Brent Fewell – Conserve Fewell

An Aspirin a day may help keep air pollution at bay, research finds . . .

Brent Fewell October 3, 2019

ILLINOIS – States move forward with coal ash laws to protect rivers and groundwater quality . . .

Brent Fewell October 1, 2019

Who ya gonna trust for your enviromental news . . .

Long gone are the days of Walter Cronkite where one need not worry, or worry less, about the accuracy or objectivity of the day’s news

Brent Fewell August 31, 2019

Cutting edge tech removes algae from water to make bioplastics – potential to cleanup polluted waters and beaches . . .

Brent Fewell July 18, 2019

How to feed a growing and hungry world without destroying the planet . . .

Brent Fewell July 18, 2019

Bipartisan bill aimed at keeping imperiled species off the Endangered Species Act list . . .

Brent Fewell July 18, 2019

Bipartisan bill aimed at keeping imperiled species off the Endangered Species Act list . . .

Brent Fewell July 18, 2019

Crunchy Con Manifesto Redux

By Brent Fewell Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate Rod Dreher’s contributions to environmental discourse and advancing the better elements of conservatism. Some may

Brent Fewell March 23, 2019

“Nudging” versus “Coercion” – Balancing Environmental Protection with Liberty and Freedom

The recent controversy over the U.S. Government’s increased proclivity to secretly paw through the electronic communications and telephone records of Americans has prompted some soul-searching by many. Is

Brent Fewell March 23, 2019

A Conservative Discussion on Climate Change – My Interview with Bob Inglis

I had the pleasure of recently sitting down with Bob Inglis to discuss his views of life, liberty and the state of the GOP. Some

Brent Fewell March 23, 2019

What’s in an agency logo . . .

The public likely didn’t notice the fact DOJ’s environment and natural resources division (ENRD) logo got a fancy makeover. Those of us who actually took

Brent Fewell November 15, 2018

EPA Chief encourages employees to elevate public health and environmental concerns . . .

This week, EPA’s Acting Administrator, Andrew Wheeler, issued the following letter to all EPA employees. This is a very encouraging action by the Trump EPA,

Brent Fewell October 5, 2018

Sabin urges GOP to return to its conservation roots . . .

The nation’s economy is humming along nicely with unemployment at an all-time low. Now President Trump and Congress must unite for a clean and healthy

Brent Fewell July 1, 2018

States are stepping up on the environment because of (or in spite of) Trump . . .

In December 2016, after Trump’s election and Scott Pruitt was nominated to be the next EPA Administrator, I made a prediction, “If Pruitt remains focused

Brent Fewell June 12, 2018

EARTH DAY – Ignore those apocalyptic Malthusians – Humans no longer dragging nuckles . . .

This Earth Day, Try Conservation Optimism Brian Yablonski Reposted from PERC April 22, 2018 EMIGRANT, Mont.—It is Earth Day, and as I write this, I

Brent Fewell April 22, 2018

We Need Cheap Water!

This past week, a group in California called Public Water Now, an anti-privatization movement aimed at re-municipalization of community water systems, has successfully garnered enough

Brent Fewell April 12, 2018

Make America’s Wildlife Great Again – Support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

In some corners, the topic of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) will evoke blood-curdling screams and political rancor the likes of which are rivaled only

Brent Fewell February 16, 2018

The Long Winter of Climate Realism

Despite the gloomy and dire predictions by environmental naysayers, there is good news going into 2018. For starters, more Republican leaders are acknowledging the impacts

Brent Fewell January 3, 2018

Trump’s Long-Standing Friendship with an Environmental Activist

This week the Stewardship Roundtable was pleased to welcome Ed Russo, long-time environmental advisor to President Trump and environmental activist. Ed is a passionate environmentalist

Brent Fewell December 16, 2017

Governor Hogan and his Environmental Chief Leading the GOP Charge on Climate

Proud of my friend and former EPA boss for his leadership on array of environmental issues, including climate change. While Grumbles has weathered some withering

Brent Fewell December 7, 2017

The Uproar Over Presidents and National Monuments

This week’s action by President Trump to chop the size of two national monuments in Utah was met with equal numbers of howls and praise.

