Public Citizen Statement on the Biden Administration Resuming Oil and Gas Leasing on Public Lands
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Biden administration resumed issuing new oil and gas leases on public lands. Robert Weissman, president of Public Citizen, released the following statement:
“With the climate crisis smacking us in the face at every turn, it’s hard to imagine a worse idea than resuming oil and gas drilling on federal lands.
“As has been documented in long and excruciating detail, oil and gas drillers have trashed public lands and failed to clean up their mess – while siphoning public resources for a relative pittance.
“While it’s commendable that the Biden administration is appealing a flawed district court ruling enjoining its pause on oil and gas drilling on public lands, the administration must do more – starting by imposing measures to force Dirty Energy companies to clean up their mess and to pay higher royalties for the privilege of extracting resources from public lands.”