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A new report from the Center for Western Priorities, Wilderness Workshop, and the Colorado Wildlands Project finds that rampant speculative leasing of public lands by oil and gas companies has put pristine landscapes at risk across the West.
The first-of-its kind analysis looked at the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) resource management plans (RMPs) across the West. It found that lands with wilderness-quality characteristics are three times less likely to be managed to protect those wilderness characteristics when that land overlaps with oil and gas leases, even if those leases aren’t producing oil. The findings underscore the need for comprehensive reform of the oil and gas leasing system, which has not been updated in decades.
“This study proves that the rigged system of leasing our public lands puts oil CEOs ahead of people and wildlife,” said Jesse Prentice-Dunn, policy director at the Center for Western Priorities. “We should be conserving our most pristine landscapes for generations to come, but the federal government has repeatedly let oil and gas drilling take precedence.”
The report includes case studies of high profile places where areas with wilderness characteristics are currently unprotected due to oil and gas leases. These include the Grand Hogback near Rifle, Colorado, and the Book Cliffs and Nine Mile Canyon in Utah. The full report and policy recommendations, including maps showing areas at risk, are online now.
Amache Historic Site to join the National Park System
The Senate voted unanimously Monday night to pass the Amache National Historic Site Act just in time for the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of more than a hundred thousand Japanese Americans. The bill was sponsored by both of Colorado’s Senators, as well as Representatives Joe Neguse and Ken Buck.
“I’m thrilled the Senate passed our bill to establish Amache as a part of the National Park System,” said Senator Bennet in a statement after the vote. “The incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II at sites like Amache is a shameful part of our country’s history. Our bill will preserve Amache’s story to ensure future generations can learn from this dark chapter in our history.”
To get it through the Senate, proponents agreed to an amendment from Utah Senator Mike Lee that requires the NPS accept the land as a donation from the town of Granada. Because of the amendment the bill will have to return to the House for final approval, where it originally passed that chamber 416-2.
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Without climate change, this would not be even close to as bad as one of those historical megadroughts. The thing that is really remarkable about this drought period is that temperatures have been warmer than average in all of the years but one.”
