** Trump Interior nominee fast-tracked deficient drilling permit
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** Wednesday, November 4, 2019
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Kate MacGregor, a Trump nominee, fast-tracked deficient drilling permits, Department of Influence ([link removed])
Newly-revealed documents show Cimarex Energy used its political connections to rush through a shoddy fracking permit. In 2017, the company hoped to begin fracking in the western Oklahoma oil patch, but its drilling permit application was rejected by federal regulators as "incomplete" and "deficient." The revised application needed 60 days to be reviewed. Rather than wait, Cimarex called its lobbyists.
Records show ([link removed]) that political appointees at high levels of the U.S. Department of the Interior worked diligently to fast-track Cimarex's drilling permit, including Katharine MacGregor ([link removed]) , Trump's recent nomination for second-in-command at the Interior Department. MacGregor's confirmation hearing is set for Tuesday. ([link removed])
MacGregor has a history of working with the energy industry, and has become a common 'in' to advance policy priorities. MacGregor has promoted Trump's "energy dominance" program, and has played a crucial role in many of the administration's controversial regulatory rollbacks.
With Cimarex, MacGregor bypassed many experts to bring its case to the head of the BLM, resulting in an expedited review of the permit. Cimarex had its permit within 16 days of complaining to the petroleum association.
Quick hits
** US Air Force pushes for control over Nevada wildlife refuge containing tribal ancestral lands
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W ([link removed]) ashington Post ([link removed]) | J ([link removed]) ournal Gazette ([link removed])
** EPA scales back coal-fired power plant waste restrictions
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W ([link removed]) ashington Post ([link removed])
** Trump Interior nominee fast-tracked deficient drilling permit
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R ([link removed]) eveal ([link removed]) News ([link removed])
** Coal-fired power plant on Arizona tribal land to close; native workers unsure what’s next
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A ([link removed]) ssociated Press ([link removed]) | Progressive Farmer ([link removed])
** New Mexico representatives look for solutions to climate-induced water scarcity
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A ([link removed]) ssociated Press ([link removed])
** Poll highlights Montanans' desire to fund wildlife habitat protection
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Billings Gazette ([link removed])
** Upcoming oil and gas lease auction for Nevada public lands alarms officials, poses water threat
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Las Vegas ([link removed]) R ([link removed]) eview-Journal ([link removed])
** Opinion: Rep. Raul Grijalva says no to uranium mining near Grand Canyon
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A ([link removed]) rizona Daily Star ([link removed])
Quote of the day
I’m unwilling to accept that uranium mining is more important than protecting the public health and well-being of Native communities and the tens of millions of people across the Southwest who depend on the Colorado River for their water supply.”
—Rep. Ral Grijalva, Arizona Daily Star ([link removed])
Picture this
** @n ([link removed]) ationalparkservice ([link removed])
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Sled dogs once helped Arctic Park Service rangers patrol for poachers, forming a crucial part of the early Alaskan NPS.
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