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1/ David Bernhardt, a former oil industry lobbyist, is next in line to lead @interior. His confirmation hearing is Thursday.
Reporter @LanceWCIR got audio of a meeting in which industry executives bragged about their “direct access to him.” revealnews.org/article/oil-ex…
Reporter @LanceWCIR got audio of a meeting in which industry executives bragged about their “direct access to him.” revealnews.org/article/oil-ex…
2/ Five months into the Trump era, around 100 members of the Independent Petroleum Association of America met at a Ritz Carlton in Southern California.
They celebrated the rise of Bernhardt, their former attorney, who had been elevated to the No. 2 spot at @Interior.
They celebrated the rise of Bernhardt, their former attorney, who had been elevated to the No. 2 spot at @Interior.
3/ The association’s political director, Dan Naatz, said that “we have direct access to him.”
Listen:
Listen:
4/ Barry Russell, the association’s CEO, boasted of his meetings with Environmental Protection Agency chief at the time, Scott Pruitt, and the then-Interior Secretary, Ryan Zinke.
Listen:
Listen:
5/ Now, Bernhardt is next in line to be Interior Secretary, a position that will give him influence over regulations affecting energy production on millions of acres of public lands, deciding who gets to develop it, how much they pay and whether they are complying with the law.
6/ If Bernhardt is confirmed, he likely will continue a pattern of blunting or overturning laws that the oil industry considers unfavorable.
In fact, they’ve already gotten their way on 4 of 5 key issues that topped a memo they distributed at this meeting.
Including ...
In fact, they’ve already gotten their way on 4 of 5 key issues that topped a memo they distributed at this meeting.
Including ...
7/ Rescinding fracking rules meant to control water pollution. 
8/ Withdrawing rules that limit climate-change causing methane gas releases.
9/ Abandoning environmental restoration of public land damaged by oil development.
10/ And ending long-standing protections for migratory birds.
11/ In Bernhardt's confirmation hearings, he might just be asked why he misled the U.S. Senate about his lobbying history ... revealnews.org/blog/trump-nom…
12/ … Or about the depth of his involvement in paring back key bird protections, as @ShogrenE reported: revealnews.org/article/trumps…
13/ If you want to stay updated on how the Trump administration is silencing science, the best place to do that is our newsletter. Sign up here: revealnews.org/newsletter
