Administration takes next steps to privatize public forests

The Trump administration’s dangerous “energy dominance” agenda now includes a push for more oil and gas development in our national forests and grasslands.  

The U.S. Forest Service Oil and Gas Leasing Rule greases the skids for expanded leasing and drilling in our national forests. It removes opportunities for public input, reduces transparency in how leasing decisions are made and weakens the ability for the U.S. Forest Service to close lands to oil and gas development.  

In response to the news, Conservation Campaign Director, Josh Hicks, said: 

“We need healthy forests. They provide us with clean air and water, the freedom of outdoor recreation and much more, but it’s no secret that this administration has no interest in protecting these values. Instead, they are finding literally every avenue to privatize more of our public lands for logging, roadbuilding, drilling and development. The U.S. Forest Service’s Oil and Gas Leasing Rule is the latest attack to our national forests and we will continue to fight any effort that aims to dismantle critical protections that keep these precious ecosystems healthy now and for future generations.” 

For more information, contact Emily Denny, Communications Manager, edenny@tws.org