Notify the Forest Service. Stop Drilling on Public Lands!

Dear Friends and Concerned Citizens ~

On the national level, Defenders of Wildlife has launched a petition to stop the Forest Service from allowing Big Oil and Gas to drill on public lands. They need your help to stop a new proposal that puts more than 100 threatened and endangered species at risk from the oil industry!

The US Forest Service has proposed new regulations that make it much easier for oil and gas interests to drill on public lands and make it much harder for the public to stop them.

Say no to the Forest Service’s attempt to turn over even more public land to Big Oil while cutting us out of the process by November 2nd.

See the draft letter below. Add your signature now!

>. >. >. >. >. >. >. >. >. >. >. Draft Letter

Dear U.S. Forest Service:

Please accept these comments on proposed revisions to the Forest Service’s regulations governing Federal oil and gas resources on National Forest System lands.

As a wildlife advocate and co-owner, user, and beneficiary of America’s national forests, I oppose this regulation. Pushing for more oil and gas development on our national forests and grasslands at a time when we are fighting to save wildlife and biodiversity from the climate crisis is not only deeply flawed policy, but unethical.

Pushing to streamline oil and gas development on national forests and grasslands poses a significant and unacceptable risk to our nation’s wildlife heritage. The agency has an obligation to protect and restore imperiled wildlife and this regulation undermines that essential mission.

Adopting and implementing this rule will impede the conservation of over a hundred species listed under the Endangered Species Act, like the Mexican spotted owl, Canada lynx, Preble’s meadow jumping mouse and the Gunnison sage grouse, as well as habitat for species commonly enjoyed by the public for wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing.

The Forest Service has an obligation to be an independent steward of our national forests and to further public engagement in decisions that affect our lands, yet this regulation would relinquish the agency’s right to serve as a check on oil and gas leasing, and cut the public out of the process that decides which lands will be opened to oil and gas drilling.

Diminishing the role of the public in significant oil and gas development decisions is particularly egregious given the effect that drilling can have on disadvantaged communities during this time of essential movement for social and environmental justice.

Public lands must be managed in the public interest, yet this rule gives excessive leeway to drilling companies, even if they don’t follow Forest Service laws and policies. We urge the Forest Service to move in a different direction and protect our public lands from development and degradation rather than catering to special interests.

Sincerely,
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