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As Administrations shift, I will post comments on the terrible Trump Interior as well as items on the incoming Biden Administration.
Trump #1167: New Republican on House NR Committee is Lauren Bobert—she carries a glock! Too bad she didn’t use it on Trumpites storming Capitol—Oh, that’s right—she supported the coup! Probably would have liked to use it on Pelosi! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2021/01/26/stories/1063723497?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily Biden #14: Report shows that NPS Spent 4000 hours working on Trump’s RNC Fireworks Show. RNC reimbursed NPS but NPS employees not supposed to be used as campaign workers! De la Vega, acting Int. Dir., undoubtedly can provide excuse for approving this! See https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/national-park-service-spent-4000-hours-working-on-trumps-rnc-fireworks-show/ Biden #13: Reagan appointee judge just ruled FWS must release red wolves in NC! History of NC red wolves illustrates how tiny # of landowners dominates policy towards this species despite support of majority for them. I cover this in detail in my new book, Industry First: The Attack on Conservation by Trump’s Interior Department. NC wildlife officials tried to declare them extinct & landowners did everything they could to kill red wolf program but surveys showed that vast majority of NC wanted them & finally new governor even supported them! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/25/stories/1063723425?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Biden #12: Great article in Revelator on how Obama’s BLM failed to act against its anti-conservation culture & warns Biden NOT TO HIRE OBAMA staff. But with appt. of Scott de la Vega, Biden’s Interior off to horrible start. See https://therevelator.org/reform-blm-biden/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=no168&emci=e0f803c7-595b-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&emdi=585e47a5-e85b-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&ceid=326118 Biden #11: Tell Me It Ain’t So: Scott de la Vega who approved EVERY major illegal/unethical deed of Bernhardt & other Trump Interior bigwigs named Acting Director of Interior under Biden?? This guy should be the FIRST to be fired! How can this happen? Is this the work of Robert Bonnie who thinks FS was not political?? If so, fire him immediately. I will document some of his misdeeds. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/01/21/stories/1063723111?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire Scott de la Vega #1: Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech met with his former employer, Texas Public Policy Foundation (TPPF) that broke his ethics pledge —but nothing was done other than require that he watch some Powerpoint slides! Ethics head Scott De la Vega excused him because he had not signed an “ethics pledge” yet (Doyle, Feb. 20, 2019)! Apparently, the presence of three times as many ethics officials in Interior as existed two years ago was not enough to get Domenech to sign the pledge (OGE investigators missed this one!) Apparently, the presence of three times as many ethics officials in Interior as existed two years ago was not enough to get Domenech to sign the pledge (OGE investigators missed this one!) They are not supposed to talk about projects they worked on while employed but they are free to give favors to their former employers about any new projects they have! After meeting with his former employer, Domenech emailed them and told them “Keep fighting!” concerning the matters he had discussed with them (Tobias, July 16, 2019). De la Vega said, “this could be a violation of ethical rules but “he would need more context to make a legal opinion about it”! Domenech said he was going to be “more sensitive now!” (See the next case below to see how “sensitive” he became!) Tobias’ article shows that Domenech’s dirty work was successful—it helped win a lawsuit for TPPF (Tobias, July 16, 2019). Why didn’t Interior’s de la Vega act against this bozo? The answer is: Bernhardt personally recommended Domenech to lead the Trump administration's Department of the Interior landing team” and he’s a bigwig with lots of power—not the kind of employee gutless ethics officials like de la Vega punish. No wonder de la Vega subsequently was promoted to Asst. Solicitor for Interior: Bernhardt shows his appreciation to guys who sweep dirt under the rug. Scott de la Vega #2: Republicans on two House committees admitted in a report that Bernhardt had met with a former client of his, Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Assoc. which violated his ethics agreement, but sneaky Davy kept the meeting secret from his formal calendar. He practiced keeping a “personal itinerary” separate from the public calendar and it was regularly deleted! In fact, Roll Call reported (Holzman and Hulac, April 8, 2019) reported that there were systematic differences between his public calendar and his “real meeting schedules:” Recently posted versions of acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt’s daily schedules contain at least 260 differences from his original schedules, with the newest records showing meetings previously described as “external” or “internal” were actually with representatives of fossil fuel, timber, mining and other industries, according to a review by CQ Roll Call. What excuse did Bernhardt have for these differences and his apparently illegal meetings with former clients? DOI spokesperson Vander Voort used the usual Bernhardt “justification”: “[He] actively seeks and consults with the department’s designated ethics officials for advice on particular matters involving former clients.” So, his meeting with Louisiana Mid-Continent violated his pledge, right? No, according to Scott de la Vega, Interior’s Ethics head at the time, he forgave the meeting. De la Vega’s explanation: “LMOGA appears to have an association to an entity on Bernhardt’s recusal list, U.S. Oil and Gas Association, but it does not appear that this association would require a recusal in all circumstances…” If you can understand de la Vega’s logic, Bernhardt would be glad to add you to his “Ethics” staff” who never have trouble excusing any misdeeds by bigwigs in Interior, especially Bernhardt. Scott de la Vega #3: Bernhardt’s tactics to avoid accountability and hide information from the public are exemplified in his role to block the release of a USFWS report (written by the agency’s scientists) that “found that two of the pesticides, malathion and chlorpyrifos, were so toxic that they could “jeopardize the continued existence” of more than 1,200 endangered birds, fish and other animals and plants, a conclusion that could lead to tighter restrictions on use of the chemicals” (Lipton, March 26, 2019). The report was completed in August of 2017 and was scheduled to be released in November of 2017, but David Bernhardt intervened to block the release. The restrictions on these chemicals would have hurt Dow which had donated $1 million to Mr. Trump’s inauguration committee. Gary Frazier, USFWS’s top official whose job is to protect endangered species, said he did not believe the change in policy was “politically driven” (Lipton, March 26, 2019)! Frazier did not argue with this policy change—he said Bernhardt did not have to “twist arms to get agreement! Records show that Bernhardt did not have any involvement until November when he suddenly had 9 meetings about the report & wrote the letter that said Interior would NOT release the report. Bernhardt adopted the industry’s argument that the federal scientists’ conclusions were flawed because they were based on the volume of pesticides that could be legally used but should be based on how they were actually used. There are serious weaknesses in this argument. The scientist’s position concerned the jeopardy threat if users decided to use it to their legally allowed limits—the agency has no way of predicting how it will be used. Chlorpyrifos and malathion have “high toxicity” for all animals both “direct and indirect” (Lipton, March 26, 2019) and their use would be continued for many years and thus cumulative effects would increase through time. Moreover, a basic rule to follow in conservation is the “precautionary principle” to give priority to endangered species whenever there is uncertainty (Doremus, 2004, 415). Bernhardt blocked revelation of the report until a FOIA request forced them to release it! Interior’s (then) Ethics Chief, Scott de la Vega, investigated and he conceded that Bernhardt’s intervention was highly unusual, but did not find anything wrong with it! Here is Bernhardt’s explanation of why he changed the decision (Lipton, March 26, 2019): "I was troubled because, as I read it, a massive amount of work had gone into a process that I looked at and thought, 'This is completely and totally against our regulatory paradigm, and what a pathetic waste of our energy, effort and resources without legal intervention,'" Bernhardt said. He is speaking about blocking a report and recommendations about dangerous pesticides based on Interior’s own scientists as being a “waste”! Bernhardt’s statement is correct in one sense: The report and its recommendations were totally against Bernhardt’s regulatory paradigm which is to never rule against industry—forget the science! Eric Lipton (March 26, 2019) of the New York Times has written a detailed account of this ethical scandal. As usual, neither Interior’s IGs nor their numerous ethical staff like de la Vega ever are willing to find Bernhardt & his political appointees guilty of wrongdoing. In this case, it is clear that Bernhardt was following a different decision rule or The Industry First Principle: Favor industry whenever there is a conflict between industry wants and endangered species. One would hope that some professional USFWS employees would speak out but instead, like Frazier, they toe the energy dominance line. Biden #10: One of strange arguments made by Trump-Wheeler head of EPA’s last minute change to not allow science studies that promise confidentiality is that it’s an “Internal housekeeping rule” & wouldn’t be subject to Congressional Review. Well, then, why the hell can’t new EPA admin. change to THEIR INTERNAL RULE! Stupidity as always reigns in Trumpland. See https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/535106-biden-freeze-of-trump-rules-could-halt-environmental-rollbacks Trump #1166: Bernhardt’s last words highlighted “ethics staff increase!” Stooges like Scott de la Vega okayed every unethical/illegal act by bigwigs. See documented account of Trump's Interior Department's Ethical Cesspool by Bruce Rocheleau @ https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html Trump #1165: Bernhardt Scumbag to last minute. He just did away with NPS program & gave states control over LCWF program. He deserves nothing but contempt—spit on him if you get a chance! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2021/01/20/stories/1063722983?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily Biden #9: Jorjani’s Legal Team: Losers! His & other Trump Admin. legal opinions on migratory birds and other issues have been rejected and widely disrespected. NYU’s Institute for Policy Integrity has posted their LOSING RECORD (80%!) in court. See Biden #9 https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog Biden #8: 2nd Order of Business for Biden’s Interior: Slam phones & doors in face of Trump’s ex-Interior lobbyists. Phony Trump just undid rule against lobbying (which never was in effect anyway for rules & Interior) so slimy Bernhardt et al. will be seeking favors. His behavior justified slamming door in his face. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-lobbying-executive-order/2021/01/20/4a2afd16-5ae9-11eb-a976-bad6431e03e2_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_headlines Biden #7: First Order of Business for Interior: Fire All of Trump Political Appointees immediately. They do harm every day like BLM Chad Padgett finalizing ANWR sale. We don’t have time to wait for Haaland’s confirmation. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/01/20/stories/1063722959?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire Biden #6: We’ve been lucky that Fed judges appointed by Obama & Clinton prevented several of worst Trump anti-conservation moves but now Trump appointees prevent fixing of methane leaks. Here come the Trump Judge Yahoos! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2021/01/15/stories/1063722745?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm Trump #1164: Trump’s BLM estimated ANWR leasing would bring in $2.2 Billion—it actually got $14 Million! So they were off by 93%! That’s higher than their accuracy on matters such as climate change and endangered species! One more proof of how STUPID Bernhardt, MacGregor, Pendley etc. are! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/north-oil-in-an-underwhelming-lease-sale-major-oil-companies-steered-clear-of-alaskas-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email Biden #5: Biden Transition head Robert Bonnie said Forest Service “non-political!” Check out how they are approving last minute land swap over opposition of Apache tribe. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/15/stories/1063722735?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Trump #1163: Bernhardt’s outrages never cease! His NPS issued permits to insurrectionist groups & after they destroyed the Capitol, he thanks NPS police! Interior IG now looking into involvement—maybe now that Bernhrdt’s will be gone, they will summon courage to convict him! Up till now, he's done all kinds of unethical and illegal actins without a single consequence! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/15/stories/1063722717?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Biden #4: Great E&E News article on how Cliven Bundy is threatening armed resistance if Biden tries to make him pay fees he’s refused to do since 1994. Article raises question that I’ve wondered about—why use physical force on these crazies when you can use liens & attach his earnings & bank accounts for unpaid fees? Why has BLM been so stupid (& this is under other Admins.—not just Trump)?? Bigger point is that Bundy is only one of MANY who refuse to pay fees—GAO did report on this recently. Law & Order Trump not only has done NOTHING about them—he & his Admin. (e.g., Pendley & Budd Falen) have LIONIZED these lawbreakers! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/15/stories/1063722595?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1162: Skipwith & USFWS SIGN Memorandum of Agreement with NRA for Slob Hunting: Now that they have allowed killing of cubs & pups in dens, lead ammo in wildlife refuges, & view them as game farms, they want to continue these practices. See https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ref=service-signs-mou-to-recruit,-retain-and-retrain-hunters-in-partnership-&_ID=36835 Trump #1161: Sleazeball Interior leasing pub. lands for pennies during glut in their very last days. They’ve given away rights to these lands forever as companies will wait for next rise in prices. Lousy stupid Admin. by dopes. Well, Bernhardt figures he will be rewarded when he joins energy indus. Lobby & NEVER gave a damn about pub. lands—just as soon they were handed over to industry pals. As climate change worsens, Bernhardt et al should be imprisoned for the huge losses they have caused to U.S. economy as well as conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2021/01/15/stories/1063722657?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire Trump #1160: How evil & stupid are Skipwith & Trump's FWS? In last days of Admin., they are making huge cuts to critical habitat for spotted owls b/c of econ. costs! ESA isn’t supposed to be based on $! And she is supposed to prioritize wildlife conservation--no other agency or Director elsewhere in government has this responsibility! This nincompoop should never have been approved—she said beforehand she revered William Pendley’s book—the BLM jackass who hates ESA! She named as her favorite “conservationist” a Monsanto hack! (Clue: She didn’t know anything & still doesn’t about conservation!) Democrats face responsibility for approving her—only excuse I can think of they were afraid to oppose rare minority female in Trump Admin. but she has set of record that will be SHAMEFUL for any minority who care about conservation. Never again let an unqualified incompetent industry hack get this job! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/14/stories/1063722575?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Biden #3: Sen. Barrasso (R-WY) example of a clueless Western state Republican. Still entirely focused on energy dominance that he wants to continue under Haaland while this mania is destroying his state--$ revs. from energy way down while WIND energy is making up for loss! See https://www.hcn.org/issues/53.2/north-wind-power-new-wind-projects-power-local-budgets-in-wyoming?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email & https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2021/01/12/stories/1063722297?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1159: Finally an article by E&E News on how Trump’s Interior has totally stonewalled Congress for 4 years & got away with it. I have written an entire book that goes way beyond this—showing how Ethics, IGs & GAO all cooperated with them or were totally ineffective. Congress should be ashamed! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2021/01/12/stories/1063722307?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #Trump: 1158: Skipwith's last dagger into preservation of species. FWS wants to reduce ESA consultations by BLM and FS! She’s supposed to prioritize preservation—instead, last days, doing everything to undermine it! We can’t get rid of this destructive industry hack soon enough. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2021/01/11/stories/1063722255?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm Trump #1157: Great factual analysis of Trump Admin.’s LOSING deregulatory record in Courts. Shows Jorjani et al., like Trump & Bernhardt are losers & dumb! They lost in courts in 140 out of 175 cases--80% LOSING record. See https://policyintegrity.org/trump-court-roundup & https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/11/stories/1063722109?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Trump #1156: I have completed my book on Trump's Disastrous Interior Dept. that I have worked on for 4 years from the first day of the Trump Administration. If you have expertise on Trump's Interior and would be interested in providing comments to me, email me at brucerocheleau@gmail.com Here is an overview of the book: The title of my book is: Industry First: The Attack on Conservation by Trump’s Interior Department. It is a completed work. The book consists of 14 chapters, about 92,000 words including 152 pages of text, 45 pages of references, and a 3-page double columned index. It is a detailed study of the destructive impact that Trump’s Interior Department has had on conservation. The Interior Department controls hundreds of millions of acres of public lands including National Parks and Monuments and also oceans since it decides whether drilling can occur there and what protective measures must be employed to prevent disasters. The Interior Department is supposed to protect endangered species such as migratory birds, grizzlies, wolves, polar bears, and innumerable other species. In short, it is a hugely important organization that has been neglected by previous research. This work covers every aspect of the Interior Department’s policies and activities including mining and drilling on public lands, cutback of National Monuments, leasing, policies aimed to weaken the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and Endangered Species Act (ESA) and many others. It has a detailed chapter on the many unethical activities of the Department including its Ethics Department and its IG’s refusal to take action against unethical and illegal acts. It details how Trump’s Interior manipulated and abused the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and misused public comments most of which opposed their policies. Its major thesis is that Trump’s Interior sacrificed its conservation mission every single time they faced a choice between that mission and the industries they patronized: The Industry First Principle. It demonstrates how all of the usual safeguards and protections against misdeeds on the part of Federal agencies were subverted and overcome including FOIA rules, Congressional Committee oversight, Inspector Generals, Ethics Staff, and the U.S. Governmental Accountability Office. It shows that Trump’s Administrators were poor administrators on every measure possible except delivering to their industry pals. It documents how a small group of public range ranchers dominate public land policies thus making the move West by Interior’s Bureau of Land Management a ridiculous and expensive mistake. It details how all major appointees to Trump’s Interior represented industries and that these officials actively intervened for their former lobby partners in an unethical and illegal manner. It shows how when Trump Interior employees left, they joined companies that had projects with Interior and committed unethical deeds. It shows how Trump’s Interior illegally employed its resources (e.g., National Park Service funds) to support Trump’s campaign. It has details how Trump’s Interior took action after action to weaken protections for wildlife and that these harmful actions were boosted by officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) who are supposed to prioritize conservation. USFWS and other units of Interior were totally devoted to trophy hunters and allowed “slob hunting” in National Wildlife Refuges as well as numerous other abuses such as lead bullets in them, treating them as “game farms.” The book details how funding for conservation has deteriorated due to Trump’s Interior’s total emphasis on trophy hunting and outlines how future conservation efforts have to find new revenue sources. It proposes a new direction for the Department in the book’s Conclusion such as committing to “half-earth” idea by experts such as Edward O. Wilson. The book shows that it is necessary for these wrongs perpetrated by Trump’s Interior to be studied and investigated to prevent similar abuses from happening in the future. Thus this book will itself act as a form of accountability for these Trump Interior officials who so far got away unscathed during their term in office. The book is documented with supporting references and facts for all of its assertions. Trump #1155: Bundy, the public range rancher who still refuses to pay his fees just praised the Trump Rioters! It’s time for this welfare leech to be taken down—attach his bank accounts & put him in jail. One more example of public range ranchers getting away with crime! Trump’s BLM won’t do this so should be FIRST STEP taken by Biden’s BLM-Interior head! In fact, GAO report showed that there are many other public range leeches who also are not paying their fees. Go after all of them immediately! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/07/stories/1063722023?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Trump #1154: One of the chapters in my forthcoming book on Trump’s Interior concerns what a LOUSY administrator Bernhardt is—by any yardstick other than serving his lobby bosses. Add ANWR sale to that—no private bidders except 2 small comps. What losers Bernhardt & MacGregor are. Even their lobby partners should recognize what losers these two are & how they will be anathemas to next Interior. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2021/01/06/stories/1063721947?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm Biden #2: Biden’s Transition head says Forest Service is “non-political”???! Read about their Forest Service proposed NEPA changes that are all about industry & nothing about conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/08/stories/1063722105?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Biden #1: Biden transition official Robert Bonnie said that the U.S. Forest Service is NOT political! Bullshit! Contrary to what Bonnie says, FS has happily toed the line on logging & grazing in national forests during Trump Ad. Don’t let Bonnie select its head! How is this for political activity concerning Tongass under Trump? For Bonnie's ridiculous statement, see https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/05/stories/1063721821?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire The U.S. Forest Service ignored the huge benefits of maintaining the Tongass because they view energy dominance as the end all mission of the Administration and no environmental-conservation issues or recreational benefits matter enough to even necessitate discussion of their rationale. This omission proves that they have failed to adhere to FLPMA and other environmental and conservation laws and their claims to employ “a balanced” multiple use approach are ridiculous. The Forest Service’s handling of public comments was as corrupt as the Bears Ears and other cases I have talked about. First of all, they tried to keep public comments secret and it took a FOIA action pursued by Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SACC) to obtain access to these comments. Ninety-six (96) percent of the “unique” comments (i.e., not just duplicates pushed by interest groups) supported retaining the 2001 national Roadless Rule on the Tongass (Miller, May 5, 2020). Less than 1 percent of commenters voiced support for exempting the Tongass from the Roadless Rule altogether—the position pushed by top Alaskan politicos (e.g., Gov. Dunleavy, Senator Murkowski). As with Bears Ears, the majority of true local stakeholders including Native Americans opposed the change. What about public hearings? 196 people testified at 18 different hearings and most supported the No Change alternative while only 10 favored the Least Restrictive one chosen by FS and Agricultural Secretary Perdue. The Forest Service’s (U.S. Forest Service, May 2020, 9) own analysis of the comments noted several themes as to why commenters opposed changing the rule. One of these themes concerned contradictions by USFS in its Impact Statement: “Conflicting Logic Commenters expressed concern…conclusions were incongruent with the results of analyses and historical decisions. Historical findings using information from the same or similar analyses produced different conclusions with regards to the impacts that changing the rule would have on the local economy, environment, and society. Examples include: • Acknowledgement that road construction would negatively impact marine wildlife, then the claiming that the proposed rule would have negligible impact to marine habitat. • Stating the proposed rule has a high probability of maintaining viable and well-distributed wildlife populations without providing scientific rationale. • NEPA related documents stating the proposed rule would not lead to more logging when the State of Alaska’s petition and elected officials have demonstrated the purpose of the proposed rule is to help facilitate the expansion and revitalization of the timber industry. • Reusing analyses used for previous evaluations and decisions related to rejection of the exemption alternative and changing the conclusion without additional analyses that demonstrate exemption meets Purpose and Need. • Statement [that] the proposed rule would not result in a substantial loss of roadless protections when the proposed rulemaking reverses all roadless protections established by the 2001 Roadless Rule.” The number of local groups opposing the rule change was larger than those supporting it (U.S. Forest Service May 2020, 22): For Keeping Roadless Rule • Sitka Fish and Game Advisory Committee • City of Pelican • Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians • Alaska Federation of Natives • National Congress of American Indians (Resolution No. ABQ-19-029) • The Klawock Fish & Game Advisory Committee • Organized Village of Kake • Municipality of Skagway • City Council of Tenakee Springs • Craig Fish and Game Advisory Council • Klawock Fish and Game Advisory Committee • Wrangell Cooperative Association • The Community of Elfin Cove • Tribal Council of Tribal Council of the Ketchikan Indian Community • Organized Village of Saxman • City of Gustavus • Organized Village of Kasaan The only local groups supporting the change were: • City Council of Coffman Cove • City and Borough of Wrangell • The City of Whale Pass • Ketchikan Gateway Borough The really disturbing aspect of Tongass (and Bears Ears too) case is that despite the fact that (as revealed by FOIA) the overwhelming majority rejected FS’s selection and favored retention of roadless rule, USFS (and Interior in the Bears Ears case) not only were unswayed and unembarrassed when these data were revealed, they did not even feel it necessary to justify their unpopular position opposed by local stakeholders. Conservative Alaskan (and Utah) State politicians rail against Washington making decisions that hurt local “stakeholders”, but they are the ones who acted against the vast majority of local stakeholders and favor their industry pals. In short, the accountability procedures built into NEPA and FOIA do not help when you have an Administration that does not give a damn about conservation and believes only in the Industry First principle. In February 2020, Trump suddenly expressed support for a plan to plant “one trillion trees” that billionaire Marc Benioff had proposed with the idea that it would help to fight climate change. How does this square with the very real and ongoing cutting of old growth forests like the Tongass (which take decades or longer) to establish which have much more effect on climate than newly planted trees (Friedman, 2020; Kachur, Aug. 18, 2017)? The resolution of this paradox is that the tree planting plan is purely political and allows him to position himself as doing something “green” which will not affect the many mining-road building-logging efforts that his Interior Department is carrying out because polls show that young Republican are “breaking with their party” on climate change (Friedman, Feb. 12, 2020). Moreover, Trump’s Forest Service has been consistently raiding its “accounts for planting trees and fighting bugs” and instead using them to fight wildfires (Heller, May 30, 2019). Trump’s Forest Service also proposed cutting the budget for fighting bark beetles and other insects by 25 percent and the cuts were proposed at the same time the problem was worsening. What contributes to beetle infestation: Logging and fire suppression can create conditions favorable to spruce beetles” and “climate change may contribute to their spread (Heller, May 24, 2019).” So, while Trump latches on to the popular Trillion dollar “twig” plan, his FS logs old growth and ignores major infestations of important and established forests. Trump: 1153: Use Cong. Review Act to get rid of Trump’s NEPA rules. They are not only devoid of science—they are anti-science. Argument that should keep them to try to alter is ridiculous. Better by far to revert back to Obama’s rules. Extra benefit: People like Budd-Falen worked hard on these to destroy conservation—great to see her & those like her to get their just desserts. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/06/stories/1063721933?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Trump #1152: Trump never saw a supporter who’s also a criminal that he didn’t want to pardon! BLM moves again to reinstate Hammonds' permits despite their criminal arson of public lands! These are the kind of fires that Trump loves! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/05/stories/1063721805?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire Trump #1151: FWS admits "negative impacts on migratory birds” will “increase over time” because “incidental take is not prohibited" but finishes rule anyway! What can you say about idiots who admit they are wrong! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/05/stories/1063721803?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1150: Trump’s Interior contaminates Montana’s Nat. Resources Dept! As rats leave the ship, one (Amanda Kaster) to head Montana’s NR Dept. I don’t think Montanans will like Industry First hacks like her destroying the state! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/04/stories/1063721693?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1149: Another Nat. Park Service Favor to Trump: They’ve paid for his campaign videos, helped him make an ad w/bible, campaign rallies at monuments, now allow him to attempt to thwart election. What can you say about Trump’s Interior—scumbags to very last! