Secretarial Order 3398 Returns a Balanced Approach to Public Lands and Waters that Benefit All People

Today, Secretary of the Interior Haaland issued Secretarial Order 3398. This order will help ensure our public lands and waters are managed for all stakeholders and takes a great step forward in transitioning the nation to net-zero emissions.

Roundtable Discussion: Protecting the Ruby Mountains and Reforming Oil and Gas Leasing on Public Lands

The Nevada Wildlife Federation looks forward to working with Rep. Susie Lee to reform the current oil and gas leasing process on our public lands. The outdated federal onshore oil and gas leasing system lets oil and gas companies pursue speculative leasing on public lands that don’t have any actual development potential.

New bipartisan legislation in the House and Senate will fund locally-led efforts to help prevent extinctions and help wildlife thrive nationwide. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will send approximately $24.8 million to Nevada each year, which the Nevada Department of Wildlife will use to help the ten species of concern in Nevada, such as the Bighorn Sheep, Lahontan Cutthroat Trout and Golden Eagles.

Governor Sisolak signed the Sagebrush Conservation Executive Order. This measure is a step in the right direction concerning the conservation of migratory habitats in Nevada. The order outlines a number of ways NDOW will be able to manage and develop policies that protect our public spaces and the animals that roam through them.

Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen is co-sponsoring the most significant wildlife conservation bill in nearly half a century, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. The bipartisan bill will devote $1.4 billion annually to locally-led efforts – including $24.8 million to Nevada – to help at-risk wildlife species.

Senator Hickenlooper joins Nevada Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen in introducing bills to reform the antiquated federal oil and gas program -- bills that can, and should, be included in the upcoming budget reconciliation bill.

The Biden administration issued its highly anticipated report on the federal oil and gas leasing program. The report acknowledges how the oil and gas industry have benefited from low leasing and bonding rates. Over the past century this has resulted in millions of dollars lost to the state of Nevada. Revenue that could have benefited the state’s residents and tourists who enjoy Nevada’s vast public lands.

The reforms highlighted in this bill have not been updated in decades. Key fiscal reforms include ending non-competitive leasing, increasing bonding rates on wells, and updating the royalty and rental rates for oil and gas leasing on public lands. These reforms will ensure taxpayers receive a fair return from the oil and gas industry who lease public lands for energy extraction.