Trump campaign vs. Trump administration: on Environment
Barack Obama:
WOTUS 2015: expansive definition of protected waterways
Vast amounts of wetlands and thousands of miles of waterways would no longer be federally protected by the Clean Water Act under a new proposal by the Trump administration. The proposal would change the EPA's definition of "waters of the United States,"
or WOTUS, limiting the types of waterways that fall under federal protection to major waterways, their tributaries, and adjacent wetlands. The change aims to "provide states and landowners the certainty they need to manage their natural resources and
grow local economies," said the EPA acting administrator.The proposed change stands in stark contrast to the definition put forward by the Obama administration in 2015, which aimed to widen federal clean water protections to include not only those
large waterways, but also the smaller streams and tributaries that feed into them. For years, Republican opponents, agriculture groups and real estate developers have decried that move as a regulatory overreach. [including Donald Trump as a candidate.
Source: NPR.org on 2018 Trump Administration, "EPA Water Protection"
Dec 11, 2018
Ben Carson:
Deregulation includes land use & federal housing policy
Trump made deregulation a key part of his 2016 campaign platform, and Carson noted that deregulation includes federal regulations related to housing policy. In his opening statement, he said, "President-Elect Trump has talked about the importance of
deregulation. That applies to housing as well. Overly burdensome housing regulations are bad for everyone and are increasing income inequality.
But when land use for local housing supply is less regulated, workers of all skill types will choose to move to the productive locations. Many forms of land use regulation have perpetuated segregation.
Complex webs of covenants and zoning ordinances across U.S. cities--in particular for low-density development--superimposed on already highly-segregated neighborhoods, have slowed integration."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 13, 2017
Donald Trump:
Overrule Fisheries Commission and allow more fish harvesting
The Trump administration, in an unprecedented decision, has rejected the recommendation of a commission that has long overseen fishing issues along the East Coast, raising deep concerns about political meddling in the ongoing preservation of fragile
stocks from Maine to Florida. More specifically, the decision by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has stirred worries about the consequences for summer flounder, one of the most fished species in the Northeast. Ross earlier this month dismissed the
findings of the 75-year-old Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which concluded that New Jersey was violating a conservation plan for summer flounder that all the other states in the compact approved.
The decision,
which effectively allows New Jersey to harvest more summer flounder, marked the first time the federal government had disregarded such a recommendation by the commission, and it drew a swift rebuke from state officials along the East Coast.
Source: Boston Globe's David Abel on 2018 Trump Administration
Jul 25, 2017
Donald Trump:
WOTUS 2018: limited definition of protected waterways
Vast amounts of wetlands and thousands of miles of waterways would no longer be federally protected by the Clean Water Act under a new proposal by the Trump administration. The proposal would change the EPA's definition of "waters of the United States,"
or WOTUS, limiting the types of waterways that fall under federal protection to major waterways, their tributaries, and adjacent wetlands. The change aims to "provide states and landowners the certainty they need to manage their natural resources and
grow local economies," said the EPA acting administrator.Republican opponents, agriculture groups and real estate developers have decried the Obama administration's 2015 rule--which included smaller streams and tributaries--as a regulatory overreach.
As a candidate and president, Donald Trump painted the Obama-era rule in a similar light, calling it "one of the worst examples of federal regulation," and making its repeal and revision a priority for his administration.
Source: NPR.org on 2018 Trump Administration, "EPA Water Protection"
Dec 11, 2018
Ryan Zinke:
Absolutely against transfer or sale of public land to states
Zinke's stance on federal lands was questioned during his 2016 campaign for re-election to the U.S. House. In the past, Zinke has opposed selling federal lands to the states for management.
He has, however, supported efforts to transfer some management of public lands to individual states. During his hearing, Zinke stated, "I am absolutely against transfer or sale of public land."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 18, 2017
Ryan Zinke:
Smokey the Bear should be viewed as helpful, not as police
In response to Jeff Flake's (R-AZ) questions on coordination between federal enforcement and local residents, Zinke said, "I grew up where Smokey the Bear was revered. Who could not like Smokey the Bear? And now, in some parts, it's feared. When they
see Smokey the Bear, they think law enforcement rather than managing our forests. We have to come together to make sure our team out there is viewed as helpful." When Al Franken (D-MN) jokingly asked if Smokey is real, Zinke affirmed, "He's real to me."
