David Bernhardt Confirmation

 

Heinrich Flip On Bernhardt Stuns Environmentalists. According to Politico, “David Bernhardt’s nomination to become Interior secretary gained steam Thursday as Democratic divisions emerged over his qualifications. Three members of the Democratic caucus — Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Angus King (I-Maine) — joined all Republicans in backing Bernhardt in committee, a vote that provides a cushion for him on the floor even as some Republicans say they aren’t ready yet to back him without more clarity on his plans on offshore drilling. Heinrich opposed Bernhardt’s nomination as deputy Interior secretary in 2017, making his about-face today even more surprising to environmental advocates. The bipartisan vote also reduces leverage for Democrats to force Bernhardt, a former lobbyist for fossil fuel companies, to recuse himself on various issues or other potential policy concessions. … Nicole Ghio, senior fossil fuels program manager at Friends of the Earth, said it is ‘scary the Democrats are giving up here,’ given ongoing concerns over the Trump administration’s proposal to open virtually the entire U.S. coastline to potential offshore oil and gas leasing. ‘Heinrich really should know better. He really sold out his party and every citizen who cares about our public lands and oceans and the country,’ Ghio said in an interview.” [Politico, 4/4/19 (=)]

 

Greens Slam Heinrich For Supporting Bernhardt. According to E&E News, “Environmentalists are blasting one of their top allies, New Mexico Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich, over his decision to buck his party and vote to advance David Bernhardt’s nomination to be Interior secretary. Heinrich yesterday joined Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine) and all the Republicans on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in supporting Bernhardt. He cleared the panel by a 14-6 vote. The New Mexican’s vote was largely a surprise. He voted in 2017 against Bernhardt’s confirmation to be deputy secretary of the Interior under Ryan Zinke. And the senator has given little indication he disagrees with the strong criticism lodged against Bernhardt for his ties to regulated industries such as oil, natural gas and agriculture. … ‘While we do not — and will not — agree on many issues or policy decisions, I have found that Acting Secretary Bernhardt has always kept his word,’ Heinrich said. ‘He understands the importance to New Mexicans of protecting our public lands and cultural resources and he has been supportive of efforts to advance protections for White Sands and unlock public access to the Sabinoso Wilderness,’ he said. … He’s fought for land protections, wilderness designations and clean energy, and holds a 94 percent lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters, the environmental community’s main standards for judging lawmakers.” [E&E News, 4/5/19 (=)]

 

Offshore Drilling

 

Lawmakers Demand Assurances As Offshore Drilling Plan Stalls. According to E&E News, “Impatience is growing on Capitol Hill about the Trump administration’s eagerly anticipated five-year offshore drilling plan. But Interior Department officials have been telling lawmakers, who are keen to know how their states will be affected, they will need to wait longer. And Joe Balash, assistant secretary for lands and minerals management, this week told E&E News the recent court decision reinstating an Obama-era ban on oil and gas leasing in parts of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans was delaying things. Balash said it would take some time to figure out whether to appeal the March 29 decision by the U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska (Energywire, April 1). ‘We need to get to a place where we understand what’s in and out after this court decision, and figure out how or where to make changes,’ Balash said in an interview Wednesday in his Interior headquarters office. Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, confirmed yesterday by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, told lawmakers last week during his nomination hearing that the proposal hasn’t reached his desk yet.” [E&E News, 4/5/19 (=)]

 

Georgia Wants Out. According to Politico, “Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter added his state to a growing list of those that want exemptions from Interior’s offshore drilling plan. The Republican wrote to Bernhardt this week that while he is an ‘ardent supporter of American energy independence,’ the government ‘should respect the people of Georgia’ after the state House passed a resolution to oppose drilling off its coasts.” [Politico, 4/5/19 (=)]

 

Coastal Georgia Congressman’s Reversal On Drilling Stuns Activists. According to Savannah Morning News, “Two weeks ago, Republican U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter was standing firm in his belief that the Georgia coast should be open for oil exploration, saying in response to an anti-drilling resolution passed by his hometown of Pooler that ‘it is irresponsible to not at least see what is out there off the coast.’ But on Wednesday, after learning that state lawmakers in the Georgia House had passed a resolution opposing offshore drilling and oil exploration, Carter sent a letter to the Acting Secretary of the Interior Department asking that he remove Georgia from consideration for offshore drilling and seismic testing. ‘I hope you will recognize the will of our state and local communities and make the appropriate changes to exclude Georgia moving forward,’ he wrote to Acting Secretary David Bernhardt.” [Savannah Morning News, 4/5/19 (=)]

 

Op-Ed: Time to start oil drilling off the Atlantic coast and create jobs. “Energy development in federal offshore territories could spur an economic miracle, providing jobs for hundreds of thousands of Americans. Let's hope soon-to-be Secretary of the Interior Bernhardt pursues the offshore development plan with vigor.” [Sun Sentinel, 4/4/19 (-)]

 

 

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