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One of President-elect Donald Trump’s key campaign slogans was “Drill, Baby, Drill!” Now the Biden administration is trying to leave a roadblock as a departing gift.
Below is an excerpt from a report by the Washington Examiner: With three weeks remaining until President-elect Donald Trump takes office, the Biden administration has made another last-ditch effort to curb the incoming president’s oil and gas agenda by taking steps to protect a Nevada mountain range.
On Monday, the administration announced plans to withdraw roughly 264,000 acres of federal lands in the Ruby Mountains, often referred to as Nevada’s Swiss Alps, from energy development leasing.
This would prevent any oil, gas, and geothermal development on these biodiversity-rich federal lands for approximately 20 years. However, mining would still be permitted. The withdrawal would not affect recreational activities.
The ban is not yet in effect, as the Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service only just submitted its withdrawal request and application to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.
On Monday, the Interior Department approved the application, initiating its consideration of the 20-year withdrawal. Simultaneously, this process has started a two-year ban on oil, gas, and geothermal development in the region while withdrawal is considered, as well as a 90-day public comment period.
Biden’s Department of Agriculture posted the announcement on social media and wrote, “Today the Biden-Harris Administration announced steps to protect Nevada’s Ruby Mountains, initiating consideration of a 20-year withdrawal which would protect wildlife habitat, cultural heritage and the thriving local outdoor recreation economy.”
The press release also states:
The Federal Register notice initiates a 90-day public comment period on the proposed withdrawal. The Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service will prepare an environmental analysis to inform whether the lands should be withdrawn for a period of up to 20 years. This process will include Tribal consultation and participation by the public, environmental groups, industry, state and local government, as well as other stakeholders. By law, the Secretary of the Interior can withdraw these lands for a maximum of 20 years. Only Congress can legislate a permanent withdrawal.
Today the Biden-Harris Administration announced steps to protect Nevada’s Ruby Mountains, initiating consideration of a 20-year withdrawal which would protect wildlife habitat, cultural heritage and the thriving local outdoor recreation economy. https://t.co/nPfXJWIPGr
— Dept. of Agriculture (@USDA) December 30, 2024
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