In a move anticipated to spark debate, the outgoing Biden administration has initiated steps to prohibit oil and gas leasing across a substantial area of Nevada's Ruby Mountains. Just weeks before the presidential transition, the Department of the Interior announced its intention to implement a 20-year ban encompassing 264,000 acres. This action involves an application to withdraw the land from leasing consideration, triggering an immediate two-year moratorium on new mineral leases while the approval process unfolds. A 90-day period for public comment will follow, extending into the incoming Trump administration's tenure.
The rationale behind this decision, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, centers on the Ruby Mountains' significance as a vital natural and recreational resource. Vilsack highlighted the area's "exceptional recreation opportunities and valuable fish and wildlife habitat," emphasizing the importance of preserving it for future generations. He also noted that the move responds to concerns voiced by Tribal communities, conservationists, and sportsmen's organizations.
President Biden speaking at the Department of Labor on December 16, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch)
Importantly, the proposed lease restriction doesn't affect mining operations in the region. This targeted approach underscores the administration's focus on fossil fuel extraction. This latest action follows a previous attempt during the Trump administration to assess the potential for oil and gas drilling on 54,000 acres within the Ruby Mountains. That proposal was ultimately abandoned in 2019 after extensive public opposition surfaced during the comment period. Forest supervisor William Dunkelberger, who oversaw the decision, cited "thousands of comments" from local, state, and national stakeholders as a key factor in the rejection.
Great Basin, Nevada, Elko County, Ruby Mountains, Lamoille Canyon. (Dukas/Universal Images Group)
Adding to the complexity of the situation, a 2018 report in the LA Times quoted then-geologist for the Humboldt-Toiyabe Ruby Mountains ranger district, Jenna Padilla, as stating that geological surveys indicated "low to no potential for oil" in the area. While the incoming Trump administration's stance on potential leases remains uncertain, the Biden administration's proposal could present significant obstacles to any future drilling endeavors.
