Sierra Club Statement on Revised USFS Oil and Gas Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Forest Service announced a revised oil and gas leasing rule that fast-tracks dirty energy projects in national forests.

In a press release, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the policy would "streamline" the process for allowing oil and gas projects on landscapes managed by the Forest Service.

The Trump Administration has consistently pursued policies enabling quicker permitting of oil and gas projects on public land, often at the expense of environmental review and public input.

In response, Mike Scott, Sierra Club's Oil and Gas Campaign Manager, released the following statement:

"Since his first day back in office, Donald Trump has made it clear he wants to gift wrap our public lands to hand over to billionaires and corporate polluters. Now he wants to fast-track oil and gas drilling projects on national forest lands. This is one more giveaway to the oil and gas industry and the latest example of Trump's mismanagement of our country's public lands and energy economy. It's not 'energy dominance,' it's sacrificing lands, waterways, and wildlife to boost corporate profits."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.