Public land is no longer on sale to oil and gas companies
President Biden’s leasing pause signals a major shift in federal land policy. Image credit: Paul Ratje/AFP via Getty Images Analysis Jan. 29, 2021 From the print edition On Jan. 27, President Joseph Biden planted a continent-sized “not for sale” sign on the public lands and waters managed by the federal government. In an executive order — part of a sweeping set of orders focused on climate change — Biden directed Interior Secretary nominee Deb Haaland to reassess the federal oil and gas leasing system and, at least for now, to pause the sale of deve...