Biden suspends oil, gas leases on public lands for 60 days

BILLINGS, Mont. - The Biden administration has suspended new oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on public lands and waters for 60 days as part a review of programs at the U.S. Department of Interior.
The move follows President Joe Biden's campaign pledge to halt new drilling and end the leasing of publicly owned energy reserves as part of his plan to address climate change.
The suspension went into effect immediately under an order signed Wednesday by Acting Interior Secretary Scott de la Vega. The order did not limit operations under valid leases, meaning oil and gas activity won't come to a sudden halt on the millions of acres of lands in the West and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico where much drilling is concentrated.
The order also blocks the approval of new mining plans, land sales or exchanges and the hiring of senior-level staff at the agency.
It drew a quick backlash from the oil industry's main trade group, the American Petroleum Institute, which said limiting access to publicly owned...

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