Ruby Mountains oil and gas leasing rejected by Forest Service
Ruby Mountains, Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, Nevada
Susan Elliot, USDA
Congress must act to provide permanent protection
The Wilderness Society celebrated news today that the U.S. Forest Service rejected a proposal to lease Nevada’s Ruby Mountains for oil and gas development, recognizing the outpouring of opposition from sportsmen groups, tribes, conservationists and other stakeholders.
Statement from Scott Miller, senior regional director of The Wilderness Society:
“In a significant victory for our public lands, the Forest Service rejected a proposal to sell oil and gas leases in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada after sportsmen and women, tribes, conservationists and Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-Nev) strongly denounced the proposal.
“Places that are too wild to drill like the Ruby Mountains deserve protection, and we strongly urge Congress to pass Sen. Cortez-Masto’s legislation (S.258) to permanently prohibit oil and gas leasing in this spectacular landscape, making sure it remains undeveloped for future generations.”
The Wilderness Society is the leading conservation organization working to protect wilderness and inspire Americans to care for our wild places. Founded in 1935, and now with more than one million members and supporters, The Wilderness Society has led the effort to permanently protect 109 million acres of wilderness and to ensure sound management of our shared national lands. Visit www.wilderness.org.
Contact Tony Iallonardo@tws.org
