Jonathon Berman, jonathon.berman@sierraclub.org
Washington, DC -- Late yesterday, the Department of the Interior announced that it is attempting to significantly limit legally mandated environmental reviews of fossil fuel operations on public lands. The plans call to limit reviews to six months and shrinks protests over leases from a month to only 10 days. The plan also calls for the Bureau of Land Management to offer all eligible leases for lease quarterly, and for the bureau to no longer draft five-year plans for onshore fossil fuel operations.
In response, Sierra Club Lands Protection Director Athan Manuel released the following statement:
“Ryan Zinke’s disregard for the American people and their public lands knows no bounds. When he isn’t trying to sell off or illegally undo protections for public lands to please corporate polluters, he’s potentially illegally altering offshore drilling plans for political purposes, or catching Donald Trump’s ire. Our public lands are for us all to enjoy -- not for dirty fuel companies to destroy as they pollute our air, land, and water. It’s past time Zinke resigns.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3 million members and supporters. In addition to helping people from all backgrounds explore nature and our outdoor heritage, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.