** Corporate interests win endangered species battle
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Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Delta Smelt
Yesterday, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt announced ([link removed]) the Fish and Wildlife Service would move to weaken endangered species protections for California's delta smelt, allowing water diversions from the San Francisco Bay Delta to farmlands in the Central Valley. The change has long been sought by Westlands Water District—a policy specifically lobbied for by Bernhardt when he represented Westlands. Previous reporting by The New York Times ([link removed]) showed that Bernhardt began the process of weakening protections for the delta smelt just weeks after being sworn in as secretary.
Bernhardt is currently under investigation ([link removed]) by Interior's watchdog over ethics concerns to determine if he continued lobbying for his former clients after reporting that he unregistered as a lobbyist. The latest announcement is just another example of the Trump administration choosing to cater to corporate interests and lobbyists over wildlife protections.
Quick hits
** Senators Bennet and Udall introduce resolution to require conserving 30 percent of US lands and oceans by 2030
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The Hill ([link removed])
** Secretary Bernhardt lifts protections for endangered delta smelt to the benefit of his former client, Westlands Water
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Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) | New York Times ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed])
** Industry representatives dominate Trump’s newly revived council of science advisers
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** Thousands of oil and gas wells sit idle on federal lands in the West, causing safety fears
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E&E News ([link removed])
** National parks try to get a handle on allowing e-bikes in parks under new order
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KUNC ([link removed])
** Research shows massive effort to distort climate science, prevent regulations on emissions
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Bernhardt's former lobbying firm Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck sees 22 percent revenue increase in third-quarter
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The Hill ([link removed])
** Opinion: Trump's new executive orders fast-track weakening of environmental policies
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The Hill ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Many ecosystems and wildlife species are nearing the point of no return. Protecting and restoring 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030, with more protected in the decades following, is a necessary step to stem the collapse of our natural systems.”
—Senator Tom Udall ([link removed])
Picture this
** Stop the car! That's the proper response when coming across an enchanting fall scene like this @GlacierNPS ([link removed]) . Pic by Robert Strain #Montana ([link removed]) | @Interior ([link removed])
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