** 97% of commenters oppose Interior's decision to delist the gray wolf
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Friday, October 30, 2020
Alpha male (712) of the Canyon pack in the Lower Geyser Basin in Yellowstone National Park ([link removed])

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced a final rule ([link removed]) to remove gray wolves ([link removed]) in the continental United States from the endangered species list, opening the door for states to allow increased hunting and trapping.

When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a proposal ([link removed]) to delist the gray wolf in March 2019, it opened a 120-day public comment period ([link removed]) allowing stakeholders and members of the public to submit their views. In those four months, more than 757,000 people submitted comments.

A Center for Western Priorities analysis ([link removed]) finds that the Trump administration ignored overwhelming public opposition in delisting the gray wolf—more than 97% of public comments opposed the proposal to delist the wolf, with only 1.5% of commenters supporting the proposal.

With three months remaining in the Trump administration’s first term, an ongoing CWP analysis ([link removed]) has identified at least 71 remaining policy changes Interior Secretary Bernhardt hopes to finalize, along with dozens of proposals to weaken or remove protections for plants and animals on the endangered species list.


** Interior IG finds USGS Director retaliated against a whistleblower
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Interior's Office of Inspector General released a report ([link removed]) finding that the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, James Reilly, violated the Whistleblower Protection Act by retaliating against a whistleblower who complained about his conduct. Reilly reassigned the employee shortly after learning about the complaint. The report was released just days after Trump appointees at the Interior Department tried to blame any ethical failures on the previous administration ([link removed]) .
Quick hits


** Interior official called Black Lives Matter a "racist organization," citing white supremacist website
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Washington Post ([link removed])


** Utah BLM moves to approve a helium well in a protected wilderness area
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Prescribed burns are the West's best defense against wildfire and they are decades overdue
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The Atlantic ([link removed])


** E-bike rules for BLM & Forest Service-managed lands draw mixed reactions from public land users
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Interior IG finds USGS Director James Reilly retaliated against a whistleblower
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Roll Call ([link removed]) | Huffington Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** 97 percent of commenters oppose Interior's decision to remove the gray wolf from the endangered species list
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Westwise (analysis) ([link removed]) | Minneapolis Star-Tribune ([link removed]) | Duluth News Tribune ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed]) | Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** North Dakota directs $16 million in relief money intended to clean up oil wells to frack new ones
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Inside Climate News ([link removed])


** Opinion: Trump administration policies have led to serious damage of our national parks
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The Hill ([link removed])
Quote of the day
[USGS Director] James Reilly has led the way in the Trump administration’s war on science and public servants. This investigation is a damning indictment of Reilly and the way Secretary Bernhardt runs the Interior Department. If Bernhardt had any respect for science and USGS scientists, he would fire Reilly on the spot to make it clear he has no tolerance for retaliation. But I’m not holding my breath.”
—Jennifer Rokala ([link removed]) , Executive Director of the Center for Western Priorities
Picture this


** @BLMNational ([link removed])
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Happy #NationalFirstRespondersDay ([link removed]) ! Today, we thank BLM's first responders who protect the American people & #yourpubliclands ([link removed]) every day. Whether it's putting out #wildfires ([link removed]) or rescuing lost hikers, there's an incredible amount of unseen tasks these unsung heroes do! THANKS!

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