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Calls to remove William Perry Pendley, the anti-public lands extremist serving as acting Bureau of Land Management director, are intensifying. Although President Trump formally withdrew his nomination to become BLM director last week, Interior Secretary Bernhardt made clear he would leave Pendley in charge of the 10,000-person agency responsible for managing one-tenth of America.
Now, 47 U.S. Senators are demanding Pendley be removed, citing his extensive racist, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-public lands track record. "For the same reasons that Mr. Pendley is unfit to be confirmed as director, he is unfit to exercise the authority of the director without being confirmed, and we ask that you remove Mr. Pendley from this position," says the letter, led by Senator Martin Heinrich of New Mexico.
Prior to Pendley's failed nomination, President Trump had not nominated a BLM director for the entirety of his term, and multiple lawsuits allege that the administration is violating the Vacancies Reform Act by allowing Pendley to serve as acting BLM director for years. Last week it was revealed that Pendley signed the very order currently allowing him to serve as acting director, an act that legal scholars believe is illegal.
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[Colorado's] current setback is 500 feet, about one city block. No one wants oil and gas operating one block from their home. We wouldn’t let a factory or refinery set-up shop next to someone’s house.”
