Maite Arce, President and CEO of the Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement in response to yesterday’s announcement the Bureau of Land Management will suspend parts of the rule designed to reduce natural gas waste on federal public and tribal lands:

Maite Arce, President and CEO of the Hispanic Access Foundation, released the following statement in response to the U.S. Senate vote outcome that maintains the Bureau of Land Management’s Methane and Waste Prevention Rule, which curbs natural gas waste by requiring existing oil and gas operations on public lands to use the most up-to-date technology to capture wasted natural gas that is either released into the atmosphere or burned off and repair leaks from equipment:

Sure, we all know about endangered species, but did you know there are endangered rivers, too?

The Hispanic Action Foundation (HAF) alongside 17 leaders from other Latino advocacy groups, sent a letter urging members of the U.S. Senate to the protect the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Methane and Waste Prevention rule, which aims to curb methane pollution from oil and gas activities on our public lands and helps to protect Latinos across the country.

Many would agree that Congress has a moral obligation to listen to voters and protect our cherished outdoor heritage. Unfortunately, some in the U.S. Senate are attempting to overturn a popular rule that reduces the waste of taxpayer-owned natural gas on public and tribal lands. As if that wasn’t enough, overturning the rule would stifle the agency’s ability to enact similar rules in the future, permanently harming taxpayers and our health.

On Saturday, March 18th, we’ll be celebrating the one year anniversary of the Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails and Castle Mountains National Monuments with a pop-up photo exhibition at Division 9 Gallery that I am curating as part of my internship with the Hispanic Access Foundation.

In California, where the largest ethnic group is Hispanic, Latino voices were important to the creation of the Sand to Snow, Mojave Trails and Castle Mountains National Monuments. Latinos are now stepping up to make sure these monuments are kept intact. Twenty Latino groups have signed a joint letter to President Trump to emphasize their desire to see these locations, which they worked so hard to preserve, are not altered in anyway.

Nevada is a state of incredible natural diversity. The diverse landscapes of our state provide a lot more than just recreation and relaxation. These special places play a vital role in our economy, our culture and our history. Growing up in a family that camped, fished, hunted and hiked, I was raised to take from the land only what was needed and to not waste our natural resources. To do otherwise doesn’t make sense, and it is our moral obligation to ensure that future generations will inherit this outdoor heritage.

Two California non-profit organizations have been awarded funds to provide fishing programs for Hispanic families. A total of $10,792 in grants was awarded by the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation (RBFF) through the George H.W. Bush Vamos A Pescar™ Education Fund. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) will match the grant funds, effectively bringing the total amount of funding to $21,585.

Today, the Latino Partnership to Cut Waste and Protect Our Health applauds U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) for standing up for American taxpayers, clean air, and healthy communities. The partnership includes Hispanic Access Foundation; HECHO; Chispa Nevada, League of Conservation Voters; Mi Familia Vota; and Por la Creación Faith-based Alliance.