The Biden administration has announced a proposal to ban oil, gas, and geothermal development on 264,000 acres of federal land in the Ruby Mountains of northeastern Nevada for 20 years.
This action follows a request from Native American tribes, conservationists, hunters, and anglers.
The move initiates a 90-day public comment period and places a temporary two-year ban on development activities during the process. However, mining would still be permitted in the area.
Patrick Donnelly, from the Center for Biological Diversity, praised the move to halt speculative oil leasing but expressed concerns about the ongoing threat posed by gold mining in the region.
The decision to withdraw the lands follows a 2019 assessment by the U.S. Forest Service, which deemed oil and gas leasing unsuitable for the Ruby Mountains.