BLM’s 6.7-Million Acre Biden Leasing Ban by Other Means

DENVER – Western Energy Alliance President Kathleen Sgamma will testify at a legislative hearing before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands regarding four bills, including two  on the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Resource Management Plans (RMP) that would close 6.7 million acres to leasing across four western states. She will testify in support of bills introduced by Rep. Harriet Hageman (H.R. 6085) and Rep. Lauren Boebert (H.R. 6547) to stop two RMPs in Wyoming and Colorado as well as bills on the Antiquities Act (H.R. 5499) and Natural Asset Companies (H.R. 7006).
 
“Just one week into his presidency, President Biden issued a moratorium on new leases on federal lands and waters. Lacking the power to do so, this Biden leasing ban was fairly easily overturned in court. BLM is now using the public land use planning process to preclude leasing on vast swathes of land across the West, in effect serving as the Biden leasing ban by other means,” said Sgamma. “In five RMPs that are currently being updated across the West, BLM is proposing to close over 6.7 million acres to oil and natural gas leasing. The extent of the proposed land closures and restrictions is at an unprecedented level, with the ultimate effect being a ban on leasing on large parts of the federal mineral estate.”

Sgamma’s full testimony is available on the Alliance’s website.

​What:   Legislative hearing in the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands
 
Who:     Kathleen Sgamma, president of Western Energy Alliance 
 
When:  Wednesday, March 20th, 10:15 a.m. ET
 
Where: Livestream on the committee webpage.

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