Protecting America’s Public Lands and Waters from Drilling

Photo by Loren Blackford
The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is one of America's last truly wild places and must be preserved. | Photo by Loren Blackford

Public lands and waters should never be threatened by oil and gas drilling. We work to protect these special places from legislative assaults and federal regulatory rollbacks that threaten to open them up to exploitation by the fossil fuel industry.

May 6, 2021

Albuquerque, NM— Today, the Department of the Interior released an outline that lays the groundwork for the national effort to protect 30% of lands and waters in the United States by 2030 (an effort known as “30x30”). 

May 5, 2021

Today, seven national and regional organizations delivered a letter to President Joe Biden requesting his intervention to halt any actions by the US Air Force that could lead to the installation of commercial and private cargo operations at the Homestead Air Reserve Base in Southern Florida at the edge of America’s most threatened national parks.

April 28, 2021

Newe legal motion responds to 14 states challenging the leasing pause

April 27, 2021

Sierra Club issued the following statements on the passing of Adam Kolton, executive director of Alaska Wilderness League.

April 23, 2021

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff today announced the addition of 16 new sites to the National Park Service’s Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program. The announcement marks the end of National Parks Week this year.

April 19, 2021

Cheyenne, WY— Farmers and ranchers, conservation, recreation, and tribal groups filed motions to intervene today to defend the Biden administration’s pause on federal oil and gas leasing pending the Department of Interior’s comprehensive review of the program.

16 de abril de 2021

La secretaria del Interior, Deb Haaland, emitió hoy dos órdenes ejecutivas en las que prioriza la acción climática y revoca políticas de la administración Trump que promocionaban el desarrollo de explotaciones de combustibles fósiles en lugar de la seguridad de las comunidades y la naturaleza.

April 16, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Interior Secretary Haaland today issued two executive orders prioritizing action on climate change and revoking Trump administration policies promoting fossil fuel development over the health of communities and the outdoors.

April 15, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Today marks the end of a public comment period on the Biden Administration’s pause and review of the federal oil and gas leasing program. The comment period brought an outpouring of support for reforming and phasing out fossil fuel leasing on public lands and waters.

April 14, 2021

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The annual National Park Week returns from April 17–25. The event celebrates our national parks and encourages everyone to get outdoors and explore the history, culture, and landscapes of these treasured places. The event kicks off Friday, April 16 with a Twitter chat for a conversation about National Park Week, ways to recreate responsibly, connected conservation, and other outdoors topics.