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Today we are looking at the report of the Inspector General on former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke
Ryan Keith ZinkeThe Hill’s Morning Report – Dems shaken by senator’s stroke; majority status GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund announces first midterm endorsements Trump’s relocation of Bureau of Land Management was part of a well-known Republican playbooka Republican senator putting a stop to all EPA nominees, and an increase in nighttime fires.
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Lets jump in.
Interior IG finds Zinke broke ethics rules
The Interior Department’s inspector general (IG), found that former Secretary Ryan ZinkeWho served under? President Trump
Donald TrumpHillicon valley Cyberattack hits Ukrainian defense on The Money GOP senators stop Biden’s Fed Florida county clerk’s typo directed ticketed drivers onto site selling Trump merchandiseDuring his tenure as head of the department, he violated ethics rules.
In a statement, the IG stated that Wednesday reportZinke did not adhere to his ethics obligations and used his public office for personal gain.
According to the IG, the case was referred to the Department of Justice (DOJ), but the DOJ under the Biden administration declined to prosecute Zinke, who is running for a U.S. House Seat in Montana.
The background: Zinke had resigned his position with the Great Northern Veterans Peace Park Foundation that he and others had founded. He was confirmed as secretary in May 2017. Zinke also pledged to not participate personally or substantially in any matter involving the foundation for one year.
Zinke was, however, a significant, direct and substantive player in the foundation’s negotiations over a commercial-development project, the 95 Karrow Project.
It cited 64 email and text messages that Zinke sent between Aug. 21, 2017, and July 30, 2018. Zinke communicated directly to the developers.
It was also reported that Zinke held at least one meeting in person in his office on Aug. 3. 2017, following which Zinke gave the developers a personal tour and shared dinner with them.
It also accused Zinke, of having Interior Department staff arrange for the office and dinner meetings. Zinke was also told by the developers that they gave Zinke a plan of the parking lot at one point during the trip. This was an important point of negotiation.
Zinke, another example, sent emails from the developers his executive and special assistants. The report also states that his staff printed information for Zinke.
Zinke was questioned by a department ethics official in July 2018. Zinke knowingly gave misleading, incomplete and materially incorrect answers.
Zinke claimed that developers wanted to meet him on a social basis. The IG stated that Zinke made it clear that he resigned as a member of the foundations board and no longer represents it.
Zinke responds: Zinke, Who is running for one Montana’s two congressional offices. described the report as a political hit job, in a statement from his campaign.
The campaign stated that the report is subjective and that they released it because they felt their conclusions were too weak and biased to be considered by DOJ.
The campaign also stated that investigators didn’t bother to talk with Zinke or other suspects. This is in contradiction to the report that Zinke, his wife, and 95 Karrow developers declined interview requests by watchdogs.
Learn more about the report.
Cassidy holds firm on EPA nominees
Sen. Bill Cassidy
Bill CassidyOfficials warn diplomat efforts are’shrinking’ amid Russia tensions Sunday shows: There is no breakthrough in Russia-Ukraine tensions. A GOP senator backs Biden’s refusal of sending military to evacuate Americans from Ukraine (R-La.) (R-La.). On Wednesday, the Biden administration announced a suspension of nominations for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). He cited delays in Louisiana’s carbon capture wells application approval.
Underground well permits can be requested by states through the Safe Drinking Water Act. Louisiana has already obtained permits for five types of wells and applied for underground carbon sequestration holes. Cassidy claims that the application has not progressed since October. Cassidy stated that he had discussed the matter with the EPA Administrator. Michael Regan
Michael ReganEquilibrium/Sustainability Genetic testing used to crack elephant cartels The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump’s ‘top-secret’ records taken from White House stirs debate Overnight Energy & Environment Virginia lawmakers block ex-Trump EPA chief MOREAfter applying the hold, Wednesday.
How did we get here? Cassidy said that the submission was crucial to achieving the emission reductions in bipartisan infrastructure package. President Biden
Joe BidenUS could pay M monthly to test federal workers unvaccinated: Official GOP senator opposes Biden’s court pick, likely blocking nominee. Overnight Energy & Environment Biden believes Russia attack could spike crude oil prices.In November, the package was signed. Cassidy was one 19 Republican senators that voted in favor of the package.