Brent Fewell December 5, 2017

A Green and Conservative (and Liberal) Solution to Climate Change

I’m reposting in its entirety this great piece by Steven Hayward with a great TED Talk video of Michael Shellenberger. Reposted from Powerline Blog NOVEMBER

Brent Fewell November 22, 2017

Brian Yablonski to Succeed Reed Watson at PERC

Brian Yablonski will succeed Reed Watson as the Executive Director of the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), the libertarian environmental think tank based on

Brent Fewell November 15, 2017

Teddy Roosevelt’s Army or Edmund Burke’s Little Platoon?

Very proud of Benji Backer and his college friends who are storming the land and Washington DC to persuade the Grand Ole Party that environmental

Brent Fewell November 15, 2017

Environmental Justice – Why Conservatives Should Care

Environmental Justice (EJ) is back in the news this week as Democratic members of Congress introduce legislation that would codify President Clinton’s Executive Order 12898

Brent Fewell October 24, 2017

Maryland Promotes Market-based Environmentalism

Governor Hogan this week, under the leadership of Benjamin Grumbles, Secretary of Maryland’s Department of Environment, released draft regulations encouraging market-based solutions to accelerate the

Brent Fewell October 14, 2017

Stewardship Roundtable – Sep. 14, Collin O’Mara, NWF, Guest Conservationist

Next Roundtable: September 14, 8:30 a.m. – 9: 45, NWF, 1200 G St. NW Suite 900 Collin O’Mara, CEO and President of the National Wildlife

Brent Fewell August 20, 2017

EPA’s Pruitt Cleared of Violating the Agency’s Scientific Integrity Policy

In the midst of a scorched-earth campaign by environmental groups against EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the Administrator has been exonerated against charges that he violated

Brent Fewell August 2, 2017

Want to Solve Climate Change . . . Muzzle Al Gore

In discussing the issue of climate change with one of my friends this week, he opined “Al Gore has done more harm to rational efforts

Brent Fewell April 26, 2017

Earth Day Op-Ed by Zinke, Perry, and Pruitt

It’s not often three Presidential cabinet members pen a joint Op-ed piece, but that’s what EPA Administrator, Scott Pruitt, Secretary of Energy, Rick Perry, and

Brent Fewell April 24, 2017

Happy Earth Day! “Bah Humbug!” You Say

Earth Day is upon us again – in all its splendor and glory. It is indeed the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by

Brent Fewell April 22, 2017

“If They Won’t Lead, We Will . . . “

Those were the defiant and recalcitrant words of California’s Attorney General, Xavier Becerra, this past week in response to President Trump’s signing of Executive Order

Brent Fewell April 4, 2017

EPA Remains Very Relevant – More Incentives Less Bureaucracy

The Best of Intentions: Incentive, not bureaucracy, is the key to environmental protection. The American Conservative By BRENT FEWELL • March 8, 2017 Su Justen

Brent Fewell March 19, 2017

Reagan’s Environmental Chief Cautions Trump Administration

Sharing a recent NYT op-ed by William Ruckelshaus. Wise counsel from the former EPA Administrator under Presidents Nixon and Reagan, who was summoned back to

Brent Fewell March 11, 2017

Lynn Scarlett, Prominent Voice on Environment, Invited to White House to Promote Infrastructure

Kudos to President Trump and the White House for bringing greater attention to the issue of that nation’s infrastructure, including water infrastructure and opportunities to

Brent Fewell March 10, 2017

Pigheaded Hunter to EPA “Screw You and Your Lead Ammo Ban”

Most Americans probably missed this one, given the dizzying pace of political developments these days. But no sooner had Ryan Zinke been confirmed as Secretary

Brent Fewell March 6, 2017

Young Conservatives Making the Environment a Top Priority

Friedrich Neitzche once noted, “The surest way to corrupt a youth is to instruct him to hold in higher esteem those who think alike than

Brent Fewell March 2, 2017

President Trump Issues E.O., Readying to Rescind Clean Water Rule

This week, President Trump issued an Executive Order that signals the beginning process for rescinding the Obama EPA’s rule redefining Waters of the United States

Brent Fewell March 1, 2017

Scott Pruitt is the Next EPA Administrator – Now What!?

