Provided photo For decades, oil and gas companies have taken advantage of a broken federal leasing system in an effort to stockpile our nationâs precious public lands. The industryâs exploitation of this system has prompted Montanans and other stakeholders across the West to call for reforms to the leasing system. Those calls have gotten louder over the last few years as itâs become more apparent the system is undermining our public lands, outdoor recreation economy, and the economic health of local communities. Thankfully, the Biden administration acted quickly upon taking office, putting a temporary pause on all new oil and gas leasing so it can review the system and make it work better for everyone. As the administration uses this pause as an opportunity to evaluate the leasing program, itâs crucial that it address the glut of public lands the industry has leased.