National

Oil executives dominate economic recovery task force. “Executives for some of the nation's largest oil and natural gas companies make up the vast majority of the energy portion of the White House task force assembled to chart a path toward reopening the economy following the novel coronavirus pandemic. The so-called Great American Economic Revival Industry Groups include nine executives focused on oil and natural gas, two from the utility sector, and one from coal mining.” [E&E News, 4/15/20 (=)]

U.S. Weighs Paying Drillers to Leave Oil in Ground Amid Glut. “The Trump administration is considering paying U.S. oil producers to leave crude in the ground to help alleviate a glut that has caused prices to plummet and pushed some drillers into bankruptcy. The Energy Department has drafted a plan to compensate companies for sitting on as much as 365 million barrels worth of oil reserves by effectively making that untapped crude part of the U.S. government’s emergency stockpile, said senior administration officials, who asked not to be identified describing deliberations prior to a decision and announcement.” [Bloomberg, 4/15/20 (=)]

Industry advocates ramp up push as stimulus talks continue. “The clean energy industry and its environmental backers are ramping up their push to be a part of congressional pandemic relief, amid plummeting job numbers for renewable and energy efficiency companies. The clean energy industry shed more than 100,000 jobs last month alone, wiping out 3% of its workforce and all of its growth over the last year, according to an analysis conducted by BW Research for E2, an advocacy group.” [E&E News, 4/15/20 (=)]

Trump officials: Oil tariffs still on the table. “Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette and a senior Trump administration official said yesterday that tariffs on oil imports are still under consideration, even as they hailed Saudi Arabia and Russia's agreement to throttle back oil production as a win for the industry.” [E&E News, 4/16/20 (=)]

National Mall names deputy superintendent. “The National Park Service has named a new deputy superintendent for National Mall and Memorial Parks in Washington. Sean Kennealy, a 29-year veteran of NPS, has served as deputy acting chief since November. He will start his permanent assignment immediately, NPS announced yesterday.” [E&E News, 4/15/20 (=)]

8-year study reveals 'chronic' oil pollution after Gulf spill. “A sweeping, first-of-its-kind study of oil pollution in the Gulf of Mexico in the years following the Deepwater Horizon disaster has found widespread exposure in fish. Repeated sampling of bile from yellowfin tuna, groupers and dozens of other species of fish around the Deepwater site — as well as sampling collected in other parts of the Gulf and off the coast of Cuba and Mexico — over the course of eight years revealed pervasive, continued exposure to oil.” [E&E News, 4/16/20 (=)]

Trump admin to waive rules for border wall in refuge. “The Trump administration will once again waive dozens of environmental laws as it pursues construction of new walls across the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge on the U.S.-Mexico border. The announcement in today's Federal Register marks the 28th waiver issued by the Department of Homeland Security under President Trump, according to data compiled by Defenders of Wildlife.” [E&E News, 4/15/20 (=)]

Judge probes BLM leasing fight with impacts for sage grouse. “Attorneys for green groups and the federal government took to their phones yesterday to argue over whether a set of Bureau of Land Management leasing directives and sales violated Obama-era protections for the greater sage grouse.” [E&E News, 4/16/20 (=)]

State and Local

Lower 48 tribal leaders angry that Alaska Native corporations will share in coronavirus relief funds for tribes. “A group of tribal leaders from North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska is calling for the removal of Tara Sweeney from the position of assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the Interior Department over the inclusion of Alaska Native corporations in emergency money for tribes.” [Anchorage Daily News, 4/15/20 (=)]

Op-Ed, Editorial, and Analysis

Op-Ed: Time for real leadership at the BLM. “While Americans are rightly focused on dealing with the wide-ranging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic—the Trump administration is expected to quietly extend the temporary appointment of William Perry Pendley to lead the Bureau of Land Management. It will be the third such extension for a man who is spectacularly unqualified to hold such a position and is one more sign that this administration has no interest in the stated mission of the BLM to “sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.”” [Billings Gazette, 4/15/20 (+)]