Administration Resumes Oil And Gas Leasing, But With Much Needed Reforms

Washington, DC – The Biden administration has resumed oil and gas lease sales this week, but cancelled hundreds of thousands of acres of controversial lease sales in key recreation and wildlife areas.

The administration froze the controversial oil and gas leasing process shortly after taking office, but a Louisiana judge ruled that the sales should resume during a legal challenge.

This week it will resume the program but will only offer one-fifth of the amount of acres that companies had requested be auctioned, and will increase the royalty rates companies must pay to 18.75% from 12.5%.

“We’re encouraged the administration has dramatically reduced the scale of oil and gas lease sales, and sensibly protected national parks and other important public lands from dangerous drilling on the doorstep,” said Matt Kirby, senior energy and landscape conservation director at the National Parks Conservation Association. “We urge Congress to enact these common-sense protections into law to permanently protect these places from reckless oil and gas development.“

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About the National Parks Conservation Association: Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its nearly 1.6 million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s most iconic and inspirational places for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.