Medhini Kumar, medhini.kumar@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, DC – The Bureau of Land Management will be issuing oil and gas leases on more than 200 square miles of public lands in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota and Oklahoma starting on June 29, 2022.
In response, Sierra Club's Director of Lands, Water and Wildlife Dan Ritzman released released the following statement:
"We cannot effectively combat the climate crisis while continuing to fuel that crisis by leasing publicly owned lands and waters to fossil fuel companies. And yet, the Administration is about to hand over 200 square miles of our treasured public lands for drilling, threatening iconic places like the Railroad Valley Wildlife Management Area in Nevada and the Pinnacles Wilderness Study Area in Wyoming’s Red Desert.
"For far too long, oil drilling has harmed our communities’ health, right to clean air and water, and access to nature. It has often come at the expense of Black, Indigenous, and communities of color, who face the deadly harm of toxic pollution in their backyards, recreation centers, and playgrounds. For the sake of people and the planet, we must put an end to leasing on public lands.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, 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.