Source: Ballotpedia.org: 2017 Trump transition confirmation hearings
Jan 18, 2017
Ryan Zinke:
Shrink national monuments and expand offshore drilling
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., once stated, "The American people deserve long-term, forward-thinking policies." Unfortunately, Heller's voting record contradicts this statement. Heller voted for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Department of the
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. Pruitt is rolling back environmental protections while Zinke is shrinking national monuments and expanding offshore drilling.
Source: Las Vegas Sun, "Broken promise," 2018 Trump Administration
Feb 12, 2018
Ryan Zinke:
OpEd: National Parks are under-staffed despite more visits
During his confirmation hearing in March 2017, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke stated that one of his top three priorities as secretary would be "to ensure the professionals on the front line, our rangers and field managers, have the right tools, right
resources and flexibility." But that's not what he's done during his first 16 months in office.Last month, 14 members of Congress criticized Secretary Zinke in a formal letter, stating, "Morale is already low at NPS, due to rampant underfunding
coupled with increased visitation, a highly questionable department-wide reorganization proposal, a continuing climate of harassment, and the failure of the White House to nominate a permanent NPS director."
The Trump administration, with
Zinke's input, in its most recent budget proposal would have cut another 1,800 Park Service staff--more than 9 percent of its already-reduced workforce. While Congress rejected this plan, staffing needs continue to go unaddressed.
Source: NPCA.org "Undermining NPS" on 2018 Trump Administration
Jul 12, 2018
Ryan Zinke:
Raise fees & eliminate national park passes for kids
When President Trump's new secretary of the interior Ryan Zinke rode a horse to the steps of his new office, there was cautious optimism. But as the 18th director of the National Park Service (NPS), where I oversaw over 400 national parks, now that
Zinke [has left the] Department of the Interior, many of us who care deeply about public lands have breathed a collective sigh of relief.While we were hopeful [about] Zinke, we were soon disappointed, then appalled, as his doors were soon darkened
by profiteers, big game hunters, oil executives, and climate deniers. Under Zinke, national monuments were carved up and reopened for development, exemplified by the reduction of Bears Ears national monument under the guise of a "review" under which
Native American input was left out and public opposition ignored. Then Zinke rolled out a series of poorly conceived ideas: eliminate national park passes for the active military and fourth graders, and increase national park entrance fees.
Source: NPS Director in The Guardian on 2018 Trump Administration
Dec 16, 2018
Scott Pruitt:
OpEd: at EPA, rolling back environmental protections
Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., once stated, "The American people deserve long-term, forward-thinking policies." Unfortunately, Heller's voting record contradicts this statement. Heller voted for EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Department of the Interior
Secretary Ryan Zinke. Pruitt is rolling back environmental protections while Zinke is shrinking national monuments and expanding offshore drilling.
Source: Las Vegas Sun, "Broken promise," 2018 Trump Administration
Feb 12, 2018
Wilbur Ross:
Overrule Fisheries Commission and allow more fish harvesting
The Trump administration, in an unprecedented decision, has rejected the recommendation of a commission that has long overseen fishing issues along the East Coast, raising deep concerns about political meddling in the ongoing preservation of fragile
stocks from Maine to Florida. More specifically, the decision by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross has stirred worries about the consequences for summer flounder, one of the most fished species in the Northeast. Ross earlier this month dismissed the
findings of the 75-year-old Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, which concluded that New Jersey was violating a conservation plan for summer flounder that all the other states in the compact approved.
The decision,
which effectively allows New Jersey to harvest more summer flounder, marked the first time the federal government had disregarded such a recommendation by the commission, and it drew a swift rebuke from state officials along the East Coast.
Source: Boston Globe's David Abel on 2018 Trump Administration
Jul 25, 2017
Page last updated: Nov 02, 2024