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2021/01/04/stories/1063721709?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1148: What is American exceptionalism? Is it devotion to Energy Dominance or a commitment to CONSERVATION? Bernhardt said that he was “thrilled about” the proposed NEPA changes (D’Angelo and Kaufman, Jan. 15, 2020) and that NEPA has hurt “American exceptionalism!” (Eilperin & Davis, Jan. 9, 2020). What makes America “exceptional?” Is it allowing industries and developers to run roughshod over wilderness areas and to destroy wildlife and plant species? China, Russia, and many other countries are happy to push development and they do not tolerate environmentalist protests. Or is it the protection of these natural resources by laws such as NEPA, ESA, and the establishment of protected areas such as national parks, forests, and monuments? The latter is what makes the U.S. exceptional—leading the way to conservation. Nations around the World have followed the U.S. in establishing national parks after Yellowstone and passing their own species protection laws modeled after the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Protection of the environment and species is what makes this country unique, not allowing the exploitation of our natural resources. #1147: Joke’s on Trump, Bernhardt, & Alaskan Politicos: No one wants to bid on drilling ANWR. This is one final proof that energy dominance mania of last 4yrs. is a relic of Neanderthals running Interior. See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/30/climate/anwr-arctic-drilling-leases.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20201231&instance_id=25531&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=10365419&segment_id=48093&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 1146: Trump’s Interior still trying to have Pendley run BLM! Interior loser Bernhardt hasn't nominated anyone but other industry hacks like himself for top jobs. Few that have been approved like Skipwith could NEVER be approved again so terrible have they been! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/29/stories/1063721539 #1145: Zinke has no self-reflection harm he did—see interview. If Bernhardt ever wrote on his reflections, he would brag about all that he got away with during his term without ever being called to account by Congress, courts, ethics or IGs! I am completing a book on Trump’s Interior that will detail his wrongs and call him to account to the public and history. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/28/stories/1063721495?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1144: Taking stock of Skipwith’s harm to wildlife: Wash Post. Article on how it will take YEARS to undo harm she & rest of Interior have done. You would think that a non-conservationist (required for the job) would take extra care to protect wildlife but instead she has conducted an all-out assault on protections for them. As one of few African-American women in Admin., they would have been reluctant to get rid of her if she had pushed conservation. Instead, she carried out industry agenda every chance she got & was the worst of them. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/12/22/biden-wildlife-protections-trump/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2dd0622%2F5fe393d99d2fda0efb91df2e%2F5a70bc809bbc0f1ce4027e5f%2F35%2F49%2Fc13f5fd758380fdad6d92bb28f43ffa2 #1143: Skipwith attacks birds once again giving permits kill endangered cormorants. Why? She says “managing economist costs & minimize regulatory burden” on citizens. This idiot is supposed to protect species—that is her job. She has sacrificed wildlife to industry IN EVERY SINGLE CASE! Conservation and wildlife would be best off with her elimination from this job. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/22/stories/1063721367?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1142: Bernhardt’s gone due to COVID & no horrendous Interior actions in last couple of days. Too bad others like Pendley, McGregor et al. can’t be sidelined! Email me at brucerocheleau@gmail.com #1141: Dept Agric-Forest Service OIG finds Alaska misused Federal $ to lobby for building roads & logging forests. Who’s surprised? Agriculture-Interior-EPA scorn laws & do what they want for industry & Trump, the law be damned. Be great if somebody were locked up for this. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/18/stories/1063721105?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1140: Republicans clueless on climate change: Even Texans believe in it & are willing to sacrifice to take action. Report by Univ. of Houston shows that Texans have had a huge chance of views on climate. Too bad Republicans & Interior are too stupid to learn. See https://uh.edu/uh-energy/research/energy-research/carbon-management-report-2020/content/uh-carbon-management-report-2020.pdf #1139: Another last minute change by Trump Interior eliminates protest pd. for timber cutting sales. Excuse? Wildfires but they continue to ignore major cause—climate change. Earlier, they issued new NEPA rules that also cut public involvement in comprehensive & coordinated attempt to help industry pals. Hopefully, MacGregor & remaining pimps will contract COVID before they do more damage. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/17/stories/1063720981?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1138: Jorjani chooses fishing industry over wind! Why? Hypocrisy! He worries about “cumulative effects of wind industry”!!! Too bad Trump Admin. doesn’t give damn about cumulative effects of climate change! Their new NEPA rules eliminate cum. effects as reason to deny projects. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/15/stories/1063720751?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1137: Skipwith denies deserved protection to monarchs! Why? She says they have “higher priority ESA responsibilities!” FWS has recently denied protections to wolverines, ptarmigans, spotted owls, grizzlies, & red & gray wolves, etc. etc.. Her priority: Industry’s profits. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/15/stories/1063720767?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1136: Skipwith another attempt to kill end. species: redefines critical habitat so that lands need a little restoration won’t qualify. Under her, agency has become like “Wildlife Services” (Dept. of Agric.): dedicated to killing wildlife that interfere w/industry. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/15/stories/1063720739?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire 1135: FWS trying again to kill the dunes sagebrush lizards that inhabits oil-rich Permian Basin land. They will Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances to allow industry to “voluntarily take measures” to preserve the lizard. Susan Combs, the anti-ESA activist who recently left FWS had achieved such an agreement before her appointment but her successor found that the agreement was a failure—the voluntary measures did not work & an industry-appointed group supposed to monitor the agreement never did so. As with their spotted owl, migratory bird, grizzly and wolf actions in the last throes of the Trump Admin., Interior is rushing to kill as many species as possible that interfere with industry before Biden takes over. Combs’ successor as Comptroller, Glenn Hagar, was forced to fire the Texas Habitat Conservation Foundation because it had failed to perform any of the habitat restoration work –they did not monitor drillers” and did not monitor “landowners to ensure they were performing [promised] conservation measures (Hiar, March 25, 2016). A conservation group, Defenders of Wildlife had “submitted multiple requests for information on how much was spent on mitigation under the Plan…but the Comptroller’s Office and the Texas Attorney General Office had denied every request” (Price and Dexheimer, April 9, 2018). The oil and gas industry had protected less land than promised and the plan greatly “underestimated the size of dunes sagebrush lizard habitat.” Also, a “credit swap program” proved “useless” though the oil-gas industry loved the program (Price and Dexheimer, April 9, 2018). See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/14/stories/1063720611?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire And public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2020-25685.pdf & also #945 below for additional references. #1134: Skipwith’s FWS denied relisting of the owl even though they acknowledged “that the owl deserved to be relisted!” Why not? They said they did not have enough funding to take the actions required (Doyle, Dec. 14, 2020). One of the three underlying threats to the owl is directly the result of Interior! They have lost critical habitat due to timber logging but FWS just proposed removing about 205,000 acres in Oregon from the current critical habitat designation of 9.6 million acres. Why do this when a species is under severe direct threat? FWS said they were seeking “to streamline "unnecessary regulatory oversight" of timber management” (Doyle, Dec. 14, 2020). Unnecessary?! The FWS statement on refusing to relist the owl proves the necessity! Why does the FWS prioritize the timber industry over its major mission of protecting species?! There is no explanation other than FWS’s and Interior total submission to the Industry First principle, extinction be damned. Skipwith's name should be listed forever in the Pantheon of Shameful Destroyers of Conservation. #1133: Progressive ranchers trying to save their land from overgrazing use electric fences to simulate same effect as wolves!: “Gordons use portable electric fences to keep their cattle moving, mimicking how predators chase herd animals around. Even better idea: Allow a few wolves around! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/ranching-colorado-ranchers-adapt-for-a-changing-climate?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #1132: Trump Course in Stupidity 100: His EPA will now ignore INDIRECT costs and benefits from regulations. Why? Whole point of cost benefit analysis (as distinct from financial analysis) IS to take into consideration such costs & benefits. Otherwise societal costs ignored but that’s the point when you want to pander to industry. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/12/09bhhhhhhhh/trump-air-pollution/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2d729b4%2F5fd270629d2fda0efb847480%2F5a70bc809bbc0f1ce4027e5f%2F14%2F41%2Fc13f5fd758380fdad6d92bb28f43ffa2 #1131: Trump Interior loyalists are trying to burrow into Biden Admin. becoming permanent bureaucrats. There’s not single person hired by Bernhardt/Zinke who’s not a corrupt industry lackey. Interior’s Ethics officials are notorious for not penalizing Interior bigwigs. Don’t let these weasels stay—they should be investigated & charged! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/09/stories/1063720277?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1130: Interior Dept. Sec. MacGregor cuts NEPA protections against decaying trees that serve wildlife to lessen wildfires while she & Interior have not only ignored but CONTRIBUTED hugely to climate change that’s underlying cause of rise in fires. See quotes from the hypocrite at https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/09/stories/1063720307?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1129: Trump’s Despicable BLM cuts NEPA protections against trees that threaten sagebrush habitat necessary for sage grouse & other species. Why? It will make trophy hunters happy—b/c “improve habitat for mule deer” says Mule Deer Fdnt. President! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/09/stories/1063720307?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1128: Trump appoints industry lackeys to Arctic Research Cmmsn. at same time his NOAA publishes scientific report that proves Arctic has shrinking ice cap, record wildfires, & decreased sea algae. See https://arctic.noaa.gov/Report-Card/Report-Card-2020/ArtMID/7975/ArticleID/899/Executive-Summary #1127: Bernhardt says it will be hard for Biden to overturn all of terrible stuff he’s accomplished along with his twice-convicted pal, Doug Domenech, who despite being found guilty continues to work at top of Interior. Bernhardt continued to say that he will be working till last minute to implement energy dominance even though the world is overflowing in oil and gas and Bernhardt’s failed Interior got less revenue than Obama did!: "highest returns from federal energy revenue [occurrred] during the Obama years coincided with high oil prices — in 2013 and 2014 — when production was lower than today Like Trump, Bernhardt is a loser. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/08/stories/1063720205?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1126: How petty & disgusting are Bernhardt, MacGregor, & Pendley? They denied all of New Mexico’s LCW projects as payback for their politico’s critique of Trump’s Interior policies & leadership. In addition to their reckless race to destroy public lands & water, can’t wait for their ugly butts leave! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/public-lands-interior-denies-all-of-new-mexicos-proposed-lwcf-projects #1125: Portrait of Zinke to hang forever at Interior! It should include figures of his trophies oozing blood along with oil wells & grazing cattle to give a true picture of his “legacy” for Interior’s Hall of Shame! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/08/stories/1063720163?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1124: Trump’s Interior doing away with protections against Arctic spills. Industry pimp MacGregor says regs are burdensome? The TRUTH is that prevention of Exxon-Valdez type of spills saves BILLIONS. Proof? Trump’s own Office of Management and Budget (Draft Report, 2017, p.2) reported the following in their benefit-to-cost analysis: The principal findings of this OMB Report are as follows. • The estimated annual benefits of major Federal regulations reviewed by OMB from October 1, 2006, to September 30, 2016,5 for which agencies estimated and monetized both benefits and costs, are in the aggregate between $219 billion and $695 billion, while the estimated annual costs are in the aggregate between $59 billion and $88 billion, reported in 2001 dollars. In 2015 dollars, aggregate annual benefits are estimated to be between $287 and $911 billion and costs between $78 and $115 billion. These ranges reflect uncertainty in the benefits and costs of each rule at the time that it was evaluated. In 2016, the estimated benefits of regulation exceeded costs by $160 Billion to $607 Billion as calculated by Trump’s own OMB! This is wonderful news that should be broadcast to U.S. citizens so they know that governmental regulation is extremely worthwhile! Right? Instead, Trump’s OMB (Final Report, 2017) DELETED this paragraph (Brugger, Dec. 11, 2019)! See report at Office of Management and Budget. (OMB). 2017 Draft Report to Congress on the Benefits and Costs of Federal Regulations and Agency Compliance with the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act. Who’s making this decision? Scott Angelle, Trump appointed head of Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement is a joke-his background in safety? La. Company he headed created giant sinkhole, he got $500,000 from oil industry to lift moratorium on Gulf drilling, & got 1.5 million for sitting on oil company board. In other words, standard Trump appointee who is directly threatens function (safety) that he’s supposed to serve. See https://departmentofinfluence.org/person/scott-angelle/ #1123: Interior’s Park Police: Ever notice how Interior bigwigs are often praising their staff who do law enforcement but not those who do conservation? Well, they also continue to stonewall investigation of killing of unarmed black man. Who’s surprised—Bernhardt stonewalled Congress for 4 yrs. & got away with it. I hope they lock him up for contempt of court. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/biden-administration-bijan-ghaisar-case/2020/12/04/70add01c-34ec-11eb-b59c-adb7153d10c2_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_headlines https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog #1122: Trump’s USFWS will not list threatened ptarmigan despite threat from climate change! Why? They acknowledged threat but they prefer to “err on side of extinction” and not be scaredy cats who err on side of caution. See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/12/04/stories/1063719853?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire #1121: Senate confirms another industry bum, Larry Erdos for mining enforcement job! What are his qualifications? Under him, Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE) weakened a rule that mandated that states take action when a citizen reported a mining violation. Why do this? Erdos, said “state regulators hate receiving 10-day notices because it gives the perception they're not doing their job.” By way of contrast, Obama’s OSMRE official said “responding to 10-day notices isn't difficult” and if the state cannot do this, it means it’s due to “malfeasance” (e.g., ignoring industry’s problematic behavior) or because they have not given enough resources to enforcement (Marshall, Oct. 27, 2020). Once more, deferring to states enforces the “industry first” principle while weakening citizen’s ability to seek action about a wrong. One more attempt by Trump-Bernhardt to leave energy industry pimps at Interior during Biden Admin. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/12/04/stories/1063719895?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1120: Trump appoints 2 more to Arctic Research Cmmsn. One is part of Arctic Corp. that looking to make $ off oil drilling etc. Other is Texan—another Texan already on comm. Want to trust them for arctic conservation? NOOO! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/03/stories/1063719869?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1119: Pendley appoints trophy hunter as National Conservation Director! Lame duck appoints another trophy hunter—don’t let them get away with it. Bernhardt, Zinke, Skipwith—all trophy hunters & it’s the only kind “of conservation” they support—killing species & the only species they’re interested in his “game.” His “background” is Rocky Mountain Elk Fdtn.—the same org. that LOVED & supported Bernhardt. One more step to try to sabotage return to real conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/12/03/stories/1063719871?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1118: Boycott any company that purchases lease to drill ANWR. Companies like Bank of America have refused to participate—let’s punish any that buys leases. See account of Trump’s despicable last second sale of ANWR https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/12/03/stories/1063719847?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1117: Interior & BLM’s Phony Analysis of Public Input: Here’s how they turn massive opposition to destructive projects into phony support for projects—just one of several examples from my forthcoming book titled Industry First: The Destructive Impact of the Trump Administration and its Interior Department on Conservation. Let me know if you are interested in reviewing this book by emailing me at brucerocheleau@gmail.com BLM has also released a plan for drilling for oil in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (BLM, November 2019) that has similar options ranging from Alternative A that would keep the status quo of allowing drilling on 52 percent (11.8) million acres to Alternative D that would allow the most drilling on 83 percent (18.3 million acres). The document acknowledges that Alternative D would “affect caribou survival…increase likelihood of impacts…resulting from noise, traffic, and human activity…contamination (BLM, November 2019, 3-250). What was their choice? Alternative E—a new option that they created which will develop even more than Alternative D! They claim to have made this change based on public comment! Baloney! 82,497 comments were received but NO ANALYSIS of these comments is presented as to what the concerned public wanted because the huge majority opposed the high development alternatives. BLM said that all but “294 were considered to be part of form letter campaigns.” You can be sure that as I show with the Council on Environmental Quality NEPA comments case that I discuss below that these 82,000 comments had numerous individualized responses expressing their disgust for this action—they were not simply duplicates. How does BLM excuse their ignoring the huge majority of comments? Here is their “logic:” (Bureau of Land Management, June 2020, Appendix A, z-3): “It is also important to note that, while the BLM reviewed and considered all comments, none were counted as votes. The NEPA public comment period is neither an election nor does it result in a representative sampling of the population. Therefore, public comments are not appropriate to be used as a democratic decision-making tool or as a scientific sampling mechanism.” Well, the eighty-two thousand comments represent a very good sample of the population who cared about what happened to the public lands in the Petroleum Reserve enough to make a comment! You can be sure if a majority of these comments favored the development alternatives, Trump’s BLM would regard them as an appropriate sample. You can check out 838 “scoping” comments which virtually all, except for those from Conoco Phillips-Alaska staff, oppose the high development options. BLM NEVER responds to the majority of comments that are critical of these high development alternatives—their one continuing refrain is that “The NPRPA requires the BLM to have a competitive program of oil and gas leasing in the NPR-A” but never answer why the current plan, A, is not far superior to the option chosen (E) given its much less harmful impacts on conservation and communities involved. They dodge critiques that they do not have any good information on impacts on wildlife such as polar bears by stating over and over that “The BLM used the best information available at the time of the development of the IAP/EIS. New information presented during the public comment period will be reviewed and included, as appropriate. NEPA does not require an agency to fill data gaps before making a decision.” According to the Secretary’s order, the plan was supposed to “strike an appropriate balance of promoting development while protecting surface resources”—there is NO BALANCE at all in their choice—it’s all out development. You can read the executive summary and also the 838 scoping comments & BLM’s inadequate responses at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/117408/570 The comments are in Appendix Z. There is no pretense by the BLM or the Alaskan delegation that the negative environmental effects should deter all out drilling. BLM’s state director for the effort was Chad Padgett who formerly was an aide to Alaska Rep. Don Young who strongly supports maximum drilling. Young released a statement that says that he “welcomed” BLM’s plans and complained about Obama’s Administration’s “overly-restrictive disaster” for Alaska (Streater, Nov. 21, 2019). In short, as with Bears Ears, BLM and Interior are led by staff who have a complete focus on energy dominance and devaluing of other missions thus leading to a predetermined result that neglects the other goals demanded by FLMPA. They list negative environmental consequences but ignore them in making the decision. #1116: USFS latest research shows climate has caused more severe fires, slowing regrowth but Trump Admin. effort is mythical Trillion Twig program?? Time for FS, BLM, USFWS professional staff to protest idiotic Trump dogma. See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/12/02/stories/1063719651?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire #1115: EPA professional scientific staff are resisting Wheeler’s last minute push for pollution friendly rules like misnamed “open science” rule—we need Interior professionals (I assume a few left?) to do same against Bernhardt. Are there any Interior staff willing to show the same courage as EPA's? Most public health studies necessarily promise confidentiality to participants & now sleazy Bernhardt-Wheeler trying to eliminate use of these studies. See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/27/climate/epa-trump-biden.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20201128&instance_id=24541&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=10365419&segment_id=45593&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 #1114: Trump cancels Pebble Mine project—that his son opposed because his hunting/fishing buddies didn’t like it! Notice how his few GOOD actions due to family/selfish interests-Jared & those imprisoned for drug charges, Outdoors Act (save Repub. Senate seats) & now Pebble Mine! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/25/stories/1063719383?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1113: Biggest Joke of Year: Interior IG Greenblatt advises Biden’s new team to “Call ethics first!” I have documented how Bernhardt’s Ethics staff have approved every unethical act by bigwigs including Davy himself & Bernhardt has ignored Greenblatt—check out Doug Domenech who IG found guilty TWICE by IG of violating oath & he’s still there in his job. First Step for Biden team take: FIRE all Interior Ethics Staff, especially Scott de la Vega & also Greenblatt—they have been a total joke. For full documentation of these points, see Trump’s Interior Department’s Ethical Cesspool at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html See Greenblatt laughable interview at https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/24/stories/1063719263?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1112: Bernhardt a lousy Administrator to the very end. Interior too late to provide any details on implementation of Outdoors Act that they TRUMPETED about during campaign. Note the contrast with Interior’s All Out Effort to drill the Arctic--they are sparing no resources to destroy ANWR & log Tongass. Bernhardt's so-called reputation as an administrator is a joke—he’s failed in every aspect of his job from leasing to conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/23/stories/1063719169?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1111: Skipwith out of COVID: Guess what her first “wildlife activity” will be: If you guessed, Killing animals & partying with hunters, you get the prize! Has she ever done any activity with non-hunter-angler conservation groups? She’s been w/o credentials for the job and says she wants to recruit minorities to USFWS??! She is & will be forever a shame to any minority interested in conservation--every major decision she’s made has been to sacrifice wildlife for industry & hunting interests. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/11/19/stories/1063718965?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1110 Bernhardt’s Bureau of Reclamation to raise Shasta dam over State of Calif. Wishes to help benefit his lobby partner, Westlands. Hypocrisy & Corruption all in one. Davy brags about deferring to states unless he can ignore states if he can benefit his partner. Westlands will certainly hire him when he’s booted from office to lobby for them. I hope next Interior hangs up on him & slams door when he tries to lobby them. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/20/stories/1063719067?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1109: How much Bad can MacGregor & Bernhardt do in last days? Lots. Just slashed rules to prevent oil spills in Arctic—only 1 of many terrible actions they are rushing to do. Nothing stops them from doing evil. If only they could be sidelined—where is COVID when it’s needed? See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/19/stories/1063718947?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1108: New Trump rules will log more old forests & build more roads. Read story about recently discovered martens in Oregon whose near extinction has been caused because “Timber companies harvested the biggest, oldest trees in which martens made their dens.” See stupid quote by Bernhardt says NEPA evmntal rules hurt “American Exceptionalism.” What is exceptional about allowing destruction of forests & wildlife—it happens everywhere, especially in dictatorships. What IS EXCEPTIONAL about U.S. is National Parks, Monuments, & other protected areas that put conservation in front of profit! See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/11/18/forest-service-wilderness-trump/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2cdc292%2F5fb6c1009d2fda0efb6d5f89%2F5a70bc809bbc0f1ce4027e5f%2F16%2F50%2Fc13f5fd758380fdad6d92bb28f43ffa2 & martens article: https://www.hcn.org/articles/endangered-species-endangered-martens-are-living-on-the-edge-in-oregon?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #1107: Amazing: Federal judge says baiting of brown bears in Kenai National Wildlife Refuge should not happen contrary to Alaskan Politicos who think slob hunting is essential part of their culture! Response of Safari Club: “under federal law; they must prioritize such “recreation." They think “recreation” is shooting baited bears & cubs in their dens! Actually, the MISSION of Nat. Wildlife Refuges is “be focused singularly on wildlife conservation.” See https://www.fws.gov/willamettevalley/ccp/nwrsia.htm The specific goals Goals of the National Wildlife Refuge System are: a. To fulfill our statutory duty to achieve refuge purpose(s) and further the System mission. b. Conserve, restore where appropriate, and enhance all species of fish, wildlife, and plants that are endangered or threatened with becoming endangered. c. Perpetuate migratory bird, interjurisdictional fish, and marine mammal populations. d. Conserve a diversity of fish, wildlife, and plants. e. Conserve and restore, where appropriate, representative ecosystems of the United States, including the ecological processes characteristic of those ecosystems They did include mention of hunting but it was in the LAST item (f) & 95% of the people who visit refuges go there to WATCH, not kill, wildlife. So much for the stupidity of the Safari Club—no wonder they admire the illegal poacher of international wildlife, Donald Trump Jr. whose FWS ignored his illegal poaching of endangered wildlife. #1106: Rob Bishop says he won’t miss Congress & Congress won’t miss him! It will be without an all-out anti-End. Species Act politico who did not thing but harm. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/11/17/stories/1063718607?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1105: Bernhardt brags about delisting species? He’s doing his best to make red wolves extinct. Since 2018, the wild red wolf population has fallen by 70% & now he’s trying to kill off gray wolves too. His extinction as Sec. of Interior is only step that will save them! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/16/stories/1063718567?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1104: Skipwith has COVID—not wrong to say that shutting her down is good for conservation! She, unlike previous Professional FWS directors, campaigned for Trump & bragged about delisting wolves. Too bad Bernhardt doesn’t have COVID—he’s rushing to lease sage grouse habitat! The less time he & Skipwith are working, the better for conservation & wildlife. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/16/stories/1063718577?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/16/stories/1063718569?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1103: Get Bernhardt-Trump out of Office: They rushing to destroy ANWR. They ignore opposition of Native Americans, listening only to Republicans who never saw wildlife they aren’t happy to kill. Ever notice how they make their most obnoxious and ridiculous moves on late Friday afternoons! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/11/13/stories/1063718479?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1102: Just like his hero, Trump, Bernhrdt can’t stop doing bad—just gave veto to states to reject LCW projects such as new public land acquisition. Waiting to Daines oppose this! If he doesn’t, let’s gear up to get rid of him next time! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/13/stories/1063718467?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1101: Yes, investigate all of Trump agencies for corruption with industry. Interior has obviously committed many misdeeds & they should be held accountable for them. See details on Trump's Interior Department's Ethical Cesspool by Bruce Rocheleau @ https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html & https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/11/13/stories/1063718409?