Category: News (Older posts)

On April 16. 2021, Department of Interior Secretary Deb Haaland issued two Secretarial Orders. Order No. 3399 addresses climate and establishes a Climate Task Force. Order No. 3398 implements a review of earlier Sec. Orders and revokes those specific Orders found to be ” inconsistent with protecting public health and the environment and restoring science to tackle the climate crisis.

Interior Sec. Haaland Sec. Orders 4/16/2021

An awaited study released March 30, 2021 by the US Geological Survey (USGS) confirms a precipitous decline in greater sage grouse populations since 2002. USGS and Colorado State University researchers, assisted by state wildlife agencies, BLM and Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies compiled the data in 11 western states. In 2015 BLM adopted conservation plans that were weakened in 2019. Later that year an Idaho federal district court judge blocked BLM from carrying out the revisions to the plans. The new administration is expected to reinstitute the 2015 plans. CWF and other organizations had urged BLM to remove from its quarterly oil and gas lease sales during 2019 and 2020 parcels within Colorado’s high priority greater sage grouse areas. We are pleased that the new administration has ordered a pause on lease sales.

Click here to read the report:  the USGS Report

On March 25, 2021 the Department of Interior (DOI) convened a public forum to gather input from panelists as DOI conducts a comprehensive review of oil and gas permitting processes on federally managed public lands and waters. DOI seeks to “restore balance to public lands and waters and create a path to align with climate conservation and clean energy goals.” This review is mandated by Executive Order (EO) 14008 issued on January 27. DOI plans to issue an interim report this summer. The public may provide written online substantive ideas and recommendations through April 15. DOI Secretary Deb Haaland opened the forum, followed by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management, Laura Daniel-Davis, who hosted the discussion. and asked questions. BLM Deputy Director of Policy and Programs presented an overview of pertinent laws and regulations and also posed questions of panelists. Culver noted that most public lands that are not required to be closed to oil and gas leasing have been are open to leasing before the Administration’s pause promulgated by EO.

Daniel-Davis also asked how DOI “can more meaningfully engage marginalized communities that are facing disproportionate impacts from pollution.”  Panelists responded that there are organizations who have those connections and can help DOI, as well inviting their experiences and insights, perhaps through a formation of a federal advisory committee. Another recommendation was to extend comment periods and public notice across languages,  and holding open public forums in communities where there is potential development.

Industry announced that American Petroleum Institute has developed a 5-point plan to engage with the Administration and voiced its support for climate goals and reducing emissions. Academic experts made recommendations as to how to improve onshore programs in the areas of increasing minimum bids to reduce speculation, and increasing rental fees and royalty rates; greater use of lease stipulations and conditions in applications for permits to drill (APDs).

The forum was recorded and will be available on DOI’s utube channel.

On March 19, 2021 Colorado’s Congressman for the 2nd District and new Chair of the House Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands released his Plan, “Restoring Our Lands and Communities.” Sections include “Strengthening our Dedication to Conservation, and Supporting Colorado’s Outdoor Recreation Economy,” “Preparing and Responding to Wildfire,” “Making Historic Investments in the Natural Resource Workforce,” “Continued Support of the Land and Water Conservation Fund” (LWCF), “Addressing Deferred Maintenance,” “Addressing Climate Change Through Public Lands,” “Environmental Justice,” and Amplifying Native Voices.”

Neguse had reintroduced the CORE Act in the House earlier this year. Colorado Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper reintroduced CORE in the Senate.

Click below to read the Plan.

Neguse’s Plan

On March 15, 2021 Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.) was confirmed as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior. National Wildlife Federation and 45 state and territorial affiliates, including CWF, had urged her confirmation since her nomination. Secretary Haaland is the first Native American to serve in this critical Cabinet position. We firmly believe Secretary Haaland will (continue to) be a strong advocate for wildlife and for conserving, and restoring our public lands and demonstrating balanced management of these irreplaceable lands. She had served as vice chair of the U.S.House Natural Resources Committee and in that role had ardently advocated for wildlife, hunters, anglers and other outdoor recreationists. She was one of the representatives who was instrumental in passing the Great American Outdoors Act and was an original co-sponsor of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act bill last session (which very important bill is expected to be reintroduced soon).

On March 4, 2021 Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced a bill that would end speculative oil and gas leasing on federally managed public lands. In Colorado, for example, the Bureau of Land Management has offered in its quarterly lease sales lands with low oil and gas potential that are relied upon by bighorn sheep and several species of greatest conservation need under the Colorado State Wildlife Action Plan. CWF and NWF repeatedly had submitted comments to BLM  during public comment periods for each proposed sale explaining why these low oil and gas development potential lands should not be leased. To no avail. We applaud this bill that would end this wasteful practice. Such lands, if not sold at lease sales, are then available for non-competitive leases at very low prices. (Senator Masto had introduced this bill previously, too, during the last session of Congress.) The bill would not apply to existing leases.

On Friday February 26 the House passed Protecting America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act. It combines eight earlier pieces of legislation. Title VII is the Colorado Recreation and Economy Act (CORE), the bill earlier introduced by Colorado Rep. Neguse. Title II is the Colorado Wilderness Act of 2021, the bill earlier introduced by Colorado Rep. DeGette.

click here for bill info

What CWF said: The CORE Act is the result of many local stakeholders working together to decide how to best safeguard important areas in Colorado: conserving 400,000 acres of public lands, protecting a migration corridor, improving greater sage-grouse habitat, and withdrawing acres of important wildlife habitat in the Thompson Divide area from future oil and gas development. This bill is good for wildlife and outdoor recreationists, and it will help create jobs at a time when they are so desperately needed.

