A coalition of more than 80 organizations is calling on lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Mike Lee of Utah and Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, to oppose the nomination of Steve Pearce to be director of the Bureau of Land Management. Pearce is President Trump’s second nominee for the position; his first nominee, Kathleen Sgamma, withdrew abruptly over statements she had made related to the January 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Pearce worked in the oil and gas industry before representing New Mexico’s second congressional district in Congress and running unsuccessfully for governor of New Mexico in 2018.
In addition to his oil and gas industry ties, Pearce has a history of advocating for privatization and sell-off of national public lands. “Mr. Pearce’s persistent calls for the privatization of public lands are alarming, especially for the millions of Americans who mere months ago witnessed—and emphatically opposed—the sell-off attempt in the reconciliation package,” the groups wrote in a letter to Senators Lee and Heinrich, who serve as chair and ranking member, respectively, of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
Will Maduro’s capture lead to an American oil rift?
In the latest episode of the Center for Western Priorities podcast, The Landscape, Kate and Aaron talk to Kelly Mitchell, executive director of oil industry watchdog FieldNotes, about what Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro’s capture by the U.S. means for oil and gas producers here in the West. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has been cheering on Trump’s actions in Venezuela and calling on U.S. companies to start drilling there.
Quick hits
Fed agency looking for wildlife refuges that ‘no longer align with the mission’
Arizona mine faces scrutiny after heavy metal discharge
Trump’s plan to charge foreigners more is causing chaos at national parks
Washington Post | The Guardian
Feds to reject a Colorado clean air plan because it aims to close coal-fired power plants
Trump’s $100 billion Venezuela oil plan gets a cool reception
Western U.S. is in a snow drought, and storms have been making it worse
Feds release draft report outlining management plans for Colorado River’s future
2025’s most dangerous lawmaker for public lands
Quote of the day
It’s an outrageous fee, it’s like we are telling people we don’t want them here. It’s not in the spirit of national parks.”
—An anonymous national park staffer, The Guardian
Picture This
Is that a… goth cardinal? 🐦⬛
The Phainopeplas are here! Every winter, the park welcomes a large assortment of migratory birds. This is especially exciting for visitors hoping to hear a different birdsong or see a new flash of color darting by! 🎵
The Phainopepla’s shiny, black feathers and bright red eyes make for an interesting sight. Although strange, they’re perfectly suited for the winter desert environment. Black feathers absorb the sun’s warmth and red eyes help to enhance vision on grey-skied days. 🌨️
Media by NPS
Featured image: 2018 political ad attacking Steve Pearce’s land sell-off record, archived in CWP’s How Public Lands Won the West comp reel