by Rachel Frazin
The Hill
The Interior Department said Monday that it will propose making lands surrounding Chaco Canyon, which itself is already protected as a National Historical Park, ineligible for new oil and gas leasing or new mining claims. The move, which the administration described as creating a 10-mile buffer around the park, will not impact existing leases and claims,” according to The Hill.
by Robert Bryce
Forbes
“News coverage of Tuesday’s elections was dominated by Glenn Youngkin’s victory over incumbent Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial race. But when it comes to energy policy and climate action, the lopsided result of a referendum in Maine over a high-voltage transmission project proved yet again that land-use conflicts are the binding constraint on the expansion of renewables in the United States. The rejection of the 145-mile, $1 billion project also showed that the myriad claims being made by politicians and climate activists that we can run our economy solely on renewables are little more than wishful thinking,” according to Forbes.
by Zack Budryk
The Hill
“In a fact sheet, the White House said it will restore protections for the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase Escalante National Monuments, which saw their boundaries curtailed under former President Trump. The administration will also prohibit commercial fishing in the Northeast Canyon and Seamounts Marine National Monument, with red crab and lobster fishing phased out by September 2023,” according to The Hill.
by Josh Siegel
Washington Examiner
“House Democrats are poised to deliver on President Joe Biden’s calls to reform drilling for oil and gas on public lands and waters by raising costs on producers and imposing stricter regulatory requirements. All Democrats on the panel supported the $25.6 billion bill over the unanimous opposition of Republicans, who proposed dozens of amendments to muzzle the measures targeting fossil fuels, which Democrats derided as ‘poison pills,’” according to the Washington Examiner.
“House Democrats advance bill reforming oil and gas leasing on public lands” Read Full Article »
by Bonner Cohen, Ph.D.
CFACT
“The biggest power grab in the 50-year history of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was significantly blunted in April 2020, when the Trump administration – to the relief of rural communities across the country — rolled back the Obama-era “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule and replaced it with the “Navigable Waters Protection Rule” (NWPR). That respite, however, was short-lived,” according to CFACT.
“Heads up: Biden Administration will reimpose disastrous “WOTUS” water rule” Read Full Article »
by Bonner Cohen, Ph.D.
CFACT
“America’s rural-urban divide is wide and getting wider. Moneyed coastal elites rarely ever miss an opportunity to show their disdain for the rubes in flyover country. Anyone doubting the depth of the discord need look no further than Oregon, where a ballot initiative would all but put an end to the state’s rural economy and way of life,” according to CFACT.
“Oregon ballot initiative would end animal agriculture, hunting, fishing” Read Full Article »
by Rachel Frazin
The Hill
“The administration had already announced that it would make changes to a Trump-era move to expand logging in the forest, saying in a regulatory agenda issued last month that it would seek to ‘repeal or replace’ that decision,” according to The Hill.
The Editorial Board
The Wall Street Journal
In a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed that government interference with a citizen’s control or use of his or her land in virtually any way is a “taking” just as certainly as if the property had been confiscated.
by Annie Snider
Politico
“But forging a compromise in the decades-long battle appears to be a long-shot, with environmental groups holding firmly to a strong stance on wide protections,” according to Politico.
“Biden EPA to reverse Trump’s sweeping Clean Water Act rollback” Read Full Article »
by Rachel Frazin
The Hill
“But the Trump administration argued that its decision would increase rural economic opportunity and decrease federal regulation. It also argued that it would only cause a “modest difference” in environmental impacts” according to The Hill.
by Rachel Frazin
The Hill
While the founders never intended for the federal government to own land, it already owns too much. In many western states more than 80 percent of the land is owned by the federal government. Biden’s schemes are nothing more than a continuation of decades of federal land confiscation.
“Biden officials unveil plan to conserve 30 percent of US lands and water” Read Full Article »
by Casey Hammond
Reno Gazette Journal
Nevada’s environment and wildlife flourished under President Trump’s pro-energy policies according to the man responsible for both land and mineral management.
“Nevada’s public lands better managed under Trump administration |” Read Full Article »
by Rachel Frazin
The Hill
Acting Park Service Director Margaret Everson told regional leadership in an email that public access to the parks should be a top priority
“National parks chief says coronavirus staff shortages shouldn’t prevent access” Read Full Article »
by Tom Pyle
Western Wire
“The recently passed Great American Outdoors Act, likely signed into law by President Trump, is not the proper remedy for protecting and funding our national park system,” according to Tom Pyle.
“Here’s The Problem With The Great American Outdoors Act” Read Full Article »
American Energy Alliance
“Today, the American Energy Alliance joined a diverse coalition in opposition to Title II of the Great American Outdoors Act (S. 3422) which would make permanent the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF),” according to the American Energy Alliance.
“AEA Joins Coalition to Stop the Federal Land Grab” Read Full Article »
by Rebecca Beitsch
The Hill
Trump administration moves to speed up lumber sales on Federal land by cutting repetitive public protest period.
“Trump administration looks to fast track logging on public lands” Read Full Article »
by Todd Neeley
Progressive Farmer
“The new Navigable Waters Protection Act still leaves farmers and ranchers exposed to regulation of private property, an amended lawsuit filed in federal court on Monday alleges. The original lawsuit filed by the New Mexico Cattlemen’s Association also targets the 1986 regulation, alleging both versions illegally regulate non-navigable ponds, wetlands and tributaries,” according to Progressive Farmer.
“Cattle Group Says New Water Rule Regulates Non-Navigable Waters” Read Full Article »
by Bonner R. Cohen
The Heartland Institute
“Landowners in Missouri are fighting the use of eminent domain by the developers of the $2.3 billion Grain Belt Express power line to run the high-voltage power line across their property,” according to The Heartland Institute.
“EMINENT DOMAIN FOR MIDWESTERN WIND ENERGY POWER LINE REMAINS IN FLUX” Read Full Article »
by Bonner R. Cohen
CFACT
“Not content with attractive city parks and tree-lined streets, a growing number of local governments – often working with unelected “commissions” — are turning to seizing private property through eminent domain to virtue signal their commitment to a greener planet,” according to Bonner R. Cohen of CFACT
“Governments seizing private property for bike paths” Read Full Article »
The Christian Science Monitor
Trump administration shrinks monuments to develop America’s energy.
“Trump shrinks Utah’s national monuments to allow mining” Read Full Article »