On June 22, 2021 Colorado’s Senator Michael Bennet introduced a bill to fund orphaned oil and gas wells cleanup and to strengthen bonding requirements. The Oil and Gas Bonding Reform and Orphaned Well Remediation Act. There are more than 57,000 orphaned wells across the nation which threaten wildlife habitat, clean water and air, and human …
The Keep Colorado Wild Pass bill was signed into law by Governor Polis on June 21. Background The bill was introduced on Friday, April 23, 2021. Senate sponsors are Senator Stephen Fenberg and Senator Kerry Donovan. House sponsors are Rep. Perry Will and Rep. Kerry Tipper. On May 6, the bill passed the Senate Agriculture …
Winner was drawn and called at 2:00 June 19. The winning ticket was 0557 and winner lives in New Richmond, Wisconsin. Thank you to all who entered the raffle and help support Colorado’s big game habitats.
US Fish and Wildlife Service Restores Protections under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act On May 7, 2021 the US Fish and Wildlife Service issued a rule to formally withdraw the prior administration’s rollbacks to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act regulations. The rollbacks had removed well-established, bipartisan protections for migratory birds — including revoking the incidental …
The Administration issued its report, “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful,” on May 6, 2021. The Executive Order issued on January 27 (EO 14008), entitled Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad, stated that “the U.S. should aim to conserve ‘at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030.’ This challenge is the first-ever …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Colorado Wildlife Federation