** Climate bill seeks to bring public land emissions to net-zero
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Wednesday, December 18, 2019
A quarter of US emissions come from public land fossil fuels. Here, an oil field burns off its extra oil | N ([link removed]) OAA ([link removed])

House Democrats have released the American Public Lands and Waters Climate Solution Act ([link removed]) , an expansive piece of legislation to fight climate change through mitigation efforts on public lands.

The bill ([link removed]) tasks the Department of the Interior and the US Forest Service with achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from public lands and waters by 2040. The task is huge, but necessary. Greenhouse gasses cause climate change, the increasing impacts of which affect the environment, the economy, and our everyday lives. Fossil fuels from public lands and waters currently account for a quarter ([link removed]) of US total emissions ([link removed]) , while public lands absorb only 15% of those emissions each year.

In order to achieve net-zero emissions ([link removed]) , the bill would limit development of fossil fuels while developing more renewable energy on public lands, manage land to sequester more carbon in ecosystems, and use public lands for geologic sequestration or negative-emissions technologies.

The legislation lays the groundwork for a meaningful energy transition on our public lands. As part of a five-year phasing plan, the bill would put a temporary moratorium on leasing on federal lands while plans are made. Leasing fees and royalty rates on fossil fuel development that haven’t been changed in decades would be increased. Funds produced from the bill would go to communities that will have to transition their economy away from fossil fuel development.


** White Sands' national park status in Trump's hands
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Senator Heinrich's bill to turn White Sands National Monument into White Sands National Park ([link removed]) has passed the Senate. The new designation, which is included in a large defense spending bill due to the nearby military presence, will go to the president's desk for approval.
Quick hits


** Interior Department, states appeal sage-grouse ruling
Associated Press ([link removed])
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** NPS axes industry-dominated e-bike advisory group amid legal fears
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E&E News ([link removed])


** Climate bill seeks to bring public land emissions to net-zero
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The Hill ([link removed]) | Vox ([link removed]) | E&E News ([link removed])


** How a coal giant secretly financed climate denialism
The New York Times ([link removed]) | The Intercept ([link removed]) | E ([link removed]) &E News ([link removed])
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** White Sands' national park status in Trump's hands
Albuquerque Journal ([link removed]) | KRQE ([link removed])
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** Senators roll out massive Utah wilderness bill
E&E News ([link removed])
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** Large Nevada oil and gas lease sales come under fire for tiny returns: only 2% of leases producing
E&E News ([link removed])
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** Lessons for the BLM from the USDA: Want to make workers unhappy? Move their office to another state
Politico ([link removed])
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Quote of the day
Our public lands and waters should be managed for the public’s benefit, not for the benefit of oil, gas and coal corporations... we’re not just protecting Americans – we’re helping protect the entire planet and meeting our ethical responsibilities to future generations.”
—Rep. Raúl Grijalva,
H ([link removed]) ouse Natural Resources Committee ([link removed])
Picture this


** @B ([link removed]) LMNational ([link removed])
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#FunFact ([link removed]) ! Plane trails often get mistaken for meteors in #NightSky ([link removed]) photos. Meteors vary in color with a taper while plane trails are steady without varying in width or color. Can you tell which is the meteor? Visit the Valley of the Gods,
@BLMUtah ([link removed]) : [link removed] ([link removed])

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