Q ~ Trust Trump's Plan ~ 03/01/2025 Vol.505, Q Day 2682

qalerts.app ^ | 03/01/2025 | FReeQs, FReepers, LurQers and Vanity

[Farcesensitive]

BREAKING 🚨 Donald Trump signed an Executive Order terminating all regulations that delay timber lumber and other wood product production 👏

TIME TO MAKE HOUSES AFFORDABLE AGAIN

I VOTED FOR THIS

pic.twitter.com/u9HCi9PIUo

— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) March 2, 2025

https://twitter.com/MAGAVoice/status/1896010148176675121

[rodguy911]

Seems there may be a bit of a glitch in the rear earth quest.

It's here:

https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2025/2/ukraine-rare-earths-potential-relies-on-soviet-assessments-may-not-be-viable-87318842

The rare earth may be a bit too "rare".

Seems it may be really hard to get to,not viable financially,doesn't even exist,or has so much Ukrainan corruption to get through that its not worth the trouble.

Add in that only China,Russia and the US have the ability to even come up with the bucks,equipment,ability in safety and a dozen other reasons why its all not what its set out to be.

Leave it to cat herd right here on FR to get to the real truth of the situation.!

So we are at the point of the bigger question:

Did Zelensky con everyone into thinking that there were trillions of rare earth minerals in Ukraine and forget to mention a few key issues like:

1. Much of the rare earth if it exists is now in the hands of Russian occupied territory due to the war.

2. If the rare earth is there it could be so hard to get its not financially viable.

3.The evidence of it being there is provided by Russia itself that did research many years ago,is it accurate?no one knows.

4. The Ukraine is one of the most corrupt countries in the world and the payoffs necessary in each area to get access to mine these minerals could be quite expensive due to corrupt officials all over the country.

5.Its gonna take millions if not billions to go after these minerals without truly knowing if they are there or what the cost will be to mine them.

I could go on but its getting apparent a zelensky con may be what we are talking about here. Zelensky is the ultimate conman,actor,fake president and all round bad guy. Hes in a do or die situation since he cant get re-elected with super low numbers from making martial law in Ukraine to avoid an election he would surely have lost. Add in he's hated by much of the world. He has few places to go. And, he's likely a criminal playing a final con/act while he's still in office,and you have a made of TV show hard to duplicate.

Here is more from the link above:

Ukraine is relying on a Soviet-era assessment of difficult-to-access rare earths deposits, according to industry experts and a geological record obtained by S&P Global Commodity Insights, as the country prepares to offer minerals to the US in exchange for military assistance.

(sounds like a con already--have us begging for the rights to non-existent minerals?)

US Vice President JD Vance will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Feb. 14 at the Munich Security Conference to discuss an end to a three-year war that began when Russia invaded Ukraine. (that happened and Z was nasty to him Marco and the President) But Zelenskyy's rare earths offer is based on exploration activities that took place largely between the 1960s and 1980s, when the Soviet state was actively mapping the area, industry experts said.

The deposits would be difficult to develop. Some are stuck behind battle lines or, in the case of the geological record for one of the sites, require advanced processing technology and a stable energy grid to extract. (always follow the money)And the valuation of the deposits is based on decades-old data: No sources contacted by Commodity Insights were aware of any commercial exploration or assessment of those deposits in the post-Soviet period.

"Unfortunately, there is no modern assessment" of rare earth reserves in Ukraine, Roman Opimakh, former director general of the Ukrainian Geological Survey, told Commodity Insights in an email. "And there is still restriction to make this information public."(now I wonder why that would be)

The Ukrainian Geological Survey is the government agency responsible for mineral development.

Deal or no deal

US President Donald Trump said Ukraine must guarantee its continued military aid from the US with "rare earths and other things," adding Feb. 10 that he wants $500 billion worth of rare earths.(putting a number on it is a wise Trumpian move that makes sure we get our money back)

Zelenskyy seems ready to make a deal.(does he already have a better deal?Is he leery about dealing with Trump who wont be fooled or hustled)

The Ukrainian president described the country's rare earths deposits as "priceless"(are these the words of the ultimate conman?) during a Feb. 7 interview with Reuters, adding that "Americans helped the most, and therefore the Americans should earn the most" in rebuilding Ukraine. ( sounds like pure BS to a man that disrespects all of our leaders)

Out of six rare earth deposits in Ukraine, only the Novopoltavske field in the Zaporizhzhia region has proven reserves with the license open for nomination. The large phosphate and rare earth deposit requires a $300 million investment, according to "Ukraine: Mining Investment Opportunities," a report by the Ukrainian Geological Survey and the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine.

