President Donald Trump rescinded environmental protections put in place by former President Barack Obama after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
John Flesher of the Associated Press reports that President Trump rescinded an executive order signed by his predecessor in 2010, shortly after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, to protect U.S. oceans and the Great Lakes.
According to Flesher, President Trump's replacement policy focuses on the economic potential of the bodies of water, rather than their protection.
In a separate news article, Timothy Cama writes that Trump's new executive order "[puts] a new emphasis on industries that use the oceans, particularly oil and natural gas drilling, while also mentioning environmental stewardship."
Criticism of Trump's action was swift. Miyoko Sakashita, director of the Center for Biological Diversity's oceans program, writes an opinion piece arguing that the repeal of President Obama's policy "makes it crystal clear that his administration views our oceans solely as a source of profits for the oil industry and other polluters." Sakashita adds: "He’s prioritizing the plunder of our seas over their protection."
Olivia Rosane also writes a critical opinion piece for EcoWatch, amplifying a statement released by Christy Goldfuss of the Center for American Progress describing Trump's executive order as "just the latest attack in what has become an all-out war on America's oceans."
FULL STORY: Trump scraps Obama policy on protecting oceans, Great Lakes
Tracking the Invisible: Methane Leaks From LA’s Neighborhood Oil Sites
Environmental advocates are using infrared technology to monitor and document methane leaks from neighborhood oil sites, filling regulatory gaps and pushing for stronger protections to safeguard community health and the climate.
Using Old Oil and Gas Wells for Green Energy Storage
Penn State researchers have found that repurposing abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal-assisted compressed-air energy storage can boost efficiency, reduce environmental risks, and support clean energy and job transitions.
Alberta’s Orphan Well Cleanup Plan Sparks Debate Over Use of Public Funds
Alberta’s upcoming plan to address nearly 80,000 abandoned oil wells has sparked controversy over the potential use of public funds, despite government claims that taxpayers won’t be footing the bill.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The 120 Year Old Tiny Home Villages That Sheltered San Francisco’s Earthquake Refugees
More than a century ago, San Francisco mobilized to house thousands of residents displaced by the 1906 earthquake. Could their strategy offer a model for the present?
BLM To Rescind Public Lands Rule
The change will downgrade conservation, once again putting federal land at risk for mining and other extractive uses.
Indy Neighborhood Group Builds Temporary Multi-Use Path
Community members, aided in part by funding from the city, repurposed a vehicle lane to create a protected bike and pedestrian path for the summer season.
Congestion Pricing Drops Holland Tunnel Delays by 65 Percent
New York City’s contentious tolling program has yielded improved traffic and roughly $100 million in revenue for the MTA.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Clanton & Associates, Inc.
Jessamine County Fiscal Court
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service