BREAKING
Assurances made by Government Ministers that there would be no further dairy expansion were clearly a load of bull.
Luxon Government opens the gate for MORE dairy conversion https://www.greenpeace.org/aotearoa/press-release/luxons-war-on-nature-opens-gate-for-more-dairy-conversion/?utm_medium=post&utm_content=postid-69817&utm_campaign=Agriculture&utm_source=mastodon
#Trump administration fast-tracks #oil and #mining projects, angering #environmentalists
By Mary Cunningham
Updated on: April 25, 2025
"The Trump administration said it will accelerate permit approvals for #mining, #drilling and #FossilFuel production and transportation on public land, fast-tracking a review process that would normally take years.
"In announcing the emergency procedures Wednesday, the Department of the Interior, which oversees the management of federal lands and natural resources, said the permitting process will now take up to '28 days at most' — a drastic departure from the current one- to two-year timeline.
"The government agency said the move is in response to President Trump's January 20 declaration of a national energy emergency. In an executive order on the first day of his second term, the White House said it would 'eliminate harmful, coercive 'climate' policies that increase the costs of food and fuel.' [#ClimateChange, caused by harmful oil, gas and coal, will take care of that! #FAFO!]
"The speedy permitting policy opens the door for the U.S. to expand oil and gas projects and for Mr. Trump to make good on his promise to "#DrillBabyDrill" — a common refrain on his campaign trail. The new guidelines will apply to a wide range of energy projects, including crude #oil, #NaturalGas and #coal.
"The U.S. leads the world in oil and gas production, with an output of 20 million barrels of oil a day and accounting for roughly a quarter of global gas production, according to the International Energy Agency.
"The DOI said it would use #emergency authorities under the National Environmental Policy Act, #EndangeredSpeciesAct and the National #HistoricPreservationAct to expedite the permitting process.
" 'The United States cannot afford to wait,' Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said in a statement on Wednesday. 'President Trump has made it clear that our energy security is national security, and these emergency procedures reflect our unwavering commitment to protecting both.'
Environmental advocates rebuked the announcement, saying that in addition to adverse environmental impacts on public land and water sources, the expedited procedures will strip away community members' ability to weigh in on projects happening in their own backyards. Experts say the move is expected to draw legal challenges."
#LeaveItInTheGround #Oiligarchy #NoDrilling #NoPipelines #BigOilAndGas
#ExtractiveIndustries #USPol #WaterIsLife #SacredSites #WildlifeRefuge #Extinction #CulturalGenocide #Ecocide #MadKingTrump
Shortening permitting procedures for mining and oil drilling could adversely affect the environment, communities and endangered species, experts say.
White House plans for #Alaska #OilAndGas face hurdles – including from Trump and the industry
President Donald Trump says he wants to grow oil and gas production and advance the goal of what he calls U.S. 'energy dominance'
The Conversation
Apr 24, 2025
Excerpt: "In one of his first executive orders after retaking office on Jan. 20, 2025, Trump declared that the U.S. would develop Alaska’s #petroleum resources 'to the fullest extent possible.'
"The Biden administration had banned oil leasing in three areas of Alaska. One was all but 400,000 acres in the coastal plain portion of the #ArcticNationalWildlifeRefuge. Another was a 13-million-acre swath of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, a massive parcel of federal land west of the refuge. The third area was 44 million acres of the offshore coastal portion of the northern #BeringSea, based on concerns for #TribalRights and the #MigrationRoutes of #MarineMammals.
"Trump moved quickly to reverse all these bans, describing them as an 'assault on Alaska’s sovereignty and its ability to responsibly develop (its) resources for the benefit of the Nation.' And Trump went farther, expanding the available land by an additional 6 million acres in the petroleum reserve and another 1.1 million acres of the wildlife refuge.
"All those areas are home to many different types of wildlife, as well as Indigenous groups."
#IndianCountryToday #IndigenousAlaskans #FirstNations #WildlifeRefuge #NoDrilling #NoPipelines #BigOilAndGas #ExtractiveIndustries #USPol #WaterIsLife
Oh. Too expensive, eh? Maybe all that money we're saving from #DOGE could go towards installing scrubbers or replacing them! (JK! #DOGESucks! #TaxTheRich!)
