Concerns raised by Wisconsin tribal organizations about Enbridge’s proposed route reroute are raising new concerns Line 5 oil pipeline.
The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission represents 11 Ojibwe tribes in the Midwest and said that the state is Not providing a clear viewThe project’s impact on the waterways and tribal territories surrounding it, including the disruption of wilderness and the possibility of oil spillages.
John Coleman, head of the Commission’s environmental section, spoke out in support of Line 5’s draft. Environmental Impact StatementDoes not properly account for tribal rights.
Coleman noted that “there are some tribes, Wisconsin tribes” that are included in the document. However, other tribes are not. “There is no explanation for why certain tribes are included and not others.”
The Department of Natural Resources indicated that it will review all public input before issuing an Environmental Impact Statement (NIS) for the project. Enbridge said that maintaining the nearly 70-year old pipeline is vital to the company’s operations in the U.S.A., and southern Canada.
The territory of the Red Cliff Band is just north from the Line 5 reroute.
Noah Saperstein is an environmental justice specialist at the Red Cliff Environmental Department. He said that the draft Environmental Impact Statement was too flawed to be used as a foundation for future impact statements.
Saperstein stated, “Should all the concerns be addressed and integrated into the next Environmental Impact Statement? It would be a document so drastically different from what was released to public review.” “It would be something which would warrant another public comments period.”
Red Cliff Band passed a resolution calling to remove Line 5 from tribal territories.
Linda Nguyen is the Red Cliff Environmental Department’s environmental director. She stated that protecting tribal lands starts with respecting tribal treaty rights.
Nguyen stated, “Red Cliff remains committed at protecting ‘nibi’, which is water and ‘aki’, which is land.” “And the air in our ancestral and current homelands for the benefit of our people and future generations.”
Line 5 currently transports oil through Michigan, Wisconsin, and crosses about a dozen miles of Northwoods’ Bad River Reservation.
After the tribe declined to renew the right-of-way for the pipeline in 2017, the proposed reroute was created to circumvent the reservation. Wisconsinites can either email their opinions or attend a public hearing Feb. 2.
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Conservationists want President Joe Biden’s help Make permanentRecent steps taken to save Chaco Culture National Historical Park (from further destruction by extraction industry).
The administration took place last month Temporary actionsTo stop oil-and-gas drilling within a 10-mile radius.
According to Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew Charitable Trusts), 90% of federal lands around the park have been open for drilling over the past decade.
Max Trujillo, New Mexico senior coordinator for the group Hispanics enjoying Camping Hunting and Outdoors, stated that Chaco was once a hub of cultural activity for Native American communities.
Trujillo said that this area has a lot of history. He also pointed out that Native people often say that “all roads lead towards Chaco” because it is true. “It was a hub for Indigenous peoples throughout these areas.”
Additional to 37,000 oil and natural gas wells15,000 miles of roads were built from oil drilled in the Chaco region. To stop further oil and gas leasing within ten mile of Chaco park, the federal government proposed a 20 year withdrawal from federal lands.
Trujillo hopes to see the development of northwestern New Mexico more effectively managed to address significant effects on the health and well being of tribal communities.
Trujillo stated that activism has grown to protect the community and that indigenous Native American activism has become such a resilient force not only in the area but all over the country. “This area has so much history.”
Chaco was once a place where Native Americans used to gather for ceremonies, trade, and political administration. Trujillo stated that the area is now called “The Chaco”. UNESCO World Heritage SiteIt is characterized by oil and gas wells, flares from Fracking, methane emissions, and methane gases.
Trujillo said, “Hopefully we’ll someday live in a society where this wouldn’t be a question and this wouldn’t be a difficult discussion.” It would be “Yes, this historic site needs protection.” “
Individual Indian Allotments, minerals within the area of private, state or tribal entities are exempted from the proposed federal withdrawal.
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Conservationists believe that significant progress was made in 2021 towards the goals set forth by the United Nations. Initiative 30×30To ensure that 30% of the world’s oceans and land are protected by the decade’s end.
The Biden Administration Accept the planA first-year was issued Progress reportThis week, the company will be highlighting its achievements over 12 months.
Aaron Weiss, deputy head of the Center for Western Priorities, stated that while the president was able move forward with the goals for Utah and other Western States, most of the year was spent catching up.
Weiss said that “a lot of 2021 was about reversing Trump’s damage.” “Things such as restoring Bears Ears or Grand Staircase Escalante. Now that these things have been done, the question is: What will President Biden do in order to preserve his conservation legacy?
This report summarizes Biden’s progress. America the BeautifulInitiative, adopting the goals 30×30 to preserve and restore nature, increase outdoor access, and engage tribal nations. It also outlines future actions to preserve public lands’ economic and environmental value in the face of climate changes.
Weiss pointed out that Biden is being urged by state and local leaders to take action under the Constitution. Antiquities ActConserve endangered areas without waiting to hear from Congress
Weiss explained that places like Kastner Range, Texas, Chumash Heritage off California coast, Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada are all examples. “There are a lot of these proposals, where local leaders are asking the president to use his power to protect these areas for future generation.”
Weiss said that, despite occasional opposition to the plan’s existence, the vast majority Utahns see the importance of conserving high-value public lands in Utah and other Western States.
Weiss stated that even in Utah there is widespread support for the restoration of Bears Ears, Grand Staircase–Escalante, because people know that this is what rural West economies are built upon.”
Biden’s goals include local conservation efforts, equitable standards for conservation, sovereignty over tribal and indigenous communities and private land conservation. These are just a few of the many things Biden aims to accomplish.
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The state is gaining more conservation experts A forest mapping toolAssess the impact of development on thousands upon thousands of acres public lands.
Rick Webb, a board member of the Allegheny Blue Ridge Alliance, and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, explained that there are many projects in progress or under consideration within the three National Forests located in the Central Appalachian Highlands.
He said that most projects involve clearing-cutting and road-building which increase vulnerability to the forest’s ecosystem and watershed.
Webb said, “We’re concerned about any new logging done now after the big cut be done in a manner to preserve these forest,” “to keep their function, supply clean, cool water.”
The Highlands are home to the headwaters for major river systems in the eastern United States, including the Potomac and James rivers.
Webb stated that the area is among the most prone to landslides due to its steep mountain slopes, soil types, and water quality. This area deserves special conservation attention.
Dan Schaffer is a CSI Geospatial Consultant at the Allegheny Blue Ridge Alliance and helped to create the mapping tool, which is based upon Geographic Information System technology.
He stated that he believes that the public should be involved with the review of any development projects that could have an adverse effect on the region’s biodiversity.
Schaffer said, “It’s murky. It’s often driven by interest as much as science.” “And for the average individual, they’re really taken from that process. We are trying to give them a place at the table again.
He also said the tool provides information on topography and geography as well as water quality and soil erosion. It also shows the boundaries and locations of proposed projects for both the Monongahela National Forest and the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
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