67 Million tons of global warming pollution

The Department of the Interior is about to let a coal company dig up 67 million tons of global warming pollution on public lands. There are just two days before the first public comment period closes. Submit a comment today.

There are only two days left in the first public comment period on a decision that determines whether 67 million tons of global warming pollution stays in the ground.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) is about to let an Australian company called Ambre Energy dig up hundreds of acres of public lands to expand its West Decker Coal Mine. All for more of the dirtiest, most carbon-intensive fossil fuel on the planet.
The impact of this one mine is astonishing. Coal produced from the mine’s expansion would release as much carbon pollution as 14 million cars do in a year.
Ambre wants to keep these processes with the DOI quick, quiet and out of the public eye. But if we flood the DOI with public comments, we can shine a spotlight on this climate disaster to stop it from moving forward.
With only two days remaining before the first public comment period deadline, every comment counts. Make a comment now to keep millions of tons of coal in the ground where it belongs.
This coal mine isn’t just bad news for the climate. It’s also an exploitation of our public lands for corporate profits.
The federal coal leasing program run by the DOI has already given coal companies $29 billion in subsidies by selling the rights to publicly-owned coal for a fraction of what it’s worth. 
Ambre Energy wants to mine more publicly-owned coal at low costs, and then sell that coal overseas at inflated prices for bigger returns. Coal companies like Ambre win, people and the climate lose.
It’s time to stop the exploitation of our public lands and the climate for the benefit of Ambre Energy’s bottom line. There are just two days left to add your voice.
Thanks to supporters like you, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell has heard from the public about the problems with the DOI’s coal leasing program since day one of her term. But our campaign won’t stop until she takes action to end it permanently.
The West Decker Coal Mine expansion – like the entire DOI coal leasing program – is undermining the Obama administration’s commitment to reduce global warming pollution.
If we’re going to be serious about fighting climate change, then we have to get serious about the biggest sources of global warming pollution. We can’t be drilling for oil in the Arctic or building the Keystone XL pipeline. And we certainly can’t be opening up new federal lands to coal mining.
New fossil fuel projects like the West Decker Coal Mine threaten to send our climate past a point of no return. Together we have to stop them.
Thanks for taking action and for all that you do.
For the planet,
Kelly Mitchell Greenpeace Climate and Energy Campaigner

eNews: Stop an Oil Disaster, Wild Weeks for Wolves

Congress: Stop the Next Oil Disaster  The Deepwater Horizon oil disaster claimed the lives of 11 workers, killed scores of threatened and endangered sea turtles, brown pelicans and dolphins, and devastated the Gulf Coast economy. The long-term ecological impacts of the disaster may not be known for years. This week, the National Oil Spill Commission released its final report on the catastrophe — but by itself, a report cannot avert another disaster. Wild Weeks for Wolves In the closing days of 2010, Congress came close to stripping federal protections from gray wolves. The proposed legislation ultimately failed, but with a new, more anti-conservation Congress taking power, wolves aren’t out of the woods yet. Learn more about what happened, what’s in store, and how the future of America’s wildlife heritage is at stake. Wins for Wildlife Salazar Surprises in Florida Interior Secretary Ken Salazar presented a proposal to create a new wildlife refuge and conservation area in the Everglades that will help protect rare panthers and other wildlife. Salazar’s surprising and welcome announcement came at this year’s Everglades Coalition Conference co-hosted by Defenders. >>Learn More New Home for Ferrets Black-footed ferrets have a new home on the North Cheyenne Indian Reservation in Montana. Defenders’ Lacy Gray was there when these rare mammals were released — and has the video to prove it. >>Watch Lacy’s Video Wolverine’s Welcome News Wolverines deserve increased federal protections, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It’s a welcome victory that Defenders has worked hard to achieve, but only a first step to ensuring a lasting future for these reclusive forest animals. >>Learn More Protecting Wild Places Late last month, America’s wild lands — and the wildlife that lives there — got an early Christmas present when federal officials announced an order to allow greater protections for these special places. >>Learn More Defending Wildlife Speaking Out for Struggling LobosWildlife Hero and Defenders supporter Jeanne Ossorio is on the front lines for Southwest wolves. She has tirelessly advocated for the protection of los lobos and helped blaze the trail for wolf-specific eco-tourism in the Southwest.  When news broke that the remaining 42 or so Southwest wolves could lose vital federal protections, Jeanne spoke out, noting that such a move would leave these wolves “at the mercy of local politicians who may or may not have their best interest at heart.” Watch Jeanne’s interview with New Mexico’s KRWG. Exclusive Alpha & Omega wolf adoption kit! Includes plush, DVD and more — get yours today! You could help win $200,000 to support our work to save wolves, polar bears and other wildlife. Vote today — and each week!   Walrus As a warming climate melts sea ice in its arctic home, the walrus is facing an increasingly difficult choice: food or rest? Walrus Learn more about walruses. Download our latest wallpaper for your computer desktop! Connect with Defenders!