The complex was first discovered in 1970 by Soviet geologists and was tested during preliminary and detailed exploration from 1978 to 1991, according to a geological record from the State Geologic and Subsoil Survey of Ukraine. The Novopoltavske deposit was found to contain a combination of phosphate ores, rare earth compounds and niobium ores, among other elements, under "relatively difficult" hydro-geological and mining conditions.(Is that code for good luck getting these minerals out of the earth?)

"On the rare earth elements classification, it's the most complex of compounds to process and recover. Only China, the US and Russia have proven to commercially recover these," Federico Gay, a principal lithium analyst at Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, said in an email after reviewing the geological record document.

The rare earths comprise the 15 elements forming the lanthanide series as well as two transition metals, scandium and yttrium.

Costly to extract

Exploration efforts were abandoned after a 13-year assessment process, and no attempts have been made to develop the Novopoltavske deposit since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, according to experts.

Ukraine's deposits of rare earth elements might not be profitable to extract.

"To my knowledge, there are no economically viable rare earth deposits in Ukraine," said Tony Mariano, an independent geologist consultant with expertise in rare earths exploration. "I have evaluated clay deposits in Ukraine thought to have potential for rare earths but found them not to be viable. This doesn't mean there aren't any, only that further exploration and evaluation needs to be done."

Other known rare earth deposits in Ukraine include the Azovske and Mazurivske deposits in the Donetsk region. Both deposits have fallen under the territorial control of the Russian Federation, based on S&P Global Market Intelligence's latest maps of Russian advances in Ukraine.

Russia's invasion in February 2022 stymied any recent attempts to further explore the region, and no private entity assessed the deposits during earlier, more peaceful times.

Additionally, information about deposits of some rare earth elements such as scandium is classified under the Resolution of the State Security Service of Ukraine from Dec. 23, 2020, due to the war.

"This secrecy is absurd, since the main deposits were discovered before 1991, and geological reports were transmitted to Moscow. So, Russia knows about our resources and reserves as much as we do," Hanna Liventseva, former chair for the Ukrainian Association of Geologists, said in an email.

Ukraine produces iron ore, coal and uranium, but Market Intelligence data does not show any reserves of rare earths, and Ukraine is not listed on the US Geological Survey's list of countries with meaningful rare earths reserves.

"I am not aware of any significant rare earth assets or reserves in Ukraine. This is just another breathless fantasy that we will magically solve our critical mineral constraints through a country at war. The closest analogy for me is the very similar hyperbole about the trillions of dollars of minerals sitting under Afghanistan," said Morgan Bazilian, director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines.

"Just like the latest hyperbole, I imagine it too will fade away once people realize that mining and processing minerals is difficult, requires a great deal of infrastructure, is time-consuming and often not economically viable, and takes significant expertise," Bazilian added.

[ransomnote]

ransomote's long post about the Ukraine thing - scroll down to bouncing cat to skip it.

I really don't want to be groggy in church tomorrow but I had to get up and turn on my computer again after the last few posts I read or posted came together in my mind in a particularly infuriating way.

I thought Sundance's take on the Ukraine mess packed a punch. Alexander Mercouris and Alex Christoforou have been saying for a long time now that what they were observing in the Ukraine indicated NATO's/Zelensky's goal was to get the US into Ukraine in direct conflict. The F-16's, the long-range missiles etc., in fact a never ending stream of different tactics have been deployed to get the US into the fighting in Ukraine.

Then I saw Ymani Cricket's post of WWII pleas for Americans to donate guns to Britain, 'to protect America.'  That really is infuriating and sad to see the comparison - the same tactic they used before.  In the past weeks I've been seeing nostalgia pieces for what the British endured and lost during WWII. Constant pointing to Russia's capacity to bring the war back to the UK and Europe etc. I am moved by their suffering but unconvinced Putin has any interest in marauding to take over the world - that 'one world' aspiration appears to be centered on NATO/UN/WEF etc. activities.

