Judge: Trump's lifting of mining ban in US West was wrong

[riversedge]

Source: abc news



A federal judge has overturned a Trump administration action that allowed mining and other development on 10 million acres in parts of western states that are considered important for the survival of a struggling bird species

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press
February 11, 2021, 8:17 PM


BILLINGS, Mont. -- A federal judge on Thursday overturned a Trump administration action that allowed mining and other development on 10 million acres (4 million hectares) in parts of six western states that are considered important for the survival of a struggling bird species.

U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill said the decision under Trump to cancel a prior effort to ban mining failed to fully consider how the move would affect greater sage grouse, a wide-ranging, chicken-sized bird that has seen a dramatic population drop in recent decades.
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Winmill said the 2017 cancellation was arbitrary. He ordered the U.S. Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management to reconsider whether mining should be allowed.

The Idaho-based judge's ruling does not revive a temporary mining ban imposed under Democratic President Barack Obama, which expired while the issue was in dispute. Whether that happens will be up to the administration of President Joe Biden, said attorney Michael Saul of the Center for Biological Diversity, one of the environmental groups that sued over the Trump administration's actions...............................

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-trumps-lifting-mining-ban-us-west-wrong-75840946?cid=social_twitter_abcn

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[2naSalit]

1. U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill...

One of the most environmentally friendly US District Judges in the intermountain west. I met him when he was first appointed and have taken cases before him. We need a lot more Linn Winmills.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

2. Oh, Happy Day, thank you so much for posting this!

[Hortensis]

3. Terrific. I'd forgotten the anti- federal government move of the BLM to Colorado,

with further dispersion of offices into different locations. A physical dismantling beyond the usual budget slashes, redefinings of purpose, firings and destruction of working materials at other agencies. With the writing on the wall, the vast majority of its professionals resigned, accomplishing a gutting of almost everyone involved in protecting the land involved in this decision.

Just looked: 287 resigned. 41 moved. Apparently most are still in the DC area, and the Biden admin's considering returning the BLM to DC and rehiring those who want to get back to work.

"The leadership losses at BLM are staggering," Ellis added. "I sincerely hope the agency can get some of these people back who are committed to sustaining our public lands for everyone's benefit."

"Interior has been evaluating the relocation for weeks. And New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland (D), President Biden's nominee for Interior secretary, has been a vocal critic of the move, accusing the Trump administration of dismantling the bureau."

https://www.eenews.net/stories/1063723917

The Trump admin filled a bunch of the positions with people who may not want to move to DC, and there are now CO political issues involved. Under consideration is also keeping the Grand Junction office as a "regional hub."