Dear Audubon Advocate,

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages and maintains more public lands than any other agency in the country—iconic and sacred landscapes that provide unparalleled wildlife habitat and support local economies. 

It’s become clear that the agency’s oil and gas leasing program is painfully outdated, short-changing tax payers and the natural resources that the agency is required to manage on behalf of the American people. Facing this sobering reality, the BLM just released a proposal that would modernize the leasing program.

More than 9,500 Audubon advocates have submitted comments to the BLM in support of the proposed changes to the federal oil and gas leasing program that would bring the program into the 21st century. Will you join them? The deadline to comment is next Friday, September 22.

Audubon has fought tirelessly to ensure that oil and gas leasing is balanced with maintaining important habitat for wildlife and birds. More than 300 bird species, including Burrowing Owls and the Greater Sage-Grouse, spend at least half of their time living on BLM-managed lands. 

In total, the agency manages more than 245 million acres, along with approximately 30 percent of our country’s minerals. This new rulemaking would ensure the BLM considers wildlife habitat as a criteria before leasing on these lands, and could be strengthened by including specific direction to the BLM not to lease important areas for birds, habitat, and wildlife connectivity.

Tell the BLM that you support the proposed changes to the federal oil and gas leasing program, including common-sense policies that balance responsible development with land and wildlife conservation.

This proposed rule is the BLM's first comprehensive update to the federal onshore oil and gas regulatory framework in many decades, meaning that right now—together—we can help determine the future of our public lands.