|
On Friday, the Bureau of Land Management released a proposal to conduct seismic testing on half a million acres of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska as a precursor for oil and gas drilling. The seismic surveys would take place within the 1002 Area, one of the most remote and pristine wilderness areas in the United States, which the Trump administration opened to oil and gas development in 2017, reversing decades of protections.
Environmental advocates immediately criticized the proposal, saying its rapid timeline (the BLM is only accepting comments on the proposal for 14 days) will not allow for thorough environmental reviews, and seismic testing activities threaten to harm both wildlife and the delicate tundra ecosystem. Scientists and environmental advocates have consistently expressed concerns that seismic testing could disturb and possibly crush polar bear dens which provide winter homes for mothers and cubs.
Lois Epstein, Director of the Arctic program for The Wilderness Society, said in a statement, "The submission of this application and BLM’s choice to act on it so close to the election shows how desperate the administration is to turn over one of the nation’s most sensitive landscapes to the oil industry. The federal government is recklessly rushing and irresponsibly denying the public adequate time to assess the application and submit comments.”
Pendley remains at BLM despite court ruling, exposing Interior to legal risk
Last month, a U.S. District Court judge ruled that William Perry Pendley had been serving unlawfully as the de facto head of the BLM for 424 days. Lawmakers have urged the department to pause any pending public lands decisions and fully comply with the court's order, but Interior refuses to remove Pendley from the BLM completely, exposing the department to further legal risk through lawsuits and injunctions.
|
Thankfully, the technology exists today to capture wasteful pollution while creating jobs and expanding our economy. Methane mitigation companies are a burgeoning industry in Colorado, bringing high-paying, quality jobs to the state for both entry-level and highly skilled employees."