The Republican senator also noted the support of carbon capture projects by the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The White House Council on Environmental Quality stated earlier this week that the Biden administration recognizes CCUS’s importance. [carbon capture, utilization and storage]Actions must be taken promptly and within the framework of a strong regulatory system.
Louisiana is the ideal place to store carbon underground, and lower emissions. We have met all requirements and have the resources, workers, and capacity to start this process. Cassidy stated that all that was needed was the approval from the Biden Administration. The EPA has emphasized its desire to lower emissions, and to ensure a healthy environment, but Louisiana is not able to do that.
Learn more about the hold.
Nighttime wildfires getting stronger, faster
According to a new study, nocturnal blazes have become more intense and frequent over the past decades as hot, dry nighttime weather has become the norm across the western U.S.
These flammable nights were rare 40 years ago, with cool, moist nights providing firefighters some relief. However, the changing climate has caused nights and days to heat up faster than they used to, according to the study. Published in Nature on Wednesday, April 12, 2019.. According to the authors, there are now 11 more flammable night in the West each year than there were in 1979. This is equivalent to a 45 per cent surge.
Night is crucial for slowing down a speeding fire, Jennifer Balch, lead author, and professor of geography at University of Colorado Boulder said in a statement.
Balchs team at Earth Lab, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences, performed their assessment using a key measurement for the atmospheres thirst called vapor pressure deficit.
Cool and moist conditions are good for firefighters to extinguish flames. According to the study, if the deficit is large, the resultant hot, dry conditions make it ideal for burning.
You can read more about the assessment by clicking here.
COMING SOON FROM THILL
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Keep Holding On
Democratic Sens. Martin Heinrich
Martin Trevor HeinrichLatest reports suggest CIA is collecting more data about Americans Senators claim CIA has been collecting bulk data in secret program Democrats hit a limit with Lujn’s absence(N.M. Tina Smith
Tina Flint SmithPsaki says Republicans are ‘irresponsible” for blocking Biden’s Fed nominees The Hill’s Morning Report – Dems juggling priorities amid new challenge Overnight Energy & Environment Case heard at High Court on water rule(Minn.), stated that they were still discussing Senate swing vote Joe Manchin
Joe ManchinOvernight Health Care Biden seeks additional COVID-19 financing Overnight Energy & Environment Biden claims Russia attack could spike crude oil prices Dem plan for suspending the gas tax faces bipartisan resistance MORE(D-W.Va.), about President Biden’s climate and social spending bills, even though the legislation’s prospects are still uncertain.
Heinrich replied that they had spoken with Senator Manchin recently during a press conference. He said that he spoke to him about the climate provisions, the items that were drafted by the Energy Committee he chairs, and the tax provisions.
He stated that he is optimistic that we will be able to reach an agreement on this. Although I don’t know what we’ll call it, there are many things that would benefit the American consumer. The Senate has 50 votes. It is incumbent on us to find the Venn Diagram and get it done.
Smith agreed and said that passage was urgent because private investment is waiting on the Senate to act.
Manchin also recently He was open to doing a lot of good on climate change, but he opposed the Build Back Better bill in general.
ON TAP FOR TOMORROW
- The Senate Budget Committee will host a HearingTitled Warrior Met and Wall Street Greed – What Corporate Raiders Are Doing to Workers & Consumers
- The House Natural Resources Committee is holding a HearingClimate adaptation science at U.S. Geological Survey
WHAT WERE YOU READING?
- Biden’s agenda is stalled and money for clean energy revolution remains on the sidelines (The Washington Post)
- New information is revealed by records about Trump Jr.’s expensive big game hunt (E&E News)
- California Returns to Climate Leadership, With Support from the White HouseThe New York Times)
And last but not least, something completely off-beat and unusual: Taken as granite.
That’s all for today. Thank you for reading. Check out The Hills Energy & Environment page for the latest news and coverage. Well see you Thursday.