extractive development
Credit: Andy Morffew/Flickr
Biden administration safeguards millions of acres in Alaska from industrial harm
The Biden administration announced protections for 28 million acres in Alaska, blocking industrial activities to preserve Indigenous communities, wildlife and ecosystems.
In short:
- The Interior Department has blocked a 211-mile road essential for a planned copper and zinc mine, citing potential harm to Alaska Native communities and wildlife.
- The protected lands include critical habitats and have been at the center of a long-standing debate over industrial development versus environmental conservation.
- Alaska lawmakers are pushing back, with some introducing legislative measures to counter the administration's decisions.
Key quote:
“D1 lands in the Yukon-Kuskokwim region are vital to our people’s way of life — these protections ensure future generations will be able to live safely with and on the land, carrying our customary and traditional knowledge.”
— Anaan’arar Sophie Swope, executive director of the Mother Kuskokwim Tribal coalition
Why this matters:
Protecting these lands helps protect Alaska Native cultures and ecosystems, addressing long-standing environmental and subsistence concerns while increasing the tension between economic development and conservation efforts in the resource-rich region. Read more: Biden’s Arctic drilling go-ahead illustrates the limits of democratic problem solving.
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Credit: Pacific Southwest Forest Service, USDA/Photo courtesy of Natividad Chavez, BLM/Flickr
Indigenous tribes advocate for co-management of sacred lands
Indigenous tribes in northern California seek greater decision-making power over sacred lands recently protected by a national monument expansion.
In short:
- The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation and allies have successfully lobbied to include Molok Luyuk in the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, protecting it from wind farm development.
- Tribes are negotiating a co-stewardship agreement with federal agencies, aiming for stronger management roles over Molok Luyuk, though full co-management requires congressional approval.
- True co-management, as seen in Bears Ears National Monument, grants tribes significant decision-making power, integrating traditional knowledge into federal land management.
Key quote:
“Co-management means decision-making authority. Co-stewardship means one entity still has the decision-making authority.”
— Melissa Hovey, Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument manager.
Why this matters:
Empowering Indigenous tribes in land management enhances conservation efforts and acknowledges their traditional ecological knowledge while honoring sacred sites. Read more: Giving Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante the protection they deserve.
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Credit: Wild & Scenic Rivers/Flickr
Preserving the Owyhee Canyonlands: the push for monument status
Local advocates are urging President Biden to create new national monuments in order to meet his administration's conservation goals, but the push has encountered resistance from some locals in the region.
In short:
- The Owyhee Canyonlands are one of the last intact sagebrush habitats in the Western U.S., spanning around 7 million acres across three states.
- Threats to the region include invasive species, mining, and suburban development, leading advocates to push for national monument designation to protect the area.
- A coalition is working to urge President Biden to use the Antiquities Act to protect 1 million acres of the canyonlands, but legislation faces political hurdles.
Key quote:
“National monuments really are the most effective tool that we have as a country to protect biodiversity and ward off this extinction crisis.”
— Kate Groetzinger, communications manager for the Center for Western Priorities
Why this matters:
Conserving the Owyhee Canyonlands is crucial for maintaining biodiversity and protecting the region's fragile ecosystem, which is threatened by development and climate change. Read more: Giving Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante the protection they deserve.
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Credit: Alberta Newsroom/Flickr
Senators grill Haaland on Biden's energy strategy
Interior Secretary Deb Haaland faced intense scrutiny from senators regarding the Biden administration’s energy policies during her appearance before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
In short:
- Sen. Joe Manchin accused the Biden administration of prioritizing politics over long-term strategy and criticized Haaland for a lack of progress on energy-related decisions.
- Republicans, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski, denounced recent Interior decisions that limit Alaska’s development, specifically in oil, gas, and mining projects.
- Haaland defended her policies, stating she provides vision and direction while others detailed specific issues, like the Lava Ridge wind energy project.
Key quote:
"The radical climate advisers in the White House have put election-year politics ahead of a thoughtful and achievable long-term strategy for the country."
— Senator Joe Manchin.
Why this matters:
As the Biden administration aims to align energy policy with environmental goals, the scrutiny from senators signals a growing divide on energy and climate priorities and ongoing struggles to reduce greenhouse emissions. Read more: Natural gas vs. renewable energy — beware the latest gas industry talking points.
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Top Story
Credit: U.S. Department of the Interior/Flickr
New rule prioritizes conservation on US public lands
A new rule introduced by the Biden administration aims to balance conservation with economic activities on America's public lands, enhancing protections and sustainable use.
In short:
- The rule impacts 245 million acres, promoting ecological restoration and compensating for environmental damage.
- Conservation will now be considered as significant as grazing, mining, and other land uses.
- The measure responds to the increasing environmental pressures such as climate-induced wildfires and droughts.
Key quote:
"As stewards of America's public lands, the Interior Department takes seriously our role in helping bolster landscape resilience in the face of worsening climate impacts."
— Deb Haaland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
Why this matters:
This policy represents a strategic shift in how public lands are managed, intertwining ecological health with national economic and security interests, and addressing the urgent challenges posed by climate change. Read more from EHN's newsroom: Public lands are not neutral. We must grapple with their racist roots.
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Newsletter
Credit: WildEarth Guardians/Flickr
New Interior Department policy to increase costs for oil drilling on public land
A long-awaited Interior Department policy will raise financial assurance and royalty rates, aiming to ensure cleaner operations and better returns for the public.
In short:
- The Department of Interior issued a new rule imposing stricter financial requirements for oil and gas companies on federal public land.
- Companies will now have to provide higher financial assurances for well cleanup and pay increased royalty taxes on extracted minerals.
- These changes aim to cut wasteful speculation, increase returns for the public, and protect taxpayers from environmental cleanup costs.
Key quote:
“These new regulations are the kind of common-sense reforms the federal oil and gas leasing program has needed for decades.”
— Athan Manuel, Sierra Club lands protection program director
Why this matters:
The new policy signifies a noteworthy shift in oil drilling regulation, aiming to ensure environmental protection and fairer returns for public resources, while also addressing climate concerns associated with methane emissions from abandoned wells. Read more: Oil and gas production responsible for $77 billion in annual U.S. health damages.
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Georgia eyes approval for a controversial titanium mine near Okefenokee Swamp
A titanium mine proposed near the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has sparked significant opposition, raising concerns about the impact on North America's largest intact blackwater swamp.
In short:
- The mine, proposed by Twin Pines Minerals, promises economic benefits but faces opposition from environmentalists, scientists, and the Biden administration, highlighting risks to the Okefenokee Swamp.
- Public debate intensifies as Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division issues draft permits, with a final decision pending based on public comments.
- Local communities and environmental advocates emphasize the irreplaceable value of the Okefenokee, citing its unique ecosystem, historical significance, and potential designation as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Key quote:
"Titanium is a common mineral, while the Okefenokee is a very uncommon swamp.”
— Bruce Babbitt, interior secretary under President Bill Clinton
Why this matters:
It's a familiar debate with passions running high on both sides. Mining proponents tout potential economic benefits and infrastructure improvements in a region badly in need of both, while opponents argue for protections of a unique ecosystem. Defenders of the Okefenokee have been here before as Peter Dykstra points out in this 2020 essay from Environmental Health News.
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