** Court rules oil and gas leasing must consider climate impacts
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Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Wyoming Oil and Gas Development, Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])
A federal judge blocked new oil and gas drilling permits ([link removed]) in Wyoming until the Bureau of Land Management adequately assesses climate change impacts. This is the second time that the court has rebuked environmental assessments on these particular leases. Last year, U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras blocked drilling on the parcels, directing the BLM to consider greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas extracted on public lands before allowing development to start. The latest ruling found that the BLM's latest attempt is still “sloppy and rushed” ([link removed]) and does not comply with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act.
This ruling is the latest example of the Trump administration's "energy dominance" agenda losing in court. Last month, a court found that other lease sales ([link removed]) in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Montana had also not been properly reviewed. The administration's losing record extends beyond oil and gas leasing as well. The Institute for Policy Integrity ([link removed]) found that out of 158 environmental cases, the Trump administration lost 131 cases and won only 27.
Quick hits
** Trump administration moves to sell oil rights in Arctic Refuge
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New York Times ([link removed]) | NPR ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed])
** Biden gives boost to retiring Senator Udall’s climate change plan
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Associated Press ([link removed])
** Top Interior Department contender Rep. Haaland eyes renewable energy expansion on public land
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Reuters ([link removed])
** What does a Biden presidency mean for the outdoors?
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Backpacker ([link removed])
** Forest Service approves protection of Colorado’s Sweetwater Lake, but big questions remain
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])
** Trump's last-minute environmental rules changes may make things hard for Biden
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** Court rules that climate change must be considered when leasing land for oil and gas
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Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed])
** Proposed endangered species delisting complicates gray wolves reintroduction to Colorado
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Colorado Politics ([link removed])
Quote of the day
[Interior's LWCF rule change] is consistent with the disdain Bernhardt has had for the Land and Water Conservation Fund. He tried to defund it for three years and now he’s throwing sand in the gears before he leaves. Really, these guys are just making it up as they go along right now because they know it doesn’t matter. They are going to be gone soon.”
—Aaron Weiss, Center for Western Priorities Deputy Director, Colorado Sun ([link removed])
Picture this
** @YellowstoneNPS ([link removed])
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Yellowstone hosted 360,034 recreation visits in October 2020, up 110% from October 2019. This was the busiest October on record, surpassing the previous record (252,013) set in 2015 by an increase of 43%.
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