Statement: HECHO Applauds Interior Department’s Recommendations to Reform Broken, Antiquated Oil and Gas Leasing Program

MEDIA STATEMENT 

Nov. 26, 2021 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CONTACT: Amy Dominguez, Communications Coordinator, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO); 303-441-5146, amy@hechoonline.org 

The report follows a comprehensive review of federal leasing practices and priorities and highlights how the oil and gas industry has benefitted at the expense of taxpayers, wildlife, and public lands. 

Today the Department of the Interior (DOI) released a long-awaited report on the state of the federal oil and gas leasing program and includes a path forward to bring the program into the 21st century so that it works for everybody.  

“For too long, our oil and gas leasing program has been utilizing outdated practices that have long-term implications for the health, stewardship, and economics of our public lands. We are excited to see that the DOI has put forward recommendations that address long-standing problems with an antiquated leasing program. Congress should use this report as a guide for reforming the fiscal policies of federal oil and gas leasing program as part of the Build Back Better Act,” said Camilla Simon, Executive Director, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO). 

Shaped by input from a diverse range of stakeholders including Tribes, environmental justice advocates, local community members, oil and gas workers, scientists, business owners, and oil and gas industry members – the report details how public lands, taxpayers, wildlife, conservation, and outdoor recreation suffer from decades-old policies that prioritizes the interests of oil and gas industry. With a series of recommendations for how the DOI and Congress can modernize the program, the report charts a path to finally bring this outdated system into the 21st century to ensure that it works for all communities and stakeholders.  

Over two-thirds of western voters support actions that prioritize protections for wildlife and public lands over allowing further oil and gas development. Additionally, many of the report’s recommendations have bipartisan support and align with oil and gas bills introduced by Senators Grassley, Cortez Masto, and Rosen.  

Many Hispanics participate in outdoor traditions passed down through the generations-- practices that rely on public lands that have been tied up due to broken fiscal policies of the federal oil and gas leasing program. The report can encourage communities to work together towards a land management process that is more inclusive, ensuring that all stakeholders and voices are a part of conversations to protect our public lands.  

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