Policymakers Need to Consider Impacts of Excessive Regulation on Rail
The derailment of a freight train in East Palestine, Ohio, was a stark reminder that, while essential to our economy, moving hazardous materials across the country comes with risks.
Most Americans would agree that Congress has a responsibility to exercise its oversight responsibility and look into how the accident happened and take steps to reduce not only the likelihood of future derailments but also the environmental impact of accidents when they do happen.
Congress must also ensure that its actions are rooted in science and data and do everything it can to avoid unintended consequences that could have long-term environmental impacts.
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ConservAmerica Encourages Congressional Leaders to Address Critical Minerals Supply Chain
ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer sent a letter to congressional leaders last week stressing the need for policies that support critical minerals development in the United States.
“The data makes clear that America has a deep, persistent, and dangerous reliance on overseas production and processing. This is largely a problem of our own making – one that can be addressed by reforming our national policy framework in support of mineral and energy resource development,” Kupfer wrote in the letter. “A shift in federal policy is essential and long overdue to solving America’s deepening dependence on foreign countries, particularly China, for minerals that are essential to our energy, economic, and national security interests.”
The letter and copies of the report were sent to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in the Senate, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy in the House.
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ConservAmerica in the News
ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer spoke to Fox News on Sunday about the current state of domestic oil production and the options available to policymakers to curb rising prices.
“There is a general recognition that we can't turn on a switch and change prices in the short term, but there are things we can be doing that will impact the long term. In addition to permitting reform and additional drilling, we need to make sure the infrastructure is in place to get the product out of the ground to consumers,” Kupfer said.
“We need transportation and export facilities to be built. We need to take a step back and look at the complete picture and be willing to focus on long-term benefits rather than the short-term political ‘wins,’ he added. “Only then can we lower gas prices.”
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ConservAmerica Submits Formal Recommendations to Biden Administration on ‘America the Beautiful’ Initiative
On March 7, ConservAmerica and 44 other members of the Hunt Fish 30x30 Coalition submitted formal comments to the Federal Register regarding the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas (Atlas), a key component of the Biden administration’s “America the Beautiful” Initiative, also referred to as “Thirty by Thirty.” The recommendations urge the Administration to identify the lands and waters considered to be “conserved” based on conservation outcomes rather than arbitrary criteria.
The groups also highlight the importance of working with entities such as state fish and wildlife management agencies, regional fish and wildlife management authorities, tribes, conservation-focused NGOs, and private landowners who are most knowledgeable and best equipped to advance pragmatic and successful conservation efforts throughout the United States.
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Fox Business: Biden's Russia oil ban: Energy industry reps laud move, say it's 'befuddling' president won't back US energy
ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer appeared on Fox Business on March 8 to discuss Biden’s decision to ban Russian oil imports, making the case that it was the right move even if the administration was pushed into the decision but there is much more the U.S. should be doing to keep up with demand.
Former Acting Deputy Energy Secretary Jeff Kupfer, who served under former President George W. Bush, told FOX Business Tuesday that despite the fact he agrees with the ban on Russian oil, it still appears Biden was forced into the move.
"I think it was the right move. They ultimately in some way got pushed into it," Kupfer said. "I mean, they weren't necessarily supportive of it at first, but with the bipartisan pressure from the Hill, it sort of left them no choice but to do it."
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EPA Should Pause WOTUS Rulemaking Until Supreme Court Hears Sackett v. EPA
In 2004, Chantell and Michael Sackett of Idaho did what many families do. They bought a piece of land near a lake and obtained local permits to build a home. In 2007, shortly after the construction process started, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) served the family with an Administrative Compliance Order, alleging their plans violated the Clean Water Act (CWA) under the expanded definition of regulated waters in the Waters of the United States (WOTUS).
The Sacketts took the EPA to court in 2008, claiming the EPA’s decision was arbitrary. Despite being separated from the nearby lake by a row of houses and a road, the EPA said that part of the residential property qualified as “navigable waters” under the CWA and demanded the property be restored to its former state. Failure to obtain a permit and comply with the order would cost the Sacketts upwards of $40,000 a day, an amount that would undoubtedly crush any family.
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