** Nevada oil project highlights need for leasing reform
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Tuesday, August 3, 2021
A beaver pond in the Ruby Mountains, Source: Forest Service ([link removed])

The current century-old process that governs drilling on public lands makes it easy for energy developers ([link removed]) to nominate, lease and drill on public lands ([link removed]) —often at the expense of taxpayers and the environment. The Biden administration acknowledged that when it paused leasing earlier this year in order to work on reforming the process. But the Bureau of Land Management is still considering applications to drill on land that never should have been leased in the first place.

The Diamond Valley Oil Project, located near the Ruby Mountains in northeastern Nevada, is one of those cases. The lease “overlaps important lands for wildlife, including designated sage-grouse habitat, a mule deer migration corridor, and portions of the Huntington Creek watershed, which supports populations of Lahontan cutthroat trout ([link removed]) ,” writes Russell Kuhlman, executive director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation.

In his recent op-ed, Kuhlman points out that the area was leased over the objections of the state’s department of wildlife ([link removed]) , and that allowing drilling there could have devastating effects. On top of that, the Bureau is only requesting $10,000 to clean up the well, which Kuhlman argues is not enough, considering the ecological sensitivity of the area, and will leave taxpayers on the hook ([link removed]) if the developer goes bankrupt.

This project, and others like it, highlight the need for immediate reform. And the Biden administration should not allow it to move forward until new leasing rules are in place.
Quick hits


** Wild red wolves are nearly extinct because of government actions
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The Nation ([link removed])


** Nevada oil project highlights the need for federal leasing reform
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Sierra Nevada Ally ([link removed])


** Interior will review Western oil and gas leases sold under Obama and Trump
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Wyoming coal companies' profits soar after Biden cut their royalty rates
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The Land Desk ([link removed])


** Opinion: The Bureau of Land Management needs Tracy Stone-Manning’s consensus building skills
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Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])


** Drought drives Bureau of Land Management to round up wild horses
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E&E News ([link removed]) | Grand Junction Daily Sentinel ([link removed])


** Opinion: The Forest Service should stop allowing timber harvests that hurt forests
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The Hill ([link removed])


** Advertising groups refuse to run climate campaign
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Heated ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Not only does the Forest Service promote too much logging, but the harvesting methods also now in vogue are appalling.”
—Jim Furnish, T ([link removed]) he Hill ([link removed])
Picture this


** @I ([link removed]) nterior ([link removed])
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Make your plans and pack the car! On Aug. 4th, in honor of the one year anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, all entrance fees at Interior managed public lands sites will be waived. Could be a good day to #FindYourPark ([link removed]) . [link removed] ([link removed]) .

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