Biden Moves To Block Nevada & Coastal Waters Oil Drilling, Development Ahead Of Trump Admin
President Joe Biden’s administration announced steps to block oil, gas, and geothermal development in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains and restrict new offshore drilling in vast swathes of U.S. coastal waters, marking a major move in the waning days of his presidency.
The Biden administration submitted an application to withdraw approximately 264,000 acres of federal land in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains from oil, gas, and geothermal leasing for 20 years, according to the Associated Press.
The move initiates a 90-day public comment period and a two-year lease moratorium during the review process. While mining activities will still be permitted, conservationists argue that the ban is insufficient without addressing mining’s environmental impact.
“The Ruby Mountains have no known oil reserves, and this withdrawal does nothing to ward off the truly urgent threat of gold mining,” said Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity.
The move aligns with requests from Native American tribes, conservation groups, hunters, and anglers to preserve the Ruby Mountains’ ecological and cultural significance.
In a broader initiative, Biden is set to announce a ban on new offshore oil and gas development across 625 million acres of U.S. coastal waters, including parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and the eastern Gulf of Mexico. This ban will exclude the central and western Gulf of Mexico, which accounts for about 14% of the nation’s oil and gas production.
The ban, reportedly relying on the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, is designed to be difficult for future administrations, including President-elect Donald Trump, to overturn.
Legal precedent from 2019 affirms that presidents lack the authority to revoke previous drilling bans under this law, a ruling that upheld restrictions implemented by former President Barack Obama, according to Reuters.
The decision comes amidst Biden’s focus on climate change and his goal of decarbonizing the U.S. economy by 2050. However, it has drawn criticism from oil and gas proponents who argue that limiting domestic production could harm energy independence and the economy.
President-elect Trump, who has pledged to expand domestic energy production and roll back climate-focused policies, is expected to challenge the bans through legal and administrative measures after taking office.
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