Whiplash on Paris. Trump officials were scheduled to meet this past Tuesday to discuss the Paris Agreement but rescheduled their meeting again for a yet to be announced date. As the Trump administration works its way to a decision on the Agreement, the business and financial communities are voicing their support for staying in the Agreement. A number of companies and CEOs have signed public letters and taken full-page ads in newspapers that Trump reads. Even Trump's favorite jeweler and namesake of his youngest daughter, Tiffany & Co., posted on Instagram urging the president to support the agreement. In addition, foreign leaders, such as France's president-elect Emmanuel Macron, have called Trump urging him to stay in the agreement. Reportedly, Trump will not decide whether to withdraw from the Paris Agreement on climate change until after the May 26–27 G7 summit in Italy.
Arctic declaration. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson joined seven other foreign ministers at the Arctic Council in signing a joint statement (Fairbanks Declaration of 2017) recognizing the impacts of climate change in the Arctic, "the entry into force" of the Paris Agreement, and the need for global action to "reduce both long-lived greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants." Nevertheless, the signing of the Fairbanks Declaration should not be viewed as an indicator that the administration is leaning towards staying in the Paris Agreement. In Tillerson's opening remarks, he said the administration is reviewing its approach to climate change, and will "not rush to make a decision" on the Paris Agreement.
BLM methane rule survives Senate. In an unexpected move, the Senate voted (51-49) against nullifying a Bureau of Land Management rule targeting methane emissions on public lands. Sens. John McCain, Susan Collins, and Lindsey Graham joined all Senate Democrats in voting against the measure. Unfortunately, as part of Trump's America First Energy Strategy and energy executive order, the Department of Interior (DOI) said it will suspend, revise, or withdraw the rule. The rule making process will take several years and the public will have several opportunities to weigh in on the process.
States suing on coal leasing. Four states (California, New Mexico, New York, and Washington) have filed a lawsuit over the Trump administration's decision to lift the moratorium on coal leasing on federal lands without first conducting an environmental review or ensuring the program is providing for fair market value of the publicly-owned coal. Coal leases on public lands are notorious for being sold for less than their fair market value, providing a subsidy to coal companies while shortchanging the American people.
Focusing on Superfund designations. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt announced the "streamlining" of the approval process for Superfund cleanup sites that cost $50 million or more by consolidating the decision-making authority to himself. Decisions were previously delegated to an assistant administrator or a regional administrator. Pruitt put his actions in the context of prioritizing Superfund cleanup; however, many environmental groups are skeptical of his actions and worry that input from the Trump administration may politicize deliberations of Superfund sites.
In personnel news. Trump has nominated two Republicans to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC): Neil Chatterjee is an aide to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Robert Powelson is a member of Pennsylvania's utility commission and currently president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. FERC is charged with approving energy infrastructure projects like natural gas pipelines and electric transmission lines and has been operating without a quorum since March. If the nominees are confirmed, FERC will have the necessary quorum to decide on projects related to natural gas pipelines and electricity rate plans. There are at least $50 billion worth of projects waiting for a quorum decision at FERC.
What you can do
- Monumental comment period. The comment period is now open for monument designations made under the Antiquities Act of 1906. Of note, comments for Bear Ears National Monument must be submitted before May 26, 2017. All other comments are due before July 10, 2017.
Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Energy & Environment Policy Working Group at [email protected]