Earlier:

On February 2, the CORE (Colorado Recreation and Economy Act) bill has been reintroduced by Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and also in the House by Rep. Neguse. The bill would protect 400,00 acres of public lands in Colorado.  Similar to the original bill in 2019,  it addresses: the Continental Divide Recreation, Wilderness and Camp Hale Legacy Act, San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act, Thompson Divide Withdrawal and Protection Act, and Curecanti National Recreation Area (NRA) and Boundary Establishment Act. The act would  not close existing roads and trails.  73,000 acres would be new wilderness areas, and almost 80,000 acres new recreation areas that allow continuation of existing recreational uses. Wildlife conservation areas are created for 11,815 acres: the Porcupine Gulch Wildlife Conservation Area would protect a migration corridor and Williams Fork Wildlife Conservation Area would improve greater sage grouse habitat. More than 200,000 acres in the Thompson Divide would be withdrawn from future oil and gas development.

CWF supports this bill.

Colorado College’s State of the Rockies – Conservation in the West Poll was released on February 4, 2021.

Very encouraging results!  They are in line with what CWF focuses upon in our work.

As to Energy on Public Lands – for Colorado, “70% would prefer their member of Congress emphasize conservation and recreation on public lands over maximizing the amount of land available for responsible energy development.”  “78% think that oil and gas development on national public lands should be stopped or strictly limited, as opposed to expanded.”

“94% agree that even with state budget problems, we should still find money to protect the state’s land, water and wildlife.”

Key Findings for Voter Attitudes in 8 Western States

Click here for  Colorado Summary results

The Biden Administration’s pause on January 27, 2021 on oil and gas leasing on federally-managed public lands provides a necessary opportunity to scrutinize the leasing program.  CWF welcomes this pause. Many parcels that BLM has leased during the past several years have been in severe winter range, production areas and migration corridors relied upon by big game for their survival.  In addition, parcels in priority greater sage grouse habitat have been leased or offered for lease after the former administration tried to set aside the 2015 grouse conservation plans. Further, in some areas of the state, BLM has leased or offered parcels that have low oil and gas development potential but important wildlife values such as bighorn sheep severe winter winter and production (birthing areas).

Earlier on January 21, 2021:

BLM acting director Scott de la Vega has placed a 60-day moratorium on oil and gas leasing and permitting on public lands on January 20 pursuant  to Interior Secretarial Order 3395 which temporarily suspends its departments including BLM from issuing “any onshore…fossil fuel authorization, including but not limited to a lease, amendment to a lease, affirmative extension of a lease, contract or other agreement or permit to drill…..”

This Order also temporarily suspends BLM’s authority “To issue, revise, or amend Resource Management Plans….”   This includes BLM’s authority to issue a final Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan – which includes South Park.  Although the draft plan for the South Park portion is relatively positive for wildlife and streams, CWF believes numerous provisions in the draft should be improved.

President Biden is expected to issue an executive order very soon that will require a review of the former administration’s plans for greater sage grouse habitat. The former administration had weakened the protections that were in the 2015 plans for Colorado and other western states. Under the 2015 Colorado plan, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) was required to prioritize oil and gas leasing outside of greater sage grouse’s priority management and general management habitats. In 2019 BLM issued amendments to this plan.  But a federal district court enjoined the BLM from implementing its amendments, restoring the 2015 plans pending adjudication on the merits. BLM has not yet developed an acceptable approach for evaluating prioritization outside of greater sage grouse habitat.

Numerous other decisions by the Department of Interior will undergo review as well.

On January 14, 2021 at its meeting, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission approved Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) draft plan for a process and timeline framework for reintroducing wolves to Colorado, in accordance with voter-passed Proposition 114.   Approximately 250 viewers tuned into this portion of the virtual meeting via youtube. You can find the plan at CPW website under the January Commission meeting. A professional facilitator(s) will be engaged to help manage this process.  One of the big questions is funding for the process.  the cost estimates very widely and funds have not been requested from the general assembly and its joint budget committee for this session. Proposition 114 requires that wolves be reintroduced by December 31, 2023. The Governor presented a challenge to CPW that it reintroduce wolves beginning a year earlier, in 2022.

CWF made public comment at the meeting. Here are the comments CWF made through our board chair:

First, CWF finds it odd and unsettling that the stakeholder advisory group members that will be selected are charged with representing themselves rather than their organizations. We do not see a meaningful role for organization that have been valued stakeholders in other working groups assembled to make recommendations on complex CPW policy matters. Also, the first category listed is “stakeholders representing advocacy groups.” This category is at odds with the direction that members are confined to representing themselves.

Second, an estimated costs baseline requires early attention. We heard already yesterday morning that there is no supplemental request [for the wolves reintroduction process] for this 2021 legislative session. Where will the funds  be found or allocated for 2021 process work [that is already underway]? We agree that funding should be addressed in a way that brings Coloradans together. If wildlife cash funds are relied upon for a significant amount of the funding, this will be divisive approach. We have some funding ideas and will submit a separate letter.But generating external sources will require time and are not available immediately.

Third, as the First Assistant Attorney General advised earlier this morning, the meaning is unclear in the Prop. 114 2(e)(II) clause concerning wildlife cash funds. This is the subsection that provides for fair compensation to livestock owners for losses caused by  gray wolves “to the extent they are available” from the wildlife cash fund.  An opinion is needed as soon as possible.