Oil pump jacks in McKenzie County in western North Dakota seen Jan 14, 2015. (Matthew Brown/AP, file)
Nevada Appeal Capitol Bureau
Saturday, October 23, 2021
Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., on Wednesday called for sweeping changes in how the federal government issues oil and gas leases.
She joined Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colo., in legislation that would end the current practice of leasing non-competitive public lands to private companies for as little as $1.50 an acre.
She said the legislation will bring an end to giveaways for private speculation and boost conservation and outdoor recreation in Nevada “by finally requiring oil and gas companies to pay fair market value for public lands.”
The Government Accounting Office found in 2020 that 99 percent of lands leased non-competitively never produce oil or gas in paying quantities.
“This is especially a problem in Nevada where more than 2 million acres have been sold (leased) in this manner since 2009,” she said.
The proposal was supported by more than a dozen conservation, environmental and recreation groups.