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog #1100: Bernhardt Outstanding Sycophant: When he spoke to Mining Asso. at Trump Hotel, he went out of his way to praise the venue—something other Trump officials like Sleazy Scott Pruitt, did not even do: "While it’s common for Trump administration officials to appear at events held at one of the president’s private businesses, it’s less common...for them to vocally praise the businesses.” Goes to show Davey has his head farther up Trump’s butt than anyone else! Witness his groveling & illegal use of National Park Service $ & Parks for Trump's Campaign. See https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/bernhardt-praised-trump-hotel-mining/ #1099: Trump’s Interior has bragged about state of U.S. Evmnt: check out report on U.S. coral reefs done by Trump’s NOAA—it shows alarming decline due to climate change & human activity. See full reports at https://repository.library.noaa.gov/view/noaa/27295 #1098: Trump-Bernhardt still trying to destroy wild horses. They intend to do roundup but no plans for fertility prevention that Nat. Acad. Sciences supported. They will quietly sell horses to be slaughtered. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/11/10/stories/1063718209 & https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/us/mustang-crisis-west.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_200322&campaign_id=2&instance_id=16974&segment_id=22534&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7®i_id=103654190322 #1097: Make Trump preserve records—no doubt that Bernhardt et al. did shady acts & will try to delete all records of them against Pres. Records Act. Hire IT specialists to search for files they deleted. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/10/stories/1063718177?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1096: Bernhardt continues to violate law-Fed. Vacancies Reform Act keeping Pendley in office & has violated Hatch Act several times using NPS to make video & other Trump Campaign support. Too bad fatso can’t be imprisoned for his actions. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/11/stories/1063718257?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1095: Count on Bernhardt to toady to Trump til the very end! Not surprising they won’t provide list of Federal lands acquisition under Great Outdoors Act—their whole support for the law was based on Trump-Republican reelection & no reason to act on it at all! Even Republican opponents of the Act (e.g., Rep. Graves of LA) say it was all politics. Bernhardt et al. will do as much harm as they can in last 70 days—lease & drill every pristine site they can. They are the worst. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/11/10/stories/1063718149?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1094: Neither Trump’s Interior nor his OMB provided list of projects for LCW funding as required even though they bragged about full funding the entire campaign! Now that Donnie lost, he’s doesn’t give a damn & neither does oil-slick Bernhardt! In fact, Donnie will probably try to undo the program out of spite! Davy is busy hiding tracks to his misdeeds & calling lobby partners begging for a job. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/11/05/stories/1063717893?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1093: Another bad effect of Drilling: sinkholes in New Mexico & Texas are caused at brine wells when freshwater is pumped in for oil drilling (& other industrial purposes). Costs are conservatively estimated $300 Million yearly & just one collapse near Carlsbad could cost $1 billion. Once again, you won’t see these costs entered into benefits bragged about by Interior & Republican politicos. See https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-desk-energy-industry-new-mexicos-oil-fields-have-a-sinkhole-problem?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #1092: Trump, the Loser, still pushes forward NEPA changes aimed at removing climate change as reason to stop projects & to fast forward all industry projects no matter how big w/o careful environmental review It will be fun to see their changes kicked out as Budd-Falen et al. fume! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/11/04/stories/1063717785?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm 1091: Stupidity Dominates Trump’s Interior to very end! Good article cites how climate research has advanced in last 4 years proving human-driven climate change but Trump’s Interior stuck in idiotic denial due to greed. There are now strong sets of research showing that many of extreme events in recent years due to climate but Trump-Bernhardt unable to admit or do anything about. They will be convicted by history of killing of U.S. citizens through their inattention resulting in wild fires, strong hurricanes & floods. See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/11/03/stories/1063717633?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire & https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/stories/1060069005/ #1090: “Trump Interior’s Phony “Deliberative Process” Excuse for Withholding Info from FOIA releases: Trump’s Interior has repeatedly used the excuse that they can’t release info on their poor decisions because releasing would “hurt the deliberative process.” They have used this excuse to prevent underlying basic facts from coming to light because it discredits & invalidates the decisions they made. For example, the Interior Department was forced by a FOIA request to release documents about the Bears Ears monument decision but much of this information proved that the Obama Administration had actively solicited local participation of not only environmental groups but tribes, state and local officials and members of Congress (Lipton & Friedman, 2018). These documents became available due to FOIA requests and reveal the Administration hid negative information they had gathered about the monuments cutbacks—these were redacted from their intended official disclosures but Interior made a mistake and made available revealing messages such as findings that the cuts would put sacred archaeological and cultural sites at risk” and that the monuments did not hurt ranching much at all and redacted information that showed increased tourist revenues and less vandalism thanks to the establishment of the monument (Eilperin, 2018). How does Interior justify redacting this very relevant information from their review? They claim it is to protect “executive deliberations,” the idea being that officials would be afraid to communicate effectively if they knew their comments would be made public. However, the redacted material concerns basic underlying facts such that leaving them out would make for an incorrect and uninformed decision. If such basic facts are allowed be redacted, then the entire review is a sham (which in fact, in this case, it was) and undermines any form of accountability on the part of the executive. Amazingly, constitutional experts say that somehow they will probably get away with this because the constitutional language is “fuzzy” on executive decisions (Eilperin, 2018). If this so-called constitutional protection allows agencies to redact basic facts and not have to justify their decision even though most evidence contradicts their choice, then the entire review processes under NEPA and other Acts are worthless. That is certainly the desire of the Trump Administration. Right now, the Supreme Court is reviewing a case involving in which EPA refused to provide biological opinions to the Sierra Club over the effects of power plants on marine species. Wonder what Coney Barrett, favorite of Scalia & Trump, will do—favor Freedom of Information? https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/11/02/stories/1063717573?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1089: Jorjani Lies Exposed: Daniel Jorjani heads Interior’s Ethics and FOIA units so he should provide a good model of behavior for accountability, Right? When Bernhardt was under consideration for approval to be Secretary of Interior, the Courts ordered Interior to provide them documents that were relevant to their questioning of him. Congress originally asked for the documents in 2017 using the FOIA but they were not provided courts ordered them to be provided in 2018. However, many of the documents were not released until February 2019 but 253 documents were still held despite the court order. Even after Bernhardt was approved for the job, Interior continues to withhold 38 documents. Their excuse? It was “legitimate activity” to withhold “sensitive information” and they were not “legally obligated to disclose” (Doyle, Aug. 11, 2020). The nature of the documents withheld apparently could have embarrassed Bernhardt when he was being questioned by Congress to see if he should be approved as Secretary. A court-ordered provision of documents under the Freedom of Information Act would seem to be legally correct demand that any agency should have to turn over the documents. One DOI attorney remembered that they were to withhold the information “until after Bernhardt’s confirmation.” Interior claimed that they had the “discretion” to withhold “sensitive information” (Office of the Inspector General, Aug. 11, 2020). This information was not about atomic secrets or terrorism but concerned documents that might have embarrassed Bernhardt in his questioning by Congress. Greenblatt questioned all of those involved in the withholding of documents including Hunter Relat (then Counselor to the Secretary), Rachel Spector (Director of the FOIA Office), and Jorjani (Interior’s Solicitor or top lawyer) but they all had very poor memories of the action. They “confirmed that they eventually received directions to stop withholding Bernhardt-related documents under the FOIA litigation, but none of them recalled when they were told this or by whom” (OIG, August 11, 2020)! Jorjani had a memory “lapse” when trying to recall this event but he speculated on what might have happened (Office of the Inspector General, Aug. 11, 2020): “Either I came up with the idea—and I would like to think I’m smart enough to do that—or Hubbel [Relat, Counselor to the Secretary at the time], being proactive, said, ‘Oh, can we do this compliantly and consistent with the court’s direction,’ and then ran it past me. . . . It would be one of those two, I would think.” He could only confirm what others had told the IG because he did not remember the details himself about withholding documents for his boss’s confirmation. Apparently, refusing to provide court ordered FOIA information to a Senate Committee concerning his boss’s confirmation, the most important day of Bernhardt’s life, was too trivial for Jorjani to remember! Jorjani also had a memory lapse concerning whether Bernhardt was aware of this withholding of documents or even talking with Relat about the matter. It is impossible to believe that Jorjani and other Interior officials could forget whether they spoke about withholding court-ordered documents to a Senate Committee to their boss, David Bernhardt! Either they are all feeble-minded or lying but that’s the way of life in Interior under Bernhardt. Note that Jorjani said that the idea of withholding these documents from the Senate Committee was a “smart” idea! Despite his total lack of memory, Jorjani said “he owned the decision” because he was Interior top attorney (OIG, August 11, 2020)! Interior’s argument now is that they had the right to decide when to release documents—i.e., save the most sensitive documents till late. If agencies are able to keep documents secret until after the time when they are to be used for Senate staffers to prepare Senators, that undermines the whole FOIA law! In this case, they have kept some documents secret even after Bernhardt’s confirmation! Read the text of Greenblatt’s OIG “investigation” at https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/08/11/document_gw_01.pdf It’s a hilarious account of liars trying to explain their unethical actions. #1088: Amazing News: Interior’s IG finally shows spine & convicts USGS head Reilly of retaliating against Whistleblower. But guess, what, corrupt Interior reacts by lauding Reilly who has also been convicted of hiding reports on harm to polar bears by drilling. Interior’s ethical sewer remains intact! See https://www.doioig.gov/sites/doioig.gov/files/WebRedacted_AllegedReprisalUSGSDirector.pdf & https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/10/29/stories/1063717379?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm 1087: Interior just hired another UNQUALIFIED person to job as Dep. Asst. Sec. for Fish, Wildlife, & Parks—Jeremy Carl. He has NO BACKGROUND whatsoever for this job! His only “qualification” is he hates Black Lives Matter & writes Right Wing pieces. His writing are political pieces about energy policy pushing industry-favorable policies but NOTHING on Wildlife or Parks. That qualifies him b/c Bernhardt loves hiring Know-Nothings—witness Skipwith, Pendley, Combs, & Budd Falen! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/28/stories/1063717179?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1086: Trump’s Mining Enforcement Office (OSMRE) makes it legal & easy for states to ignore mine violations reported by citizens. They have one rule they do follow: INDUSTRY FIRST, Safety and Environment Last. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/10/27/stories/1063717199?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1085: Bernhardt says Interior political twitter posts Okay because his corrupt Ethics officials approved of it! There is no action by Bernhardt or other bigwigs in Interior that Scott de la Vega & other corrupt Interior Ethics officials would not approve. Doug Domenech convicted by IG TWICE is still working! They have taken illegal actions several times before as judged by bipartisan GAO & they use same excuse: “ethics officials approved it.” See detailed documented account of how Jorjani & other top staff withheld info. Congress & took one corrupt action after another in "Trump's Interior Department's Ethical Cesspool" by Bruce Rocheleau at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html You won’t believe what these creeps have gotten away with. They tripled the Ethics staff but quadrupled the corruption at the same time! #1084: Trump’s 1 Trillion Twig program: In February 2020, Trump suddenly expressed support for a plan to plant “one trillion trees” that billionaire Marc Benioff had proposed with the idea that it would help to fight climate change. How does this square with the very real and ongoing cutting of old growth forests like the Tongass (which take decades or longer) to establish which have much more effect on climate than newly planted trees (Friedman, Feb. 12, 2020; Kachur, Aug. 18, 2017)? The resolution of this paradox is that the tree planting plan is purely political and allows him to position himself as doing something “green” which will not affect the many mining-road building-logging efforts that his Interior Department is carrying out because polls show that young Republican are “breaking with their party” on climate change (Friedman, 2020). Moreover, Trump’s Forest Service has been consistently raiding its “accounts for planting trees and fighting bugs” and instead using them to fight wildfires (Heller, May 30, 2019). Trump’s Forest Service also proposed cutting the budget for fighting bark beetles and other insects by 25 percent and the cuts were proposed at the same time the problem was worsening. What contributes to beetle infestation: Logging and fire suppression can create conditions favorable to spruce beetles” and “climate change may contribute to their spread (Heller, May 24, 2019).” So, while Trump latches on to the popular Trillion dollar “twig” plan, his FS logs old growth and ignores major infestations of important and established forests. Friedman, Lisa. (February 12, 2020). A Trillion Trees: How One Idea Triumphed Over Trump’s Climate Denialism. New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/climate/trump-trees-climate-change.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_200213&campaign_id=2&instance_id=15853&segment_id=21227&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7®i_id=103654190213#commentsContainer Heller, Marc. (May 24, 2019). Beetles 'on steroids' undermine Trump bid to cut USFS budget. E&E News. https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/05/24/stories/1060391113 Heller, Marc. (May 30, 2019). Internal email: Tree growth funds going toward wildfires. E&E News. https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/05/30/stories/1060433569 Kachur, Torah. (August 18, 2017). As trees age, their climate benefit grows. CBC News. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/how-old-trees-help-climate-1.4252888 #1083: What's the primary purpose of National Wildlife Refuges? When Trump’s Interior officials are questioned on their support for conservation, they have only one response: “Look what we have done for hunters by opening National Wildlife Refuges to them!” This is their sole idea of "conservation." Here are few of these so-called “conservation steps:” (1) In April of 2020, they opened eight wildlife refuges to hunting for the first time; (2) They planned on opening or expanding hunting at 89 other wildlife refuges and 9 additional national hatchery sites. FWS bragged that this was the “biggest largest such expansion” ever; (3) In 2019, FWS opened and/ or expanded new hunting…opportunities on over 1.4 million acres at 92 refuges nationwide” (Doyle, April 8, 2020). Bernhardt bragged about their “service” to hunters in wildlife refuges (Doyle, April 8, 2020): "America's hunters and anglers now have something significant to look forward to in the fall as we plan to open and expand hunting and fishing opportunities across more acreage nationwide than the entire state of Delaware…" FWS’s Skipwith was equally enthusiastic about more hunting in refuges stating that there’s “no better way to celebrate than to get out and enjoy increased access for hunting … on our public lands" (Doyle, April 8, 2020). Actually, the vast majority of visitors to National Wildlife Refuges like to celebrate by watching, not killing, wildlife but then they aren’t trophy hunters enthusiasts like Bernhardt and Skipwith. If you read their statements on national wildlife refuges, you will have no doubt that they view these “refuges” as primarily game farms for their trophy hunter friends. See Doyle, Michael. (April 8, 2020). Feds plan to open more wildlife refuges to hunting. E&E News. https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/08/stories/1062822253 #1082: Once more, Federal Courts defeated Trump’s FS from logging Tongass. Obama appointee was judge. Shows how crucial for Dems to win Senate. Trump’s Yahoo judges are coming! Fed. judges have succeeded in protecting while Congress was impotent. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/22/stories/1063716859?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1081: Having already allowed Slob hunting baiting of brown bears in Kenai Wildlife REFUGE, FWS now is going to allow “game carts, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and utility vehicles” in the Refuge. Apparently they don’t understand concept of WILDLIFE REFUGE. It’s not supposed to be human playground or game farm. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/22/stories/1063716877?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1080: de la Vega EXCUSES another ethical violation by senior official! Why? B/c the poor fellow who, de la Vega, said “seemed to have a fair degree of integrity” got “lax advice.” De la Vega said now that ETHICS office tripled in size, no longer a problem! Unfortunately, de la Vega & successors continue to avoid taking action against any bigwigs—Domenech who had 2 serious ethical violations still working! De la Vega is a joke as I have documented in “Trump’s Interior Department’s Ethical Cesspool” at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html & https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/10/21/stories/1063716761?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm #1079: Trump: Another conservation step needed: Keep rider to bars FWS from listing sage grouse under ESA out of Budget Bill. As you know, science, not Industry, should determine if ESA protection needed. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/21/stories/1063716675?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1078: Trump: So you’re a conservationist then commit to the 30 by 30 policy of protecting AT LEAST 30% of U.S. lands & water by 2030! Guess who else supports it—not just Dems. but Hunter groups incl. Junior’s favorite-Safari Intl! Of course, supporting it would mean end of energy dominance but since you’re now a conservationist, that won’t upset you. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/21/stories/1063716671?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1077: The main takeaways of this election season: Energy Dominance Mania has proven to be wrong-headed loser & in his last throes, Trump has now pushing some conservation steps b/c he realizes his policies are despised by majority of U.S. public. Sorry: Too little, Too late, Donnie. All of Bernhardt's lobby friends can't put Donnie back together again. #1076: Supposed to be smart “Coney Barrett” says she’s “not a scientist” & doesn’t understand climate change—2 things she shares with Donald. Not smart at all. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/14/stories/1063716209?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1075: Trump now pushing water when his EPA has done away with clean water protections. Just like supported LCWF at last minute b/c politics. Proving 2 things: he’s desperate & now knows energy dom. is a loser like him. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/14/stories/1063716221?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1074: Pendley illegal BLM decisions should be invalidated. Trump-Bernhardt never appointed qualified person to head it—if his decisions allowed to stand, would establish precedent of not needing to seek Senate consent on top level appointments. Pendley is so disgusting even Republicans won’t support him. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/10/14/stories/1063716149?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire #1073: Trump signs Trillion Tree Order at same time his INTERIOR prepares to log biggest old growth forests in U.S.! What more can you say about this phony?! Old growth forests reduce emissions far more than twigs being planted! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/13/stories/1063716109?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/13/stories/1063716099?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1072: Suddenly, environment is top issue in races across U.S. including Texas & Alaska—2 biggest fossil fuel states & Colorado another big energy producing state! Energy dominance nowhere! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/12/stories/1063715975?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/12/stories/1063715969?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/12/stories/1063715973?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1071: Court rules military funds can ‘t be used for border wall. Next up, Interior’s illegal turning over of wildlife refuges for border wall & destroying sacred Native sites in Az. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/12/stories/1063716013?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire & https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/border-wall-cactuses-arizona.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_200227&campaign_id=2&instance_id=16258&segment_id=21666&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7®i_id=103654190227 #1070: Pope vs. Trump & Interior: Pope says not to invest in companies that don’t reduce emissions drastically! Funny, Pope believes in Science but not Trump or Interior! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/12/stories/1063715981?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1069: Another Bad effect of Energy Dominance: Montana gold mine owned by Company that declared bankruptcy so U.S. public has to pay for cleanup of toxic metals, nitrates, selenium, & cyanide. Trump-Interior NEVER talk about this! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/12/stories/1063715995?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire #1068: Several surveys show Trump's biggest gap with Biden concerns Evmnt--bigger than race or health! Thanks to him & Bernhardt for pushing energy dominance when public wants non-consumptive uses like WATCHING wildlife, not drilling or killing! See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/06/11/stories/1063366837?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1067: Ag. Secy. Perdue found guilty of violating Hatch Act which is good but his actions are nothing compared to Bernhardt’s & Interior’s use of monuments & NPS $ to campaign for Trump including making a video! Convict the creep! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/09/stories/1063715945?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire for Perdue's & #1036 below for Bernhardt's outrageous behavior. #1066: Trump seismic blasts impossible so Atlantic coastal drilling dead! Have you ever seen such a complete defeat for these energy dominance maniacs! Shows they’re on the wrong side of history. MacGregor headed this losing effort! See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/10/01/offshore-drilling-atlantic/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green&carta-url=https%3A%2F%2Fs2.washingtonpost.com%2Fcar-ln-tr%2F2c098db%2F5f7f53d99d2fda0efb430a5a%2F5a70bc809bbc0f1ce4027e5f%2F30%2F41%2Fc13f5fd758380fdad6d92bb28f43ffa2 #1065: Gianforte, Repub. for gov. Montana, one more in trouble for supporting Pendley & anti-public lands actions. For some reason, protecting evmnt. & public lands is popular & energy dom. NOT with the public! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/07/stories/1063715687?utm_campaign=edition&utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily #1064: One more ex. of Bernhardt’s Poor Admin.: His rush to help his oil friends led to “planning...resulted in companies receiving royalty cuts on wells that did not need it” according to the U.S. GAO. Trump’s Interior can’t do too much for industry & won’t do anything for conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/06/stories/1063715599?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition&ee_data=TTFeVkWJ20N7hpwPnM32D%2FPIdssAQdtKfAM92dIj%2Fij7m0PI8sYTWALVt3xI0MvC #1063: Bernhardt: Pendley's critics 'are about to be crushed'?? Davy got it wrong: Trump & Davy are about to be crushed & tossed out, though it will be difficult given their girth! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/05/stories/1063715495?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition&ee_data=TTFeVkWJ20N7hpwPnM32D%2FPIdssAQdtKfAM92dIj%2Fij7m0PI8sYTWALVt3xI0MvC #1062: Has anyone noticed that this election process has proven that the public totally rejects Trump’s Energy Dominance Mania?! Gardner, Daines, Tillis have all had to beg for help on Drilling &/or LCW to try to give them some “green credential” to have a chance of winning! Nobody is dying for more drilling! This totally discredits Trump-Bernhardt & shows the bankruptcy of the Trump Party! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/10/05/stories/1063715425?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition&ee_data=TTFeVkWJ20N7hpwPnM32D%2FPIdssAQdtKfAM92dIj%2Fij7m0PI8sYTWALVt3xI0MvC #1061: More proof Bernhardt's Lousy Administrator: NPS chief not approved & should be removed. Bernhardt only wants to hire energy industry lobbyists so he can’t appoint qualified candidates! See #1061 https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/10/01/stories/1063715249?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition&ee_data=TTFeVkWJ20N7hpwPnM32D%2FPIdssAQdtKfAM92dIj%2Fij7m0PI8sYTWALVt3xI0MvC #1060: Post reports on how USGS head blocked release of scientific study on impact of Arctic drilling on polar bears. The study had already undergone extensive peer review but lackey Reilly tried to find reasons (really dumb—see Post’s listing of them) for not releasing it. He doesn't understand why the study had to use assumptions--and he's a scientist??!! He doesn't like it that they're referring to research done by their former top scientific expert on polar bears because he's now an advocate for them! Reilly-Bernhardt happily accept any advocates for industry regardless of the science or their assumptions. Clearly, they are trying to rush their drilling & won’t let science get in the way. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/09/30/usgs-polar-bears/?wpmk=1&wpisrc=al_environment__alert-hse--alert-national&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert&pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNWE3MGJjODA5YmJjMGYxY2U0MDI3ZTVmIiwidGFnIjoid3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vY2xpbWF0ZS1lbnZpcm9ubWVudC8yMDIwLzA5LzMwL3VzZ3MtcG9sYXItYmVhcnMvP3dwbWs9MSZ3cGlzcmM9YWxfZW52aXJvbm1lbnRfX2FsZXJ0LWhzZS0tYWxlcnQtbmF0aW9uYWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1hbGVydCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj13cF9uZXdzX2FsZXJ0X3JldmVyZSZsb2NhdGlvbj1hbGVydCJ9.Izubo4vGjHn9WmTVd574XeBGzaaNeSBH66zXxkhLBmQ #1059: USFWS Failing National Wildlife Refuge System: Audubon Magazine did research but USFWS refused to answer questions or allow them to interview staff! If Gun Magazine asked, you can be sure Skipwith would love to talk w/them! The Refuge system has lost 700 positions since 2011 even though new refuges have been added and morale of refuge employees is low. Visitation to refuges increased by 37% from 2009 to 2017 at the same time positions such as biologists & law enforcement were cut. Hunting was opened to 3.7 million acres with FWS prioritizing this over wildlife protection which is supposed to REFUGES main purpose & there are not enough law enforcement to enforce rules against poaching & ATVs. Loss of staff mean that critical functions like prairie fires can’t be done. Need increase in staff but that would come out of FWS regular budget—not out of fossil fuel fund. See Audubon, Fall 2020. Sottile, Leah and McGlashen, Andy. “Sanctuaries Under Strain.” Audubon Magazine, Fall 2020, 34-41. #1058: More proof that Bernhardt is Lousy Administrator. He couldn’t find qualified lackey who could pass Senate so put in flunkey who now has been removed which opens all acts under him to challenge. Bernhardt’s a dope! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/28/stories/1063714891?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1057: Kate McGregor: proven to be worthy successor to Sleazy Bernhardt. Her calendar shows she’s industry’s top lackey: of the 113 meetings she scheduled, ALL were with fossil fuel and related industries (Public Citizen, 2020, 16-17). None were with conservation groups! See https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/fossilfilled-final.pdf #1056: Daines now taking credit for blocking mining near Yellowstone when actually he he delayed its passing by linking it to release of wilderness areas for mining. Like Trump & Richardson, he specializes in taking undeserved credit for conservation steps he opposed/delayed.Also goes to show that voters are demanding conservation as top priority--NOT ENERGY DOMINANCE! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/09/28/stories/1063714783?