Then I was stunned to post that there are 25 functional military tanks in the UK, and that the nation has been promising to field 20,000 soldiers. Mind-blown. Knowing what they have been through in WWII, I don't see how they would end up with 25 tanks if they ever expected to fight again.

It was about 2 minutes after I turned off my computer when the rest hit me.

I've spent more days than I can count contending with Ukrainian trolls who frantically claim we must help Britain if we want to save ourselves (h/t Ymani Cricket's foreshadowing meme). I keep saying Ukrainian apologists are using the crimes of the Soviet Union to falsely portray Russia's reasons for being in Ukraine.  They go into detail, list the times 'Russia' (USSR) invaded other countries etc.  NATO nations are being quoted saying the same things - remember it's RUSSIA RUSSIA RUSSIA

When Zelensky got thrown out of the nicest 'House' in the USA, the NATO natterers and Ukrainian trolls on FR went nuts saying those not supporting Zelensky are siding with Putin, making Putin happy, supporting Putin blah blah blah. There's a Freeper who's expertise includes curb stomping Ukrainian trolls on this very topic [H/T Rocco].

But those 2 minutes after turning off my computer  put together the fact that the UK would never have reduced itself to 25 functional tanks while giving (most recently) 2.5 billion dollars to Ukraine if it ever believed that Russia was a threat, much less a threat requiring the existence of NATO. Follow me?  The 2.5 billion to Ukraine is for the Uk's actual goals, not tanks for their fake fears of Russia.

If the UK really thinks that it's only NATO restraining Russia from destroying freedom as we know it, they'd maintain more than 25 tanks. The report also said it was incapable of fielding the 20,000 troops it promised as 'peacekeepers'  to Ukraine.  So again, more proof they don't expect Russia to be a threat…for very long. When the globalists get the US into the Ukraine, and use the US to overthrow Russia (their reasoning), they'll have all the guns, bombs, tanks, planes, nukes etc.  they need.

 The UK's 25 tanks and less than 20,000 troops mean that NATO expected to take our guns and weapons, so they didn't need to maintain their own. 

That's why these monsters don't have enough tanks or people etc. They figured they were thisclose to having world dominion by controlling the weapons of Russia and America so they just used their money for more important things, and told us all about their 4 day work week and subsidized healthcare, long vacations.  Oh and I'm sure they're on board for some of that sweet sweet NGO or maybe some of the 4.7 trillion unaccounted for treasury payments.

 The globalists have been running behind schedule because Hillary was to have started WWIII in her 2016 to 2020 term. Then Biden's handlers stole the election, but they were shocked to discover Biden didn't have control of the nukes (COG) - in fact most of the aircraft/tanks etc. we sent the Ukraine was obsolete or limited junk. That was the second crushing delay. Biden was to help NATO overthrow Russia. They never expected Trump to win and for them to ever need their own army/military preparedness.  And they were recently bragging about bringing their military spending up to 3%!!!!

I wonder how many other Euro 'partners' are naked and afraid too? And they've been warning us about becoming isolated 'cause they are all united in their defense arrangements.  Oooh aren't we losing some IMPORTANT NATO partners! How they trembled when Hegseth told them we would not support article 5 of the NATO protocols (mutual defense) if they fell out with Russia.

Alexander Mercouris had a video in which he said England is desperate to look like a power equal to the United States. He backed it up with evidence (read a statement in which the UK framed itself as one half of a dynamic duo anchoring NATO), but I thought it was odd in that I couldn’t' see how the entire UK would have a Napoleon complex. But now I realize why England was desperate to look like an actual, capable nation instead of a potemkin nation plotting and planning to harvest from the US/Russia whatever it needed to be a complete nation. Such parasitism was beyond my expectation.

Americans work harder and longer, supply the Euros with defense so they can invest their money elsewhere until their NATO/UN/WEF/SOROS/CLINTON/OBAMA investments in world dominion arrives, and they harvest our weapons and enslave us.