Scott Pruitt, former Attorney General for Oklahoma, was confirmed today as EPA’s Administrator, on a Senate vote of 52-46. Environmentalists have vowed to block his

Brent Fewell February 17, 2017

An Agency Drunk on Power Needs Detox, Not a Death Sentence by a Million Cuts

It’s no secret that the Heritage Foundation has been a dominant force in shaping the Trump Administration’s incoming team and policy reforms. Linking here to

Brent Fewell January 23, 2017

Are Polar Bears Doomed Due to a Warming Climate?

I am not a denier of anthropogenic global warming, but have been deeply skeptical of and disappointed in the politicization of the science. And, unfortunately,

Brent Fewell January 21, 2017

Chesapeake Conservancy Advancing Smart Data for Smarter Decisions to Clean-up the Bay

Data, data, and more data! At times it seems we are drowning in data – information overload. But smart data is becoming the future of

Brent Fewell January 3, 2017

Maryland’s GOP Governor Pushes Pro-Environment Agenda

Maryland’s Republican Governor continues to lead the way on environmental initiatives, announcing today $65M in new state funding for several environmental programs aimed at boosting

Brent Fewell January 3, 2017

Getting Back to Nature – A Guide to Greater Unity

Dan Botkin has an important message for all of us this Christmas season – get back to Nature. AN ECOLOGY OF CHRISTMAS. As our nation, and most of the world, continues on this strange angry, divisive, and dangerous

Brent Fewell December 19, 2016

Trump’s Nominee for EPA – Resetting Cooperative Federalism

This past week brought another Trump nominee, Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma’s Attorney General, who was named to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In nominating Pruitt,

Brent Fewell December 12, 2016

The Case for Conservative Environmentalism – What is Possible in a Trump Administration

Whether one calls it environmental conservatism or conservative environmentalism, I had the honor of participating in the Hoover Institution’s forum on the topic, which featured

Brent Fewell November 25, 2016

Four Ways a President Trump Could Actually Help the Climate

Guest Contributor: Eli Lehrer President-elect Donald Trump obviously doesn’t have very many fans on the environmental left. And he has said things about climate change

Brent Fewell November 20, 2016

Is Global Warming a Crisis? – Let the public decide

I recently suggested the public deserves an open transparent debate – similar to the Presidential debates – on climate change. The idea prompted some

Brent Fewell November 17, 2016

To My Environmental Friends – Give President-Elect Trump a Chance

To many of my environmentalist friends, this past week could not have gone any worse. It’s their worst nightmare come true. With the shock

Brent Fewell November 12, 2016

Conservative Environmentalism – Roundtable with Roger Scruton

For all those in DC who are interested in this topic, you should consider attending the following forum sponsored by the Hoover Institution. Roger Scruton

Brent Fewell November 8, 2016

Trump Administration Would Usher in Era of “Practical Environmentalism”

CAMPAIGN 2016: Trump seeks ‘practical environmentalism’ in EPA chief Kevin Bogardus, E&E reporter Published: Monday, September 26, 2016 A longtime business associate of Donald Trump

Brent Fewell September 27, 2016

Trump Vows to Make Water Infrastructure a High Priority of a Trump Administration

I’m linking to a 20-question survey from a group called ScienceDebate.org with the Presidential candidates’ responses to questions involving science and the environment and how

Brent Fewell September 19, 2016

The Confounding Evolution of Federal Jurisdiction Over the Nation’s Streams, Rivers and Riffles

For those environmental policy wonks like me who simply can’t get enough of this stuff, the Congressional Research Service did us all a favor and

Brent Fewell August 12, 2016

One Georgia Farmer’s Story of Saving His Soul and His Farm

I’ve spent the last couple of days with one of my favorite organizations, Sand County Foundation, where I participated in their symposium, Innovations on the Land:

Brent Fewell August 10, 2016

Can EPA and Other Feds Lead by Getting Out of the Way?

