The Biden administration announced plans to block oil, gas, and geothermal development for 20 years across 264,000 acres in Nevada’s Ruby Mountains. A formal application initiates a 90-day public comment period and imposes a two-year moratorium during the review process. Mining activity, however, would still be permitted.
Environmentalists praised the move as a step against speculative oil leasing but criticized the continued allowance of mining, which they view as a greater threat. “The Ruby Mountains have no known oil reserves,” noted Patrick Donnelly of the Center for Biological Diversity, emphasizing the need for broader protections.
The decision follows requests from Native American tribes and conservation groups and aligns with the U.S. Forest Service’s 2019 conclusion that oil and gas leasing in the area was unsuitable.
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