I'm tired so forgive some of this 'talking in circles' but, since they planned on overthrowing Russia, they have no fear of Russia and therefore no defense against it. The UK 'defense system' is as robust as a boiled egg, shelled and smashed on a plate.

 And this realization, Frens, was enough for me to get up and turn my computer on at this hour, leaving me to drive to church in too few hours, steering with my feet, while otherwise asleep in the back seat of the car. 

ON IMGUR

[rodguy911]

Here’s more:

https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-titanium-minerals-us-deal-d99cf34936b9301c4fcee038fc6d9656

In Ukraine, a potential arms-for-minerals deal inspires hope and skepticism
and finally,
https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/what-are-ukraines-rare-earths-why-does-trump-want-them-2025-02-05/

[rodguy911]

Hey bud,is this what you have been waiting for":

[rodguy911]

Great find LJ! the Gen. has been in the news quite a bit lately.

[teeman8r]

first, thanks for joining in and making the start of a new thread a must read venture. your presence here is welcomed. you did come in with a chip on your shoulder and blamed others for condescension and arrogance when it was you who brought that IN with you. i will continue, but you probably won’t. on other threads where you ridiculed us as Q tards and such, you epiphaniesed that perhaps q was right, yet you came here and questioned our legitimacy after a fraction of a decades long thread fraction of posts—all of which are linked to the past threads and q drops and ALL the information you need to formulate your own opinion, but you chose not to, but to only disrupt like the stalker you are. uninformed and ignorant and arrogant. you are waking up, but too arrogant to admit you were wrong about us. now ive gone and written something too long to read. my FRens on this thread mean the world to me—literally.

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

So, you came here to push buttons and rattle cages because you thought we were “loonies”.
You then rhetorically embarrass yourself and can’t defend your words; you’re talking out of your a$$.
With no defense, you double down.
And finally, you conclude, about us, that which you came here to do...”loonies.”

You are a Monty Python skit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLlv_aZjHXc

[rodguy911]

Meanwhile in Mexico theres this:

I asked grok3 and AI super searcher if the US was getting ready to send US troops into Mexico and here is what I got:

Key Points

Research suggests the US is preparing for possible military action against Mexican cartels inside Mexico, but it's unclear if they're imminently ready to start a war.

The evidence leans toward increased surveillance, designating cartels as terrorists, and potential future strikes, indicating readiness in capability but not necessarily immediate action.

There is controversy, as Mexico opposes such actions, viewing them as a breach of sovereignty, which could strain bilateral relations.

Background

The US has been grappling with the impact of Mexican drug cartels, particularly due to the fentanyl crisis and border security concerns. President Donald Trump, in office as of January 2025, has emphasized a tough stance on cartels, including labeling them as foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) to potentially justify military action.

Recent Developments Recent reports indicate the US is ramping up surveillance of Mexican cartels, with drone flights over Mexico and increased intelligence gathering, as stated by Air Force General Gregory Guillot on February 13, 2025 (US military ramping up surveillance of Mexican cartels, general says | Reuters). On January 20, 2025, Trump signed an executive order initiating the process to designate certain cartels as FTOs, which could provide legal backing for military operations (Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists – The White House).

US officials have hinted at future strikes, with a DEA agent noting on February 21, 2025, that cartels are worried about the possibility of being "vaporized" by US military action (U.S. official says drone flights over Mexico may signal future strikes | LA Times).

Unexpected Detail While the focus has been on US actions, an unexpected aspect is Mexico's response, with President Claudia Sheinbaum reinforcing the northern border with 10,000 National Guard members on February 4, 2025, as part of an agreement to delay US tariffs, showing a cooperative yet sovereign stance (In pictures: Mexican troops deployed to border with US - February 5, 2025 | Reuters).

***

[12/27]A member of the Mexican National Guard patrols the border wall between Mexico and the U.S. on the outskirts of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, February 6. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez

CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO Survey Note:

Detailed Analysis of US Readiness for Military Action Against Mexican Cartels Inside Mexico This note provides a comprehensive analysis of whether the United States is ready to start a war against Mexican cartels inside Mexico, based on extensive research conducted as of March 2, 2025. The investigation involved multiple searches across various news sources and official reports, focusing on recent developments and historical context, given the current date and political landscape under President Donald Trump.

