** A look at the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
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Thursday, December 9, 2021
Along the central California coast, the Chumash tribes and a local coalition have been working for decades to establish the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary ([link removed]) to protect 140 miles of vulnerable coastline and close the gap between the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary and the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
Today, the Center for Western Priorities released its latest short film ([link removed]) in the Road to 30: Postcards multimedia series ([link removed]) , which travels to the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary ([link removed]) . There, Violet Sage Walker, Chairwoman of the Northern Chumash Tribal Council, and Margaret (P.J.) Webb, a public interest attorney with the coalition, discuss the efforts to protect this sacred and ecologically important area and the many wildlife species that would benefit from a sanctuary designation.
This is the country's first tribally-led and nominated marine sanctuary, and it would ban offshore oil, natural gas extraction, seismic testing and pollution off California’s central coast. The area plays a critical role in a delicate marine ecosystem and holds deep cultural and spiritual significance for the Chumash people.
The Biden administration has the opportunity to honor the Chumash people and protect California’s central coast. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has published a Notice of Intent ([link removed]) advancing the public process to designate the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. To learn more about the status of the proposal and how to support the effort, please visit www.chumashsanctuary.org ([link removed]) .
Watch all the videos ([link removed]) to learn more about the many landscapes that are important to communities across the country and which can help America reach the goal of protecting 30% of its land and waters by 2030.
** Biden signs order to make federal government carbon neutral by 2050
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Yesterday, President Biden signed an executive order compelling the United States government to become carbon neutral by 2050 ([link removed]) . The order directs the government to utilize its billions of dollars of purchasing power to upgrade federal buildings, create a fleet of electric vehicles, and change the government's electricity buying practices.
“By transforming how the federal government builds, buys, and manages its assets and operations, the federal government will support the growth of America’s clean energy and clean technology industries, while accelerating America’s progress toward achieving a carbon pollution-free electricity sector by 2035,” the White House said in a release ([link removed]) .
Quick hits
** Geothermal energy could mean a renewable future for Colorado's oil fields, solution for orphaned wells
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KUNC ([link removed])
** The dead sea of west Texas: a lesson in drilling well neglect
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Texas Monthly ([link removed])
** Perspective: Gas prices actually aren’t that high
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Washington Post ([link removed])
** Survey finds land trust easement holdings have grown to more than 61M acres
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E&E News ([link removed])
** New Mexico educators say 'Stop using us for oil and gas PR'
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The Paper ([link removed])
** Big bipartisan wildlife bill gains support, would fund wildlife management and conservation
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Montana governor petitions feds to delist the state's northwest grizzly bears
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Boise State Public Radio ([link removed])
** Biden returns land to Texas family after it was seized by Trump for border wall
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The Independent ([link removed])
Quote of the day
[Areas of Critical Environmental Concern] can be an important tool for the [BLM] to advance conservation on public lands, but only if this designation is applied consistently, meaningfully, and with durability."
—Ken Rait, Pew Trusts Project Director for U.S. Public Lands and Rivers Conservation, P ([link removed]) ew Trusts ([link removed])
Picture this
** @forestservice ([link removed])
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Oh, these radiant colors of the evening. Sun setting over the Ruby Mountains on the Mountain City-Ruby Mountains, Jarbidge Ranger District on the @HumboldtToiyabe ([link removed]) , Nevada. USDA Forest Service photo by Naaman Horn.
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