More Than 60 Power Plants Exempted From Federal #MercuryLimits
More stringent rules were scheduled to be enforced in 2027. Selected plants will now have two more years to comply.
By Dan Gearino
April 16, 2025
"Included in the #Trump administration’s order last week to boost the #coal industry was a two-year exemption to a rule that would have forced some of the nation’s most polluting power plants to reduce emissions of mercury and other air toxics.
"The ramifications of this exemption are beginning to sink in for people across the country who saw the mercury rule, updated and enhanced last year by the Biden administration, as a crucial part of reducing the harm of these power plants.
"The Environmental Protection Agency [#EPA] published a list of 47 plant owners and more than 60 plants that now have additional time to meet mercury and air toxics standards (MATS) that were set to become more stringent in 2027.
"The actions are part of a broader agenda in which the Trump administration aims to use executive orders to cut environmental regulations and increase electricity generation, mainly from #FossilFuels.
" 'The Trump administration has created an illegal special exemption by which polluters can go to the president and request a ‘get out of jail free’ card when it comes to the Clean Air Act,' said Howard Learner, CEO and executive director of the Environmental Law & Policy Center, a Chicago-based advocacy group that works throughout the Midwest. 'That’s legally irresponsible; it’s bad policy, and it will really harm people as a result of more pollution.'
"The exempted plants are in 23 states and include some of the country’s leading #polluters, such as the #JamesHMillerPlant in #Alabama, owned by Southern Co., and the #LabadiePlant in #Missouri, owned by #AmerenCorp.
"Many of the plants are old, such as the #TennesseeValleyAuthority’s #ShawneePlant in #Kentucky, whose oldest generating unit began operating in 1953.
"A few are relatively new, such as the #DryForkStation in #Wyoming, which opened in 2011 and is owned by #BasinElectric Power Cooperative.
"The list consists mostly of #CoalPlants, but also includes a few properties that burn #gas or #petroleum."
Read more:
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/16042025/power-plants-exempted-from-federal-mercury-limits/
Archived version:
https://archive.ph/uocBf
#BadDOGE #AirIsLife #MercuryPoisoning
#ToxicAir #WaterIsLife #DirtyCoal #CoalMining #USPol #Pollution
#Arizona’s #ApacheGeneratingStation is one of 66 #CoalPlants to get #EPA exemption from Biden-era #toxic #AirPollution caps
Sammy Travis / Cronkite News
April 21, 2025
"WASHINGTON — The Apache Generating Station, one of the last remaining power plants in Arizona that use coal, is among 66 power plants nationwide granted exemptions by the Trump administration from updated standards on mercury, arsenic, lead and other toxic pollutants.
Environmentalists worry that allowing plants to avoid compliance with the new standards could harm air quality, public health and the environment.
Power companies have been phasing out coal plants in Arizona for years. The last is targeted for closure in 2032, when federal rules kick in that require 90% capture of carbon emissions.
But Arizona’s intense summer heat puts a strain on the supply of electricity, and power companies have long turned to older, dirtier technology when demand peaks.
At issue are Environmental Protection Agency standards known as the MATS rule, part of the Clean Air Act, which President Richard Nixon signed in 1970. Congress updated it in 1977 and 1990.
The Apache Generating Station’s waiver allows its owner and operator, Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, to comply with the 2012 version of the federal standards rather than stricter caps issued by the EPA in April 2024.
The MATS rule was originally aimed at coal-burning plants. The EPA has expanded it to apply to natural gas; Apache, a 408-megawatt plant about 80 miles east of Tucson, uses both.
Natural gas generates far less toxic material and particulate matter than coal. But it does create carbon dioxide, and the Biden administration also issued rules aimed at curbing those greenhouse emissions.
[Next section talks about how UPGRADES ARE EXPENSIVE! THEN HAVE BILLIONAIRES PAY FOR THEM! OR REPLACEMENT ENERGY SOURCES!]
"President Donald Trump signed an order shortly after taking office that rolled back Biden-era EPA regulations. In April, he signed multiple executive orders promoting coal.
"His cost-cutting effort, led by billionaire Elon Musk, has also aggressively curtailed the EPA’s staff and mission."
