** Wildfires spike air pollution, bring climate to the fore
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Tuesday, September 15, 2020
Wildfires are becoming larger and more common | U.S. Forest Service, Mike McMillan ([link removed])
Wildfires across the West continue to rage. At least 35 people have died ([link removed]) from the blazes, but even as residents flee flames, they are unable to avoid the smoke. People on the west coast are struggling to live ([link removed]) with the world's most polluted air ([link removed]) . Portland ([link removed]) currently has the world's worst air quality by far, while cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and
Seattle () have worse air quality than almost anywhere outside of the United States.
Smoke is dramatically impacting the life of many. ([link removed]) People have reported waking up throughout the night, burning eyes, coughs, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Many also fear its impacts on mental health as people already months into a virus-induced socially-distanced lifestyle are forced indoors.
The dramatic impacts of wildfires on Westerners have drawn the attention ([link removed]) of presidential candidates from both parties, who both made appearances to discuss the subject yesterday ([link removed]) . The disaster has highlighted their differing perspectives on climate change and its impacts on extreme weather and environmental disasters. While scientists increasingly warn that climate change is driving extreme weather events like the western fires ([link removed]) , a view Biden adopts ([link removed]) , Trump blames the phenomenon on poor forest management.
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** Migratory birds found dead
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Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds, if not millions, have been found dead all across New Mexico, Colorado, Texas, and Mexico ([link removed]) . Biologists suspect that the wildfires raging across the West, which are exacerbated by climate change ([link removed]) , may have forced birds into migration before they had enough fat reserves to survive the journey. Other birds may have had to change their migratory pathways, while still others may have inhaled smoke and sustained lung damage. Studies on the exact cause of death may take weeks. ([link removed])
Quick hits
** FOIA documents reveal Interior's 2018 push to manage Yellowstone bison like cattle
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Billings Gazette ([link removed])
** Struggling to live with relentless smoke as America has world's most polluted air
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed])
** Opinion: Pendley has no regard for the people or lands he is illegally serving
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** At least 35 dead in wildfires that continue across the West, shut down Sequoia National Park
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | Visalia Times Delta ([link removed])
** Senator Tom Udall and Representative Deb Haaland promote biodiversity measures
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Permian Basin crude oil pipeline cancelled as market struggles to recover from COVID-19
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Carlsbad Current-Argus ([link removed])
** Drillers rush ahead of election, spike permitting activity by 80%
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Opinion: Let’s celebrate passage of the outdoors act. Now we need the CORE Act.
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Quote of the day
No one’s here."
— Security guard at Bureau of Land Management Headquarters in Grand Junction, C ([link removed]) olorado Sun ([link removed])
Picture this
** @ClimateNPS ([link removed])
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What do cowboys have to do with climate change? At @OrganPipeNPS ([link removed]) , historic structures like Gachado Line Camp are threatened by increasing storm events. How can we protect our history? Learn more in our new animated video: [link removed]
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