After 40 years of battling to restore wolf populations in the Southwest, Northern Rockies and Great Lakes states, the legal, political and biological war for wolves is coming to Colorado. But this time it could be voters — not federal and state wildlife managers — pushing the only state in the Rocky Mountains without wolves […]
David Bernhardt
Posted inEnvironment, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
Colorado native David Bernhardt confirmed as Interior secretary
The U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Colorado native David Bernhardt as secretary of the Interior Department. Colorado’s Republican U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner was a “yes” vote while Michael Bennet, his Democratic counterpart, was a “no.” Bernhardt’s nomination cleared the chamber by a 56-41 vote. Bernhardt, from Rifle, worked as an oil and gas lobbyist before […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: David Bernhardt’s scrapping of sage grouse plans is wrong for Colorado and the West
As a proud Coloradan, I care deeply about what happens to our public lands, our waterways and the wildlife that depend on them. Protection of our magnificent outdoors is essential to the Colorado way of life. Unfortunately, we are now under national leadership that may not care as much about many of these values. Consider […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Westerners cannot afford 2 more years of “energy dominance” — our leaders must protect public lands
Two years ago, President Donald Trump signed the executive order on “energy dominance,” setting forth his administration’s priorities when it comes to the production of energy resources on our public lands. In the interim, the administration has done its best to manage our public lands for that preferred use, to the concern of local communities […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: David Bernhardt is not the Secretary of the Interior that Colorado needs
National parks have long been synonymous with the state of Colorado, providing protection for some of our most iconic landscapes and welcoming visitors from across the world. Despite the thriving tourism (more than seven and a half million visitors in 2018), our parks are facing a myriad of threats unlike any we’ve seen in modern […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Interior boss David Bernhardt issues order aiming to protect public land access
By Matthew Brown, The Associated Press Acting U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt ordered federal land managers on Thursday to give greater priority to access for hunting, fishing and other kinds of recreation when the government considers selling or trading public land. The secretarial order comes amid longstanding complaints that millions of acres of state and […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Opinion: Bernhardt’s Oil: Open for business to the highest bidder
President Trump’s recent nomination of Coloradan David Bernhardt to serve as Secretary of the Interior received a round of praises: namely, from the oil and gas industry and other pro-deregulators who stand to benefit from his leadership. Set to lose if Bernhardt secures the position are our national parks, clean air and treasured public lands […]
Posted inEnvironment, News, Politics and Government
Michael Bennet will oppose Colorado native David Bernhardt’s nomination as Interior secretary
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet will oppose President Donald Trump’s nomination of Colorado native David Bernhardt as Interior secretary. The decision, announced Thursday, marks a change from the Colorado Democrat’s earlier vote in July 2017 to approve Bernhardt’s selection as the No. 2 job at the Interior Department. “During his tenure as deputy secretary of the […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Colorado native David Bernhardt tapped by Trump to be Interior secretary
Colorado native David Bernhardt was tapped Monday by President Donald Trump to be secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, prompting praise from Republicans and quick condemnation from Democrats and environmentalists. Bernhardt has been serving as the agency’s acting head since the resignation of former Secretary Ryan Zinke, who was facing ethics investigations. Bernhardt […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, News, Outdoors, Politics and Government
The $44.2 million pitch: What Grand Junction is doing to land BLM’s headquarters — and what the chances are it will work
The Bureau of Land Management appears closer than ever to relocating its headquarters and some 300 jobs to the West from Washington, D.C. — closer to the nearly 250 million acres of land it manages. Colorado’s congressional delegation has been busy pitching the Centennial State, and Grand Junction in particular, as the best new home address for the agency. […]