#BadDOGE #AirIsLife #MercuryPoisoning #ToxicAir #WaterIsLife #DirtyCoal #CoalMining #USPol
The Apache Generating Station, an Arizona power plant that uses coal, received an EPA exemption from Biden-era standards on toxic air pollution. President Donald Trump loosened regulations and 66 plants nationwide received exemptions. Most power companies are phasing out coal by 2032, though that could change if Trump eases carbon emission standards.
Tensions escalate among #Navajo leaders as #BuuNygren finally agrees to address #NavajoNationCouncil
Delegates accused #Nygren of “mocking” collaboration after he skipped Monday’s session despite a subpoena
by Shondiin Silversmith, Apr 25, 2025
Excerpt: "In a statement posted on social media, Nygren said he was traveling to #WashingtonDC, to meet with federal partners [in the #Trump administration].
" 'This trip underscores my commitment to working collaboratively, regardless of political affiliation—be it Republican or Democratic—to advocate for our Nation’s needs and priorities,' he wrote on Facebook. [You know, like allowing radioactive material transport through their lands without notification, or turning their reservation into an extension of ICE].
"Nygren said that he fulfilled his 'obligations' to the Navajo Nation Council by submitting a written report, which aligns with the requirements of Title 2 of the Navajo Nation Code.
" 'This action demonstrates my commitment to transparency and accountability to the Navajo people,' he added.
"Curley said working with federal partners is important, but the president must also report to the Navajo people and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Council members.
" 'What we’re seeing from President Nygren is a lot of one-way communication directed at the Navajo people through radio, livestreams, newsletters, social media, and now a written report,' Curley said in a press release.
" 'The Navajo people want to hear President Nygren present his report in person and to have an in-depth dialogue with the Council,' she added. 'Yes, it’s important to work with our federal partners, but President Nygren also needs to work with our #Diné leaders as he promised when he campaigned for the presidency.'
"During Monday’s opening day of the spring session, several Navajo Nation Council delegates voiced their concerns about Nygren’s administration. They cited repeated absences, unilateral decision-making, and alleged misrepresentations made to both federal partners and the Council.
" 'We’ve been patient and willing to work with him,' Navajo Nation Council Delegate #BrendaJesus said. 'But enough is enough. At what point does the Navajo Nation Council show that we mean business? He’s not honoring our collaboration — he’s mocking it.' "
#IndianCountryToday #BuuNygrenSoldOutHisPeople #WaterIsLife #LandIsLife #Dineteh #NukingTheNavajo #Havasupai #UraniumMines #EnvironmentalRacism #PinyonPlainUraniumMine #AirIsLife #UraniumMine #UraniumTransport #RadioactiveDust #HaulNo #NoMiningWithoutConsent
Trump to approve land swap for Rio Tinto copper mine opposed by Native Americans
By Ernest Scheyder
April 18, 2025
- Forest Service to republish environmental report within 60 days
- Publication needed to approve land swap for Resolution project
- Native groups oppose project on religious grounds
- Related case still pending at Supreme Court
"The #Trump administration said on Thursday it would approve a land swap needed for #RioTinto and #BHP to build one of the world's largest copper mines, despite concerns from Native Americans that it would destroy a site of religious value.
The move is likely to escalate tensions between Indigenous groups vocal about the need to preserve historical lands and Western governments eager to boost critical minerals production and offset China's sector dominance.
"The U.S. Forest Service, which is part of the Agriculture Department, said it will republish within 60 days an environmental report needed for the #ResolutionCopper project land swap to occur.
"Congress and then-President #BarackObama approved the mine in 2014 after it was added at the last minute to a must-pass military funding bill [#NDAA] with the condition that an environmental report be published.
"The underground mine - which President Donald Trump approved in his first term before successor Joe Biden reversed him - would supply more than a quarter of U.S. appetite for copper and be a key part of Trump's plan to boost U.S. mining.
"Copper is used in construction, transportation, electronics and many other industries. The United States imports roughly half of its copper needs each year.
"Yet the mine's construction would cause a crater that would swallow the Oak Flat site where Arizona's San Carlos Apache worship. That has fueled strong opposition from all but one of the state's 22 Native American tribes, as well as the National Congress of American Indians.
