** Fossil fuel senators backed an extremist at Interior but want to reject a Native American woman
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Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Deb Haaland | Congresswoman Deb Haaland ([link removed])

Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico is one of President Biden's most historic Cabinet picks ([link removed]) . Haaland has been nominated to be Interior Secretary, a position that would make her the first Native American to run the agency overseeing both federal land management as well as Indian Affairs.

However, two Republican Senators, John Barrasso of Wyoming and Steve Daines of Montana have spoken up in opposition to Haaland's nomination ([link removed]) on the grounds of her 'radical' views on energy policy. The oil and gas industry has been a top-five contributor to both of the lawmakers' careers, giving over $1 million ([link removed]) to each.

The lawmakers' objections are prompted in part because of a temporary pause on federal oil and gas leasing ([link removed]) issued by the Biden administration in order to assess and fix the broken system. The oil and gas industry, as well as lawmakers from fossil fuel producing states, have followed the leasing pause by warning of dire peril. However, a deeper examination of the facts reveals lawmakers and the industry crying wolf ([link removed]-----------------------) .

The oil and gas industry has stockpiled 13.4 million acres of idle oil and gas leases ([link removed]-----------------------) that are not being used for production, as well as thousands of approved but unused drilling permits ([link removed]-----------------------) , all of which are still usable under the pause. Oil industry representative David Harris of Devon Energy Corp. has stated ([link removed]) , "We have a deep inventory of approved federal drilling permits in hand that essentially cover all of our desired activity over the next presidential term."

In the past, both Republican lawmakers backed anti-public lands extremist William Perry Pendley as nominee to head up Interior's Bureau of Land Management ([link removed]) . Pendley had a documented history of calling for the sale of federal lands, as well as racist attacks on Indigenous communities.

On the other hand, Haaland is a strong supporter of conservation and public lands ([link removed]) . She has broad support among elected tribal leaders, and has represented the oil-producing state of New Mexico for years. Haaland also has a strong relationship with House Natural Resources Chairman Raúl Grijalva ([link removed]) of Arizona after serving on the Committee since 2018.
Quick hits


** Declines continue to hit the Powder River Basin coal region, causing Wyoming lawmakers to pass bills to protect tax revenue from coal delinquencies
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S&P Global ([link removed]) | Casper Star-Tribune ([link removed]) | WyoFile [New bills] ([link removed])


** Grizzlies are coming back. But can we make room for them?
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National Geographic ([link removed])


** Climate threatens the Colorado River Basin; a new framework seeks solutions
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E&E News ([link removed])


** As Arizona forecasters warn of above-normal fire threats in 2021, researchers say that the economic damage caused by wildfire smoke may linger long after the flames
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E&E News [Arizona wildfire threat] ([link removed]) | Statesman Journal [Wildfire smoke] ([link removed])


** New research finds that climate change is making allergy season worse
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Associated Press ([link removed])


** Poll finds people of color, Wyomingites, concerned for future of natural resources and Western public lands
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Public News Service ([link removed]) | Powell Tribune [WY] ([link removed])


** Opinion: It’s #TimeToAct on climate change and pollution for communities of color in Arizona
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AZ Mirror ([link removed])


** Opinion: How to reverse Trump’s harmful legacy on conservation
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High Country News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Nature is supposed to be a great equalizer. In reality, however, American society distributes nature's benefits and the effect of its destruction and decline unequally by race, income and age."

—Maite Arce, President & CEO of Hispanic Access Foundation, P ([link removed]) ublic News Service ([link removed])
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
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The coldest temperature ever recorded in @YellowstoneNPS ([link removed]) was -66°F on February 9, 1933. When temperatures get that cold and there’s no wind, water vapor will freeze to things like grasses, trees and rocks, known as hoarfrost. #Wyoming ([link removed]) #Montana ([link removed]) #Idaho ([link removed])

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