October, in brief

Key news from October:

• This month saw extensive fallout from a federal court ruling that ousted William Perry Pendley from the head of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). In defense of BLM actions, the Interior Department claimed after the ruling that Pendley hasn't taken any actions during his more than 400 days at the agency. Pendley argued throughout the month that he "has not been ousted" and is still running the bureau. Contradicting Pendley, Bernhardt told reporters that the Interior Department is complying with the court's orders and that Pendley is "not the acting director" (after which point Pendley continued to argue that he remains at the head of the bureau). In a demonstration of Interior's unstable legal footing regarding Pendley, a federal judge issued an order invalidating three major Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land-use plans in Montana, a decision that impacts the management of hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands. The latest order includes what appears to be a warning to Pendley and the Interior Department that they need to abide by the previous order removing Pendley. In response to the most recent ruling, a coalition of conservation and citizen groups is also challenging the legality of the BLM's resource management plan for the Uncompahgre field office in southern Colorado.
• A devastating wildfire season continued across the West, providing a preview of life with increasing climate change. Although scientists that predicted climate change would fuel the kind of devastating wildfires that the West has seen this year, researchers did not expect to see mega-fires this soon, nor are wildfire models prepared for such large blazes. The unusual fire season was on full display in a drought-stricken Colorado this month, where wildfires exploded near front range development. In response to the fires, national forests, the BLM, Denver, and Rocky Mountain National Park closed land to the public, restricting outdoor recreation. One blaze, the East Troublesome fire, is burning at unprecedented elevation late in the season.
• The goal of protecting 30 percent of America by 2030 is gaining momentum. The plan, known as 30x30, is designed to offset the effects of climate change and protect biodiversity. Presidential nominee Joe Biden's platform includes a commitment to the 30x30 goal, and California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a 30x30 executive order this month. The first 30x30 plan for Colorado was also released this month. The bold goal is championed in Congress by New Mexico Senator Tom Udall and Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico.
• The Trump administration announced plans to open all 16.7 million acres of Alaska’s Tongass National Forest to logging, removing protections that had conserved America’s largest intact temperate rainforest. The move reveals the administration's 'trillion-trees' climate initiative as a sham, as the Tongass is one of America’s last remaining defenses against climate change, absorbing at least 8 percent of the carbon stored in the lower 48 states combined.
• Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced his department was formally removing gray wolves from the endangered species list, opening the door for states to allow increased hunting and trapping. The decision goes against overwhelming public opposition: 97 percent of public commenters oppose the removal.
• Arctic drilling has been on the fast track. This month the Interior Department released a proposal for seismic oil reserve surveys in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Seismic exploration may negatively impact polar bears in the region. The Bureau of Land Management also approved a massive arctic oil and gas drilling project. At the same time as drilling moves forward, the United States Geological Survey finally released a long-delayed study that highlights the risk that climate change poses to polar bears living on the coast of the Beaufort Sea.
• It became apparent that the Interior Department botched its pandemic handouts to oil companies. After giving out millions of dollars in royalty cuts, shortchanging taxpayers for public resources, the department has no idea whether it saved any jobs. The royalty cuts were also applied inconsistently across states. However, the oil industry has continued to flail and is beginning to consolidate to try and cut costs.
• It was revealed that a Myanmar-born artist, poet, and missionary with no experience in oil and gas development spent over $1 million to buy nearly half of the offered Bureau of Land Management oil and gas leases offered across six Western states. The buying spree illustrates the broken oil and gas leasing system, as well as the flaws of holding lease sales during a global pandemic that has depressed oil prices.
• Researchers found that airborne radioactivity increases downwind of fracking sites. The presence of such airborne radioactive particles could damage the health of nearby communities.
• In a series of continuing ethics scandals within the Interior Department, the Inspector General today released a report that found USGS Director James Reilly retaliated against a whistleblower who filed a complaint regarding Reilly’s conduct as director.
• The Environmental Protection Agency attacked tribal sovereignty, handing oversight of environmental regulations on tribal lands to the state of Oklahoma this month, following a Supreme Court ruling that found much of eastern Oklahoma was tribal land.
• As Election Day approaches on November 3rd, public lands, climate, and the environment are all on the ballot—especially in the West. Candidates from both political parties have elevated these issues in their campaigns and 81% of Western voters say public lands issues continue to be an important factor in deciding who to vote for in the 2020 races for President, Senate and Congress.

What to watch for in November:

• With three months left in the Trump administration’s first term, here are the environmental rollbacks it is trying to accomplish.
• November 3rd is election day, and public lands have been central features in many races across the West. At the same time, outdoor voters form a growing voting bloc in the West.
• Wildfires continue to burn across the West and will stretch into November. Hot and dry conditions in California are creating concern about a year-long fire season.
• After William Perry Pendley was ousted from the Bureau of Land Management last month, resource management plans established under his tenure are being called into question. A lawsuit to reevaluate plans in Colorado has already been initiated, and more challenges are expected.