** Trump administration plans to open vast swaths of Alaskan Arctic to drilling
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Friday, November 22, 2019
Aerial view of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska | Bureau of Land Management ([link removed])

The Trump administration announced a draft plan that would open millions of acres ([link removed]) in the Alaskan Arctic to oil and gas drilling. The proposed plan seeks to develop the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A), an area the size of Indiana designated in 1923 as an emergency supply of oil for the Navy, which is currently the largest expanse of unprotected wilderness in the country. The reserve was transferred to the Interior Department in 1976.

The proposed plan could reverse current protections ([link removed]) for areas that provide critical habitat for polar bears, waterfowl, and calving grounds for the largest caribou herd in Alaska. Simultaneously, the Interior Department is attempting to hold the first-ever lease sale ([link removed]) to drill in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.


** International mining companies taking advantage of public lands, taxpayers
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A new report ([link removed]) from the Center for American Progress finds 100% of all companies mining uranium and 64% of all companies mining gold on public lands are foreign owned. Those companies are taking advantage of wildly outdated laws, which do not require mining companies ([link removed]) to pay taxpayers a royalty for extracting publicly-owned resources.
Quick hits


** Interior Department to allow some offshore drillers to pay lower, or even no royalties to taxpayers
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Associated Press ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed])


** International mining companies taking advantage of public lands without paying royalties to taxpayers
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E&E News ([link removed]) | Center for American Progress ([link removed])


** The problem with moving BLM headquarters West
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Outside Magazine ([link removed])


** Colorado cities look to redraw wilderness area in push to develop water rights
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Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** New Mexico task force reports state has reduced greenhouse gas emissions, has long ways to go
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Albuquerque Journal ([link removed])


** California to sue Trump administration over reduced wildlife protections, efforts to pump more water
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Sacramento Bee ([link removed])


** Opinion: Utah's negligence in oil and gas oversight is jeopardizing our birthright
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])


** Opinion: Congress should not deny sage-grouse protections as administration pushes drilling in key habitat
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Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Quote of the day
It sends a clear message to operators: Utah regulators should not be taken seriously. One [oil and gas] operator was issued four violation notices but, according to auditors, 'blatantly disregarded' the notices, likely realizing 'there is no consequence for doing so.' During that time, the same operator submitted numerous applications to drill new wells.”
—Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Picture this
Saguaro cacti in Saguaro National Park
Photo by Kelvin Pond | @Interior ([link removed])

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