Inform, Entertain, Inspire
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
WVPE is your gateway to green and sustainable resources in Michiana. Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This is accomplished by finding a balance between businesses, the environment, and our society (people, planet, and profit).State, National and International resources on sustainability include:The Environmental Protection AgencyThe Natural StepSustainability Dictionary45 Sustainability Resources You Need to Know Explore ways to support sustainability in the Michiana area through the Green Links Directory.Sept. 17, 2019 from 2-3:30pm"Global Warming: A Hot Topic"Sept. 17, 19, 24, and 26All sessions are from 2-3:30pmGreencroft Goshen Community Center in the Jennings Auditorium1820 Greencroft Blvd.Goshen, IN 46526The event will look at possible solutions and suffering as well as consequences beyond warmer weather. The event will examine what other civilizations have or haven’t done when faced with environmental problems. Plus there will be an exploration of the biggest unknown in the climate system: What will the humans do? Paul Meyer Reimer teaches physics, math and climate change at Goshen College. The events are presented by the Lifelong Learning Institute. The Institute can be reached at: (574) 536-8244lifelonglearning@live.comhttp://life-learn.org/

Trump Administration Puts Offshore Drilling Plan On Hold After Setback In Court

The offshore oil drilling platform 'Gail,' operated by Venoco, Inc., is shown off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. in 2009.  A Trump administration plan to greatly expand offshore drilling is on hold after a setback in court.
Chris Carlson
/
AP
The offshore oil drilling platform 'Gail,' operated by Venoco, Inc., is shown off the coast of Santa Barbara, Calif. in 2009. A Trump administration plan to greatly expand offshore drilling is on hold after a setback in court.

The Trump administration is postponing controversial plans to greatly expand oil and gas drilling off of the nation's coasts, following a recent setback in court and months of pushback from coastal communities.

Last month, a federal judge in Alaska ruled that President Trump exceeded his authoritywhen he signed an executive order to lift an Obama-era ban on oil and gas drilling in parts of the Arctic and Atlantic oceans.

The decision immediately reinstated those protections, and was a major blow to the administration's efforts to boost oil and gas development across the country.

While the Trump administration is expected to appeal the decision, a resolution could be a long ways off. That makes it uncertain where new oil leases may eventually be allowed.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, published Thursday, newly confirmed Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said that his agency may wait for the court process to play out before moving forward with plans to open up more than 90 percent of all federal waters to offshore oil and gas leasing.

"By the time the court rules, that may be discombobulating to our plan," Bernhardt told the newspaper.

Last year, the Trump administration said it would move to allow offshore oil and gas leasing in nearly all of the nation's coastal waters. The proposal was met with instant criticism from environmental groups and governors' offices along the East and West coasts.

Even some Republican lawmakers joined in the backlash.

All had been waiting months for a new version of the plan, which had been expected anytime. But during his confirmation hearing last month, Bernhardt told lawmakers that the plan was still in its beginning stages.

His interview with the Wall Street Journal was his first since being confirmed as the nation's top land steward, and appeared to put the proposal on indefinite hold.

"Given the recent court decision, the Department is simply evaluating all of its options to determine the best pathway to accomplish the mission entrusted to it by the President," Interior spokeswoman Molly Block confirmed in an email.

The plan's critics are celebrating the delay.

"This decision is the result of constant pressure from coastal communities, environmental groups, and elected officials who made it abundantly clear that offshore oil and gas drilling is dangerous, unwanted, and a threat to our economy and way of life," said Rep. Joe Cunningham, D-S.C., in a statement.

Jacqueline Savitz, chief policy officer at Oceana, says that she is encouraged by the move, "but until the Trump plan is final, the President is positioned to open up our coasts at a moment's notice."

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Corrected: April 25, 2019 at 12:00 AM EDT
An earlier version of this story mistakenly said Rep. Joe Cunningham is a Virginia congressman. He's actually a South Carolina congressman.
Tags
Nathan Rott is a correspondent on NPR's National Desk, where he focuses on environment issues and the American West.