"Western Republican governors are pushing back against the Trump administration's decision to ax mitigation rules for energy developers.
Last month, the Bureau of Land Management sharpened its repeal of an Obama-era rule requiring developers to pay for damages on environmentally sensitive land.
The rule released by former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke had forced developers including oil companies and ski resorts to avoid affecting sensitive habitats or wetlands. Or if not possible, the rule had required developers to compensate for mitigation measures in other areas.
On Dec. 13, the Western Governors' Association urged federal agencies to develop a mitigation program, regardless of what existed at the state level. It issued a resolution arguing that federal "compensatory mitigation" is instrumental for conservation."
