Interior Secretary Sally Jewell has the opportunity to turn Congress’ lemons into lemonade.
This Thursday, at the National Press Club, Sec. Jewell will have a chance to prioritize conservation in the same way development has been for the past decade. Sec. Jewell could offer a vision for the Administration to invest in protecting public lands, so that they remain pristine for our children and grandchildren.
Sec. Jewell needs to assume this mantle, since Congress has proven it’s not a viable source for solutions when it comes to public land use.
The 112th Congress failed to protect a single acre of new public lands, the first time this has happened since World War II. What’s worse, its failure is not a reflection of American or Western values. The 2013 Conservation in the West Survey showed that 91 percent of Westerners believe protected areas are essential to the state economy, 79 percent believe they enhance quality of life and 59 percent believe environmentally sensitive places should be permanently protected.
It’s become clear, particularly in the aftermath of the government shutdown, that Americans are fed up with the broken Congress. They’re looking to officials like Sec. Jewell to make the changes now that will protect our great outdoors later.
The scales have tipped wildly in favor of energy in recent years, and not just in Congress. Since assuming office, the Obama Administration has leased 6.9 million acres of public lands to oil and gas companies. Meanwhile, it has only permanently protected 2.8 million acres. This 3-to-1 ratio of drilling to protection can’t last; our public lands need an Equal Ground approach now.
Sec. Jewell should lead the charge to place conservation on Equal Ground with responsible energy development. Doing so can restore balance and leave a meaningful legacy for our children and grandchildren.
Thursday, Sec. Jewell has the opportunity to stand up as a leader for balance public land use, one who can right the ship and help guarantee the West’s future. Let’s hope she takes it.