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Government shutdown looms after Trump-backed bill fails; Environmental groups sue CA Air Resources Board over biogas credits; NY elected officials work to electrify municipal buildings; Need a mental health boost? Talking hot dog is here.

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President-elect Trump repeats his threats to jail Jan. 6th committee members, while also putting a stop-gap spending plan in jeopardy. A court removes Fani Willis from Trump's Georgia election interference case. The FAA restricts drones in New Jersey, and a Federal Reserve rate cut shakes markets.

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Rural folks could soon be shut out of loans for natural disasters if Project 2025 has its way, Taos, New Mexico weighs options for its housing shortage, and the top states providing America's Christmas trees revealed.

Suit Challenges Trump Reversal of Drilling Ban

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Thursday, May 4, 2017   

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Environmental groups and Alaska Native Americans say President Donald Trump has exceeded his authority by reversing the ban on drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, and they're suing to stop him.

The permanent ban, instituted by President Barack Obama, applies to 31 biologically rich, deep-water canyons off the Atlantic coast and 120 million acres of ocean floor in the Arctic.

According to Erik Grafe, a staff attorney with the law firm Earthjustice, the law that made it possible to put a permanent ban in place has no provision that allows the ban to be lifted.

"The statute authorizes presidents to withdraw areas from oil and gas leasing in the outer continental shelf,” he states. “It does not authorize them to undo withdrawals."

The groups filed a lawsuit in federal court in Alaska, asking the court to declare the executive order invalid.

Trump maintains the drilling ban deprives the country of thousands of energy-related jobs.

But Grafe says an oil spill in the Arctic would be an environmental disaster for wildlife and Native Americans in Alaska who depend on it, and also would be virtually impossible to clean up.

"There are no deep water ports,” he points out. “The communities there are not connected to the road system. There's ice in the water even in the summer, which thwarts cleanup."

The federal government itself has estimated that development and production of a single large lease sale in the Chukchi Sea would have a 75 percent chance of a major spill.

Similarly, Grafe points out that a spill in the Atlantic could potentially coat beaches from Savannah to Boston with crude oil, and threaten the region's fishing industry.

"The deep water canyons are unique ecosystems with ancient corals, and they're important for a number of fish and turtle species," he states.

Grafe adds that the groups are concerned development of offshore oil would deepen the nation's commitment to fossil fuels, even as the world struggles to combat global climate change.





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