Department of the Interior -latest News

Salazar Tours Gateway Arch with Sec. LaHood, Sen. McCaskill

FRI, DECEMBER 10, 2010, 02:59 PM ESTInterior Secretary Ken Salazar, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Senator Claire McCaskill reviewed the winning design concept to revitalize the park and met with stakeholders to discuss pending refinements and implementation of the plan. Read More >

Strickland Lauds Agreement on Land Conveyance in Grand Teton National Park

THU, DECEMBER 9, 2010, 05:20 PM ESTAssistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Tom Strickland commended the Wyoming Board of Land Commissioners for approving an agreement to convey approximately 1,400 acres within Grand Teton National Park to DOI… Read More >

Interior Streamlines IT Organization, Infrastructure

THU, DECEMBER 9, 2010, 11:33 AM ESTInterior today launched a 5-year program of IT modernization & consolidation that will save taxpayers an estimated $500 million by streamlining admin., cutting rented office space, reducing staff through attrition and other savings. Read More >

Salazar: Settlement Agreements with First Americans Mark Historic Progress in Reconciliation, Empowerment

WED, DECEMBER 8, 2010, 05:47 PM ESTSecretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today praised President Obama’s signing of five major settlements for Indian Country, calling the agreements a milestone in empowerment and reconciliation for the Nation’s First Americans. Read More >

Readout of Secretary Salazar’s Meeting on Western Oregon Forest Issues

WED, DECEMBER 8, 2010, 04:17 PM ESTToday Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and other senior Interior Department officials met with representatives from Western Oregon to discuss management of forests in the Pacific Northwest. Read More >

EMERGENCY: Will Salazar Sell Out Our Wolves?

*** Emergency ***

Wolves at Risk  Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is working to eliminate life-saving protections for wolves. Tell your senators to oppose Secretary Salazar’s anti-wolf sell-out

Think the Secretary of the Interior wouldn’t sell out our wolves and the Endangered Species Act? Think again.

We now know that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar has been negotiating directly with the governors of Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, and we now have strong reason to believe that he is going to propose and promote legislative language to eliminate life-saving protections for wolves in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and portions of Washington, Oregon, and Utah.

Hundreds of wolves — maybe more than a thousand — could die.

Don’t let Secretary Salazar sell out our wolves and the Endnagered Species Act. Write your senators and urge them to oppose this awful plan.

Under Salazar’s proposal, wolves wold be delisted and lose federal protection. They would also no longer be subject to the ESA at any time and under any circumstances except at the sole discretion of the Secretary of the Interior.

And no longer would it be possible for the American public to propose protection for wolves no matter how critically imperiled they become. And once the Endnagered Species Act is weakened in such a way, it would invite futrther outrages… dealing a serious blow to the very foundation of the Endangered Species Act, the bedrock conservation law in this country.

Help save the lives of wolves and protect the Endangered Species Act. Please take action now.

Despite being the nation’s chief steward for endangered species, Secretary Salazar has demonstrated little to no concern for the Endangered Species Act, so we have no confidence that he –- or perhaps any future Secretary of the Interior –- would ever conclude that there is a need to restore ESA protection for wolves, no matter how egregious state efforts to reduce wolf numbers may be.

This problem began when Secretary Salazar –- freshly appointed to office and against the advice of numerous environmental groups and senior members of Congress –- who all said his action would be illegal, approved the Bush plan for removing federal protections for wolves. As predicted, he lost the lawsuit and federal protections for wolves was restored.