Research Methodology

The analysis began by identifying the context of US-Mexico relations regarding drug cartels, particularly the fentanyl crisis and border security. Searches were conducted using queries such as "US military action against Mexican cartels in 2025," "Trump's plan for military action against Mexican cartels," and "US government statement on military action against Mexican cartels," targeting both general web results and specific US and Mexican news outlets like Reuters, The Guardian, and The New York Times. The time frame was set to recent reports, given the current date, to ensure relevance.

Findings on US Preparations Initial searches revealed extensive coverage of US preparations for potential military action. On February 13, 2025, Reuters reported that the US military is increasing its airborne surveillance of Mexican drug cartels to collect intelligence, as stated by Air Force General Gregory Guillot, head of US Northern Command (US military ramping up surveillance of Mexican cartels, general says | Reuters). This includes intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to counter cartel activities driving illegal migration.

On January 20, 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14157, initiating the process to designate certain international cartels, particularly Mexican ones, as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs) or Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), as detailed on the White House website (Designating Cartels and Other Organizations as Foreign Terrorist Organizations and Specially Designated Global Terrorists – The White House). This order highlights cartels as a national security threat, with activities encompassing convergence with foreign actors and operating as quasi-governmental entities in parts of Mexico. The order requires the Secretary of State and other officials to make recommendations within 14 days, suggesting a rapid move towards formal designation.

Further, on February 21, 2025, the LA Times reported that a DEA agent, Todd Zimmerman, stated that drone flights over Mexico, while currently unarmed, may signal future strikes, with cartels aware of the potential for US military action (U.S. official says drone flights over Mexico may signal future strikes | LA Times). This indicates a readiness in terms of capability, with the US military and intelligence community preparing for possible direct action.

Lack of Confirmed Military Action Despite these preparations, no evidence was found of the US having started military operations inside Mexico as of March 2, 2025. Searches on platforms like Reuters and The Guardian, such as "US military operations in Mexico 2025 site:reuters.com," returned results focused on surveillance and planning rather than active combat. For instance, a Reuters article from January 22, 2025, mentioned sending 1,500 additional troops to the border, but these were stationed at the border, not inside Mexico (US military to send additional 1,500 troops to border | Reuters).

Mexican Response and Controversy

Mexico's response has been notably oppositional, with President Claudia Sheinbaum rejecting the FTO designation on January 20, 2025, emphasizing sovereignty and coordination, as reported by AP News (Mexico defends sovereignty as US seeks to label cartels as terrorists | AP News). On February 5, 2025, Reuters covered Mexico deploying 10,000 National Guard members to the northern border to prevent drug trafficking, following an agreement with Trump to delay tariffs, indicating a cooperative yet independent approach (In pictures: Mexican troops deployed to border with US - February 5, 2025 | Reuters). This stance highlights the controversy, as military action inside Mexico could be seen as a breach of sovereignty, potentially straining bilateral relations.

Contextual Factors

The US's focus on cartels is driven by the fentanyl crisis, with overdose deaths surpassing 100,000 annually since 2021, as noted in a Heritage Foundation report from January 26, 2025 (How the President Can Use the U.S. Military to Confront the Catastrophic Threat at the Border with Mexico | The Heritage Foundation). Trump's rhetoric, including statements from his inauguration and campaign promises, suggests a willingness to use military force, with experts warning of potential retaliatory strikes by cartels, as discussed in an Atlantic Council article from January 14, 2025 (US intervention against Mexican cartels carries major risks. Here's how to mitigate them. | Atlantic Council).

