Look West: Public lands and energy news from the Center for Western Priorities
** Interior restarts but drastically shrinks oil lease sales
------------------------------------------------------------
Monday, April 18, 2022
Bureau of land Management ([link removed])
The Interior Department announced it would resume selling oil and gas leases on public land, but the first sale would be dramatically smaller ([link removed]) than previously planned. The lease sale, which had been postponed due to conflicting court rulings, will put 144,000 acres up for auction, an 80 percent reduction from the 733,000 acres that oil and gas companies had nominated.
The agency also announced it would raise the royalty rate ([link removed]) on the leases from 12.5 percent to 18.75 percent, bringing rates in line with what oil and gas companies pay on state and private land.
In shrinking the lease sale, Interior noted that it had conducted an analysis of climate impacts ([link removed]) of increased leasing, and engaged in a “robust environmental review” along with tribal consultation.
While some conservation groups criticized the restart of leasing, the Center for Western Priorities praised the smaller footprint ([link removed]) and increased royalty rates, while also calling for permanent reform of the leasing system. “By limiting the upcoming sale to areas with existing oil and gas infrastructure, Interior will prevent speculators from locking up public lands with little or no potential for future production,” said Deputy Director Aaron Weiss. “Raising the royalty rate ensures taxpayers will get a fair share from oil produced on these parcels.”
Quick hits
** Black & Latino communities have higher levels of oil wells and pollution
------------------------------------------------------------
Washington Post ([link removed])
** Interior shrinks upcoming lease sale by 80%, raises royalty rates
------------------------------------------------------------
New York Times ([link removed]) | The Hill ([link removed]) | S&P Global ([link removed]) | CNN ([link removed]) | Washington Post ([link removed]) | Associated Press ([link removed]) | Bloomberg ([link removed])
** Sen. Mike Lee's housing crisis bill would just put McMansions on public lands
------------------------------------------------------------
Outdoor Life ([link removed]) | Field & Stream ([link removed])
** Utah agency pleads with legislature to approve Bears Ears land swap
------------------------------------------------------------
Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
** U.S. wind energy tops coal and nuclear for first time ever
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed]) | Quartz ([link removed])
** Defense Dept. program protects climate landscapes and military bases
------------------------------------------------------------
E&E News ([link removed])
** Lake Powell is critically low and still dropping. Here's what happens next
------------------------------------------------------------
KUNC ([link removed])
** Editorial: Joshua Trees, threatened by climate change, deserve California's protection
------------------------------------------------------------
Los Angeles Times ([link removed])
Quote of the day
” The fossil fuel industry has made it clear that they care more about their bottom line than they do about lowering gas prices for Americans struggling to make ends meet — folks who need to get to work, buy groceries and take care of their families. When oil and gas companies lease more federal lands, especially under this broken federal leasing program, it does nothing to lower gas prices. Moreover, ‘speculative leases’ on lands that will never generate oil are harmful because they cut these lands off from being used for recreation opportunities ([link removed]) .”
—David Jenkins, president at Conservatives for Responsible Stewardship; and Russell Kuhlman, executive director for the Nevada Wildlife Federation, Reno Gazette Journal ([link removed])
Picture this
** @nationalparkservice ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
Psst- National Park Week starts on Saturday! I can bearly contain myself!
Image: A cub standing on a log reaches toward adult bear as if it’s whispering in its ear something like, “people in sleeping bags are like soft tacos.” What?
NPS/J. Pfeiffenberger @lakeclarknps ([link removed])
============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
Copyright © 2022 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.
Center for Western Priorities
1999 Broadway
Suite 520
Denver, CO 80202
USA
** View this on the web ([link removed])
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
