administration to pay oil workers ([link removed]) to plug abandoned wells. However, the need to use COVID-19 recovery funds to clean up oil wells shows the failure of state bonding requirements ([link removed]) .
* Oil and gas leases were cancelled across the West. A federal judge cancelled leases in Montana ([link removed]) because of the Bureau of Land Management’s failure to provide any analysis of potential environmental impacts, including risks to groundwater. Later, a federal judge cancelled leases in both Montana and Wyoming ([link removed]) because of Trump administration failures to protect the greater sage-grouse ([link removed]) .
* The Bureau of Land Management is investigating claims ([link removed]) that Ryan Bundy illegally built irrigation trenches across Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada.
* A new analysis ([link removed]) from the Center for American Progress found that President Trump is the most anti-conservation president in history. Trump is the only president in history to remove more land protection than he added.


** What to watch for in June:
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* After extensive bipartisan collaboration, the Senate is expected to vote ([link removed]) on the Great American Outdoors Act in June. The bipartisan legislation would ensure full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund and address public lands maintenance backlogs.
* The temporary Interior appointments of William Perry Pendley as acting director of the Bureau of Land Management and David Vela as acting director of the National Park Service expire again on June 5th. President Trump has yet to nominate someone to serve permanently in either position.
* National parks and public lands locations of interest are expected to continue reopening around the country even in the face of public health concerns.
* Congress is expected to continue considering additional stimulus packages, which could include bailouts for oil companies or funding for public lands maintenance and job creation.
* The Road to 30 Virtual Tour ([link removed]) will be holding its second event. Stay tuned for details!

Best Reads of the Month


** From oil boom to doom in the Permian Basin
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New York Times ([link removed])


** Jackson, Wyoming relies on summer tourism revenue associated with Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks
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National Geographic ([link removed])


** Increased interest in bird watching takes flight amid pandemic
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A ([link removed]) ssociated Press ([link removed])


** The "30 by 30" plan to save the natural world
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Los Angeles Times ([link removed])


** The Trump administration has reversed almost 100 environmental rules with more rollbacks in the works
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New York Times ([link removed])


** Millions of Americans live within a half mile of a fracking site and are more likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses
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Grist ([link removed])


** Coronavirus stimulus money that could go to clean energy will be wasted on fossil fuels
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Vox ([link removed]) | The Verge ([link removed])
From the Center for Western Priorities:


** The Road to 30 Virtual Tour
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The Center for Western Priorities is “hitting the road” for a virtual tour around the West to discuss the bold vision of protecting 30 percent of America by 2030. We will be traveling alongside congressional 30x30 leader U.S. Senator Tom Udall ([link removed]) and meeting with local conservation leaders along the way, exploring how this goal can benefit communities and public health and help with economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak.

This month, we kicked off the tour alongside the Sierra Club, Senator Tom Udall, and Dr. Enric Sala.
Visit the campaign website ([link removed])
Read about or watch our first event ([link removed])
[link removed]


**
Westwise Blog:
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** The Trump Administration’s Unfinished Business on Public Lands ([link removed])
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** Tracking the Interior Department’s remaining policy changes impacting lands, water, and wildlife
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** The Road to 30: State Parks ([link removed])
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** Protecting 30 percent of America's lands and waters by 2030 starts locally
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** How inaction on climate change threatens your local public lands recreation ([link removed])
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** Whether in the sun or the snow, climate change is impacting your recreation on public lands
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**
Go West, Young Podcast:
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HOW (AND WHEN) SHOULD NATIONAL PARKS REOPEN? ([link removed])

A conversation with Phil Francis, the chair of the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks ([link removed]) , and Joan Anzelmo ([link removed]) , a longtime spokesperson for numerous National Park Service units, about Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s rush to reopen national parks despite warnings from career NPS staff about risks to employees and the public.

Quote of the month


** "By hook or by crook, Big Oil is going to try to get a bailout while small businesses shutter. It is deplorable to spend good money after bad and waste taxpayer dollars on an industry that has been struggling for years due to bad business decisions."
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** —Senator Edward J. Markey
Washington Post ([link removed])
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Picture this
[link removed]


** The Road to 30 Virtual Tour Kickoff Event | C ([link removed]) heck it out ([link removed])
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