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1055: Once again Trump Admin. chooses most destructive option. Of 6 alternative plans for Tongass, they chose the one that opens ENTIRE forest to logging. This is what they have done in ALL of their major NEPA required analyses for Alaska—choose the most destructive. Of course, they assure us that they won’t really do much logging! If you believe that, then you think Trump is the most truthful president ever! This is old growth forest that absorbs much more carbon than younger forests & the “trillion new trees” that Donny promises. There is a wealth of evidence that proves roads are the most destructive development threatening wildlife (e.g., see Duke, Danah L.; Hebblewhite, Mark; Paquet, Paul C.; Callaghan, Carolan; & Percy, Melanie. (2001). “Restoring a Large-Carnivore Corridor in Banff National Park.” Pp. 261-275 in David Maehr; S.; Reed F. Noss; & Jeffery L. Larkin, Editors. Large Mammal Restoration: Ecological and Sociological Challenges in the 21st Century. Washington: Island Press.) Of course, harmful effects to wildlife mean nothing to this Admin. whose head of USFWS is a Dow Chemical grad w/no conservation background & major interest is hunting. #1054: Here is Case #5 on Bernhardt & Jorjani both lying about industry pushing weakening of Intl. Migratory Bird Treaty: (Case #5) Bernhardt praised Jorjani’s reinterpretation of the Migratory Bird Treaty saying that he did a “good job.” (Doyle, April 15, 2019). However, Bernhardt said he was “unaware” of MBTA-related meetings between Interior officials and the Independent Petroleum Assoc., a former client of his, until he “saw references to such meetings” in news accounts! This statement is made by Bernhardt who has made millions from his lobby partners and whom he cherishes! If an Interior official had met with a former client of Bernhardt’s without letting Bernhardt know about it beforehand, you can be sure (s)he would be headed for the exit. But, of course, slimy Bernhardt would not leave any paperwork or phone trail for accountability concerning his communications with his Interior underlings or lobby partners—it would all be by word of mouth or untracked phone calls. See full chapter at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html #1053: Here is Case #1 of Chapter on Trump's Interior Department's Ethical Cesspool--full chapter available at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/papers-on-wildlife-conservation.html: (Case #1) One of Trump’s major themes was to “drain the swamp” to forbid government officials who left for industry to lobby their agencies for FIVE YEARS! ALL of Zinke & Bernhardt’s top officials who have left government have signed with companies that have close ties to their former jobs! A perfect example is Joe Balash who oversaw the effort to drill ANWR in his job as Asst. Sec. for Land and Minerals Management in BLM. Who did he sign with? An oil company, Oil Search, that wants to drill ANWR and is already drilling Federal reserves. Conflict of Interest, right?! No, Balash explained that he would only be SUPERVISING those lobbying for drilling ANWR—he would not be DIRECTLY lobbying! (Eilperin & Mufson, Sept. 4, 2019). I suspect that Balash was laughing when he explained this creative interpretation of ethical rules. Only in Bernhardt’s sewer can it be considered ethical for the BOSS of lobbyists to be free to do this! If you understand and accept Balash’s excuse, Bernhardt will hire you as his next Solicitor! Of course, Interior’s Ethics Office saw no problem with this though ethics experts such as those from the Project on Government oversight disagreed. In Bernhardt’s Interior, “appearances” do not matter—only the technical procedural rules do! #1052: Judges rules Pendley’s an “illegal!” Once again proven that ONLY FEDERAL judges protect us from Trump-Bernhardt sleaze. Ethics staff, IGs, GAO, & Congress all wimps. Problem is Trump about seize Sup.Court & his unqualified nominees will be taking over so our lone saviors no longer will be. See https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063714779?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeepubs&utm_campaign=news_alert%2B #1051: Montana governor race shows once again that key ISSUES are conservation! Climate change is causing desertification & harm Glacier Nat. Park. Tourism is far more important than energy to economy. Shows Trump/Repubs on losing end of politics! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/09/22/stories/1063713797?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1050: Trump just banned drilling off NC! Energy Dominance is less important than Donny’s reelection. It PROVES what U.S. public values & it ISN’T DRILLING! What a coward & hypocrite Trump is! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/09/22/stories/1063714343?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1049: Federal judges have been the ONLY ones standing between Trump’s Interior and destruction of the environment & conservation. Fed. judges have consistently ruled against Trump’s overriding evmntal laws. Ginsburg was key evmntal voice on Court. Replacement of her w/ evmntalist is crucial! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/19/stories/1063714165?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1048: Southwest U.S. migrating birds are experiencing mass die-off due to climate change. Too bad USFWS is busy supporting energy dom. to care. They should be renamed Fake Wildlife Service. Their policies are killing off more than Ag’s Wildlife Services that kills wildlife. See https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-desk-southwest-experiences-mass-bird-die-off?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #1047: Bundy continues to graze cattle on public lands w/o paying fees for >20 yrs. Trump Admin. does nothing. So much for law’n order. Of course, BLM now headed by Pendley who thinks Bundy is right. Has any reporter asked Pendley about Bundy freeloading? Clearly Feds are afraid to confiscate w/good reason—nuts from all over country would defend the Sh_head! But why can’t IRS be used to attach his accounts for unpaid Federal fees? See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/17/stories/1063714017?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1046: NPS Park Police Chief Monahan is a liar—like all of Interior’s Top Officials. See account by whistleblower about what happened when NPS helped Trump walk across street for campaign ad. It is disgusting to see how NPS has been used entirely as a campaign tool for Trump. They know it’s illegal but also nothing will happen until after election. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-protest-lafayette-square/2020/09/16/ca0174e4-f788-11ea-89e3-4b9efa36dc64_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_headlines #1045: Test shows Interior’s cybersecurity weak! Let’s invite Russians to dig up all of the documents that Bernhardt has hid from Congress. Maybe they can get truth from unlike their IG! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/09/16/stories/1063713903?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1044: USGAO vs. Trump on Climate Change: they just released report that states “Unclear federal leadership is the key challenge to climate migration as a resilience strategy.” Indeed, his Admin. has raced to speed climate change w/all out energy dominance. See GAO report https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-20-488 #1043: Trump Admin. vs. Science: Stupidity or Greed? Trump just hired a climate denialist as Senior Advisor on Climate for NOAA just as new research proves new Arctic is already here as predicted by science models. The question for me is whether climate change denialists are stupid or just greedy-their jobs & investments depend on fossil fuels. For Dept. of Interior, no doubt that greed is reason behind slimy Bernhardt’s agenda though stupidity looks like a good explanation for Pendley! For Trump, both factors are present! See https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-020-0892-z & https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/09/14/stories/1063713585 #1042: Bernhardt’s ANWR drilling adviser takes Alaska state job! Well, at least he didn’t go to work for the company that wants to drill ANWR like Joe Balash did. No worry, Balash will not DIRECTLY lobby on ANWR—he will supervise the lobbyists! Bernhardt's stellar Ethics Office approved this arrangement! Note that that this man, Steve Wackowski, had an apparent ethical conflict b/c he worked for a drone co. that could be assisting with seismic surveys but Interior's Ethics team cleared him--said he didn't need to recuse himself. Somehow they always find a way to excuse the bigwigs! This is life in Bernhardt’s sewer. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/09/11/stories/1063713527?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1041: While Trump stops drilling off East Coast to shore up his campaign, he’s rushing to drill Alaska & log Tongass & other pristine Alaskan treasures! He doesn’t think he has to worry about their votes though surveys prove that most Alaskans reject the stupidity of Alaska’s top politicos. As his Admin. heads out the door, they are trying to do as much as possible for their industry buddies. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/09/11/stories/1063713523?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1040: Fed Financial Rpt warns financial disaster from climate change. Too bad idiots at Interior have eliminated climate change as concern thru their new NEPA regs! How stupid are Bernhardt & Budd-Falen? Read the report to find out. See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/08/climate/climate-change-financial-markets.html?emci=f3438419-03ef-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&emdi=d45383db-5df3-ea11-99c3-00155d039e74&ceid=326118 #1039: Why do senior officials & companies with whom they have shady dealings go unnamed in Interior IG Greenblatt’s reports?! 2 “former” NPS managers abused regs. by paying a comp. over $1 Mill. but neither their names nor the company’s are revealed. This is not the first time. Greenblatt “forgave” a “senior political appointee” for violating an ethics pledge—he went unnamed as did the company he worked with. Greenblatt is great at protecting unethical Interior officials & their bus. partners—but, for protecting the sanctity of the oath of office, he’s terrible. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/stories/1063377239/search?keyword=Senior+political+appointee+is+unnamed & https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/09/09/stories/1063713285?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1038: Trump signs offshore drilling ban. Very funny: Bernhardt will now issue statement that he’s ALWAYS opposed drilling! Way Trump thinks, he should fire Bernhardt et al. & blame them for the energy dominance mania! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/09/08/stories/1063713171?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1037: Good News: League Con. Voters to fund vulnerable Dems. Trump’s sudden “green” turn shows conservation is strong political issue! If the New West (i.e., non-rancher, non-trophy hunter, non-energy industry) can turn up & vote, it would be great! See #137 https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/09/09/stories/1063713177?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1036: Hatch Act & Interior’s IG: It is obvious to everyone that Trump broke Hatch Act & Anti-Deficiency Act rules in using Park Serv. for his campaign. Will IG Greenblatt investigate & find another way to hand it over to courts? Or is the coward thinking about how to retain his job under Biden & planning to actually do something? Stay Tuned! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/09/09/stories/1063713185?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1035: How do you know when Interior’s dereg. Rule is REALY STUPID & BAD? When even industry (oil-gas) they’re trying to help opposes it as is case with methane gas dereg.! See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/09/08/stories/1063713063?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1034: Aurelia, somehow Dems. think it’s your job to EXPAND CRITICAL habitat for end. species, not shrink it as you’re trying to do. You are really leaving a legacy—of shame. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/09/08/stories/1063713075?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1033: Aurelia, somehow Dems. Think it’s your job to EXPAND CRITICAL habitat for end. species, not shrink it as you’re trying to do. You are really leaving a legacy—of shame. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/09/08/stories/1063713075?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1032: Sen. Mike Enzi wants to pass law to remove grizzly bear protections complaining about legal interference. Yes, judges, unlike FWS & Western states don’t believe that Minimum # bears = Max. # of bears that should live & that the only useful bear is one hanging on their walls! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/09/08/stories/1063713027?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1031: Judge questions motivation behind NEPA overhaul: I suggest Judge read 600 pages of CEQ’s response to comments on climate change which they are trying delete issue: Trump team DO NOT CITE ANY SCIENCE while Obama’s CEQ dozens of scientific supporting refs. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/09/08/stories/1063713083?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1030: One other amusing event: Utah & other fossil fuel states are giving handouts & welfare to their fossil fuel industries. But I bet they will complain to their graves about tax advantages for renewable energy! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/09/08/stories/1063713055?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1029: Very Funny: Trump Admin. now latching onto Environment to try to save his election—latest is expansion of drilling offshore ban in Southern states! If he wants to show he’s serious: Strengthen, not weaken ESA; Repeal NEPA changes & Migratory Bird changes, & renew compensatory mitigation! And Fire Bernhardt, Pendley, Budd-Falen, Jorjani, de la Vega, & Skipwith (for starters)--blame them for the terrible conservation destruction they have wreaked! #1028: Portrait of the Liar, Daniel Jorjani, who heads Interior’s Ethics and FOIA section so he should provide a good model of behavior for accountability, Right? He was in charge of the withholding of FOIA documents ordered by the Court and Senate Committee but when the IG interviewed him about why documents were withheld, his memory suddenly became very bad. He could only confirm what others had told the IG because he didn’t remember the details himself about withholding documents for his boss’s confirmation. Apparently, refusing to provide court-ordered FOIA information to a Senate Committee concerning his boss’s confirmation is too trivial for Jorjani to remember! Enough said: He is a liar who heads Interior’s ethics and accountability! When Jorjani was interviewed by the Senate for confirmation as Solicitor, he lied to Sen. King about not having contact with Koch Brothers (whom he had worked for) though he used “TO BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION” phrase well known to other liars. Jorjani sent an email in March of 2017 to Interior colleagues in which he boasted that he had “successfully protected” Interior political appointees facing investigations and that “at the end of the day, our job is to protect the Secretary” from ethics probes and bad.” Jorjani also lied to Senators about not reviewing public information requests. See https://www.huffpost.com/entry/daniel-jorjani-interior-lawyer-koch-network_n_5e20e02bc5b6321176107946 & See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/06/01/stories/1063286457 Greenblatt OIG “investigation” is at https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/08/11/document_gw_01.pdf The OIG report is very funny example of liars trying to explain their unethical actions! Note: The above is just one of several case studies I am doing on Interior's so-called "Ethics Department" Let me know if you are interested in the report I am putting together with all of the cases. #1027: Lie: Bernhardt confirmation: “…no question that scientific integrity should underpin agency actions.” Reality: His proposed NEPA regs aims to eliminate climate change as issue but uses NO SCIENTIFIC references while Obama’s was filled with science! See #988 https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog & Bernhardt's promised “Science Advisor’s” (Tim Petty) scientific experience is working for Republican politicians! See https://www.doi.gov/interior-leadership #1026: Trump-Bernhardt LCW plan BEFORE found out Republican Senators might lose b/c of it: the budget Bernhardt had submitted to Congress contained even LESS than zero for LWCF, with proposed spending and rescissions would cut the program by a net 105 percent. Here is what Davy said to Congress: Shadowed by several activists wearing green "Fund LWCF" T-shirts, Bernhardt said Interior would spend the Land and Water Conservation Fund dollars if Congress appropriates them. He did not offer a full-throated defense or explanation for the administration's budget proposal to all but eliminate the funding, which reached $435 million this year. & Davy & Republicans are attacking Cal. Democrat for lack of support for LCW! See #1026 https://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings-and-business-meetings?Id=35F3BA18-1860-4227-8C1B-A7C5891D14E1&Statement_id=C6766874-3099-4F02-9C4C-BB9FE859DDF0 & https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2019/05/15/stories/1060338525 #1025: Another big lie: Davy at confirm: “Protecting sage-grouse habitat…a priority for Interior.” BLM is fighting to save 440 leases judge threw out in threatened sage grouse country & BLM sage grouse plan removes ban on mining in >250,000 acres of best sagebrush habitat & BLM admits this! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/05/26/stories/1063240981 #1024: Bernhardt’s Answers to Senate Committee: I just found text of his responses & check out how he has lied! He said that General Mining Law of 1872 “could be updated” & was going to make sure that public got “appropriate return” from royalty rate! Instead, he has CUT royalty rates. See the liar’s responses at https://www.energy.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/hearings-and-business-meetings?Id=35F3BA18-1860-4227-8C1B-A7C5891D14E1&Statement_id=C6766874-3099-4F02-9C4C-BB9FE859DDF0 #1023: Sad Story of Skipwith: As one of few minority females in leadership position in Trump Admin., she could have stood up for conservation & they would hesitate to fire her. Instead, she has gone all out for industry (including pesticides—she’s a Dow graduate) & esp. trophy hunting. She’s given lots of appearances at hunting confs.—none at conservationist. She’s approved cut in migratory bird treaty, critical habitat, conversion of wildlife refuges into game farms, & slob hunting allowing killing cubs & pups in dens in Alaska. Instead of an inspiration for minorities, she’s a matter for shame. Lesson: don’t allow Admin. to break law & hire person w/o conservation credentials to head agency supposed to put wildlife FIRST. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/04/stories/1063713019?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1022: Trump rolls back costs for dirty coal plants. Have you noticed his Admin. is moving like crazy to help Energy Industry but paying $600 a month to unemployed (due to his failures as a leader) is too much! What can you say about him & his creeps like Bernhardt—they are subhuman. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/08/31/coal-ash-epa-trump/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green #1021: Skipwith, head of USFWS only agency in govt. that SUPPOSED to prioritize WILDLIFE, again supports weakening of Mig. Bird Treaty—says don’t protect birds if it would punish people for failing to prevent bird deaths. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/03/stories/1063712961?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1020: Perfect Place for Trump Heroes Garden: Bears Ears National Monument. Teddy R. Republican & conservationist hero enabled monuments like this that Trump has cut so that is place for Trump to prove his sudden (phony) interest in Conservation. https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/02/stories/1063712925?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1019: Interior brags about ethics prog. whose budget increased from $67 to $87 Million while conservation reduced 13%. This program refused to punish politicos like Doug Domenech, convicted of unethical practices & other politicos including Bernhadt and Jorjani forgiven for illegal and unethical actions. They talk about burdensome FOIA but they withheld FOIA info Senate & House Committees as well as evmntal orgs. seeking legitimate info from the stonewalling Bernhardt. Their costs Way Up, their product is Terrible! They promoted Scott de la Vega, former Ethics head, to Asst. Solicitor because of the forgiving way he treated top politicos. Whatever org. gave them “high marks” must be blind! See #1019 https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/11/stories/1062324431 for cost info & numerous cases below for documentation of their misdeeds. #1018: IG Greenblatt once more proven to be a coward: He found that Pendley & Balash made “misleading statements” (i.e. lies) about cost & availability of DC headquarter costs but, as usual, they were not “responsible” because somebody else wrote those parts of their comments. (Well, if this is true, these other people should be fire or at least penalized). Greenblatt ALWAYS finds a way to excuse top politicos—he’s only tough on lowly employees. So Greenblatt will probably given a higher job in Interior to reward his gutlessness--just like Scott de la Vega who was always able to find excuses for politicos. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/09/01/stories/1063712871?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1017: While Republicans look for ways to turn over public lands to industry/states, people are needing parks more than ever—we will need opposite movement—more public lands/parks/monuments in future. See example of Wyoming parks overflowing https://www.wyofile.com/crowds-flock-to-wyo-public-lands-during-covid-summer/ #1016: Trump’s CEQ revised NEPA regs. make it impossible for any project to be stopped due to climate change because cumulative impacts don’t count—only look at individual projects--& need “nexus” that their defs. make impossible for climate issues. However, the times are changing thanks to scientists now model impacts that are decades in future & unfortunately bad things are happening more quickly than even pessimistic models predicted. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/08/27/hurricane-laura-rapid-intensification/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green #1015: The Only Times Trump has chosen conservation: When his family/Fox friends want something—Pebble Mine or Republican control of Senate (Outdoors Act) in danger. Otherwise Energy-Trophy Hunting Mania dominates! See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/08/22/trump-administration-pause-permit-alaskas-pebble-mine-monday/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green #1014: Neither Pandemic nor Oil Collapse Stops Energy Dominance Mania: They will drill in or near ANWR, National Monuments, Wildlife Refuges--See them go for one more for Donald: Chaco. https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/26/stories/1063712537?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1013: More Interior Giveaways to Trump Admin.: Not satisfied with using Mt. Rushmore, Lincoln Memorial, Fort McHenry, etc. as sets for Trump speeches, now use NPS $ for NPS commercial for Trump! Interior Press Lackey said INTERIOR ETHICS had approved all of this! Who’s surprised? Scott de la Vega et al. are nothing but unethical lackeys finding ways to approve the most outrages unethical & illegal acts possible. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/26/stories/1063712535?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1012: National PARKS FOR Hire: Need to make 4th of July political speech, nomination acceptance speech, visit your friendly Trump-Run National Park Service & Davy will be glad to accommodate you. Worried about damage to the parks, don’t worry—Taxpayers will cover it! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/25/stories/1063712419?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1011: More Bernhardt Mismanagement & Stupidity. The Interior’s Office of Nat. Resources Rev. recorded an 84% drop in revenue collections from offshore oil and gas this May. But Bernhardt, Pendley continue to lease lands at rock bottom prices even though no demand! Giving away America’s public lands for nothing to industry! You don't see this buffoon bragging about revenues anymore! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/08/20/stories/1063712087 #1010: Supreme Court to decide on Interior’s ABUSE of FOIA! They have refused to provide basic facts they gathered in EISs such as biological opinions of professionals by arguing these are “sensitive” & could inhibit discussion if made public! These data should embarrass b/c they show there was NO BASIS for their decision. Note: they have used this same argument over & over & made a mockery of FOIA. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/19/stories/1063712063?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1009: Interior’s Terrible Management: Bernhardt supposedly prides himself on management but he only appoints people who can’t be approved by Congress & or who have ethical problems. He allows Pendley to sign order keep his sad self in power. He never provided any good evidence for BLM move. His BLM allows ranchers to graze without fees. He has proven himself to be a LOUSY ADMINISTRATOR. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/19/stories/1063712051?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1008: USFWS doubles down on Hunting in Wildlife Refuges: Having just approved slob hunting in Alaska, they now are opening 89 more national wildlife REFUGES (Note: Bernhardt is turning them into GAME FARMS) incl. migratory bird hunting in Everglades (for those birds that escape oil pits that are no longer penalized for killing birds). As I have said, hunting is becoming extinct & excise $ from it are getting tiny but idiots like Bernhardt ramp up their reliance on it despite the fact that WATCHING is increasing as much as hunting is decreasing. To see proof of how stupid, I refer again to Wildlife Mgmnt’s Report https://wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news-bulletin/august-2020/excise-tax-snapshot For expansion, see https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/19/stories/1063712049?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D Only explanation behind this madness is spite—desire to do as much damage as possible before his fat butt is kicked out of office. #1007: Congratulations to CBD, Humane Society, Borne Free, & NRDC for forcing USFWS to make decision on protecting pangolin. Critics complain about orgs. bringing lawsuits but w/o their pressure, TRUMP’s USFWS wouldn’t do anything for conservation! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/18/stories/1063711959?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1006: Last days of Trump-Bernhardt era: They are rushing to destroy as much wilderness as they can. Just recently, they’re trying again to put road thru Izembek & as well as drill ANWR. So far, Obama-Clinton judges have saved the day but Trump judges are coming! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/17/stories/1063711847?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1005: Wildlife Restoration Funds from Excise tax on guns & ammo. WAY DOWN again—22% from last year (which was a bad year too!) What will Interior-Skipwith-Bernhardt do about this? Nothing except try to get more people to hunt which is totally stupid as any expert will tell you! Requires new team with brains to find alternative revenue sources—and they’re not available in Trump Admin.! See Report on the funding problem by PRO HUNTING Wildlife Management Institute at https://wildlifemanagement.institute/outdoor-news-bulletin/august-2020/excise-tax-snapshot #1004: Trump uses monuments (the ones he hasn’t destroyed yet) for political speeches & Bernhardt happily allows this abuse. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/17/stories/1063711873?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #1003: Bernhardt Documents: The only interesting ones were blacked out! Fact remains: He & his Department deliberately kept documents hidden from the Senate Committee investigating him & abused FOIA & court order. Deserves to be removed. See https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/08/17/document_gw_11.pdf #1002: There’s no demand for oil & even its industry doesn’t want to drill now but Trump-Bernhardt are still rushing to drill ANWR. Why? They want to despoil it while they can—they don’t want it to be pristine anymore, proving how contemptible they are. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/08/17/trump-drilling-arctic-national-wildlife-refuge-alaska/?wpmk=1&wpisrc=al_news__alert-hse--alert-national&utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&location=alert&pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNWE3MGJjODA5YmJjMGYxY2U0MDI3ZTVmIiwidGFnIjoid3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vY2xpbWF0ZS1lbnZpcm9ubWVudC8yMDIwLzA4LzE3L3RydW1wLWRyaWxsaW5nLWFyY3RpYy1uYXRpb25hbC13aWxkbGlmZS1yZWZ1Z2UtYWxhc2thLz93cG1rPTEmd3Bpc3JjPWFsX25ld3NfX2FsZXJ0LWhzZS0tYWxlcnQtbmF0aW9uYWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1hbGVydCZ1dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj13cF9uZXdzX2FsZXJ0X3JldmVyZSZsb2NhdGlvbj1hbGVydCJ9.Kqq7GYYoknMX-TbSCH2QfUoemVQJS-rvLaUmBggRcSs #1001: Bernhardt approved to be Secretary under false pretenses. Interior withheld documents that made it impossible for Senate to make informed judgment. The info. on him must be pretty bad for them to illegally withhold it violating Court order & FOIA. He should be impeached. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/08/17/stories/1063711741?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D & https://www.weebly.com/editor/main.php#/ #1000: Trump has to surrender again to conservationists! Withdraws Pendley nomination, won’t drill off Florida, & fully funds LCW program that he tried to zero-budget. Shows how unpopular his energy dominance mania is. Of course, he will nominate somebody nearly as bad as Pendley! See https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063711737?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeepubs&utm_campaign=news_alert%2B #999: Kate McGregor, Dep. Secretary of Interior, has learned “Never give up!” She said this in response to Interior losing its court case where they are trying to permit w/o penalty incidental killing of birds! There’s always another corp. to keep happy & more wildlife to kill, more public land to lease to energy, more welfare cattle to graze on public lands! She is industry’s “Go to Kate” whenever they need help to overcome resistance from conservationists! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/14/stories/1063711719?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #998: Interior to allow Conoco to drill in areas with “diverse avian species, sensitive polar bear populations and caribou herds.” Obama Admin. expanded protections around this area but following Conoco has pushed for & Interior given concession to drill here. Should remind everyone that when it comes to wildlife conservation, each & every time Trump chooses Industry first & has done so in EVERY DECISION THEY HAVE MADE. Trump's rushing to despoil areas before the election. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/08/14/stories/1063711681?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #997: Have Democrats on House NR Committee read Interior’s statement on how they claimed they had "discretion" to withhold politically "sensitive"info. from Congressional committee that Courts had ordered them to provide? The info. in this case was material that could embarrass Bernhardt when the Senate was considering him so they waited until after nomination had been approved to provide most info. & are STILL withholding some! If they did this for court-ordered inquiry, do you think they’d ever provide docs. requested by Grijalva’s Committee? This an issue that should upset even Republicans—if Biden wins, Democratic Admin. will be able to withhold info. from Congress just like Bernhardt's Interior has! Has Congress noted this outrage? Are they going to do anything about it? Note that Interior IG saw nothing wrong in this! See https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/08/11/document_gw_01.pdf #996: Once again, Trump’s USFWS allows OLD GROWTH forest to be cut—over 200,000 acres in Oregon. Such forests are “carbon sinks.” Trump wants to plant a trillion trees that will take generations to accomplish what he’s destroying now! See https://www.ijpr.org/environment-energy-and-transportation/2020-08-11/trump-administration-wants-to-reduce-critical-habitat-for-northern-spotted-owls #995: Once more Federal Judge saves wildlife that USFWS were willing to kill! Judge Caproni ruled USFWS & Jorjani’s new rule allowing migratory birds incidental killing w/o penalty to be wrong and illegal. This killing was specifically authorized & defended by USFWS Director, Skipwith. This is just the latest in a series of decisions where Interior Department has harmed wildlife such as their discarding of compensatory mitigation when industry destroys critical habitat. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/12/stories/1063711523?