Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Biden dives into mining reform amidst rising demand for critical minerals
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Wednesday, February 23, 2022
Replica mine at the Bureau of Land Management's National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. Photo: Jeff Clark, BLM ([link removed])
After a year of near silence on the topic, President Biden jumped head first yesterday ([link removed]) into the issue of mining reform. He announced the creation of a working group overseen by the Interior Department that will make recommendations on how the administration can update current mining laws—which are 150 years old—to ensure environmental responsibility and equity. ([link removed])
"Environmental protections are paramount," said Biden ([link removed]) . "We have to ensure that these resources actually benefit folks in the communities where they live, not just shareholders."
The working group will make policy recommendations "for improvements necessary to ensure that new production meets strong environmental and community and Tribal engagement standards during all stages of mine development," according to an Interior Department news release ([link removed]) . Additionally, a document ([link removed]) outlining the administration's "fundamental principles" for mining reform calls for establishing "strong responsible mining standards" at the regulatory and legislative levels that "create a level playing field," as well as the prioritization of "recycling, reuse and efficient use of critical minerals."
The push to reform mining comes as demand for minerals used in electric vehicle batteries, like lithium and cobalt, ramps up. In the past year, the Biden administration has found itself pitted against efforts to mine critical minerals ([link removed]) on federal public lands due to environmental concerns, while at the same time touting the electric vehicles that need those minerals.
Quick hits
** Biden suspends mining road through Alaska national preserve
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed])
** Could Glen Canyon Dam be rigged to produce electricity after deadpool?
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** Interior reverses Trump-era approval of controversial water pipeline in California
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E&E News ([link removed])
** Study: Majority of destructive wildfires don't start in national forests
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Wildfire Today ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** Haaland visits Phoenix, announces $1.7 billion for tribes to use water rights
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KNAU ([link removed]) | AZ Mirror ([link removed]) | AZ Central ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | Native News Online ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
** Opinion: Free the Bear and Weber rivers to save the Great Salt Lake
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** Wyoming corner crossing lawsuit intensifies, as civil suit and new charges filed
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WyoFile ([link removed])
** Interior proposes replacements for names containing racist and sexist slur
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Huff Post ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” Why should this big dummy die?”
—Ann Bryant, executive director of the Bear League, on a 500-pound bear that broke into 28 homes in California, N ([link removed]) ew York Times ([link removed])
Picture this
** @I ([link removed]) nterior ([link removed])
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My favorite national park:
1) All
2) Of
3) Them
As you plan your travel this year, take advantage of the search feature from the @NatlParkService ([link removed]) to explore by activity and topic – you're sure to discover a hidden gem or two.
[link removed]… ([link removed])
Photo Don Hasemeyer
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