(Reuters) – The Biden administration took steps on Monday to protect the Ruby Mountains in northeastern Nevada from oil, gas and geothermal development for 20 years.
The Interior Department said it had approved a U.S. Forest Service application to withdraw 264,442 acres of federal land in the Ruby Mountains from mineral and geothermal energy leasing.
Approval of the application will remove the lands from development for a period of up to two years and begin a 90-day period during which the public can comment on the proposed 20-year withdrawal.
The proposal comes three weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to boost domestic oil and gas production, succeeds President Joe Biden, a Democrat who has sought to preserve large amounts of public land.
The lands would remain open for mining claims, the Home Office said.
“The Ruby Mountains are cherished by local communities for their scenic value, cultural heritage, abundant wildlife and benefits to the local economy through a thriving outdoor recreation industry,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement. “Today we are taking an important and sensible step to pause the leasing of new oil and gas to ensure we have the scientific and public input needed to inform the proposed protection of the Ruby Mountains area for future generations .”