Jim Huffman has a thoughtful article in the most recent issue of the PERC Reports titled Designing Institutions for the Anthropocene, Getting the Incentives Right.

Brent Fewell July 21, 2016

The World’s Water Crisis is Very Solvable – drop by drop

The statistics are sobering, nearly 700 million or 1 in 10 human beings on this earth lack access to safe water. Water-related disease impacts 1.5

Brent Fewell July 2, 2016

Scott’s Miracle-Gro Teams with Alliance for the Bay – Commits to Cleaner Water

Everyone loves a green lawn, until that green turns local streams and waterways green with nasty algae. And then the fish die. Increasingly, the issue of

Brent Fewell June 12, 2016

NAS Releases New Study Confirming Safety of Genetically Engineered Cropsto Humans, But Questions Remain on Environmental Impacts

This past week, the National Academy of Sciences, released a study titled Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects, which constitutes the most robust, independent review

Brent Fewell May 29, 2016

Agriculture’s Ability to Innovate is the Linchpin for Clean Water

Pa. can keep the Chesapeake Bay clean without hurting farmers – here’s how By Ron Kreider By PennLive Op-Ed May 25, 2016 I grew up

Brent Fewell May 29, 2016

Beer Drinking Improves Water Quality – Kudos to Flying Dog Brewery

Seems to be a malt theme running through some of these positive developments. Recently, we reported here regarding the Saltwater Brewery in Florida that recently

Brent Fewell May 26, 2016

Saltwater Brewery Creates Wildlife-Safe Six Pack Rings – Cheers to Innovators

The devastating impacts of plastics on aquatic wildlife and birds cannot be understated. We’ve covered the controversy here at Conservefewell a number of times here

Brent Fewell May 19, 2016

David Brower – The Life of an Environmental Gladiator

Tracy Mehan has an excellent review of Tom Turner’s new book, David Brower: The Making of the Environmental Movement, in ELI’s upcoming Environmental Forum. David Brower,

Brent Fewell May 16, 2016

Sierra Club – This Week’s Environmental Saboteur Award

Before you write that next check to the Sierra Club, consider this sad tale from the State of Maryland. Governor Larry Hogan has been a

Brent Fewell April 15, 2016

Jay Faison’s Efforts to Green the GOP (and save the Planet) Through Clean Energy

I’ve long argued that the GOP’s ceding of environmental issues to the political left was not only bad for the GOP but bad for the

Brent Fewell March 11, 2016

GOP Leadership on the Defensive for Failing to Address Failing Water Infrastructure

The recent Fox News GOP debate had more lowlights than highlights, but one of the latter was a mention of the water crisis in Flint

Brent Fewell March 5, 2016

Should Costs Matter in EPA Rule-Making???

As one who is unwavering in his support for strong regulations protecting the environment, there are times when I’m confounded by the agencies engaged in

Brent Fewell January 18, 2016

Persistence and Collaboration Pay Dividends in Connecticut – The Return of the Salmon

Linking to a great news story that understates the decades of effort to bring back Atlantic salmon to Connecticut. For nearly 150 years, Connecticut’s

Brent Fewell December 21, 2015

‘Folie à Paris:’ How Does Widening the Gap Between Collective Aspiration and Individual Obligation Advance Rational Climate Policy?

Guest Contributor: Prof. Lucas Bergkamp The Paris Climate Agreement has been hailed as a huge success by some and a big failure by others. Emphasizing

Brent Fewell December 21, 2015