Nevada Wildlife Federation Applauds Senator Hickenlooper’s Bill to Eliminate Noncompetitive Leasing

Today, U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado introduced a bill to eliminate the loophole in the federal oil and gas program known as noncompetitive leasing -- a century-old policy that lets oil and gas companies and speculators lease federal public lands for just $1.50 per acre without bidding on them at auction. These backroom deals have become particularly problematic in Nevada with 70 percent of all acres leased noncompetitively nationwide between 2009-18 occurring in the state, representing a staggering 2 million acres.

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.

In response, Russell Kuhlman, Executive Director of the Nevada Wildlife Federation, released the following statement:

“Noncompetitive leasing has become a full-blown crisis in Nevada. Over the last 10 years over 2 million acres of public lands – an area nearly the size of Yellowstone – have been leased noncompetitively and more than 670,000 acres are currently available for noncompetitive leasing. Those 2 million acres of public land represent 70 percent of the total noncompetitive federal leases issued nationwide between 2009-2018 and it represents an enormous obstacle to wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation. Senator Hickenlooper’s common-sense bill to end this wasteful practice is simply good government that presents a great opportunity to safeguard public access to Nevada’s public lands. We wholeheartedly support this bill and call on Senator Hickenlooper’s colleagues to ensure its passage in the budget bill.”

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The Nevada Wildlife Federation is a 501(c)3 and is the oldest statewide conservation organization dedicated to sustaining Nevada’s natural resources for wildlife through conservation, preservation, and education.