** Flawed data showed Colorado methane levels lower than South Pole
------------------------------------------------------------
Friday, December 6, 2019
Bison herd in Weld County, Colorado, Library of Congress ([link removed])

In 2019, a Colorado scientist found that methane levels in Weld County, which has the highest concentration of oil and gas development in the state, were on some days reported to be lower ([link removed]) than at the South Pole, home of the world’s cleanest air. While the methane concentration at the South Pole remains consistently around 1800 parts per million (ppm), some data points in Weld County dropped to 1090 ppm. Similar data flaws were found in 2014 as well, marking a pattern of clear deficiencies in the state's data. Scientist Gabrielle Petron, who discovered this pattern, stated ([link removed]) , “We had once again data for methane measurements that were much lower than the cleanest place on Earth. And that was not realistic.”

Colorado has adopted aggressive goals to curb methane emissions, which impact the health of communities and contribute to climate change. The state’s policies are widely considered successful, but accurate tracking is necessary to determine whether progress is actually being made. However, methane monitoring is expensive, and there is disagreement ([link removed]) over whether limited resources should be spent on monitoring or directed towards efforts to decrease methane emissions. Either way, as the state progresses towards its climate goals, the current data will be inadequate to determine whether or not they are meeting their targets. State Senator Steve Fenberg summarized these concerns, saying ([link removed]) , "The state government doesn’t have the data that everybody has confidence in to make
sure we know how to set ambitious goals and how to meet them."
Quick hits


** Environmentalists, mining companies wait for Congress to act on uranium mining near Grand Canyon
------------------------------------------------------------

Navajo Times ([link removed])


** Colorado sees itself as leader on methane, but bad data say otherwise
------------------------------------------------------------

Colorado Public Radio ([link removed])


** BLM land transfer in Colorado could threaten recreation
------------------------------------------------------------

Colorado Sun ([link removed])


** Colorado congressman asks BLM for further assessment on controversial quarry
------------------------------------------------------------

Colorado Post Independent ([link removed])


** Trump administration quietly provides offshore drilling industry "sweetheart deal"
------------------------------------------------------------

Common Dreams ([link removed])


** Outdoor recreation offices are popping up everywhere
------------------------------------------------------------

Outside Magazine ([link removed])


** Why you don't see more hikers of color in America's great outdoors
------------------------------------------------------------

The Hill ([link removed])


** Opinion: The Trump administration's relentless assault on America's public lands
------------------------------------------------------------

Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed])
Quote of the day
Since day one, Secretary Bernhardt has operated as though Interior was his own personal lobby shop by doling out favors for his former clients with impunity. This offshore royalty rate reduction deal is short selling our shared resources and ripping off taxpayers... With Trump's own corruption dominating headlines, Bernhardt probably thought this sweetheart giveaway to his former oil and gas client would slip by unnoticed.”
—Jayson O'Neill, Western Values Project deputy director, Common Dreams ([link removed]'?utm_source=1500+CWP+List+Daily+Clips+and+Updates&utm_campaign=1e0a577162-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_12_05_07_30&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4369a4e737-1e0a577162-84302525)
Picture this


** @Interior ([link removed])
------------------------------------------------------------
The fastest land animal in the Western Hemisphere, we’re lucky this pronghorn stopped to pose for a picture at Great Sand Dunes National Park #Colorado ([link removed]) #FindYourPark ([link removed])

============================================================
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Medium ([link removed])
Copyright © 2019 Center for Western Priorities, All rights reserved.
You've signed up to receive Look West updates.

Center for Western Priorities
820 16th Street
Suite 450
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])