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #994: Mark Greenblatt: Biggest Inspector General Coward in Government! Other IGs have been fired for telling truth to power but Greenblatt need not worry about his job because(1) He investigates Interior for what GAO found to be illegal spending during government shutdown but he focused “only on the processes and guidance for changing shutdown plans," & found nothing to complain about. Lesson: Pay attention to procedures, & you can do whatever substantively illegal you want to! (2) He investigates Doug Domenech and finds him guilty of breach of ethics but he still works for Interior & only “punishment” is to take ethics class! He also found that another senior political employee had violated his ethics pledge but let him or her off; (3) He investigated the withholding of FOIA documents called for originally in 2017 of documents pertaining to David Bernhardt but no documents were released. A Court order was then issued in 2018 for the release of the documents. Again, the documents were not released until February 2019 but 253 documents were still held despite the court order. Even after Bernhardt was approved for the job, Interior continues to withhold 38 documents. Their excuse? It was “legitimate activity” to withhold “sensitive information” and they were not “legally obligated to disclose.” They had to think “strategically…to understand what might hit the press or what Congress might ask.” Also, they said it was the agency’s discretion to “choose” what documents to release in response to the Court order and the FOIA law. Hunter Relat, then counselor to the Secretary, told Solicitor staff to withhold everything from the court-ordered documents “from or to Bernhardt until the end.” Interior’s attorney-advisors confirmed that they eventually received directions to stop withholding Bernhardt-related documents under the FOIA litigation, but all said they did not recall when they were told this or by whom.” Solicitor Jorjani’s memory is bad—can’t remember anything about withholding docs. from Congress but said that “It sounds quite reasonable to me” and “That sounds perfectly consistent with how I would have approached it.” Of course, Jorjani also can’t remember if Bernhardt was aware of the withholding either”! Greenblatt’s so-called “decision” states following: “We note that whether the DOI complied with its obligations under the court order is a matter for the court to decide if and when a party raises it.” So withholding court-ordered documents from Congress isn’t prima facie evidence of illegality?! Greenblatt is very courageous when he goes after low level employees—see him bragging about how his “investigative staff continue to help hold offenders responsible for their actions” but the Department’s Secretary or Solicitor are a step too far for this coward. See https://www.eenews.net/stories/1061644737 for his brave acts! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/11/stories/1063711415?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D for link to Greenblatt’s investigation of handling of documents withheld. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/06/01/stories/1063286457 to access OIG report on Domenech; See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1063108721 to access report on senior political employee excused for ethical wrongdoing. #993:Interior Dept. & Its Inspector General have rewritten FOIA Law: They say Interior is free to withhold information of a sensitive nature such as material pertaining to someone who is going to be examined by Congress (e.g., Bernhardt) until AFTER the exam takes place—and perhaps never unless forced to by the media. FOIA means nothing under Trump Admin.—it’s turned into a joke that Bernhardt et al. laugh at. See https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/08/11/document_gw_01.pdf #992: Energy Dominance Loses Again! BLM cuts Utah parcels from sale due to local opposition. While price of energy is low, stupid to sell these lands that represent “Utah's wildest public lands, lands with at best a trivial amount of oil and gas but where development would scar the land for decades if not permanently." See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/11/stories/1063711433?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #991: USFWS doesn’t act to save San Bernardino Wildlife Refuge harm done by Dept Homeland Security taking water to build Trump’s Wall. Skipwith has plenty of time to tweet about Trump, gun enthusiasts, & cute wildlife but doesn’t do her job to protect endangered species. Read story about how took away essential water & USFWS unable to do anything. https://www.hcn.org/articles/south-us-fish-and-wildlife-service-a-wildlife-refuge-is-under-siege-at-the-border?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #990: USFWS takes back 200,000 acres of critical habitat in Oregon for spotted owl to give to logging industry. Skipwith et al. followed the Trump Admin.: Industry (comes) First. Conservation gets only what they don’t want. Judge Kavanagh thought that this was too much critical habitat, being used to smaller amounts in the East—he’s knowledgeable about beer but what does he know about habitat for owls? See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/10/stories/1063710099?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #990: USFWS takes back 200,000 acres of critical habitat in Oregon for spotted owl to give to logging industry. Skipwith et al. followed the Trump Admin.: Industry (comes) First. Conservation gets only what they don’t want. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/10/stories/1063710099?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #989: New BLM Headquarters opened under name of Robert F. Burford, who headed BLM during Reagan years, with the worst BLM environmental record ever—i.e. prior to Trump Administration. Oil-gas industry coinhabits this rodent den of sleazeballs. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/10/stories/1063710145?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #988: Dakota Access pipeline may go to court & test Trump’s NEPA illegal update! Read 600 pages of Trump’s CEQ response to comments on their NEPA changes that eliminate climate change & make it almost impossible to account for cumulative effects. They cite NO SCIENCE but only selected Supreme Court decisions (by Scalia & Roberts) to justify. Contrast this with Obama’s CEQ NEPA regs. full of science & taking cumulative effects & esp. climate change into consideration. So-called updating actually a step backwards into period where science couldn’t model change & measure cumulative effects. It’s written as an instruction manual for how developers can AVOID EISs and that NEPA does not require MITIGATION. It tells EIS writers that they can just list ALL BAD effects but not worry about mitigating them b/c “NEPA” is just a procedural law & does not require substantive change! See responses at at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CEQ-2019-0003-720629 For Obama guidance on greenhouse gas, see https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/ceq/initiatives/nepa/ghg-guidance For Trump new NEPA rules including redline version changes see https://www.whitehouse.gov/ceq/nepa-modernization/ #987: Another Interior Mgmnt Failure: haven’t sold ANWR leases & Int. Politicos keeping info on them secret from BLM staff that would have to implement! Their EIS selected most destructive option. They argued for this option using argument that Tax Cut law mandated leasing but there’s no demand for the oil now & nothing has to be sold under Tax Act until 2027! One more proof that Berhardt’s a Lousy Administrator! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/08/10/stories/1063706883?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #986: Why is Bundy free to graze his cattle? I understand the government messed up on their attempt prosecute him and seize his cattle. But there is still the fact that he has not paid fees for years so why not have IRS-Justice go after non-payment of fees & do something like attach all of his bank accounts etc.? There is no doubt that he has broken the law on not paying his fees. https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/06/stories/1063693259?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #985: Vote for Bernhardt as Worst in Trump Cabinet! NYT reporter Gail Collins had a contest to vote for worst Trump Cabinet Secretary. It’s a tough choice because they’re all horrible but I voted for Bernhardt, citing his 985 documented actions against conservation. He’s too dull to gain wide recognition for his evil but he works tirelessly to undo every conservation measure passed by previous presidents. See Collins article link at https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/06/stories/1063692657?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #984: Bernhardt to put people who destroy Confederate statues. Meanwhile, Doug Domenech continues to work at Interior despite being convicted of ethical misdeeds. Just another day at the Department of Sleazy Behavior. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/06/stories/1063692657?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #983: Trump says No to offshore drilling in Fla. right after approving Wilderness Act! Why? He scared shitless that he’s not just going to lose but be clobbered & has learned that conservation is better politics than drilling! Maybe by time of election, he will recognize climate change as major threat! You cannot exaggerate what a lowlife scumbag he is. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/05/stories/1063688675?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #982:Federal Judge to rule on USFWS Treaty protection—Skipwith wants to allow killing of birds as long as industry goal is to make money & not hunt the birds. No requirement to prevent killing necessary! That is their argument! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/05/stories/1063688087?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #981: Bear baiting & Other Slob Hunting goes forward in Kenai National Wildlife REFUGE! USFWS Reason for it: “baiting may enhance hunter success by improving observability of bears approaching & using bait stations" & “baiting can enhance opportunities for safe and efficient shot placement.” In other words, for those who are too lazy or fat (like Bernhardt!) to track a bear fairly, it guarantees a trophy. Don Young said slob hunting’s “ essential to Alaska's culture.” Other practices that Skipwith USFWS approves: Alaskan hunters on national preserves can now target any black bear with artificial light at den sites, under the NPS rule. wolves and coyotes can be hunted during the denning season, and dogs can be used to hunt black bears on preserves.” There is no slob hunting practice too unethical for Bernhardt/Skipwith to approve of. Remember she just approved the weakening of the Migratory Bird Treaty & redefined critical habitat so that it only covers current greatly reduced areas they already inhabit. She has done more harm in the short time she’s been head of USFWS, than all of her predecessors combined. The next time Skipwith gives one of her tweets about how nice wildlife are, someone should spit in her face! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/08/04/stories/1063683683?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #980: If you like conservation, Make sure Dems Win Senate! One more case decided in which ruling for NEPA & against Trump made by Dem-appointed judge (Clinton in this case). If you examine other cases where Trump beaten, it’s always by Dem-appointees. Some judicial writers used to say how party did not make major difference—Well, in last few years when it comes to evmnt, they definitely do. Trump appointee didn’t give a damn about NEPA! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/08/03/stories/1063679789?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #979: Add NAACP to orgs. opposing Pendley but I want vote for him to happen SOON to see what cowardly Gardner & Daines do! What about Doug Domenech—convicted by Trump’s own Interior of unethical conduct & he stays on job! =Trump Admin. Worst of the Worst. See #906, #913, #926 below https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog #978: Last Straw for Skipwith: wants to define critical habitat to exclude unoccupied areas that require restoration! So developers etc. destroy habitat, drive out wildlife, & govt. can’t require restoration. Great plan—if you want to destroy species! Example of Skipwith priorities: She wants to cut protection for Mexican garter snake from >420,000 acres to <28,000. And she’s in charge of the one agency supposed to prioritize wildlife! She calls restrictive definition as “improving conservation”!!! Skipwith ESA priorities will restrict endangered species to tiny areas due to human destruction of habitat. It weakens ESA—but that’s Trump-Bernhardt-& lackey Skipwith’s goal. She doesn’t tweet about this—what a phony! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/31/stories/1063662735?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #977: Trump Admin. & Interior loosen restrictions on methane emissions that are causing climate change & are cutting old growth forests that are sink for carbon emissions but want to plant trees! Why not ounce of prevention?! Would hurt industry profits! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/07/31/stories/1063657747?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #976: Read disgusting story of Ranch-Sheep Herder who purposefully grazes his sheep near where wild bighorn are. Result? Wyo Gov. will have 34 of bighorn shot!-& their nos have been dwindling. This rancher sounds like Bundy—hates govt. See https://www.wyofile.com/domestic-sheep-grazing-prompts-emergency-bighorn-hunt/ #975: Amidst huge oversupply of oil & building climate crisis, Trump’s Interior approves “Massive oil & gas project in Wyoming.” Energy Dominance—bullshit—Trump Administration’s theme is actually “Stupidity Dominance!” See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/30/stories/1063656851?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #974: Trump Admin. fights State of Washington which wants to eliminate dams to safe migrating salmon. Trump says state doesn’t have authority to preserve them! So much for their concern with State rights! As usual, Trump is a phony & liar. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/30/stories/1063656765?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #973: BLM win rave reviews from TR Conserv. Partnership’s Fosburgh for providing more big game hunts in Montana—it’s all about big game hunting for Bernhardt. As usual, they didn’t provide ROD evidence to support their plan—FOIA be damned. It “removes 6 of 8 existing areas of critical environmental concern--about 26,000 acres that protects sensitive wildlife habitat & also removes 25,000 acres of lands identified by BLM in 2014 as having “wilderness characteristics.” As long as few big game hunters get more trophies, Fosburgh & TR Consortium are delighted. He should be fired for disgracing TR’s name. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/30/stories/1063656889?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #972: Another bad effect of energy dominance: EPA lets power plant owners continue to dump coal ash into unlined ponds. They know their priorities—industry first & forever—public health be damned. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/30/stories/1063656861?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #971: Trump Admin. tough on peaceful protesters but let Cliven Bundy continues to get away without paying grazing fees. If Pendley goes before Senate, ask this jackass about this scandal--& many other welfare farmers not paying too. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/30/stories/1063656887?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #970: BLM should provide “accurate measurement & reporting” of emissions caused by all of projects they approve that contribute to climate change. Instead they want to eliminate reporting—all they want to report is production! We need accurate measurement of cumulative effects of ALL PROJECTS & then establish a cap & goal to reduce them. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/29/stories/1063651795?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #969: Trump’s “Updating” of NEPA rules ="BACKDATING." It eliminates analysis of cumulative & indirect effects so Climate Change, most important CURRENT & FUTURE issue can be ignored to “streamline” industry! So-called “updating” is actually backward step to stone age science—now we have models & instruments that can accurately assess impacts decades into the future. See p. 279, 283 & other pages throughout their “response to comments” at https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CEQ-2019-0003-720629 #968: BLM response to Trillion Trees Plan? BLM is Streamlining Forest Logging so 5,000 acre areas can be cut without evmntal review! Would some reporter please ask Ivanka about Trump Administration's doing this & cutting old growth forests?! Check it out at https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/29/stories/1063651741?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #967: FOIA vs. Trump’s Interior: They continually use excuse “to keep frank discussion of legal or policy matters” as reason not to release docs. that public has a NEED & RIGHT to see such as a scientific biological opinion. The only discussions they are protecting are those that contradict the scientific evidence. If they get away with this, FOIA becomes meaningless which is what they want! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/28/stories/1063645003?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #966: There is more & more evidence that parks & monuments are getting overcrowded as demands & pop. grow. Yet Trump Admin. cut monuments/public lands handing them over to industry-roads-developers. And Repubs don’t want to spend $ on acquiring more lands for future generations. We desperately need to rid ourselves of Trump’s Interior. See https://time.com/5869788/national-parks-covid-19/ For example, Utah’s monuments are being overwhelmed w/demand yet they are turned over to unneeded grazing & drilling. Visitation to Bears Ears increased from 384,000 in 1995 to 456,000 in 1996 and the report expects a “continued rise of visitors” (Clouddownload, p. 108). See https://www.wsj.com/articles/tourists-heeding-utahs-mighty-5-campaign-overpower-moab-11568638923?mod=searchresults&page=1&pos=1 & https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4391967-National-Monuments-a-Look-at-the-Debate-From.html#document #965: Will somebody please tell Ivanka Trump that her father & his Interior Dept. have been destroying forests & wilderness from day one. She probably only watches Fox & isn’t aware of the damage that her father & his energy dominance minions have done! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/27/stories/1063639241?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #964: Interior okays Alaskan pipeline for which there is NO INTEREST. Alaska Gov. traveled to TX to try to drum up demand & failed! Nevertheless, in last gasp of Trump’s Interior still trying to ruin public lands! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/07/24/stories/1063618109?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #963: Murkowski worried about decline in hunting license revenue! Well, at least she shows awareness of 40 year+ decline! Interior-Bernhardt-Skipwith try to ignore. Problem is WHOLE funding of conservation needs change & all Murkowski et al. want to do is try to recruit more hunters! See detailed discussion of this stupidity at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/the-politics-of-state-wildlife-management-why-anti-conservation-forces-usually-winpapers-on-wildlife-politics--policy.html #962: BLM & Interior can’t get enough of—ruining “unspoiled” areas—just approved another road thru PROTECTED FEDERAL lands! It will run right through the Gates of Arctic Nat. Park—the road’s opposed by local native tribes but that doesn’t matter to Pendley—he likes the idea of giving them a kick. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/23/stories/1063616689?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #961: Daines, like Gardner, not “sold on Pendley.” They suddenly got “conservation religion!” Well, we’re ready to see both Sen. Daines and Gardner gone from the Senate—they sold out to energy companies long ago. Dems: Rush the Pendley nomination for vote & make these phonies reveal themselves. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/23/stories/1063615909?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #960: Bernhardt’s client, Westlands, to get another huge benefit from Davy. Like Trump, nothing is too outrageous for this fat lackey—unethical acts in broad daylight! No doubt he will return to lobby for them asap. Zero out the firms that he lobbies for! They’ve been ripping off U.S. for 4 yrs. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/23/stories/1063603835?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #959: Credit for Great American Outdoors Act: Should it go to Repubs. & President who consistently tried to zero program out & only did it to save Repub. senators??? Bullshit from Trumps (Ivanka & Donald) as well as Bernhardt! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/23/stories/1063615943?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #958: No monument is free from Trump-Bernhardt tampering--"Last month, the president also reopened the only Atlantic marine monument to fishing. As to environmental groups promising to litigate over the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument", he said, "We'll see how that goes for them." As always, Fatty Bernhardt knows where his priorities lie—industry over conservation in EVERY SINGLE CASE. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/22/stories/1063609991?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #957: Trump-Bernhardt Keep handing over more public lands to Military & Industry. They handed over Nevada Nat. Wildlife Refuge to Military, allowed Fishing Industry to exploit Marine PROTECTED Area, & now hand over Arizona Public lands to Military for Wall. Let voters in Co. & Montana decide who they want to protect public lands—Dems or Republicans in this Fall’s Senate Campaign! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/22/stories/1063609933?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/09/stories/1063534705?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/22/stories/1063609991?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #956: Defer to local police?? See story on how in New Mexico, local police are intertwined with radical right wing militias. These are the people Pendley & Bundy’s want BLM and Interior to enforce their (UN)LAW(ul) actions. This same story could be written in most of Western states. See https://www.hcn.org/issues/52.8/south-corruption-new-mexicos-thin-blurred-line?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #955: Vote on Pendley nomination now! Make Daines & Gardiner to show their true colors—& they’re not “green.” Bernhardt & Trump nominated this yahoo—let’s make them regret their stupidity! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/21/stories/1063604255?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #954: Read how Trump’s Dept Agriculture has ignored 9 Alaskan Tribes on roads thru Tongass. Periodically, they say they listened to Tribes—then ignored them & vast majority of input they got. They’re asking to be able to log ENTIRE Tongass so they “will have flexibility!” Selling out Alaska’s great natural heritage for short-term gain. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/21/stories/1063604227?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #953: Lethal fog covers Texas oil sites—1 more bad effect of energy dominance—OSHA now has 5000 fewer inspectors than during Obama. Trump priorities industry first, people who suffer from bad effects—forgotten. Real consequences: family died from it. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/07/21/stories/1063594445?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #952: Grizzlies in Cascades: Interior has never provided info on Zinke & now Bernhardt decisions concerning them. This is official info that should have been provided immediately to support their decisions. So, Bernhardt stonewalls again—what else is new! He truly deserves to be in jail. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/21/stories/1063604747?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #951: Trump’s NEPA new rule tries to do away with cumulative impacts as reason to review projects & talks about only heeding “reasonably foreseeable” science. Well, NOAA scientists have published peer-reviewed research that shows that first ice-free Arctic summer year (FIASY) will occur by 2100 & it could be much earlier. This would wipe out polar bears. It’s time for all Federal and State (and really Private too) proposed new projects be assessed for their estimated contributions to global warming & overall goals be set for the maximum that will be tolerated. In other words, we need MORE ATTENTION to these cumulative impacts. A thousand moderately-sized projects could have huge impacts & they all add up. In short, Trump’s new NEPA rules are the opposite of what we need! See https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/8/1/15 #950: USFWS's Absurd weakening of Migratory Bird Treaty: Trump Admin’s rule admits that “costs of actions businesses typically implement to reduce effects on birds are small…including small businesses”!! These protections have been in effect for 50 yrs with no absurd prosecutions that USFWS discusses. So why sacrifice protections for NO GOOD REASON? The rule would make Scalia happy as they cite his dissenting opinions to support their ridiculous changes. Tables 1 & 2 on p. 5923-5924 PROVE that current rule has no SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS on business! The new rule talks about “absurdity”—well this whole rewrite is absurd—done for no good reason other than to demonstrate dedication to overturning any restrictions at all on industry in their ability to harm wildlife. It now reduces the Treaty to protecting against hunting while the text shows that the major takings of migratory birds are due to incidental take which will now be legal! Here are the causes of killing MILLIONS OF BIRDS that will NO LONGER BE COVERED!
“It is anticipated that some entities that currently employ mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate incidental migratory bird take would reduce or curtail these activities given the legal certainty provided by this proposed regulation. Others may continue to employ these measures voluntarily for various reasons, including continued compliance with other Federal, State, and local laws and regulations. The Service does not have information available to quantify these potential cost savings. Given our lack of specific data to estimate the cost savings from reduced implementation of mitigation measures and increased legal certainty, we ask for such data to inform analysis of the proposed rule’s potential cost savings.” What excuse is there for proposing such an ill-thought out rule: An ideological commitment to reducing costs to industry regardless of impacts which, in this case, would be bad actors who fail to take preventive measures to protect migratory birds. In short, the text describing the new Migratory Bird Treaty rule PROVES that it will be harmful to birds by removing protections from major causes of them dying and will NOT HELP business in any significant way! How stupid is this? #949: Trump CEQ’s Phony Analysis of Comments on Changes to NEPA rules: They say “most substantive comments” supported some degree of updating.” Check out the actual comments at URLs below—the vast majority opposed the changes. CEQ provides no quantitative ANALYSIS of what % favored changes but they make statements such as “numerous commenters requested that CEQ consider revisions to modernize its regulations, reduce unnecessary burdens and costs.” Why no quantitative analysis? Because it would show overwhelming opposition to their changes. Most of the “supporting” comments are form letters beginning “I am writing in support of the Administration’s efforts to reform the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For nearly four decades, NEPA’s burdensome and overbearing regulations have held back American infrastructure — including the expansion of high-speed broadband to communities across America. A much higher percent of the opposing comments include unique wording. Two hearings were held in D.C. & Denver and the vast majority of commenters there strongly opposed the changes. In other words, CEQ summary and inferences drawn from the comments are totally false. For 301 pages of lousy changes, see https://ceq.doe.gov/docs/ceq-publications/nepa25fn.pdf For all comments, see https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=commentDueDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=CEQ-2019-0003 For D.C. hearing, see https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CEQ-2019-0003-172670 For Denver hearing, see https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=CEQ-2019-0003-172669 #948: Trump’s Interior can’t do too much for failing coal industry. Now it will stop ensuring that industry restores lands—will allow them “to modify permits to retroactively match reclamation job rather than clean up mines to how they were before.” The existing rule allows flexibility already but that's not enough for greedy industry. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/17/stories/1063580847?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #947: Trump NEPA Lies, Lies, Lies: When Trump finally announced his rules aimed at weakening NEPA, he did so at the UPS hub at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which is a case study to illustrate his lies and exaggerations about NEPA. Trump said that the new hub took 10 years and blamed the long time on NEPA. Actually it took only 7 years and the EIS for this huge project took only about 2.5 years. Andy Gobeil, a spokesman for Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport described how complex this project was and thus the length of time was reasonable (Brugger & Joselow, July 15, 2020): "It wasn't as simple as raising a parcel of land and tarring it over”…we had to make sure that we obtained the land; we had to make sure that we could build over a 10-lane interstate highway; we had to relocate a number of people," he said. "So there were a number of different steps that it took to accomplish it. That's not unusual for construction projects like this.” So much for blaming NEPA on delays and blockages of projects! See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/01/06/stories/1062004543 #946: Hold Repub. Senators & Reps. to account for supporting Trump’s disastrous attack on public lands. See how Gardner (R-Co) is trying to present self as evmntalist after supporting monument cutback etc. His position on Pendley? He will ask him some "tough questions!" Wow! What an environmentalist! Vote the phony out. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/07/17/stories/1063576019?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #945: BLM, EPA, NHTSA fudged data on social costs of carbon using ignoring global effects & using high discount rates = Junk Math! You can count on Trump & minions in Admin. to lie, steal, and cheat. Then Trump disbanded the interagency group to calculate social costs of coal! See details at https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/707776.pdf & https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/14/stories/1063563163?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #944: Trump-Bernhardt-Energy Dominance beaten again by Fed. Courts. They ruled Interior didn’t heed PUBLIC (i.e. not lobbyist’s) INTEREST& they manipulated cost data to avoid using “best science.” Thank God we only have 4 more mos. of these sleazeballs. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/16/stories/1063575103?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #943: The Combs-Budd-Falen solution to Permian lizard didn’t work. Amazing when they let industry monitor themselves w/o ability of USFWS or any outsider to verify—so industry did what they wanted & now lizard so endangered it might get protection it deserved in first place. Lesson for Biden Admin.: Obama’s Sec. Interior Salazar hailed the “Combs” solution as a big “win-win.” Watch out for when industry wins in regard to endangered species—not a good idea! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/15/stories/1063569041?