House Panel Criticizes Trump for Climate Change Policies That Harm Public Lands

May 16, 2019 by Tom Ramstack
House Panel Criticizes Trump for Climate Change Policies That Harm Public Lands

WASHINGTON – Democratic members of Congress said Wednesday that environmental policies of the Trump administration are threatening the nation’s outdoor recreation industry.

During two House Natural Resources Committee hearings, a Trump administration official defended the Interior Department’s record, but environmentalists warned of severe consequences.

Some of the controversy focused on recent government encouragement of oil and gas development on public lands.

Emissions from oil and gas drilling on public lands produces nearly a quarter of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent federal government report.

However, President Donald Trump said shortly after taking office in 2016 that he would increase the number of leases to oil, gas and mining companies on public lands to help the nation’s economy. He also wants to make the United States energy independent.

In an example this week, the Environmental Protection Agency published a rule Tuesday saying it would allow oil and gas project construction under streamlined regulations on Ute Indian Tribe land in Utah.

“Unfortunately, the Trump administration’s aggressive push for energy dominance continues to put our public lands, our health and our recreational opportunities at risk,” said Representative Debra Haaland, D-N.M., chairwoman of the subcommittee on national parks, forests, and public lands.

The U.S. House hearings took place one day after Representative Diana DeGette, D-Colo.,  introduced a bill in Congress to limit methane emissions from oil and gas operations.

Oil and gas companies would be required to capture 85 percent of all gas produced on public lands within 3 years of enactment, and 99 percent of all gas produced on such lands within 5 years of enactment. It also would ban venting of any natural gas on public lands, and prohibit methane flaring at any new wells established 2 years after the bill is passed.

The bill would reinstate climate change regulations enacted during the Obama administration but largely overturned during the Trump administration.

One of the witnesses Wednesday was Jesse Deubel, executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.

“Climate change is whittling away at our ability to hunt, fish, camp, picnic, backpack, forage, enjoy boating or otherwise partake in the bountiful health benefits afforded to us by our public lands,” he said in his testimony.

He described hunting and camping adventures of his youth that have nearly disappeared because of climate damage, which has included deforestation and the near extinction of some wild animals.

Callan Chythlook Sifsof, a former U.S. Olympic snowboard team member and environmental activist, said ski resorts and other winter recreation areas are seeing their operating costs rise, meaning their customers must pay higher prices.

Many resorts must use snow machines or truck in snow to keep their slopes covered, she said.

In her home state of Alaska, the way of life for some residents is threatened, she said.

“Where I grew up, it is clear that a rising sea level is eroding our community and that increased water temperatures are harming aquatic ecosystems and thus one of our major food sources, the sockeye salmon population,” Chythlook Sifsof said. “But, the consequences of climate change are not simply environmental. A changing climate impacts the health, well-being and economic prosperity of all populations, and for rural arctic regions of Alaska, like my own home, these changes are seen more acutely.”

During a separate hearing Wednesday, Democrats asked Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to consider climate change as a factor in future policy decisions.

Bernhardt seemed largely unconvinced by their arguments.

“What’s the number for how concerned you are about us hitting 415 parts per million of carbon dioxide,” Representative Matt Cartwright, D-Pa., asked.

He was referring to a recent meteorological study that found atmospheric carbon dioxide has now reached its highest level in human history.

“I haven’t lost any sleep over it,” Bernhardt answered.

Some congressmen accused Bernhardt of trying to sidestep their requests for information about his former lobbying efforts for energy companies.

At one point, Representative Alan Lowenthal, D-Calif., pointed to a slide that showed computer code printed on documents the Interior Department sent them.

“I call this the gibberish slide,” Lowenthal said. “I have no idea what this says, but you sent it on.”

Representative Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, added, “While we have reams of paper, we don’t have quality content.”

A+
a-
  • Arizona
  • Donald Trump. oil and gas
  • New Mexico
  • public lands
  • Utah
  • In The News

    Health

    Voting

    Environment

    March 20, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    White House Unveils Sweeping Rules to Speed Switch to Cleaner Cars

    WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris administration on Wednesday rolled out an ambitious new regulatory regime aimed at bolstering the standards of... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Biden-Harris administration on Wednesday rolled out an ambitious new regulatory regime aimed at bolstering the standards of electric and hybrid vehicles by placing new restrictions on tailpipe emissions. According to administration officials, who briefed reporters on the new rules during a conference call... Read More

    March 18, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    EPA Finalizes Ban on Ongoing Use of Asbestos

    WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday finalized a rule to prohibit the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, the... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Monday finalized a rule to prohibit the ongoing use of chrysotile asbestos, the only known form of asbestos currently used in or imported into the United States. The ban is the first to be finalized under the Toxic Substances... Read More

    March 15, 2024
    by Tom Ramstack
    Senate Told Growing Wildfire Threat Needs New Strategies

    WASHINGTON — The number of wildfires driven by climate change has grown but the U.S. effort to control them has... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The number of wildfires driven by climate change has grown but the U.S. effort to control them has not, according to emergency response officials at a Senate hearing Thursday. At least not fast enough to prevent disasters like the fire that ravaged Maui in... Read More

    March 15, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    DOE to Provide Conditional $2.26B Loan for Lithium Project in Nevada

    WASHINGTON — The Department of Energy is extending a conditional $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Americas Corp. to support its... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Department of Energy is extending a conditional $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Americas Corp. to support its effort to build a lithium carbonate processing plant in Nevada. Once operational, the plant, which will be located in Thacker Pass, about 200 miles northeast of... Read More

    March 15, 2024
    by Dan McCue
    EPA Sets Tougher Limits on Gas Used to Sterilize Medical Devices

    WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized tougher restrictions on ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing gas commonly used to... Read More

    WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday finalized tougher restrictions on ethylene oxide, a cancer-causing gas commonly used to sterilize medical devices. The new standards specifically target commercial sterilization facilities. The agency called them “the strongest measures in U.S. history to reduce emissions of EtO,”... Read More

    US, Canada and Indigenous Groups Announce Proposal to Address Cross-Border Mining Pollution

    BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The U.S., Canada and several indigenous groups announced a proposal on Monday to address pollution from... Read More

    BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The U.S., Canada and several indigenous groups announced a proposal on Monday to address pollution from coal mining in British Columbia that officials say has been contaminating waterways and harming fisheries on both sides of the border for years. The proposal would... Read More

    News From The Well
    scroll top