National

 

Interior’s Bernhardt worked closely on matters he promised to avoid. “Interior Secretary David Bernhardt began working on policies that would aid one of his former lobbying clients within weeks of joining the Trump administration, according to a POLITICO analysis of agency documents — a revelation that adds to the ethics questions dogging his leadership of the agency. Bernhardt’s efforts, beginning in at least October 2017, included shaping the department's response to a key portion of a water infrastructure law he had helped pass as a lobbyist for California farmers, recently released calendars show. The department offered scant details at the time about meetings that Bernhardt, then the deputy secretary, held with Interior officials overseeing water deliveries to the farmers, leading many observers to believe he was steering clear of the issues he had previously lobbied on.” [Politico, 4/21/19 (+)]

Judge Delivers Major Setback to Trump Policy to Increase Coal Mining on Federal Land. “A federal judge late Friday delivered a significant setback to the Trump administration’s policy of promoting coal, ruling that the Interior Department acted illegally when it sought to lift an Obama-era moratorium on coal mining on public lands. The decision, by Judge Brian Morris of the United States District Court of the District of Montana, does not reinstate President Barack Obama’s 2016 freeze on new coal mining leases on public lands. That policy was part of an effort by the Obama administration to curtail the burning of coal, a major producer of greenhouse gases contributing to climate change.” [New York Times, 4/19/19 (+)]

Emails: Interior officials considered delaying report. “Newly disclosed internal emails show senior Interior Department aides contemplated whether they could delay the release of a Fish and Wildlife Service study on "Americans' relationship to nature" in 2017 over concerns the report could undermine President Trump's order to review the boundaries of dozens of national monuments. Interior released the email exchange among then-Deputy Chief of Staff and Communications Director Megan Bloomgren, then-Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Downey Magallanes and other aides yesterday under a Freedom of Information Act request.” [E&E News, 4/19/19 (=)]

 

Analysis: BLM continues leasing in wildlife corridors. “The Bureau of Land Management continues to offer federal lands within designated wildlife corridors for oil and natural gas leasing, according to a new analysis from a left-leaning group. The Center for American Progress says BLM's actions run counter to Interior Secretary David Bernhardt's vows to protect these areas. The brief analysis by CAP found that since January 2017, 24% of leases offered in six Western states have been "within a wildlife corridor or state wildlife priority area."” [E&E News, 4/19/19 (+)]

 

State and Local

 

Southern Utah environmental group sues feds over public lands leased for oil and gas development in Alkali Ridge. “A southern Utah environmental group is suing the U.S. Department of Interior and Bureau of Land Management over its leasing public lands with plentiful remainders of ancient civilization for oil and gas development, and is asking the court to vacate the lease sales. The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, or SUWA, alleges the departments didn’t properly analyze how leasing the land for oil and gas development in an area of southern Utah, known as the Alkali Ridge, could affect the cultural relics left behind there, including cliff dwellings, pueblos, kivas, petroglyph and pictographs and sites American Indian tribes consider sacred, according to the lawsuit.” [Salt Lake Tribune, 2/20/19 (+)]

Op-Ed, Editorial, and Analysis

Op-Ed: Confirmation sets Montana’s outdoors in crosshairs. “Given Mr. Bernhardt’s stance on supporting a budget that strips LWCF funding, and given his position of putting public lands at the bottom of the priority list, it is troubling that this nomination could be supported. When given an opportunity to stand up for the voices of Montanans, Sen. Daines supported a nominee that brings questionable conflicts to his new role that will surely come into play for Montana values here at home. We can only hope that as the new head of Interior takes his position of leadership, that the Montana voices are heard, and not ignored. The protection and preservation of Montana’s outdoor recreation economy is critical for Montana jobs today, and entrepreneurs of tomorrow.” [Bozeman Daily Chronicle, 4/20/19 (+)]

Op-Ed: Nine years after Deepwater, offshore drilling is still “dirty and dangerous” “The Trump administration is currently seeking changes to safety regulations regarding BSEE-approved independent verification, real-time monitoring of offshore operations and safety tests for devices such as blowout preventers. Oceana believes these changes will make drilling more dangerous and further imperil coastal communities, their economies and the marine environment.” [Virginian-Pilot, 4/20/19 (+)]