Table:

Summary of Key Searches and Findings US military action against Mexican cartels in 2 Feb 2025 Increased surveillance, FTO designation, potential future strikes

Trump's plan for military action against cartels Jan-Feb 2025 Executive order for FTO designation, hints at military action US government statement on military action Jan-Feb 2025 No specific statements, focus on preparation and surveillance US military operations in Mexico 2025 Feb 2025 No active operations, focus on border deployment and drone flights Trump's first day executive orders 2025 Jan 2025 Included order for FTO designation, no direct military action

Conclusion

Based on the extensive research, it is concluded that the US is preparing for the possibility of military action against Mexican cartels inside Mexico, with increased surveillance, FTO designation, and potential future strikes indicating readiness in capability. However, there is no evidence of imminent war or active military operations as of March 2, 2025. The controversy with Mexico, particularly over sovereignty, suggests that any such action would face significant diplomatic challenges. The unexpected detail is Mexico's proactive deployment of troops to the border, showing a cooperative yet sovereign response to US pressure.

[Ckcpossum]

From all I’ve seen of your posts over the years the heirs need to thank their lucky stars you are in charge. Nothing brings out greed quicker than possible inheritance. Wishing you strength and good guidance and the ability to come out the other side with a sense of peace and the ability to really enjoy life!

[Cletus.D.Yokel]

Via con Deus, eh...

[MomwithHope]

Dittos from me LL.

[LittleLinda]

Well that’s exactly the situation I think I’m in. A developer wants the property/house to build a condo of 6-8 units that are selling for $1 million each and he already owns an adjacent property. His offer is at least 25% higher than the norm but he wants an environmental assessment done as a condition of sale because a gas station used to be 100 yards away. He needs to make sure there’s no ground contamination that would have to be removed before he could re-develop it.

But I think he lied to me when he stated that removal of any contaminants is covered by the homeowners policy. I just don’t believe that’s true without a special rider on the policy and can’t believe my mother and stepfather would ever have thought of or agreed to that. I need to find the policy and then learn both the consequences of discovering there’s contamination and my future obligation to disclose it to any seller - commercial or private. It could materially change the value of the property once I know for sure. It might be better to not know and take a lower price (market value). I’m looking for a real estate lawyer who can address my concerns, all while I’m getting heirs yelling at me to “Sell now before the developer reduces his offer!” Yiyiyi.

Your advice to be careful is good. Thank you. Luckily, that’s my nature, to the supreme frustration of my siblings.

[rodguy911]

Is this an EO or what form does it take?

[nclaurel]

You can always tell when there is truth showing up in the realm of Q because disruptors will appear and - well - disrupt, or try to.

You really expressed that well. I was thinking the same. As we all get upbeat about developments someone has to come in to deflect. Very similar to the DS using false flags whenever something they don’t want revealed occurs. Sad people fighting to keep relevance to their negative agenda.

[MomwithHope]

Or someone could just read all the delta posts.

[LittleLinda]

Thank you for your condolences. The timing couldn’t be worse but I’ll handle it the same way I would if I were eating an elephant - one bite at a time. I am going to have to pass on the Bridge National Championships that are starting in Memphis in 11 days though. What I really want to do is throw all of my technology away. My phone keeps blowing up with sometimes 20 texts coming in within minutes of each other. I’d turn it off and force people to use only my land line to reach me but my staff has become dependent on being able to contact me by text. They’re mostly teenagers and it’s never been a problem until this week. Two weeks from today and that part of my life will be over. Then I’ll have time to properly grieve the loss of my stepfather. Right now I’m in the middle of a blinding s***storm and barely know what day of the week it is.

[Jumper]

Remember when Trump called me in the first days of his first presidency, and I helped Biden and the Brits with both the Impeachements (x2) and the Russian Hoax!

[Jumper]

Let’s Gitmo Jake Sullivan and Anthony Blinken... and Blinken’s dad. Vicky the Vampire and Hillary can be added to the list, and Samatha Powers. Leat we not forget Paul Pelosi, the son, of a B*tch, Nancy, JF’n Kerry’s son and Hunter; oh and Romeny’s spawn, and the warmongering Ho of Dick Chenny’s spawn. Putting these people in prision and stripping them of their weath is a good start to deconstruction the generation wealth Illegally Taken by Politicians.

[smileyface]

“I need to find the policy and then learn both the consequences of discovering there’s contamination and my future obligation to disclose it to any seller - commercial or private. It could materially change the value of the property once I know for sure. It might be better to not know and take a lower price (market value).”
```````
You are wise. This bid may result in you having to dramatically undercut the price. Who knows who would be doing the “environmental assessment” and their ties.