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #942: Trump-Bernhardt’s Garden: Why not give Trump credit for what he has done to public lands in this garden: Put his face at the bottom of a Huge Toilet! That’s the kind of tribute he deserves. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/15/stories/1063569963?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #941: Hilarious: Interior spokesman says “insult” to insinuate Pandemic aid went to Trump campaign donors as proven by report! This from Dept. whose Secretary & all appointees are career lobbyists for those who benefited! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/15/stories/1063569191?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #940: Stupidity 101: Frequently Bernhardt/Skipwith laud hunting for support of conservation. Actually, 87% of $ on wildlife refuges from watching—<5% from hunting! Yet, all they care about is allowing more hunting lead bullets or Air Force use of refuges! See data Fig. 5, p11, USFWS Banking on Nature, https://www.fws.gov/economics/divisionpublications/bankingonnatureimpacts.asp #939: Noise is rising in US National Parks while Europe has pursued quiet for 2 decades. Trump Interior trying its best to make parks sound like city—they love ATVs, snowmobiles, e-bikes, hunting, and mining-drilling in or near parks along with roads thru wilderness. See discussion of problem in High Country News article. https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-desk-pollution-how-can-we-protect-silence?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #938: Kennedy tried to hire the “Best and the Brightest:” Trump, the Worst & Sleaziest. Pendley, his nominee for BLM is so bad that even hometown paper of where BLM moving to-can’t support the jackass! It’s amazing how consistently Trump has picked the worst—I have documented 938 reasons why Bernhardt is worst Sec. of Interior & he is totally despicable but I have to admit that he probably wouldn’t win contest for worst in the Cabinet—so many sleazebags to choose from! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/13/stories/1063557385?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #937: There’s a bill to ban lead in USFWS wildlife REFUGES: It seems like it’s a no-brainer to not have poison ammo in REFUGES but Trump’s Interior lacks even this much brains. Email Skipwith to support ban instead of tweeting about wildlife-do something to protect them for a change! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/07/13/stories/1063552129?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #936: Interior’s Goldey: defends monuments to Confederates—let’s remind African-Americans they were slaves “especially during difficult times”—I guess he means things could be a lot worse??! Wish they cared about conservation as much as they do about Confederates! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/07/10/stories/1063536049?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #935: What is the hell is the MAJOR purpose of National Wildlife Refuges? Skipwith & NRA think they’re game ranches for hunters. Rob Bishop thinks they’re for modern warfare training. Time to stand up & say: REFUGES should be REFUGES, not war or target practice sites! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/09/stories/1063534705?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #934: Interior is supposed to be fighting to save species but BLM is fighting to save leases in threatened sage grouse country! These s_th__s are trying to do as much bad as they can before they are booted out! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/09/stories/1063533753?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #933: Interior chooses “No Action” option for once-Why?! When choice is forests-monuments-refuges vs. industry, they ALWAYS choose the most destructive option rather than the "no action" alternative which is the least destructive to the evmnt. but on reintroducing grizzlies, they choose “No Action.” https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/09/stories/1063534023?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #932: NPS Park Police Follow Bernhardt’s rule: Never provide info that can hurt you to public! They didn’t record their bad actions just as Davy NEVER allows his bad communs to be exposed for accountability. Police learned from the master! See https://www.washingtonpost.com/crime-law/2020/07/07/park-police-did-not-record-their-radio-transmissions-during-lafayette-square-operation-june-1/ #931: Bernhardt takes away protections for grizzlies—Fed. Courts restore protections. By now we know the story, USFWS now acts against wildlife & only Fed. Courts protect them. All the more reason to win the Senate in the Fall! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/08/stories/1063528237?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #930: Proof again that Bernhardt’s worse than Zinke! Obama Ad. & Zinke wanted to restore grizzlies to Cascades—Davy just ended that effort! See 930 DOCUMENTED reasons to celebrate his exit! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/07/stories/1063523087?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #929: How to get More Accountability from Interior Dept.: Cong. has threatened take back $50,000 for police stonewalling- Take back $500,000 for each day that Bernhardt stonewalls requests for info on his misdeeds! This will quickly add up as he NEVER provides such info! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/07/07/stories/1063518195?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #928: On second thought, it’s good Trump nominated Pendley for BLM perm. head. Why? Give a chance to see how Repubs. Sens. Gardiner & Daines vote on this jackass. Conservation-minded Repubs. in their states will think twice about voting for them if they approve! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/07/06/stories/1063517201?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #927: House Democrats adding $6 Mill. to Interior’s IG Office? I agree that Lobby-Run Interior needs LOTS of inspections but current IG has FAILED to do anything—dodges substance & looks only at Process. Need New IG (& new Interior staff)! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/07/07/stories/1063518195?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeedaily&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #926: Disgraced Interior official, Doug Domenech’s son, Ben, interviewed Bernhardt for Federalist Radio Hour! Domenech has been PROVEN to have violated ethics but Interior continues to support him & his progeny. Also shows how Federalist society composed of small group of conservatives spread their warped view of Constitution & govt. to Supreme Court and elsewhere—all aimed making industry happy. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IEHrszP6CA&feature=youtu.be #925: Funny story in today’s NYT about Trump’s vow to “drain the swam.” Curious that Interior not mentioned even tho requirement to be hired as top staff is to be a lobbyist for oil-gas-ranching-trophy hunting industries! See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/06/us/politics/trump-lobbyists-swamp-campaign.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_20200706&instance_id=20039&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=10365419&segment_id=32674&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 #924: Skipwith-USFWS endorse rule to dredge coast that will harm wildlife! Once again USFWS supports dev. & industry over wildlife she’s supposed to protect. In every single case where she’s faced a choice between industry & wildlife, she’s chosen her industry lobby friends. She’s a disgrace! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/02/stories/1063493183?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #923: 2 Obese Men, Trump & Bernhardt, find way celebrate July that offends Native Americans & other Americans. Only these 2 idiots could come up with such a stupid idea! See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/07/02/mount-rushmore-protest-sioux-trump/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green #922: Big Laugh: Pendley nomination another Stupid Trump move! Throughout the West, elections & surveys show big concern over protection of public lands so that if his nomination is intended to be political move, it’s TOTALLY STUPID! His Administration is composed of the Worst of the Worst. Whenever there is a vacancy in Interior & you ask yourself “Who is the worst possible person for this job? Trump-Bernhardt pick them! It’s truly amazing! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/07/01/stories/1063487413?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #921: Interior Rats scurrying to give industry all the gifts they can before they get kicked out in Nov. to eliminate royalties on flared gas. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/07/01/stories/1063483923?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #920: Read George Wuerthner’s great critique of Forest Service's authorizing welfare ranchers to kill 72 grizzlies in WY Upper Green which is a “wildlife priority area in which wildlife are supposed to be top priority! He destroys their arguments about their “rights” & proves once again that federal grazers are economically unimportant & harmful to the land but they are powerful in Trump’s Interior World. See https://www.wyofile.com/upper-green-allotment-should-be-national-park-not-feedlot/ #919: As I show below in #917-#918: Congress should require that all executive agencies analyze comments to count accurately how many support or oppose proposed rules and plans. As it is now, Trump's agencies ignore any comments that don't support their industry dominance programs and so the public does not get to hear the opinions of those interested enough to comment. #918: Trump Admin.: “Comments are not scientific sample” and don’t count as votes! Here is BLM’s statement on Petroleum Reserve comments: “It is also important to note that, while the BLM reviewed and considered all comments, none were counted as votes. The NEPA public comment period is neither an election nor does it result in a representative sampling of the population. Therefore, public comments are not appropriate to be used as a democratic decision-making tool or as a scientific sampling mechanism." Well, the comments do show a representative population of the people who care enough about the reserve to respond! What “substantive comments” does Trump’s BLM use? Only the energy industry’s! You can be sure if the comments were predominately pro-development, they would consider them a great and very scientific sample! See z-3 Appendix Z at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/117408/570 #917: Recommendation to Organizations Submitting Comments on Interior Department agency proposed plans and rules: The Trump Administration counts any comments containing the same phrases as being a part of “form letter campaigns” and don’t even analyze or report them. When I write comments now, I use my own words completely or at least have a significant portion that is unique to me with the hope they will count it. But these industry lackeys are determined to ignore public comments from conservation groups even if their members use some their own unique words in their response—I hope Congressional Committees will require them to analyze and provide true summaries of what the public says. Example: Here is what Trump’s BLM said about comments on opening most of the Petroleum Reserve to leasing-drilling about the comments they received: “Comments received covered a wide spectrum of thoughts, opinions, ideas, and concerns. A total of 82,791 comment letter submissions were received; 294 of these were considered unique submissions, and 82,497 were part of form letter campaigns (see Appendix Z). See https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/117408/570 Want another example of biased analysis by the Forest Service interpretation of comments on Trump’s NEPA changes, Read the FS's "interpretation" of the comments & how they excluded any that were not pro-development at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public/ReadingRoom?project=ORMS-1797 #916: Good bye to most wildlife in the National Petroleum Reserve! BLM had 4 alternatives in their draft plan for Petroleum Reserve ranging from Least Development (Alternative A) keeping the 2013 (Obama Admin.) Management Plan that would open 52% of NPR-A to development to Most Development (D) that would open 18.6 Million new acres or 83% of the Reserve to leasing. Their choice?! Plan “E” which is even more development than D! They claim to have made this change based on public comment! Bullshit! 82,497 comments were received but NO ANALYSIS of these comments is presented as to what the concerned public wanted because the huge majority opposed the high development alternatives. BLM said that all but “294 were considered to be part of form letter campaigns.” If you look at the 838 comments online, VIRTUALLY the ONLY ones supporting the development alternatives are those from ConocoPhillips Alaska! Well, you can be sure that these 82,000 letters had numerous individualized responses expressing their disgust for this action—they were not simply duplicates. You can check out 838 “scoping” comments and see how BLM NEVER responds to the majority of comments that are critical of these high development alternatives—their one continuing refrain is that “The NPRPA requires the BLM to have a competitive program of oil and gas leasing in the NPR-A” but never answer why the current plan, A, is not far superior to the option chosen (E) given its much less harmful impacts on conservation and communities involved. They dodge critiques that they do not have any good information on impacts on wildlife such as polar bears by stating over and over that “The BLM used the best information available at the time of the development of the IAP/EIS. New information presented during the public comment period will be reviewed and included, as appropriate. NEPA does not require an agency to fill data gaps before making a decision.” According to the Secretary’s order, the plan was supposed to “strike an appropriate balance of promoting development while protecting surface resources”—there is NO BALANCE. Every choice made was to develop! How do we believe that an agency that considers 4 alternatives and then comes up with a 5th alternative with even more development—will give a damn about doing research or pay attention to it after the decision to drill has been made? You can read the phony executive summary and also the 838 scoping comments & BLM’s inadequate responses at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/117408/570 The 838 comments replied to by BLM are in Appendix Z. #915: It’s Official: Trump’s Cabinet & his Interior Dept. are Worst of the Worst: He just named Pendley to head BLM—there’s not SINGLE conservationist or professional (i.e., non-lobbyist) in top position. Anti-ESA & energy lobbyists abound—none give a damn about conservation. As these rats approach the end of their disservice to the nation, they will rejoin their lobby chums. Great riddance! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/26/stories/1063459085?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #914: Bad News—Interior headquarters reopening! With energy dominance lackeys in charge, it would be best if they were shut down until Jan. 21, 2021! Every day brings new bad actions. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/24/stories/1063446349?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #913: Wow! DOI Press Secretary just retweeted Doug Domenech post! This shows that Interior doesn’t let go their lobby lackey criminals who use influence to get family jobs. These types are, indeed, the CORE of Trump’s Interior—the sleazier they are, the more Bernhardt covets them! See TWEET account of DOI Press Secretary @DOIPressSec #912: Another confirmation of Trump’s stupid Tree Planting Proposal (which, by the way, we haven't heard anything more about!): Research in Chile shows planting programs there doubled while native forests shrank accelerating biodiversity loss. Interior cuts Tongass old growth while planting twigs! See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/06/23/stories/1063435653?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #911: National Parks salute Trump twice on July 4th—at Mall & Mr. Rushmore. Entertainment provided by Trump’s personal servant, David Bernhardt, who also masquerades as Interior Secretary! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/22/stories/1063435479?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #910: Wow! Trump Justice drops appeal to defend welfare rancher arsonists, the Hammonds! Next thing you know they will start prosecuting Bundy et al. for not paying permit fees to graze public lands! Just kidding—they won’t do that! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/22/stories/1063434637?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #909: I usually focus on Interior but EPA under Wheeler equally bad. Their weakening of Clean Water (WOTUS) rules pulls back protection of 50% of wetlands & 18% of streams. It will hurt migratory waterfowl (sorry Trophy hunters!) & puts lie to Trump lackeys tweeting about streams & oceans as they have been lately. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/22/stories/1063434695?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #908: Coal down more under Trump than Obama! His energy dominance has helped oil-gas to kill the coal industry! Surprise: Trump hasn’t tweeted about coal > year! See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/06/22/stories/1063430425?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #907: Horizontal Mining: hailed by Interior & Stupid Bernhardt as solution to evmntal damage: “cost to plug those horizontal wells is an order of magnitude greater than plugging conventional shallow well” & recent mines have drilled into deep ground and surface water pollution & leak methane. States unable to fund them. You haven’t heard anything about this from Interior—the FAKE news department! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/06/22/stories/1063430105?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #906: Scott de la Vega: The Unethical “Ethics Official:” Results are in for Doug Domenech & he’s proven to have violated rules. When the hell is cowardly Ethics head de la Vega going to speak out? Don’t hold your breath-his idea of punishing someone for ethical breach is to send them to an ethics workshop! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/18/stories/1063412169?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #905: Bernhardt & National Park Service: Feed the Bears! That’s what their regulations for Alaskan NATIONAL wildlife REFUGES say "baiting does not cause bears to become food-conditioned, and therefore a greater safety concern.” So next time you visit National Parks with your children or grandchildren, bring plenty of extra hotdogs and hamburgers for bears! See https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=NPS-2018-0005-0001 #904: Grassley introduces bill to protect inspectors general: You can put an exception for Interior’s IG, Mark Greenblatt: He’s in no danger. He asks how high when Bernhardt tells “him to jump!” See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/19/stories/1063417317?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #903: Trump uses National Park Service & Its Police as Own Vanity force & Bernhardt accommodates him 100%. Fireworks, flyovers, beating peaceful demonstrators—Bernhardt bends over & is giddy to do what Trump desires! He’s not public servant but Trump’s servant! #902: Interior Ethics "Officials"on Domenech “consider” his ethical abuse “resolved!” Why? Because they’ve TRIPLED # ethics officials! Too bad same unethical behavior goes on while IG & ethics officials twiddle their thumbs! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/18/stories/1063412169?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #901: Trump loves THESE welfare recipients: Public range ranchers given more Nat. Forestland to destroy-pay virtually nothing & fees collected from them don’t come close to cover costs. Their nos. are tiny & grazing unproductive & unneeded but doesn’t stop Repubs. from giving them handouts! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/18/stories/1063411603?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #900: McConnell tells older Repub. judges to retire so he can replace them with Federalist-society Trumpites! It is terrible threat given that ONLY federal judges have proven effective in stopping Trump handovers to industry. They have pounded Bernhardt repeatedly but now conservationists will have to contend with Yahoos! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/17/stories/1063406245?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #899: So much for Trump’s love of elephants! He once said trophy hunts of them were a “horror show” but his USFWS won court case to ALLOW elephant trophy imports. Since Don’s sons are avid trophy hunters—it all makes sense. What a despicable family! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/16/stories/1063399707?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3 & https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2018/03/06/trump-called-elephant-hunts-a-horror-show-his-administration-just-lifted-a-trophy-hunting-ban/?utm_term=.fa8914c7d7d9 #898: Silk purse of out pig’s ear! Repub. Sens. Gardner (Co) & Daines (Mt) are now trying to sell selves as “conservationists!” Their League Conserv. scores are 11% & 6% & Daines voted against LCW reauthorization & Gardner voted for huge cuts in it! Kick the frauds out along w/Trump, Bernhardt et al.! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/climate-desk-vulnerable-republicans-flip-their-stance-on-conservation-bill?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #897: Florida Republicans don’t trust Bernhardt-MacGregor on offshore drilling-with good reason & are begging for reassurances! Trump won’t release their report until AFTER election! Guess why! They worked on it OVERTIME during govt. shutdown—that work belongs to public & Congress should have access to it! Agency’s Press stooge called it “fake news!” Really? There’s only ONE REASON they won’t release it—it would be politically damaging. With Repubs. as well as Dems wanting to see report, it's time for Congress to act--e.g., stop Bernhardt's salary until he fesses up! See Republicans' letter begging for assurance at https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/06/15/document_pm_01.pdf #896: Mark Greenblatt, Interior IG, once more proven to be coward-just investigated Interior pol. appointee found violated their ethics pledge but not only will nothing be done, appointee IS NOT EVEN named in the OIG Report. Employee’s excuse: (s)he thought nothing wrong—no wonder—when ALL INTERIOR officials routinely help out former employers w/o penalty from IG! Not only “Senior political appointee” is unnamed but also 6 companies & other employees identities are unnamed! It reads like a CIA report! This is Greenblatt’s idea of accountability! Trump will not be firing him for speaking truth to power--he will be hiring him as PR after Trump loses election. See #896 https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog #895: As election looms, revisit Trump “Draining the Swamp!” What a joke! Look at his Interior Dept.—EVERY POLITICAL APPOINTEE is a Lobbyist & they go back & forth like rats in a maze! Example: Joe Balash jointed company that will drill ANWR after he approved drilling! Skipwith: no credentials for job except worked for Monsanto & as lobbyist. Jorjani: worked for Koch Bros. & then helps them! Domenech convicted of illegally contacting former employer. Etc. Etc. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2019/09/18/stories/1061135445 & countless other examples below. #894: NOAA found that more whales are getting caught in fishing gear. This finding comes at a time when Trump-Bernhardt are cutting Marine Monument to curry favor to fishing industry! Over 80% of entanglement involved gear used in fishing. The report is available at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/webdam/download/107359515 #893: FWS approves hunting down bears w/snowmobiles in Kenai Nat. Wildlife Refuge! FWS acknowledges this would “decrease wildlife watching” b/c there will be fewer bears! Rep. Don Young (Rep Al) said [slob] “hunting is essential to Alaska’s culture”! After all, we know what National Wildlife Refuges are really about—not protecting wildlife but running them down by fat trophy hunters like Bernhardt who aren’t in shape to do a fair hunt! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/11/stories/1063370609?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #892: Sen. Grassley out to defend IGs who told truth to power such as State Dept.’s. Nothing to worry about for Mark Greenblatt, Interior’s IG. He bends over backward to avoid doing anything to ethical crimes of Davy et al. See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/10/opinion/trump-inspectors-general-grassley.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_200611&instance_id=19255&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=10365419&segment_id=30632&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 #891: Trump’s biggest weakness is on evmntal issues, not race! Polls show that gap on evmnt” DWARFS ALL OTHER ISSUES! Bernhardt & Wheeler—keep pushing your anti-evmntal agenda—help guarantee that Trump & you are GONE come Jan.! See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/06/11/stories/1063366837?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aclimatewire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #890: BLM plans huge sale Utah pub. Lands near Nat. parks & monuments. Bernhardt to receive huge $$ from industry [after Trump booted from office] after giving them everything they wanted while he, their lackey, was in charge. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/10/stories/1063365489?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #889: Illegal Trump Jr. hunt for endangered species w/o permit cost taxpayers $76K! Great to see that USFWS is very considerate about trophy hunters, especially Trump Junior. This outrage should be in ads for election! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/10/stories/1063364661?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #888: Utah criticizes monuments established for preserving “remoteness, trails, mountain lion, bear and desert bighorn sheep, 'over 200 species of birds, including bald eagles and peregrine falcons,' and 'scattered water sources,' and 'desert floras.'" They prefer to watch drilling rigs! Also critique preserving plants like “'pockets of ancient Engelmann spruce, ponderosa pine, aspen, and subalpine fir,' pinyon juniper woodlands, sagebrush, greasewood, aspen, low larkspur, mule deer, elk, coyote, desert cottontail…” They prefer mines, roads, & cattle too! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/10/stories/1063364707?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #887: Interior gives in-depth attention to CUMULATIVE impacts—of Wind energy projects that might hurt fishing industry! Funny! Interior has refused to study cumulative impacts of roads-mining-drilling on wilderness areas & wants to delete them from NEPA reviews! But study of Wind Energy is REPLETE with discussion of cumulative impacts! What gives? Zinke liked wind energy but Bernhardt doesn’t & trying to help fish industry chums! See https://www.boem.gov/sites/default/files/documents/renewable-energy/Vineyard-Wind-1-Supplement-to-EIS.pdf & https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/06/10/stories/1063361167?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #886: Video shows Trump’s Park Police assaulting Australian reporters as law enforcement officials cleared an area near the White House so President Donald Trump could walk. Dems want Interior IG to investigate. Greenblatt has dodged doing anything about Bernhardt’s top staff but might be willing to do something to lowly police! See https://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2020-06-03/us-park-police-investigate-attack-on-australian-journalists #885: Dems good idea to force Park Police to wear bodycams. Even better: force Bernhardt to wear one too—we can finally track his deals with lobby chums—tho, of course, it would have to be HUGE size to fit Mr. Fatty. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/09/stories/1063358857?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #884: Once again it took conservation org. (CBD) to get UFWS to protect endangered species—in this case the Florida bonneted bat. When you look at anything positive done for wildlife under Trump, you won’t find anything self-initiated—only by suits by conserv. orgs. & Republicans out to kill their ability to sue or be compensated for it. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/09/stories/1063358775?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #883: Check out Wash Post article with photo of father-son killing mother bear & cubs. Great work Bernhardt—the hunters thank you. Skipwith: use this in your next tweet about cute wildlife! See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/06/08/trump-administration-make-it-easier-hunters-kill-alaska-bear-cubs-wolf-pups/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJjb29raWVuYW1lIjoid3BfY3J0aWQiLCJpc3MiOiJDYXJ0YSIsImNvb2tpZXZhbHVlIjoiNWE3MGJjODA5YmJjMGYxY2U0MDI3ZTVmIiwidGFnIjoid3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy53YXNoaW5ndG9ucG9zdC5jb20vY2xpbWF0ZS1lbnZpcm9ubWVudC8yMDIwLzA2LzA4L3RydW1wLWFkbWluaXN0cmF0aW9uLW1ha2UtaXQtZWFzaWVyLWh1bnRlcnMta2lsbC1hbGFza2EtYmVhci1jdWJzLXdvbGYtcHVwcy8_d3Btaz0xJndwaXNyYz1hbF9lbnZpcm9ubWVudF9fYWxlcnQtaHNlJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9YWxlcnQmdXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fY2FtcGFpZ249d3BfbmV3c19hbGVydF9yZXZlcmUifQ.6wUg4pW-xxep4S1IJDBB7TA7Zr28qw8vOtyTib27UeA&utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_environment__alert-hse&wpmk=1 #882: NPS okays bait & dog use in Alaska. Nice to know that National Park Service doesn’t worry about baiting of grizzly bears or use of dogs to hunt them. This is what Rangers tell visitors to national parks all the time—feed the bears so you can get a good view of them! What bullshit! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/08/stories/1063352953?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #881: Tweet Bernhardt about allowing slob hunting in Alaskan Nat. Wildlife Refuges so can kill cubs & pups in den. 500K signatures against it & trophy hunter Davy still goes forward. Overwhelm the slob with your outrage! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/08/stories/1063352953?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #880: Park Chief police first said no tear gas had been used,Police spokesman said Friday that "it was a mistake on our part" to make that claim and to try to distinguish among various types of tear gas. Slimy Davy now denies it. Who believes this liar who NEVER produces any info. Requested by Congress. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/08/stories/1063352991?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #879: Just day ago, Skipwith praised marine monuments. Today Trump rolls back protections for Northeast Canyons & Seamounts Marine National Monument! He will get around to the Hawaii monument soon too. Most presidents CREATE monuments especially in last months of term. Trump DESTROYS them! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/05/stories/1063328217?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #878: Recently Bernhardt & lackey Kate MacGregor tweeted about virtues of park police for protecting Trump. Turns out NPA lied about not using tear gas. He learned how to lie from his bosses, Davy & Kate—it’s their major expertise! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/06/05/stories/1063328303?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aeenewspm&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #877: Bernhardt tries to authorize loser as Acting Director of BLM without going to the Senate where Pendley wouldn’t have a chance to be approved. This just continues poor quality staff put in positions of power for which they have no qualifications—witness Skipwith as USFWS head who did not meet minimum reqts. of professional expertise in the area & whose only qualifications were she worked as lobbyist & for pesticide co. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2019/07/29/stories/1060807047 #876: Trump & Bernhardt have been beaten regularly like a drum by Fed. Judges now try to solve problem by suspending NEPA, ESA etc. These losers hope to achieve by decree what they can’t get thru Courts. They’ve lost most environmental lawsuits because their actions totally ignore evmntal concerns. Trump never saw a disaster that he didn’t want to take advantage of for his selfish purposes. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/06/05/stories/1063324751?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #875: Kill those damn cormorants—they eat 1.3 Lbs fish per day! FWS supposed ensure not too many are killed for them to go extinct! We know how their "streamlined" permit system works—Trump Jr. gets to kill whatever he wants w/o permit! It’s shows how superior humans are—never overeating! At least they don't waste their food! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/04/stories/1063318181?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #874: CEQ set up special email for industry to support NEPA rule changes. CEQ spokesperson (Dan Schneider) denied it but Electrek.co tested & found it was true. Only latest example of CEQ lying & manipulating NEPA comment process. CEQ’s (January 10, 2020) announcement of the proposed NEPA rule changes in the Federal Register was filled with vague and misleading statements such as the following:
