** America's public lands giveaway
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019

A first-of-its-kind geospatial analysis reveals where and how often American public lands are being leased to oil and gas companies for $2 or less. The analysis ([link removed]) and accompanying storymap ([link removed]) are the work of the Center for Western Priorities and The Wilderness Society, which found that since 1987, 42 million acres of public land—60 percent of all acres leased—have been leased for $2 an acre or less.

“These maps show how the federal government's outdated oil and gas leasing process is allowing industry to lock up our lands across the West for just a couple dollars an acre,” Kim Stevens of The Wilderness Society told E&E News ([link removed]) .

The analysis not only reveals the extent to which taxpayers are getting ripped off by oil and gas companies; it also shows public lands deeply out of balance. 90 percent of public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management are available for oil and gas leasing, while just 10 percent prioritize other uses like recreation, wildlife management, and conservation.

The storymap ([link removed]) takes a closer look at several areas under pressure from rampant oil and gas leasing, including priority sage-grouse habitat, and national monuments:
Quick hits


** How the Trump administration plans to open millions more acres of public land to drilling
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GQ ([link removed])


** First-of-its kind analysis, storymap reveal America’s public lands giveaway
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E&E News ([link removed]) | Westwise ([link removed]) | CWP/Wilderness Society storymap ([link removed])


** North America has lost 3 billion birds in 50 years
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Washington Post ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) (Opinion) | The Atlantic ([link removed]) | NPR ([link removed])


** “We are basing life decisions on speculation” — How BLM employees really feel about HQ evisceration
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High Country News ([link removed])


** New hope that public lands bills could protect Colorado's Thompson Divide
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CPR News ([link removed])


** Interior Secretary Bernhardt dodges questions about draining the swamp as he arrives for Colorado GOP fundraiser
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CBS News ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** Trail-building groups lament lack of public involvement in NPS, BLM e-bike rule change
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Power contractor mired in Ryan Zinke controversy after hurricane still hasn't gotten paid by FEMA
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Bloomberg ([link removed])
Quote of the day
This administration can't be trusted to protect America's public lands, waters, and communities from the impact of oil and gas drilling. For decades, the oil and gas industry has taken advantage of an outdated system tilted in their favor and against taxpayers and other land uses.”
—Center for Western Priorities Executive Director Jennifer Rokala
E&E News ([link removed])
Picture this


** @usfws ([link removed])
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This black bear is reminding us all to find our #zen ([link removed]) . 🧘‍♀️

More #wildlife ([link removed]) yoga poses: [link removed] ([link removed])

Photo credit: Florida Panther National Wildlife trail cam.

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