Conservation remains a core conservative principle
Andrew Sabin and Trammell Crow, The Hill, March 25, 2019
Something extraordinary is happening on Capitol Hill. This month, a once-in-a-generation public lands bill passed with overwhelming Republican support and was signed into law by President Trump. And this month, Republicans announced the formation of the bicameral Roosevelt Conservation Caucus to promote conservation and conservative solutions to environmental challenges. The caucus is led by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Cory Gardner (R-Colo.) and Reps. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Brian Mast (R-Fla.). The GOP is going on offense.
Our Take: “Republican support for the package and the creation of the new caucus should finally put to rest the false narrative — pushed, unfortunately, by groups on the left that purport to support environmental protection — that Republicans don’t care about the environment, conservation or public lands. Poppycock.”
EPA administrator recuses himself from Pebble Mine decisions
Associated Press, March 26, 2019
The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says he is recusing himself from decisions related to the proposed Pebble Mine in southwest Alaska. Andrew Wheeler, in a memo, says his former employer provided services to a client related to the Pebble project. His memo doesn’t provide details on that but Wheeler, a former lobbyist, says he wasn’t personally involved. Still, he says he’s voluntarily recusing himself from matters related to the project during his EPA tenure, including any associated litigation, settlement agreement and permitting. The Pebble Limited Partnership wants to develop a copper and gold mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay region. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating a permit application by the project, one of dozens of permits, approvals and authorizations Pebble says it will need.
Our Take: Disappointing. This is caving in to alarmists who want to keep anyone from the private sector who has been involved in resource development from being involved in government. We have laws and an established process to follow. No need to recuse.
BP creates $100 mln fund for GHG emissions reduction projects
LNG World News, March 26, 2019
Oil and gas giant BP said it has set aside $100 million to fund projects that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its Upstream oil and gas operations. The new Upstream Carbon Fund will provide further support to BP’s work generating sustainable greenhouse gas emissions reductions in its operations, the company said in a statement. In April 2018, BP set near-term and specific targets aimed at reducing its emissions and advancing the energy transition, including achieving 3.5 million tonnes of sustainable GHG emissions reductions across the BP Group from 2016 to 2025 and targeting a methane intensity of 0.2 percent.