See https://electrek.co/2020/04/10/egeb-white-house-nepa-email-address-department-energy-hydrokinetic-turbine-technology/ https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=25&so=DESC&sb=commentDueDate&po=12400&dct=PS&D=CEQ-2018-0001 #873: Once more, Federal judge only one standing between Trump-Bernhardt & destruction of conservation. Judge nixed road thru Izembek. Congress, Interior IGs & “ethics” officials—let Trump-Bernhardt do what they want. Only judges stop them. Bad news is that McConnell’s sleazy industry lackey judges are coming. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/02/stories/1063300847?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Agreenwire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #872: Rats try to ensure that public lands continue to be trashed even after they are booted off the ship of State. Read about how Interior & oil industry are making sure that after Trump loses, they will continue to be able to despoil lands & oceans: “administration's” rush to finish — to entrench and expand Trump policies in case the election brings in a new president.” Energy industry head, Sgamma, says it took years [for Trump Admin.] to get through it, but it also takes years to undo it." See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/06/02/stories/1063295323?utm_medium=email&utm_source=eenews%3Aenergywire&utm_campaign=edition%2BMGkN8vMVEV1xZhYWhDA0AQ%3D%3D #871: USFWS Skipwith to allow hunting in Rhode Is. Nat. Wildlife Refuge. On hunting days, “No other activities will be allowed!” What else is new? Skipwith & Bernhardt push more hunting in refuges including killing cub-pups in dens, use of lead bullets, & pesticides. They are truly disgusting & Skipwith’s constant tweeting about cute animals is the ultimate in hypocrisy. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/01/stories/1063291455 #870: One more example of negative effects of Interior’s All Out Energy Dominance mania: Coal cos. going bankrupt & mine cleanup in crisis. Ohio is most recent case. Let’s hear Trump & Bernhardt brag about mine cleanups! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/06/01/stories/1063248187 #869: Aurelia Skipwith: Please restore ban on use of neonicotinoid pesticides in National Wildlife REFUGES! Obama Admin. banned them in 2016 b/c studies show they harm non-target species & wildlife but Zinke restored them to boost game for trophy hunters! As a grad. of Monsanto, I’m sure that you know the harm they can do & will want to make refuges SAFE since that is their purpose! See https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/trump-s-interior-department-reverses-ban-pesticides-wildlife-refuges?suppress=true&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter #868: The Trump Way with IG’s: Interior Asst. Sec. Domenech was found guilty of unethical behavior by Interior IG. But IGs under Trump have no power—if they tell truth, they are fired. So most IGs avoid angering top officials. Interior IG tried to interview EPA 6 X about Domenech & was refused each time! Just like Bernhardt & Interior, EPA refuses oversight from ANYONE and what’s worse, they get away with it! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/06/01/stories/1063286457 #867: Interior Asst Sec Domenech found guilty of violating ethics rules of trying to help relatives get hired by EPA! Interior’s Response? They have hired more ethics officials! Only thing that will make a difference is to fire this hack now. Of course, entire Interior top officials from Bernhardt on down have had ethical violations & stay in office so don’t hold your breath about this bum getting kicked out! They need a police official for each top employee & they need to be willing to kick each and every bum out! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/29/stories/1063266259 #866: Meet judge who enforces NEPA & cares about environmental rules—not like Interior’s lackey IG Mark Greenblatt or lackey Interior Ethics Chief Scott de la Vega. Only Federal judges stand up to Trump & Bernhardt. Congress also is a no show. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/05/29/stories/1063259845 #865: Is Bernhardt bragging about oil-gas revenues to states anymore?! Western states’s budgets are devastated. They need to look to diversify economy & having beautiful public lands will help more than drilling rigs. See https://www.wyomingpublicmedia.org/post/wyoming-faces-massive-revenue-shortfall?utm_source=1500+CWP+List+Daily+Clips+and+Updates&utm_campaign=72faff9d28-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_28_12_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4369a4e737-72faff9d28-84301189#stream/0 #864: Home on the Range where Cows Shit! BLM to allow grazing on Sonoran Desert Nat. Monument. Once again, Bernhardt shows what he thinks of monuments! Clinton created it b/c it was “untrammeled”-Trump will ensure it no longer is. See https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2020/05/27/feds-propose-open-grazing-sonoran-desert-national-monument/5248615002/?utm_source=1500+CWP+List+Daily+Clips+and+Updates&utm_campaign=72faff9d28-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_05_28_12_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4369a4e737-72faff9d28-84301189 #863: Trump-Bernhardt says Native Americans have “no standing” in Bears Ears! Antiquities Act is to protect Native cultural sites & artifacts because he says they are “abstract.” Remember this next time Bernhardt bullshits about listening to Native Americans! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/27/stories/1063248519 #862: Interior IG Greenblatt will not be fired by Trump!: He looks other way & okays misuse of fee $ by Dept. during shutdown. Like Interior’s so-called ethics” official,” he focused “only on process” & ignored question of legality of the funding source—GAO found that it was illegal! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1063108721 #861: More lousy Administration from Pendley-Bernhardt: Judge threw out 440 leases in prime sage grouse habitat which never should have been approved. Problem again is that only Federal judges stand between Davy & desolation of public lands & with Trump-McConnell’s stooges infiltrating the judiciary, this safety will be ending soon. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/05/26/stories/1063240981 #860: Oh no, Bernhardt to return to work—wildlife & conservationists put on your bullet-proof vests & get ready for drilling & fracking. It’s great for the Rangers & other front-line workers to get back but the more the Bernhardt’s top stooges do, the more harm they achieve. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/26/stories/1063239771 #859: Obama vs. Trump on Protecting public lands & water: Obama declined grant to Energy Transfer Co. for Dakota Pipeline that had 349 leaks since 2012—Trump approved it quickly after Co. owner contributed 250K to Trump inaug. Swamp! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/05/26/stories/1063234239 #858: USFWS uses “protect deliberative process” excuse to withhold “biological opinions” from End Species Case about cooling water infrastructure at power plants! They have used same phony excuse in refusing Bears Ears docs. These docs. are biological opinions written by scientists—how can basic withholding basic facts be justified? It would render entire FOIA meaningless if they get away with it & that’s exactly what they want! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/22/stories/1063204927 #857: Energy industry wants to lease land near Arches Nat. Park. Will Utah politicos & BLM let them? Gov. Hebert got drilling under Sliprock Trail cancelled but only 2 parcels involved. If not “de minimis”, will he object? If big bucks for industry involved, expect to see BLM & Utah politicos to lay down! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/22/stories/1063205239 #856: Looks like Trump & Senate will approve full funding for LCWF—their only conservation (other than trophy hunting)! Gardner’s so scared he threatened to prevent recess till vote! Let’s look for other measures that are crucial to election of Repubs.—it’s the ONLY time Trump & Repubs will support conserv.! See https://www.cpr.org/2020/05/21/gardner-drops-threat-to-oppose-congressional-recess-after-scoring-a-promise-to-consider-his-public-lands-bill/ #855: Read great High Country News article on how BLM is waiving royalties on oil despite fact that states like Texas are trying to LIMIT drilling. BLM’s using COVID as excuse but even oil industry lobbyist Sgamma president of the Western Energy Alliance says problem is too much oil, NOT COVID. These new BLM policies were enacted by “highest levels” (=Bernhardt & Pendley) w/o usual consultation. Time for Scott de la Vega to get ready to forgive Bernhardt for violating ethics again! I have been tracking daily the bad acts of Interior & they have always been numerous. But in the past month, they have risen to ridiculous numbers! They are rushing to do as much bad as they can before they are booted from office! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/south-bureau-of-land-management-ailing-oil-companies-get-a-pass-on-royalties?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #854: Interior “Ethics” Official de la Vega is a joke! Read about how he “disciplined” Assistant Interior Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Doug Domenech who met with his former employer, Texas Public Policy Fdtn. —nothing is done other than watch some powerpoint slides! De la Vega excused him because he hadn’t signed an “ethics pledge” yet! There are 3 X as many ethics officials in Interior as 2 yrs. Ago but the same pandering to industry occurs. There is no substance to de la Vega & other Interior ethics officials. If they want to meet with their former industry employers, all they have to do is ask de la Vega or or another of the 62 ethics officials & they will be glad to give it. Oh, they’re not supposed to talk about worked on while employed but they are free to give favors to their former employers about any new projects they have! After meeting with his former employer, Domenech emailed them and told them “Keep fighting!” de la Vega said “this could be a violation of ethical rules but “he would need more context to make a legal opinion about it”! Domenech says he’s “more sensitive now!” All he would have had to do to make de la Vega happy was to “seek a waiver from DOI’s Ethics Office” which they would be glad to provide! Impact of 62+ ethics officials (they are hiring 6 more soon!) on Interior ethics is Zero—might as well save $ & use for conservation—Interior ethics are trash! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/21/stories/1063196349 & https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/05/21/document_gw_06.pdf #853: Great point made by American Progress that Trump has removed from protection 1,000 times more land than he’s protected—even GW Bush puts him to shame! Most presidents make big monuments at end of term— What will Trump do? Probably turn Yellowstone into a Game-Hunting Farm! See https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2020/05/21/485260/anti-nature-president-u-s-history/ #852: Bernhardt Stonewalls House Again! NR Comm. asked for BASIC DATA on royalty relief given by BLM to industry & he refused to provide it. Said that info was available on out-of-date & inaccurate public database. Why the hell won’t an agency provide basic data to the Congressional Committee that oversees them??! Bernhardt should be impeached! It’s only the latest in long line of his stonewalling & so far getting away with. The only thing this lackey understands is action—impeach the creep! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/05/21/stories/1063191269 #851: Public Citizen Report shows Bernhardt & Interior meet mostly with Energy Industry—2/3 of meetings with them vs. 9% with conservation--& Large Portion of so-called “conservation” meetings were with Trophy Hunting Groups that supported Bernhardt for his job like Ducks Unlimited, Teddy Roosevelt Con. Part., Rocky Mtn. Elk Fdtn. ! His Deputy, Kate MacGregor met ONLY with industry groups! No wonder when industry needs help for their interests, they call “KATE!” See https://www.citizen.org/wp-content/uploads/fossilfilled-final.pdf #850: Skipwith’s USFWS allows Slob Hunting in Alaska National Wildlife Preserves—including shooting pups & cubs in dens, baiting, dogs, artificial lights, & motorboats. This disgusting action of Skipwith's takes place while she daily tweets & “coos” about wildlife. Shows what she really is—a phony whose only constituency is trophy hunters! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/05/20/stories/1063188739 #849: Trump just ordered Interior & EPA to cut their regulations & “to make it environmentally good WHEN RELEVANT”!!! When would “environmentally good regs.” be relevant?? The correct answer is: Always!! However, from Trump viewpoint=Only if it doesn’t cost industry a cent! Bernhardt’s crew have already decimated regs. that are “environmentally good” & don’t require urging to do this! They are a clear & present danger to the environment. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/05/19/stories/1063180183 #848: BLM new argument for okaying oil-gas leasing under lakes: “the region is ALREADY significantly developed &…sale a SMALL addition.”!!! No wonder they want to rush drilling in ANWR, Tongass etc. Once they destroy the pristine areas, they will make the same argument for more drilling: See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/19/stories/1063178559 #847: BLM-Bernhardt-Pendley now Stonewalling Federal Courts just as they have stonewalled Congress for years! They submitted revised Sage Grouse Plan that did not analyze cumulative effects or require compensatory mitigation court mandated. BLM also does not plan to enforce grazing permit rqmnts! (They want to let all permittees be like Bundy & ignore them!). The so-called revised plan also fails to use large-scale cross-state planning so their plan is made-up of uncoordinated piecemeal state plans. The new plan removes ban on mining in >250,000 acres of best sagebrush habitat for the grouse! BLM admits this but responds “the development may or MAY NOT not occur in sensitive areas!” This is similar to Bernhardt’s allowance of pesticides because they MAY NOT be used to their legal limit! (See #681 below). The plan also ignores requirements for cumulative effects—they believe cumulative harm doesn’t matter! For stonewalling the courts, they should be jailed for contempt of court! Who wouldn’t want to see Bernhardt’s fat ass behind bars? Read Thuermer’s excellent WYOFILE article at https://www.wyofile.com/scientists-reworked-blm-plan-still-fails-to-protect-sage-grouse/ #846: Trump’s fires another IG! No wonder Interior IG & ethics officials give pass to Bernhardt’s illegal acts! Interior’s IG ignores major issue of using park fees illegally to keep parks open that supposed to be reserved for maintenance & future work—GAO has already condemned them for it. But Interior IG like their so-called “ethics officials”—see no evil=Bernhardt’s Yes-men. See #833 https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/blog & https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/05/16/trumps-slow-moving-friday-night-massacre-inspectors-general/?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_headlines #845: Will the “New West” show up for vote to reintroduce wolves to Colorado? Surveys consistently show that most people welcome them & grizzlies but wolf haters dominate most “game” depts. & western legislatures b/c haters intensity is much higher. In 2018, several envmtal-oriented candidates unseated Repubs. so there is hope. See excellent article on upcoming vote https://www.sierraclub.org/sierra/colorado-wolves-are-ballot-initiative-107?suppress=true&utm_source=greenlife&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter #844: Alaskan oil payments at risk so may have to cut $ or budget! Maybe, just maybe, Alaskan politicians some day may realize that their prosperity and health depend on giving priority to conserving their fantastic wilderness, not drilling & logging! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/05/15/stories/1063136487 #843: Trump-Bernhardt don’t believe in considering aggregate emissions when there are “multiple facilities nearby.” Poor quality air is due to ALL emissions & ignoring aggregate is plain stupid. It’s the same story as ignoring cumulative effects caused by oil-gas-coal on climate change—Trump-Bernhardt want to ignore that too. See no evil & hear no evil when industry interests are concerned! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/15/stories/1063144201 #842: USGAO is going to review Interior grants! They certainly should since Int. gets rid of any that don’t “align with Admin. priorities” (i.e., they are science-based & not pro-industry). Problem: Int. ignores GAO rulings & uses lackey IG & “ethics” employees to thumb their noses at GAO & Congress. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/05/14/stories/1063136345 #841: NGO’s spur Endangered List, not USFWS! Another ex. today when USFWS added fisher to the list. Without CBD & other NGO’s, few threatened animals would make it. No wonder, some yahoos in Congress want to make it harder or impossible for NGOs to enforce ESA! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/14/stories/1063135211 #840: Watch out when Bernhardt uses the word “COMMONSENSE.” He just allowed weakening of offshore drilling emission regs. He & industry lackey MacGregor use the word to mean: “Forget about evmnt. & conservation,” focus on industry profits! See https://www.eenews.net/stories/1061111333/ #839: Interior makes it impossible for citizens to have inspection when their state office ignores their complaints—which happens often. Interior wants to ease federal enforcement at mines. It's all part of their move to make Interior "safe for industry" & a stonewall to public! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/13/stories/1063126301 #838: Make Bundy pay fees due & stop his illegal actions on PUBLIC lands. Of course, that would take some spine & integrity which is lacking in BLM & Interior. He’s built irrigation structures that are illegal themselves for cattle that are also illegal! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/13/stories/1063126497 #837: Trump says oil is moving to “greatness!” I believe that as much as I believe his statement that Bernhardt is a “beautiful, slim man!” Bullshit! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/05/13/stories/1063121243 #836: Let’s Count # of Times Bernhardt Kisses Trump’s Ass. It will be a big number worthy of this rotund trophy hunter! Each day brings more smooches by Davy on Trump’s big ass. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/12/stories/1063117893 #835: Why Federal rules and standards should prevail to “manage” grizzlies & wolves: Wyoming wants to keep same pop. goal for grizzlies even if they use diff. counting method that would show big increase in pop. Why? It would allow them to kill 500 bears! See their obfuscation in Thuermer’s excellent Wyofile story—they have proven time & again they can’t be trusted to preserve them. Although Federal laws are more protective, under Trump, USFWS leadership is worse than most states. The only real protection under Trump is Federal laws like ESA & Federal judges who will enforce them. See https://www.wyofile.com/judges-question-wyomings-case-on-grizzly-numbers/ #834: Law says can’t have acting BLM director for >210 but Pendley already 287 & counting! Bernhardt can’t find anyone who meets Trump’s LOW stds. who can get confirmed so we’re stuck with this bum until Courts get rid of him! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/11/stories/1063108929 #833: Interior’s IG ignores major issue of using park fees illegally to keep parks open that supposed to be reserved for maintenance & future work—GAO has already condemned them for it. But Interior IG, like their so-called “ethics” officials—see no evil=Bernhardt’s Yes-men. Note that Int. used $ to help “planned hunts” take place—Bernhardt can’t do too much for trophy hunters—but future of the parks be damned! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/11/stories/1063108721 #832: USFWS story on beauty of rafting and watching wildlife on Hulahula River through ANWR. So why is Interior & Bernhardt going to destroy ANWR? = confession of enormous crime against nature! See https://medium.com/usfws/along-the-hulahula-river-761dfba86b2f #831: The Southeast Alaska Con. Council used FOIA to discover 96% of “unique” letters sent on Tongass opposed rule change as did vast majority of Alaskans who testified at local hearings. This should mean that the NO CHANGE option, not the least restrictive (pushed by Forest Service). But with Trump, majority opinion doesn’t matter—Industry First! See https://www.seacc.org/foia_roadlessrule #830: Read revealing article by High County News of recording of Pendley trying to explain BLM move to its employees! Basic pts: Neither Pendley nor other staff had anything to do with it—it’s all due to Bernhardt! More importantly, most of these staff do jobs that involve wking w/Congress & other agencies which needs to be done in Wash.D.C.! 97% of BLM employees are already in West! BLM threatened to take away New Mx. Jobs because Sen. Udall opposed move but Pendley couldn’t answer how these decisions would be made’”Can’t explain” he said! What messed up & corrupt org. this is under Trump-Bernhardt-Pendley! See https://www.hcn.org/issues/51.17/bureau-land-management-how-blm-employees-really-feel-about-moving-west?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #829: UN study shows that forests continue to vanish, especially old growth due to actions of Bolsonaro & his ilk (Trump). We should expect professionals in Interior and EPA to raise alarms about this but don’t hold your breath—Trump-Bernhardt have silenced them. See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/05/08/stories/1063075139 #828: Hey Stupid Bernhardt & Skipwith: Your NEPA changes propose ignoring climate change but Interior’s Website says: Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. We are already seeing its effects with rising seas, catastrophic wildfires and water shortages. These changes are not only having a dramatic impact on diverse ecosystems but also on the wildlife that call these places home. If we don’t act on climate now, this list is just the tip of the iceberg of what we can expect in years to come. Future generations shouldn’t just see these animals in history books -- we owe it to them to protect these creatures and their habitats. Taken from Interior Website today at https://www.doi.gov/blog/9-animals-are-feeling-impacts-climate-change #827: Trump wants to “rake & clean” forests to prevent wildfire when it is rec. shooting on public lands that is a problem! MAYBE someone in Interior could clue him in but Bernhardt has his head so far up Trump’s butt he won’t! Trump's trophy hunting sons certainly won't. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/06/stories/1063064775 & https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2018/11/18/trump-suggests-californians-can-rake-their-forests-prevent-wildfires-he-is-wrong/res #826: Shooting on Public Lands causes Wildfire! 3 National forests have had to prohibit recreational shooting b/c history of fires & 100s of acres have burned in the LAST TWO WEEKS due to shooting! This hasn’t stopped BLM from building Az shooting ranges during corona virus—they know their priorities! Trump should urge stop to shooting on public lands instead of "cleaning forests!" See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/06/stories/1063064775 & https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/06/stories/1063064767 #825: Worst Hire the Worst: Trump Hires Bernhardt, Bernhardt Hires Pendley. Another example of Bernhardt avoiding accountability: he hires somebody too bad to get Senate approval so he makes him permanent temp. This must be illegal. Otherwise, approval of Senate is meaningless! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/05/stories/1063056889 #824: Real Existential Threat to Public Lands NOT wild horses but Livestock destroying land. See Wyofile article, livestock employ %0.3 of pop., welfare ranchers pay far less fee$ than BLM subsidies to them, 28X as many cattle as horses, <1.5% Wy work in agriculture-hunting-fishing. See https://www.wyofile.com/mustangs-and-memories-blm-plan-threatens-wyos-wild-horses/ #823: NYT editorial today on Trump’s War on Accountability shows how Bernhardt has mirrored President Pussygrabber’s avoidance of truth by stonewalling House demands for docs. & testimony, cutting FOIA, keeping communs. secret, & having so-called “ethics” officials okaying clearly unethical practices. See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/04/opinion/inspector-general-trump-coronavirus.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_200505&instance_id=18198&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=10365419&segment_id=26618&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 #822: Bird watching soars under corona virus. Indeed, wildlife watching has expanded consistently over the past 50 yrs. while hunting has steadily declined but USFWS & Interior talk about NOTHING but trophy hunting. They are either oblivious to facts or stupid. Check out the stupid tweets of David Bernhardt & Aurelia Skipwith! Skipwith talks about some cute species but ignores her support of weakening of migratory bird treaty and ESA, etc. etc. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/04/stories/1063047273 #821: Interior-BLM-Bernhardt Consultation with Native Americans: Every once in a while Interior, Bernhardt et al. states how they consult with tribes. Well, let’s see what they do with Chaco—tribes are asking for more time due to corona. Indeed, Interior is trying to CUT TIME for public comments in NEPA reviews. It is part of their Stonewalling Policy—don’t let public see what we are doing for our lobby friends! https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/05/04/stories/1063040609 #820: Self-Regulating Policy doesn’t work! USFWS & Texas handed over protection of Permian lizard to industry to monitor selves & they didn’t. Now they have to discard their plan! Public can’t even find out who’s claiming to regulate selves! FWS claims to have fixed problems but person in charge says he’s “not sure who's actually doing the work on the ground”!! Read about this stupid idea of self-regulation at https://www.statesman.com/news/20181220/texas-withdraws-dunes-sagebrush-lizard-conservation-plan & https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/stories/1060034638/ #819: Great article by Franz Camenzind on BLM’s reckless frenzy to lease lands while there’s oil glut & < half of lands already leased have not been developed! Evidence that today’s bids rushed w/o adequate impact analysis. Once leased, have for 10 yrs which are usually extended even if not developed. One more proof that Bernhardt & Pendley are poor administrators handing over public lands for cents. See https://www.wyofile.com/hit-pause-on-blm-oil-and-gas-leasing-during-pandemic-energy-bust/ #818: Bernhardt replaces in-house career admin. law judges with political ideologues! They claimed to use a “rigorous” recruitment process! Who did they turn up? Prandoni has < 2yrs legal experience—his real qualifications are that he worked for Mike Lee fighting to have fed. lands transferred to states. Lechner qualification? He worked for Mountain States Legal Fdntn. that opposes Fed. lands! There has not been a single Bernhardt appointment that has not involved lobbyists and/or conservative Republican ideologues. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/01/stories/1063022081 & https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/05/01/stories/1063022081 #817: Interior’s new Policy & Budget chief, Scott Cameron, like predecessors has lobbied for extractive industries & G.W. Bush Admin. so he will fit in nicely with the other industry lackeys. However, he’s not as NOTORIOUSLY anti-conservation like Susan Combs, Budd-Falen, & Pendley so I wouldn’t be surprised if Bernhardt finds someone even worse. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/30/stories/1063013119 #816: Pendley’s BLM holding virtual meetings on Chaco drilling despite lack of connectivity of many Native Americans. For Bernhardt-Pendley, no corona virus will stop their energy dominance efforts even tho world afloat with oil. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/30/stories/1063014309 #815: Bernhardt’s head up Trump’s Butt Again! He just approved Trump-Fox campaign event at Lincoln Memorial which is supposed to be closed due to corona. NPS now officially part of TRUMP CAMPAIGN! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/30/stories/1063014387 #814: USFWS got audit report LAST JULY that showed serious misuse of funds to protect lesser prairie chicken but kept it buried & STILL can’t comment on it. Their excuse: The report is long and they are SLOW READERS! We know Skipwith is busy doing innocuous tweets & praising trophy hunters so not surprising. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/29/stories/1063004621 #813: Bernhardt knows what’s important: Trump’s Butt! NPS told him July 4th fireworks would cause wildfire, contam. water, litter that can’t be removed, & marks on Rushmore sculpture. He’s going forward anyway with his head way up Trump’s butt! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/28/stories/1062996895 #812: USFWS reduces by huge amount snakes critical habitat & justify by saying there is scientific disagreement! Ecological science says PRECAUTIONARY principle, err on side of conservation when there is uncertainty. Just 1 more example of USFWS under Skipwith, anti-conservation & stupid. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/27/stories/1062986809 #811: One More Example: Whenever conflict between conservation & industry, Trump-Bernhardt ALWAYS choose latter. Want to raise Calif Dam & reduce waters for endangered Delta Smelt & Salmon to help Bernhardt's lobby partner Westlands. Destruction & unethical actions all in one. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/27/stories/1062953495 #810: Why hasn’t media & Congress told Trump that Trillion Tree plan is STUPID when he’s cutting old growth forests & wilderness areas & applauding Bolsonaro’s destruction of Amazon? This is as stupid as his bleach advise. Use $ for trees to protect and/or purchase valuable habitat for conservation that is now continually being destroyed! See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/04/27/stories/1062979609 #809: USFWS finally acknowledges climate change! Maybe next, they will acknowledge that threats to wildlife species are INCREASING & the ESA needs STRENGTHENING or is this too much to hope for from a USFWS headed by Monsanto grad? See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/24/stories/1062960765 #808: Trump-Bernhardt hurts hunting! Report by Nat. Wild. Fed. proves that energy dominance fixation has hurt hunting in the West. Of course, hunting is ONLY “nature” interest at all of this trophy hunter & he’s a loser at that too! So let's sum up David Bernhardt: Liar, Industry lackey, trophy hunter, despoiler of public lands & oceans, & all around phony. See https://www.nwf.org/-/media/Documents/PDFs/Press-Releases/2020/04-21-20-Unchecked-Energy-Development-Report #807: Bernhardt’s ethics app: Erases all messages sent or received without a trace. Guaranteed to elude FOIA requests & even if you get caught, de la Vega will say it’s okay. Even better, it’s paid for by industry who will handsomely reward employees when they leave to work for industry—you will be repaying them then! