** Arctic drilling on the fast track
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2020
A female polar bear with cubs along the Beaufort Sea, USFWS ([link removed])

With the clock ticking down to the end of the Trump administration's first term, the Interior Department is rushing to approve seismic surveys of oil reserves in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Politico and Type Investigations report that the Interior Department received an application for those seismic tests in late August ([link removed]) , and the Bureau of Land Management is aiming to approve the application in half the time it would usually take.

News of the fast-tracked testing application comes as the director of the U.S. Geological Survey finally released a long-delayed study ([link removed]) that highlights the risk that climate change poses to polar bears living on the coast of the Beaufort Sea. The analysis found that 34 percent of maternal dens in the U.S. Arctic are located on the coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

In order to conduct seismic testing in Alaska, companies must ensure that polar bears and other protected species won't be harmed. That analysis, performed by the Fish and Wildlife Service, usually takes six to twelve months. Two sources at Interior tell Politico that the agency has been asked to issue the permit in four months or less.
Quick hits


** Wyoming taxpayers fund “dark money” campaign to boost coal over power company objections
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WyoFile ([link removed])


** Leaked documents show Exxon plans to increase carbon emissions 17% in the next 5 years
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Bloomberg ([link removed])


** Interior scientists told to rush analysis of seismic testing in the Arctic; USGS releases long-delayed polar bear study
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Politico ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed])


** Former USFWS director: 5 major ways Interior slashed protections for wildlife
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The Hill ([link removed])


** Scientific models can't cope with the size and heat of this year's Western wildfires
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Wired ([link removed])


** Wildfires: 4 million acres burn in California, devastated communities consider how to safely rebuild
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NPR ([link removed]) | Seattle Times ([link removed]) | The Gazette ([link removed])


** Forest Service considers property swap with Trump megadonor
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Opinions: Doubling down on Pendley is an insult to the West
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Bozeman Daily Chronicle ([link removed]) | Aspen Times ([link removed]) | Colorado Sun ([link removed]) (cartoon)
Quote of the day
If the agencies argue that they’ve done NEPA or looked at the impacts of this proposal then that rings very, very hollow. The administration’s attempt to rush this process now is irresponsible.”
—Bridget Psarianos, Trustees for Alaska, Politico ([link removed])
Picture this


** @NatlParkService ([link removed])
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Honky Chonk Beardonkadonk⁣⁣

Why do bears want to pack on the pounds? Bears eat as much as they can to build up crucial fat reserves in advance of winter hibernation.

Visit [link removed] ([link removed]) through Tuesday, October 6th to vote for your favorite. ⁣#FatBearWeek ([link removed])

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