“President Biden’s decision to expand the monuments is disappointing, though not surprising. For the past 10 months, we have consistently offered to work with the Biden Administration on a permanent, legislative solution, one that would end the perpetual enlarging and shrinking of these monuments and bring certainty to their management. Our goal has been to make lasting progress on managing our public lands for the benefit of all those who use them, particularly those who live on and near those lands. We expected and hoped for closer collaboration between our state and national leaders, especially on matters that directly impact Utah and our citizens. The president’s decision to enlarge the monuments again is a tragic missed opportunity — it fails to provide certainty as well as the funding for law enforcement, research, and other protections which the monuments need and which only Congressional action can offer.” — Utah delegation in letter to Biden administration against expanding Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments

In Episode 220 of District of Conservation, Gabriella revisits national monument designations in wake of the Biden administration’s decision to restore three sites to pre-Trump levels. Learn about the response from Utah, what the Antiquities Act allows, and how national monuments can, ironically, keep sportsmen and women out if few stakeholders are involved. 

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EP 548: California Drillin' & "God Squad" Meeting – District of Conservation

In Episode 548 of District of Conservation, Gabriella discusses Sable Offshore Company restarting operations off Santa Barbara's coast and the Endangered Species Committee – or "God Squad" – convening to grant an ESA exemption for offshore oil and gas on national security grounds. Tune in to learn more!SHOW NOTESSable Offshore reveals huge amounts of oil pumping out to Chevron from Santa BarbaraSable Offshore Corp. Begins Oil Sales from the Santa Ynez Pipeline SystemGovernor Newsom condemns and vows to fight Trump for exploiting Iran war crisis of his own making to harm California’s coastlineExtinction committee strips protections from rare Gulf whaleEP 371: Are Fishermen Harming Endangered Rice's Whales? ft. Captain Dylan HubbardFormer Interior Secretary Bernhardt on God Squad meeting‘Extinction Committee’ Allows Oil Drillers to Ignore Species Protections in Gulf of MexicoTrump Cabinet exempts Gulf drilling from species protections

1. EP 548: California Drillin' & "God Squad" Meeting 28:48
2. EP 547: Aurelia S. Giacometto, 17th US Fish & Wildlife Service Director 51:59
3. EP 546: USDA NRCS Chief Aubrey Bettencourt on Agriculture & Conservation 30:16
4. EP 545: University of Arizona & Strategic Petroleum Reserve 27:13
5. EP 544: Maria Davidson, SCI Foundation Conservation Program Manager 14:42

via CFACT

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October 8, 2021