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/22/stories/1062944341 #806: USGAO report shows that 42% of Applications to Drill were unused & vast majority will continue to be unused! Furthermore, this in time of High Oil Prices! Yet BLM continues to rush leasing & drilling thru ANWR, Tongass, monuments, wilderness areas, & forests. Why? They want to despoil everything thing they can before Trump is booted out! See https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/04/23/document_ew_01.pdf #805: Great article by Westwise’s Andre Miller detailing the Waste that BLM is making of public lands in West. Ridiculously low rate charges for leased lands, non-competitive bidding, about half of leased the land leased is idle, has removed 13.5 Million acres from protection, leased land even in big game corridors!, energy industry itself runs leasing process, low royalty rates compared to states & inadequate bonding to compensate for damage, no excuse now for low bids to incentivize industry b/c most lands productivity known, much leasing is non-competitive & thus giveaways, & most non-competitive bid land is idle. In short, entire leasing program is OUTMODED and needs UPDATING (Yes, leasing is what needs to be modernize, not End. Species Act!). See https://medium.com/westwise/americas-public-lands-giveaway-6bf395d759c0 #804: Will someone in USFWS who can read please tell Skipwith about research that shows wildlife will collapse from climate change? Maybe she will start supporting ESA & action against climate change instead of doing the opposite then or is this being too hopeful? See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/15/climate/wildlife-population-collapse-climate-change.html?campaign_id=34&emc=edit_sc_20200421&instance_id=17821&nl=science-times®i_id=10365419&segment_id=25640&te=1&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 #803: Corona doesn’t stop Interior-Bernhardt from moving ahead on drilling near Chaco: Safety & participation of Pueblo nation doesn’t matter to him nor does fact that no need for oil—demonstrating stupidity of him & Trump. See https://www.santafenewmexican.com/opinion/my_view/interior-must-put-chaco-planning-on-hold/article_d9b8b73a-7f5b-11ea-b888-df99ff212181.html?utm_source=1500+CWP+List+Daily+Clips+and+Updates&utm_campaign=516e023079-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_04_20_07_54&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_4369a4e737-516e023079-84301189 #802: Interior’s Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation Council is trying to strategize to protect all out Trump Gun Happy Trophy Hunting decisions and biases. It would be nice if these bozos started paying attention to the great harm that massive numbers of cows & sheep do to wildlife on public lands including “game” or to cuts in monuments and wilderness that Pendley-Bernhardt have made. But No, they can’t see beyond the ends of their noses. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/20/stories/1062925839 #801: Brazil’s version of Trump: President Bolsonaro bragged that he had “put an end to” what he called “astronomical fines” against companies that violate envmntal law in the Amazon. He’s anxious to drill & graze forests. Sound familiar! Don’t expect Trump or USFWS to caution him—they will lead cheers for him! See https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/19/world/americas/bolsonaro-brazil-amazon-indigenous.html?campaign_id=2&emc=edit_th_200419&instance_id=17771&nl=todaysheadlines®i_id=10365419&segment_id=25495&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7 #800: Susan Combs Interior exit interview: boring without insight! The only thing she is proud of is BLM relocation! That’s truly a failure! She is described as “good-humored”?? She got a lot of chuckles over letting Texas oil industry police themselves for protecting species. See http://www.mrt.com/news/article_1b412efc-b8a7-11e4-86ef-df1fa67f0cae.html For her industry friendly approach to enforcement! #799: Trump-Bernhardt More Damage: Science article shows that megadrought is occurring in Western U.S. due to climate change but Trump Admin. incl. Interior Dept. are actively trying to maximize harm! Every additional day they’re in charge adds to calamity. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/16/southwest-megadrought-climate-change/?utm_campaign=wp_todays_headlines&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_headlines #798: Scott de la Vega & Interior Ethics: It’s STILL the Wild West. de la Vega implies that he has stopped wild west but in fact he continues to “find no evidence” of Bernhardt improper interference--Only difference: he now requires Bernhardt to get written approval of unethical acts & de la Vega approves them! He discovered that Bernhardt had not obtained written consent in case but he did not rule against him! What a phony & coward de la Vega is. Both he & Bernhardt are full of Bullshit. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/16/stories/1062891013 #797: One More Proof: Only voices in favor of wildlife conservation are Federal Judges and environmental NGOs. Judge just killed Keystone Pipeline due to End. Species Act. USFWS officials (e.g., Skipwith) who are SUPPOSED to speak for wildlife, but instead approve all industry violations. Bad Portent: this ruling was made by an Obama appointee: with Trump judges taking over judiciary, future decisions will rule against conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/04/16/stories/1062885739 #796: USFWS declares more birds covered under Migratory Treaty just as it reduces protections against “incidental take.” Does this make sense? Only to Bernhardt & faux wildlife enthusiast Skipwith! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/15/stories/1062882211 #795: What is BLM & Interior going to do about Bundy’s illegal grazing on public lands? Good article in High Country News on Bundy’s & how their Mormon “theology” views land that is not being USED as displeasing to God & how once Mormons move into area, the “land is theirs” even though Native Americans were there first. There is LOTS of ILLEGAL grazing on public lands & BLM is doing NOTHING about it. Call this the Lawless Administration. See https://www.hcn.org/articles/south-public-lands-how-mormon-history-helps-explain-todays-public-land-fights?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=emai #794: Susan Combs leave Interior—Hurrah! This rancher & ESA hater never should have been in the job in first place so good riddance! She handed over enforcement of wildlife protections to the oil industry while in Texas so Bernhardt rewarded her for her terrible performance by giving her the job! Bad thing is Bernhardt will appoint someone else bad (tho they can’t be worse!). See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/13/stories/1062866123 #793: USFWS admits that opening wildlife refuges to more hunting “won’t add revenue to local economies & hunting represents only 5% of all visits to them. So why the hell did they approve this stupidity? The dominant use of these refuges is supposed to be conservation--not killing! Bernhardt-Skipwith pander to trophy hunters & don’t give a damn about wildlife conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/13/stories/1062864611 #792: How Slimy is David Bernhardt? During coronavirus crisis, he is rushing thru all kinds of questionable & unpopular leases in sensitive areas (despite oil hitting rock bottom prices) & refusing to extend comment periods. Just as he used govt. shutdown to plan ocean drilling, this sleazeball never misses oppty. to do bad. Time to get rid of this creep. See https://medium.com/westwise/as-america-fought-coronavirus-the-interior-secretary-rushed-through-dozens-of-environmental-1fa91abe02c7 #791: BLM’s “Balanced” plan for Colorado’s North Fork: It opens 10,000 acres to oil-gas leasing. BLM’s Washington Office took issue with the Colorado BLM that wanted to protect sage grouse & other species & also because they wanted to increase lands managed for environmental concern & wilderness characteristics! BLM Washington removed these protections! So much for bullshit about moving BLM West to change dmaking! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/09/stories/1062830125 #790: Skipwith & USFWS to open 8 Additional Wildlife REFUGES to hunting! She tweets about cute bears but panders to trophy hunters! She supports weakening Mig. Bird Treaty. What more can you say about this unqualified lobbyist? What a disgrace? Does she even know what the word REFUGE means?! Can’t wait for her next tweets about wildlife—what a hypocrite. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/08/stories/1062822253 #789: Inspector Generals (IGs) under Trump & Bernhardt: If IGs do their job, Trump fires them. Interior IGs dismiss or ignore clear ethical breaches by Trump, Pendley, & others—in recent case, never even contacted complainant. This unaccountable Admin. tries to weaken public access & input under FOIA & NEPA. They are lawless. I hope that when they are replaced next year, that Bernhardt et al. will be investigated & finally held accountable. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/08/stories/1062821375 #788: I read with interest Skipwith’s desire to recruit minorities to USFWS. Seriously, if you truly want to do this, Aurelia, set an example for them by standing up for Wildlife & prioritizing them over energy-ranching-trophy hunting. So far, you have chosen industry over wildlife every time you were faced with a choice. You are setting a horrible example—especially for minorities who want to pursue a career in conservation. By standing up for wildlife, you would inspire them! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/06/stories/1062568163 #787: Skipwith Well Qualified—to work for Trump! She doesn’t have any conservation background but there are good reasons why she heads USFWS: She contributed to Trump’s campaign, acted to allow bee-killing pesticides in wildlife refuges & cuts in monuments. No wonder she was hired! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/06/stories/1062568163 https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2018/aurelia-skipwith-12-20-2018.php #786: The "Energy Dominance Virus:" should we pay attention to conservation during Corona? The Great Barrier reef is undergoing its worst mass bleaching. Should we expect Interior to heed this news by abridging its dedication to fossil fuel production? No, they either deny or give lip service to climate change. Only a new Administration will cure the “energy dominance virus.” See https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/04/06/great-barrier-reef-coral-bleaching/?utm_campaign=wp_news_alert_revere&utm_medium=email&utm_source=alert&wpisrc=al_environment__alert-hse&wpmk=1 #785: One more bad effect of energy dominance: As energy companies go bankrupt due to falling prices, they will be abandoning wells & not doing promised cleanups. You won't hear about this from Interior, Bernhardt, Pendley--masters of stonewalling & non-transparency. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/04/03/stories/1062772009 #784: Who will replace Pendley as next Acting BLM Director? Place your bets. Based on Bernhardt’s past staff choices, the odds are high that the next one will have worked for energy-rancher industries either directly or as a lobbyist. (S)he will not have a background in conservation or ecology-related science—that wouldn’t be fitting for Energy Above All Else Trump Regime—they don’t trust people who believe in science. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/04/03/stories/1062779059 #783: Oh, Oh for Energy Dominance: National Mining Asso. is losing its coal base & will have to rely on companies engaged in renewables for its future. Rather than being the beginning of new era of fossil fuel dominance, Trump-Bernhardt regime will be the end of this madness. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/03/stories/1062777429 #782: Detailed case study of how oil refinery benzene emissions have caused numerous cancers in New Mexico town, Artesia. The company, HollyFrontier Corp. has donated millions to lobby Congress & agencies. One more example of how Trump-Bernhardt brag about benefits of energy dominance & ignore its terrible downsides. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/02/stories/1062744005 #781: Energy Dominance Fiasco: Stupidity of Trump-Bernhardt proven as continue to lease lands for pennies during period of oversupply. Renewables just beat coal for FIRST TIME! Warmer temps due to climate change (due to Trump’s actions) responsible for coal’s downfall. Brag some more about energy dominance—everyone’s laughing at you! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/04/02/stories/1062763805 & https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/04/02/stories/1062762969 #780: Funny Interior Memo states: “Don’t mix politics & governance!” What? Every word & action spoken or taken by Bernhardt is to Kiss Trump’s ass & push Energy Dominance above all other goals. Apparently, politics only means wearing “insignia” but political actions are fine! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/04/01/stories/1062760173 #779: Nothing Stops BLM & Interior from doing bad! They are indefatigable in their evil. They continue working on plan to lease land near Chaco Culture National Park despite COVID crisis & strong opposition from state and local actors. So much for their supposed move to listen better to “their clients.” See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/31/stories/1062751629 #778: Very funny report that Skipwith is working 80 hour wks. “fighting COVID!!” Wish she could spend even ONE HOUR protecting migratory bird treaty whose weakening is going forward despite COVID! She certainly has plenty of time for trite tweet posts! See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/30/stories/1062742505 #777: Species Threatened by Climate Change & Other Inexorable Forces but no one doing anything. Study shows whales getting hit by ships more often due to warming waters & deviating from safe lanes. USFWS is busy opening oceans to drilling & seismic tests—in other words, increasing threat, not lessening. Only solution: replacement of this Energy Dominance Admin. See https://www.eenews.net/climatewire/2020/03/30/stories/1062735025 #776: Trump & Interior want to “modernize” NEPA & ESA! These laws are more crucial than ever with the vanishing of species, wilderness, & cuts in monuments. There are laws that BADLY need Modernizing: Mining Act of 1872 which set price of mining public land at ridiculously low price that remains unchanged! The Taylor Grazing Act (1934) handed over (now BLM) lands to welfare ranchers who have dominated admin. of these lands ever since (attempts at reform have failed.) Justification for recent BLM move is to move closer to these welfare yahoos when they already spit on any restrictions. So stop the bullshit about “modernizing” & update these outmoded laws that benefit tiny # at the expense of NATIONAL interests & environmental quality. See https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/utley-mackintosh/interior1.htm https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/taylor-grazing-act-1934 #775: BLM not satisfied with destroying ANWR, Tongass, Pebble Mine Now Wants to build road thru Alaskan wilderness. Not Corona virus or shutdowns stops Pendley-BLM from doing harm to conservation. Science shows harm done by roads to wildlife & conservation. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/27/stories/1062716783 #774: Time for Skipwith & any professionals left in USFWS to speak up for Birds: You are the ONLY unit in government directly responsible for prioritizing wildlife but you have done NOTHING—favoring industry over birds in cutting Migratory Bird Treaty. If you don’t do this, there is NO EXCUSE for you having your job. Everyone else in Interior speaks for industry—none for species. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/03/27/stories/1062709059 #773: Trump-Repubs. want to “MODERNIZE” NEPA—What does that mean? The law has succeeded in ensuring that science & harmful effects of projects be taken into consideration in dmking. Trump et al.—don’t like that—anything that restrains industry from doing what they want is bad. Modernize means EMASCULATE—return to days when industry could do what they wanted regardless of envmntal harm. It is Trump & his lackeys who need to be “fixed.” See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/25/stories/1062699315 #772: Interior’s Budget Ritual: Propose cutting conservation & other programs—Congress ignores cuts—then take credit for programs! Tried to cut 53 Mill. From End. Species Prog.—but Congress gave it 54 M! Tried to cut Indians Arts & Crafts Bd.—Congress refused & then Interior took credit for grads of program! Tried to cut LCWF program but reversed when Repub. Senators told Trump they were in trouble over it! Should Change Bernhardt’s title to Secretary of Bullshit. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/25/stories/1062620453 #771: Corona Virus has at least one good effect!! It’s put a halt to BLM’s move to the West. The entire rationale for the move is phony: Trump’s friends, energy & rancher industries & their lackey state-local politicos already totally dominate BLM dmking—the need is the opposite—some who cares about the quality of public lands & conservation. For full documentation of this point, see books by Lynn Jacobs, George Wuerthner, Debra Donahue, & https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/uploads/9/2/1/7/92174584/rocheleau.politics_of_state_wildlife_management_medium_numbered_.pdf #770: Too Many Wild horses vs. Too Many Cattle?! NYT article discusses crisis with what BLM says is too many wild horses w/o mentioning that BY FAR most damage to public lands is being done by too many cattle on public lands & they are there because public lands ranchers unproductive grazing is subsidized by public $. This point has been documented by many such as Debra L. Donahue, Western Grazing: The Capture of Grass, Ground, and Government, 35 Envtl. L. 721, 2005, pp.721-806 & many others. It’s also been documented that BLM failed to enforce environmental rules on these ranchers—see accounts of government & other workers in Mike Hudak’s Western Turf Wars. The article shows that the emphasis on harm done by wild horses (which can be harmful but on a much smaller scale then cattle) is accepted wisdom by media while overwhelming evidence of harm by cattle is ignored. It’s time to change this storyline. For NYT story, see https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/22/us/mustang-crisis-west.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_200322&campaign_id=2&instance_id=16974&segment_id=22534&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7®i_id=103654190322 See full documentation of these points at https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/uploads/9/2/1/7/92174584/rocheleau.politics_of_state_wildlife_management_medium_numbered_.pdf #769: Native Americans not consulted on Bears Ears changes as BLM moves forward to hand land over to industry despite huge & growing popularity of area! Not single Tribal member on committee making decisions. BLM apparently doesn’t want to be move closer to them! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/south-monuments-what-are-the-trump-administrations-new-plans-for-utah-monuments?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #768: Safari Club lawyer put in charge of Intl Affairs for USFWS! Not satisfied with killing wildlife by weakening ESA, cutting bird migratory treaty & compensatory mitigation, now have another trophy hunter in charge. Maybe she can find out how Trump Jr. got away with killing endangered species w/o permit! There is nothing too outrageous for Bernhardt-Skipwith to engaged in. When will ANYONE in USFWS or Interior, speak about need to STRENGTHEN protections for wildlife??!! Not until this Administration is booted out! https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/20/stories/1062655675 #767: BLM blames Corona for not responding to FOIA requests about Pendley’s new policy to “defer to local officials.!” Just as Bernhardt sends 1000s pages of irrelevant docs. but not needed docs. or staff, Pendley will dodge accountability b/c that’s what this swampy Dept. does automatically. The big joke is supposedly BLM moved West in order to get closer to “clients” when it is proven that they bend down whenever oil-gas-coal-rancher industries & state-local Repubs. dispute any attempt to enforce evmntal stds. So far Bernhardt et al. have gotten away with it. I hope change in Senate hands will finally bring them to account. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/20/stories/1062655661 #766: Corona doesn’t stop Interior from doing evil: Despite the crisis, they are moving ahead to take away protections from migratory birds! Just as they’re continuing to lease land for oil-gas when the world is afloat w/too much! Nothing will stop these swampy industry lackeys from benefitting their future employers. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/19/stories/1062646625 #765: Just as govt. shutdown didn’t slow Interior’s plans for drilling oceans, Coronavirus is not stopping their lease sales even tho worldwide demand for fossil fuels has tanked. They’re stupid but unfortunately working ceaselessly to make things worse. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/17/stories/1062629183 #764: How dumb are Bernhardt & USFWS? Idiotic! They are pushing all out to emphasize hunting in duck stamps & refuse to face fact that Hunting is DEAD end for funding wildlife conservation. See latest folly at https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/17/stories/1062629059 & following publication for full documentation of their stupidity: https://www.wildlifepolitics.org/the-politics-of-state-wildlife-management-why-anti-conservation-forces-usually-winpapers-on-wildlife-politics--policy.html #763: Bernhardt-Pendley BLM Move conforms to Worst Administrative Practices according to GAO. Bernhardt claims to be great administrator but has failed to conform to best practices. See https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/705175.pdf #762: Costs of “energy dominance:” It cost taxpayers 2 Billion $ to clean up old mine sites—That’s 2 Billion handout to mine companies. The dirty side of Trump-Bernhardt’s endless drilling. See https://www.eenews.net/assets/2020/03/11/document_pm_01.pdf #761: Read incredibly phony turnarounds by Trump, Bernhardt, Combs on LCWF funding. They only wanted funding if from oil-gas-coal but now suddenly for direct $. Shows how scared Trump et al. are about the fact that they have done NOTHING but destroy the evmnt. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/04/stories/1062516497 #760: Trump Tweets support for LWCF despite fact that he & Bernhardt cut the funds for it sharply in this year’s budget! As usual for Trump & Bernhardt, BULLSHIT! See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/03/03/stories/1062508877 #759: Coal leasing way down despite Trump-Bernhardt bragging about what they were doing! Proves Obama actions didn’t harm industry—market has! Time for Trump-Bernhardt’s bullshit to be exposed by media. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/03/stories/1062507113 #758: Injuries & Oil spills are way up under Trump’s Bur. Safety & Enforcement. They say drop in enforcement due to “better compliance!” Yeah, just like Bundy & other welfare ranchers are ignoring BLM rules and payments! More damage from energy dominance fixation to oceans & species. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/03/03/stories/1062500895 #757: Why EPA & Bernhardt’s ethical transgressions haven’t been discovered: EPA has resisted GAO efforts to audit them. Just like Bernhardt, they demand only they collect documents b/c of “confidentiality.” Bullshit! This is how they have gotten away with it & it’s time for Congress to call them to account. See https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/03/02/stories/1062500143 #756: Bernhardt’s old lobby firm, Westlands, just got a huge contract that will harm species. Bernhardt will claim that he has not violated ethics & issue 1000s of irrelevant pages to back up. Bullshit—Need independent investigation into the slimy one. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/03/02/stories/1062498809 #755: Bernhardt to drill PRISTINE wildlife refuge ANWR—Note that his LONG statement doesn’t say ONE WORD about cons. or wildlife that will be harmed. Next time he talks “conservation,” everyone should shout “BULLSHIT!” See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/03/02/stories/1062493537 #754: Army Corps have strong evidence that Pacific NW salmon are becoming extinct but refuse to breach dams to save them because of industry even tho studies show economic benefits of breaching outweigh costs. Trump Admin. is consistent: Every time faced with choice between conservation & industry, they choose latter. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/28/stories/1062472771 #753: Fed. Judge ruled that were “defective & did not comply with NEPA & invalidated leases as result. It shows once again that only Fed. judges & conservation orgs. that bring suits are protecting species. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/28/stories/1062472943 #752: In one single day, Trump & Interior took multiple & terrible actions hurting conservation. It's hard to keep up with their misdeeds: (1) Their border wall is not only destroying Native sacred sites but is ignoring threats to species; (2) Trump seeking to get rid of any employees (deep state?) who are not committed to their priorities; (3) Bernhardt refuses to turn over documents—blathers on about 1000s of irrelevant crap that he hands over; (4) Study shows arctic drilling will kill polar bears but USFWS silent! (5) Trump Interior has slowed ESA listings & cut $ for wildlife—again no protest from USFWS; (6) Interior will only use “OPEN” science!—Well, on cuts in Bird Migration & other key issues—they have used OPEN “POLITICAL” SCIENCE (Machiavelli style) but that’s okay! BS! (7) Interior now screens grants for politics—they are canceled if they don’t conform to energy dominance. Each documented below: (1)https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/us/border-wall-cactuses-arizona.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_200227&campaign_id=2&instance_id=16258&segment_id=21666&user_id=1575e2a05f37205a27ca72946056eae7®i_id=103654190227 (2) https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/02/27/stories/1062458807 (3) https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/02/27/stories/1062458275 (4)https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/02/27/polar-bears-drilling-anwr/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green (5) https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/27/stories/1062463753 (6) https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/27/stories/1062464173 (7) https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/27/stories/1062463975 #751: Alaska Republicans show what happens when states take over: Gov. Dunleavy intervened heavily to get Pebble Mine approved & Sen. Murkowski wants to cut lots more old growth forest. There are no conservationists in T.R.’s old party. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/02/26/stories/1062449877 https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/26/stories/1062455275 #750: McGregor, Dep. Interior Secretary, says she takes “call to protect..nat. evmnt. & species” as seriously as “to foster econ.” growth! BullShit! She, like Skipwith & other Int. officials, faced with choice between evmnt. & energy dom. chooses latter EVERY TIME. See https://www.eenews.net/eedaily/2020/02/26/stories/1062449653 #749: Bernhardt loves trophy hunters but allows gas wells in Wyoming that block pronghorn migration! Even trophy hunters lose out to energy dominance! He's know his priority: Energy Dominance Forever! Conservation be damned! See https://www.hcn.org/articles/wildlife-trumps-gas-wells-in-wyoming-could-block-pronghorn-migration #748: Bernhardt Against Aerial Killing of mountain goats in Tetons! Why? Not worried about inhumane method--he wants trophy hunters to be able to shoot them. How about opposing aerial killing of wolves in Alaska? See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/25/stories/1062446675 #747: Now Repubs. want to “modernize” NEPA just as they want to “modernize” ESA. With ESA, it means taking away protections & handing it over to the states and doing cost benefit analysis. What does that mean for NEPA? Less review & input from scientists/citizens & domination by industry. https://www.eenews.net/eenewspm/2020/02/24/stories/1062439035 #746: Forest Service: Dedicated to Energy Dominance (ED) 1st over Appalachian Trail. Just as USFWS chooses energy dominance over endangered species, FS prioritizes ED over their real missions. Who the hell represents conservation in Admin.?! NO ONE! See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/02/24/stories/1062432239 #745: BLM listens to Utah Repub. politicos—Not ordinary people. BLM cancels plan that would have been near bike trail b/c Gov. Herbert & other Repub. politicos objected. But Native Americans & majority of Utah public (surveys prove) objected to Bears Ears/Grand Escalante HUGE cuts ignored. This is how BLM-Interior “listen”—only their tiny constituency. See https://www.eenews.net/energywire/2020/02/24/stories/1062431977 #744: Best Proof Ever that Trump is a Complete Liar: He described Slimy, PUDGY, Moon-Faced David Bernhardt as "nice, slim, beautiful-looking man." This cowardly trophy hunter gets love from President Pussy Grabber. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/21/stories/1062411745 #743: Who runs public lands in West? Not BLM, For. Serv., or USFWS! Who does? The Bundys & their followers. The Bundy crew carry arms & are willing to use them & despite their small #s, they intimidate Govt. officials & law enforcement. Sheriffs & County politicians bow down to them & other welfare ranchers. What is needed is for someone to pay attention to the MAJORITY of Westerns who reject Bundy & want more conservation & less drilling-cows. Current leadership of Interior welcome Bundy & his terrorism. Read Case Study https://www.hcn.org/issues/52.3/north-sagebrush-rebellion-the-residual-power-of-ammon-bundy?utm_source=wcn1&utm_medium=email #742: While Trump goes to California to talk about water, USGS research shows climate change has stolen Billion tons of water from Colorado. Just as with planting trees while destroying old growth forests, Trump is doing far more harm than his showy tiny attempts to bullshit the public. See https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/02/20/climate-change-has-stolen-more-than-billion-tons-water-wests-most-vital-river/?utm_campaign=wp_energy_and_environment&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_green #741: Bipartisan poll of Westerns conclusively shows they want more conservation, less drilling & energy dominance! & BLM is moving West to get closer to these views??!!---No, just views of ranchers-energy industry. This is data. Pendley-Bernhardt=Bullshit. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/20/stories/1062403245 #740: Proposed Arizona bill would outlaw sharing of state data with Feds concerning endangered species! What a joke? If some trophy hunter in Az killed a Mexican wolf & got caught—Trump would pardon him & Skipwith would give him a medal. Nobody currently at Federal level gives a damn about wildlife. But Arizona law shows mindset of Republicans if ESA is handed over to state control as Repubs. want. Forget speciesA is handed over to state control as Repubs. want. Forget endangered species-let wolf-haters & industry do what they want. See https://www.eenews.net/greenwire/2020/02/19/stories/1062394203 #739: Time for Democrats in Colorado & Wyoming to show they care about endangered species like Sage Grouse. BLM trying to get thru court order protecting Obama grouse plan & Dems. Policy & Gordon are helping them! Time to show them who their core constituency is. Judge ruled “BLM substantially reduces protections for sage grouse contrary to the best science… Silence of conservationists versus roars of%
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During my research for the book, I noticed that there was no blog available for sharing informaton on wildlife conservation and thus I set up this blog to accomplish this purpose. Please share any informaticoncerning issues related to wildife policy and politics. I welcome feedback from users concerning this blog and website.
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