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Aerial view of the National Petroleum Reserve in northwestern Alaska

The Biden Administration Protects Millions of Acres of Arctic Alaska

Latest NewsAlaskaJenny Shalant
The new Special Areas Rule in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska could boost biodiversity and empower Indigenous Peoples to defend the lands they’ve relied on for generations.
Two adults and a child walk along a sandy shoreline

“Forever Chemicals” Called PFAS Show Up in Your Food, Clothes, and Home

ExplainerUnited StatesMolly M. Ginty, Courtney Lindwall
These toxic chemicals are so common in consumer products and manufacturing that they’re everywhere—including inside our bodies.
A river with green trees on either side, with yellow hills in the background

In Planning for Climate Change, Native Americans Draw on the Past

ExplainerUnited States, CanadaTim Vanderpool
Across North America, Indigenous tribes and nations are consulting their traditional ecological knowledge to help prepare for a warming world.

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BLM Finalizes Oil and Gas Rule

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod
The Bureau of Land Management finalized its onshore oil and gas rule to hold industry accountable for cleanup, limit speculation, and improve taxpayer returns.

Rule to Cut Methane Waste From Federal Oil and Gas

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod
The Bureau of Land Management published a final methane waste rule that will compliment EPA’s national effort to target emissions of a potent greenhouse gas.

Oil by Rail Schemes Hit with Setbacks, Delays

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod
Two oil-by-rail projects carrying Uinta Basin crude oil aimed for transport beside the Colorado River are facing growing headwinds, with the Wildcat Loadout expansion now paused and the Uinta Basin Railway losing another key permit.

A New Colorado River Threat

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod, Zanagee Artis
The Wildcat Loadout expansion could load 100,000 barrels of oil per day onto trains traveling beside the Colorado River and destined for Gulf Coast Refineries.

Report Calls for Modernizing Hardrock Mining

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod
Interagency review offers a vision for improving domestic mining and addressing its historic impacts in the face of a rapidly accelerating energy transition.

House Majority Tries to Sell the Country to Big Oil, Again

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod, Valerie Cleland
In their latest legislative attack on our climate, Republicans in the House have released a proposal so detrimental to our environment and communities, it may rank as the worst appropriations bill in decades.

Lawmakers Propose Modern Approach to U.S. Mining

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod
Representative Raul Grijalva and Senator Martin Heinrich today are introducing legislation to tackle the historic harms and inequities of U.S. mining law and to chart a path forward on mineral supplies as we look to rapidly electrify our economy.

Public Land Grab: Senate Bill Gifts Miners Pass to Pollute

Expert BlogWest, Nevada, Idaho, United StatesJosh Axelrod
Senators Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV) and Jim Risch (R-ID) have introduced legislation that makes it easier for mining companies and others to acquire rights to federal land and to be able to use them as dumping grounds and worse. The legislation…

Colorado River Carbon Bomb: Utah's Uinta Railway Project

Expert BlogUnited States, UtahJosh Axelrod
Backers of a proposed crude-by-rail project in northeastern Utah—which would unleash a carbon bomb potentially larger than the controversial Willow Project—want taxpayer support to the tune of $2 billion.

Amid Record Profits, Big Oil Ignores Consumers, Climate

Expert BlogInternationalJosh Axelrod
As financial results continue to roll in for 2022, oil and gas majors are recording record profits, doling out massive rewards to shareholders, remaining on the sidelines of the battle against inflation, and failing to invest in the energy transition.

Another Round of Oil & Gas Leasing, With Rules Still M.I.A.

Expert BlogUnited States, WestJosh Axelrod

With nearly 325,000 acres across five states now up for potential leasing in Spring 2023, the BLM continues to move forward with largely unfettered onshore oil and gas leasing on federal public lands despite the escalating climate crisis. 

O&G Leasing on Horizon Brings Calls for Immediate Reforms

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod

Today, in two separate requests to the administration, groups are calling for the Department of the Interior (DOI) to finally deliver on long-promised reforms to the antiquated onshore oil and gas program. Despite numerous calls from government watchdogs, an executive…

Interior Moves Forward with Oil & Gas Leasing

Expert BlogUnited StatesJosh Axelrod, Valerie Cleland
The Biden administration has made clear its intent to fix the broken system for leasing public lands. Today’s announcement is a reminder of how pressing it is to make those reforms happen.