Budgets. An analysis released this week shows that spending on federal contracts related to the environment in fiscal year 2016 reached 423 congressional districts. Almost half of the $5.9 billion went to districts represented by Republicans, which may present challenges when the Administration tries to pursue major spending cuts that affect these districts.

Permits. Friday, the Trump administration approved a permit authorizing construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. This doesn't yet clear the path for TransCanada's $8 billion project, which still requires regulatory approval from the Nebraska Public Service Commission. That decision won't likely come until fall 2017. The State Department approved the project with an environmental impact assessment (EIA) conducted in 2014 and opponents argue both the project and energy markets have changed so much since then that a new EIA is needed. The Nebraska State government and organizations like the NRDC and Sierra Club are ready to challenge the permit in court.

Congressional Action. In a party-line vote, the Senate used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) Tuesday to nullify a regulation from the Obama Administration's Department of Interior focused on hunting practices in Alaskan Wildlife refuges. The regulation prohibits the use of tactics such as baiting, spotlighting, and aerial spotting to hunt predatory animals and prohibit taking black or brown bear cubs or mother bears with cubs. Animal welfare groups raised alarm but were overridden by the Republicans in Congress, many of whom argued that the issue was better left to the state. The president is likely to sign the resolution into law, now passed by both houses of Congress.

The Senate has also been trying to use the Congressional Review Act to nullifying a Bureau of Land Management (also Department of Interior) rule targeting methane emissions on public lands. They still lack the votes to pass it, and appear to be waiting on Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Cory Gardner (R-CO).

Citizen Action. This week, the Center for Biological Diversity and a University of Oklahoma law professor filed an ethics complaint with the Oklahoma Bar Association against U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, an attorney licensed in Oklahoma. Their complaint alleges Pruitt violated the state's professional code of conduct by lying to the Senate during his confirmation hearing about his use of a personal email.

Big Wins! This week's exciting win came from Colorado, where a court ruled Thursday that state regulators can put more weight on public health and the environment when regulating fracking operations. The 2-1 decision is likely to be appealed to the state Supreme Court, but the ruling requires regulators to consider a rule proposed by the plaintiffs that would make a drilling permit contingent upon energy companies showing the operation wouldn't adversely impact human health or the environment, or contribute to significantly to climate change.

What You Can Do

  • Call your Member of Congress to express your concerns about Trump's proposed budget cuts, especially to the EPA.
  • Call your Senator to oppose the use of the Congressional Review Act on the Department of Interior's methane rule, particularly if you live in Ohio or Colorado.
  • Call your Member of Congress to express your concerns on potential rollback of the Clean Power Plan.
  • Call your Member of Congress to ask them to join the call for an investigation into EPA Administrator Pruitt's close ties to the fossil fuel industry.

- Energy & Environment Policy Working Group, RISE Stronger

Have comments or something to add? Contact the RISE Energy & Environment Policy Working Group at [email protected]