Threats
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Earlier in Oil & Gas eyes your public lands I asked a question of Interior’s plans to “solve” America’s energy woes by opening up vast public lands to the oil & gas industry : Are energy reserves that may or may not be accessible on your public lands worth the cost to wildlife, our environmental…
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This is an editorial from the Salt Lake Tribune. May 24. 2008. Cost of drilling: Wells threaten tourism, hunting and natural beauty
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With increasing fuel prices, the oil and gas industry is chomping at the bit to get at vast oil and gas reserves on your public lands. Oil and Gas on Public Lands Off-Limits to Exploration – ENN Report Offers Road Map for Energy Relief [Bush’s] BLM With climate change, mining, livestock grazing, timber, exotic species…
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Earlier we noted Secretary of Interior, Dirk Kempthorne’s decision to list the Polar Bear as a threatened species. Kempthorne was spreading around the idea that the ESA was not intended to regulate greenhouse gases, the principle threat affecting polar bear habitat. Now, we learn of the “4(d) rule”, a waiver of protections normally afforded species…
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For those of you with a Harper’s Magazine subscription, you’re in for a treat with Christopher Ketcham’s article They shoot buffalo, don’t they: Hazing America’s last wild herd in Harper’s most recent edition. Ketcham gets it right again. For those of you, like myself, who don’t have a subscription to the publication, get on down…
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The oil & gas and livestock industries continue to feel the pressure from land use agencies as the evidence piles up indicating that these extractive uses of our public lands are significantly contributing to the precipitous decline in sage grouse numbers. Sage grouse are described as the “spotted owl” of the ranching industry in the…
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Plans are underway begin developing public lands to accommodate big energy, a move which promises to further fragment already diminishing wildlife habitat : Feds begin scoping for Gateway West transmission project – Casper Star Tribute Many of these areas are some of the last best habitat for wildlife such as sage grouse, pygmy rabbit, and…
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The International Herald Tribune features and article about oil exploration, environmentalism, and the politics of both in the West: Backlash against energy exploration could hurt Republicans out West David Sirota suggests that environmentalism is an asset to Western Democrats that may make the difference in upcoming elections. Update 5-19 – NYT: Enviro Populism Threatens the…