Energy & Environment — New rule lets NGOs lease public land for conservation

Presented by AFPM — It will also allow energy companies to offset their environmental impacts by bolstering other lands

View Online Energy & Environment Energy & Environment   PRESENTED BY  The Big Story  Biden elevates conservation of public lands For decades, fossil fuel companies have leased federal lands for energy production. Now, entities can lease them for conservation.  © Alex Wong/Getty Images The Biden administration issued a rule Thursday allowing individuals, businesses, nongovernmental organizations, tribes and state agencies to lease the land for conservation purposes.    The program will specifically allow for "restoration leases" and "mitigation leases."   The restoration leases will allow for leaseholders to restore lands that have been damaged.   The mitigation leases will allow for energy companies to offset their environmental impacts by bolstering other lands.     But, these leases are not expected to be issued if they would conflict with ongoing uses of the lands..  Unlike the 2023 draft rule, the final rule includes a provision stating that "leases cannot be held by foreign persons." Republicans, including South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R), frequently raised the specter of Chinese nationals buying federal land under the terms of the draft.   Interior Secretary Deb Haaland described the rule as helping to "restore balance to our public lands" in a written statement.   Read more at TheHill.com. Welcome to The Hill's Energy & Environment newsletter, we're Rachel Frazin and Zack Budryk — keeping you up to speed on the policies impacting everything from oil and gas to new supply chains. Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Essential Reads  How policy will affect the energy and environment sectors now and in the future: California water regulators adopt nation's first standard for 'Erin Brockovich' compound More than three decades after Erin Brockovich recognized that hexavalent chromium was making residents of Hinkley, Calif., sick, state water regulators on Wednesday approved the nation’s first standard to limit the toxin’s presence in drinking water.  Full Story GOP's national security bill excludes LNG provisions House GOP leaders unveiled a catchall package of Republican national security priorities Wednesday designed to sweeten a massive round of new funding for Ukraine and other foreign allies in the face of fierce conservative opposition.  Full Story Plastics industry heats world 4 times as much as air travel, report finds Pollution from the plastics industry is a major force behind the heating of the planet, according to a new report from the federal government.  Full Story A MESSAGE FROM AFPM Liquid fuels drive a sustainable future. America's refiners are making renewable fuels that can deliver upwards of 80 percent lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting emissions without requiring expensive infrastructure updates. In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill: Inside the military's response to the Baltimore bridge collapse Inside a Baltimore cruise terminal last week, dozens of military personnel were spread out across a wide room under bright lights, with workers bent over computers across rows of tables hastily arranged as workstations.  Full Story What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets touching on energy issues, the environment and other topics: Majority Latino city endures years of toxic water in health 'crisis' (The Washington Post)   Offshore wind projects have been dogged by inflation and culture wars. Now they're making a comeback (CNN) Brazil's plans to drill for oil in the Amazon hit stiff Indigenous resistance (Reuters)   A MESSAGE FROM AFPM Liquid fuels drive a sustainable future. America's refiners are making renewable fuels that can deliver upwards of 80 percent lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting emissions without requiring expensive infrastructure updates. What Others are Reading  Two key stories on The Hill right now: Momentum grows to remove Johnson over potential change to ouster rule Momentum is growing quickly behind the effort to remove Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) from power if he moves to alter the motion to vacate rule as part of a package of foreign aid that’s expected to pass through the House this weekend. Read more All 12 jurors, 1 alternate seated for Trump's hush money trial: Recap Jury selection consumed the third day of former President Trump’s hush money trial on Thursday. Read more Opinions in The Hill  Op-ed related to energy & environment submitted to The Hill: Food system disasters show the need to downsize and democratize   You're all caught up. See you tomorrow!  Check out The Hill's Energy & Environment page for the latest coverage. Like this newsletter? Take a moment to view our other topical products here 📩 Privacy Policy  |  Manage Subscriptions  |  Unsubscribe  1625 K Street NW, 9th Floor, Washington, DC 20006 Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved.

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