Were the Secretary’s current proposal to be enacted, it would set a horrible precedent for further legislative weakening of the Act that could easily lead to the total unraveling of the Act, and by itself would constitute by far the worst damage ever done to the ESA and to the cause of conserving biological diversity under any previous administration, Democrat or Republican.

This is an Endangered Species Act emergency. Please take action now!

We don’t have much time to make our voices hear. Please write your senators now.

For the Wildlife Ones,

Rodger Schlickeisen President Defenders of Wildlife

Department of Interior responds to our comments

		Strengthening Science at the DOI After receiving more than 10,000 comments from UCS supporters—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a strong scientific integrity policy. Department of Interior Responds to Our Comments Last month, we asked UCS supporters like you to submit comments regarding the Department of the Interior’s (DOI’s) draft scientific integrity policy. The policy would have done little to prevent the kind of manipulation and distortion of science that has skewed decisions on everything from underwater oil drilling to endangered species. Last Wednesday—after receiving more than ten thousand comments from UCS supporters—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a radically different scientific integrity policy that addresses most of the issues we raised. Read our reaction here. I heard personally from staff at the DOI that they relied heavily upon our input in shaping the new policy, and it’s clear that this public pressure convinced them to do the right thing. Together, we made sure the DOI heard loud and clear that the public supports strong actions to protect government science. On the heels of this victory, we need to ensure strong scientific integrity standards like these are in place throughout the federal government. In September, UCS released the results of a survey of government scientists who work on food safety—hundreds reported political interference in their work over the past year. These results clearly illustrate the need for better protection for whistleblowers, the right for scientists to speak publicly about their work, and other critical reforms to defend science from political interference. In March 2009, President Obama asked the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a detailed plan to protect the integrity of science throughout the federal government. In September, the president’s science advisor told us a plan would come by the end of 2010, and we intend to hold the White House to this promise. In the meantime, you can track the administration’s progress here. Sincerely, Michael Halpern National Field Organizer UCS Scientific Integrity Program

Stop Liberty,BP’s Next Big Drilling Disaster

Urge Interior Secretary Salazar to stop BP‘s next drilling disaster before it even happens!

Right now the only thing standing between BP and its next big drilling disaster is the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. BP built a gravel drilling island three miles off Alaska’s north coast and classified the Liberty drilling project as “onshore,” thereby dodging the recent moratorium on offshore drilling in the arctic waters off Alaska. BP calls Liberty one of its “biggest challenges to date,” and if it moves forward, the company will push the limits of drilling in Alaska’s Arctic, just as it pushed the limits of deepwater drilling in the Gulf with the Deepwater Horizon.

What BP is proposing is crazy. The company’s current plan calls for a well to be drilled that extends two miles below the seabed and then six to eight miles sideways to get at the oil they believe lies below federal waters in Alaska’s Beaufort Sea. It’s a disaster waiting to happen in a place where it’s simply impossible to respond to and clean up a large oil spill.

Allowing the company responsible for the worst oil spill in US history to attempt such a risky drilling project in the ice-infested waters of Alaska is the true definition of insanity repeating the same mistakes yet expecting different results. Take action now and ask Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar to stop BP from moving forward with Liberty.

It took BP more than three months to end the gusher in the Gulf, and the region will be feeling the effects of the nearly 5 million barrels of oil that were spilled for decades to come. Alaska’s arctic marine environment is even more fragile than the Gulf of Mexico, and moreover, BP lacks adequate response assets in this remote part of the state where darkness, intense cold and storms, and solid or broken sea ice are the norm for much of the year. It’s no wonder the US Coast Guard called an oil spill in Arctic waters a “nightmare scenario.”

BP’s own analysis says there’s an eight percent chance of a large oil spill at Liberty. Would you get onto a plane if the pilot told you there was an eight percent chance of it crashing? Didn’t think so.

BP has already built Liberty Island and has received all of its permits except for one the federal government’s final sign off on BP’s “application for a permit to drill.” Secretary Salazar can deny this final permit, urge him to stop BP’s next big drilling disaster now.

Sincerely,

Melanie Duchin
Arctic Program Director