"Apache Stronghold, a nonprofit group comprised of the San Carlos Apache Tribe and conservationists, asked the U.S. Supreme Court last September to block the land swap. The court has not yet decided whether to take that case.
Were the court to do so, however, the Forest Service said on Thursday it 'may reevaluate how to proceed' regarding the land swap.
" 'The U.S. government is rushing to give away our spiritual home before the courts can even rule, just like it's rushed to erase Native people for generations,' said #WendslerNosie, an #ApacheStronghold leader."
#Apaches #WesternApaches #NativeAmericans #SacredSite #ResolutionCopper #SaveOakFlat #ChichilBiłdagoteel #CorporateColonialism #ProtectOakFlat #ReaderSupportedNews #SCOTUS #DefendTheSacred #CopperMine
#WaterIsLife #CulturalGenocide #WesternApache #SacredSites #NoMiningWithoutConsent #RecycleCopper #TontoNationalForest
#Apaches ask lower court to stop government’s imminent transfer of #SacredSite
Becket Law, via #CensoredNews, April 25, 2025
There will be a Hearing May 7, 2025 @ 0930 @ Sandra Day O’Connor
U.S. Courthouse, 401 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona 85003
WASHINGTON – "A coalition of #WesternApaches, other #NativePeoples, and non-Native #allies asked a federal court late yesterday to stop the U.S. government from handing over their sacred site at Oak Flat to a multinational mining giant as early as June 16, 2025.
"In #ApacheStronghold v. United States, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals last year refused to stop the federal government from transferring #OakFlat to #ResolutionCopper, a Chinese-owned mining company that plans to turn the site into a massive mining crater, ending Apache religious practices forever (Watch the short video linked below to learn more).
"The emergency appeal comes after the government announced last week it will forge ahead with the transfer even though the case is currently under consideration by the #USSupremeCourt."
Read more:
https://bsnorrell.blogspot.com/2025/04/apaches-ask-lower-court-to-stop.html
Video link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh68xOn0B_8
#SaveOakFlat #ChichilBiłdagoteel #CorporateColonialism #ProtectOakFlat #ReaderSupportedNews #SCOTUS #DefendTheSacred #CopperMine
#WaterIsLife #RioTinto #RecycleCopper #CulturalGenocide #NDAA #WesternApache #SacredSites #NoMiningWithoutConsent #RecycleCopper #TontoNationalForest
UN food agency says its food stocks in #Gaza have run out under #Israel’s blockade
By WAFAA SHURAFA and LEE KEATH
Updated 11:00 AM EDT, April 25, 2025
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — "The #WorldFoodProgram says its food stocks in the Gaza Strip have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory.
"The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days.
"Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the U.N. The WFP has been supporting 37 kitchens that produced some 500,000 meals a day.
"It was not immediately clear how many kitchens would still be operating in Gaza if those shut down.
"Israel cut off entry of all food, fuel, medicine and other supplies to Gaza on March 2 and then resumed its bombardment and ground offensives two weeks later, shattering a two-month ceasefire with Hamas. It says the moves aim to pressure Hamas to release hostages it still holds. Rights groups have called the blockade a 'starvation tactic' and a potential war crime."
https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-gaza-blockade-food-e492a5ba3197b15b1599747e3cde12b2
#NorthGaza #GazaAid #FreePalestine #Fundraisers #FoodIsLife #WaterIsLife #GazaSoupKitchen #BeitLahiya #BaitLahiya #KhanYounes #Palestine #Genocide #Starvation #DeirAlBalah
#IsraeliWarCrimes #NorthernGaza
#HumanRightsAreNeverWrong #IsraeliWarCrimes #BibiIsAWarCriminal
The World Food Program says its food stocks in Gaza have run out under Israel’s nearly 8-week-old blockade, ending a main source of sustenance for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in the territory. The WFP said in a statement that it delivered the last of its stocks to charity kitchens that it supports around Gaza. It said those kitchens are expected to run out of food in the coming days. Some 80% of Gaza’s population of more than 2 million relies primarily on charity kitchens for food, because other sources have shut down under Israel’s blockade, according to the U.N.
Greenpeace Aotearoa
DoomsdaysCW
LM Little