Dear NRDC Activist,

The Trump administration is already opening vast swaths of our public lands to fossil fuel giants — and now they’re trying to let companies off the hook for cleaning up their toxic mess when they’re done producing oil and gas.

WHAT’S HAPPENING
The Trump administration is moving to weaken the Oil and Gas Leasing Rule, which helps ensure the oil and gas industry is held accountable for pollution they generate on public lands. This dangerous proposal would expedite oil and gas activity, increasing the risk of oil and gas companies polluting clean air or clean water and not cleaning up their wells when they’re done drilling on public lands, which would leave taxpayers to pay for the mess.

The administration is accepting public comments on this devastating assault on environmental protections and corporate accountability — and we need your help to generate a massive, nationwide outcry urging the administration to reverse course.

We only have until the August 24 deadline to submit as many public comments as possible against this disastrous plan. Make your voice heard now.

WHY IT MATTERS
This proposal is yet another industry giveaway by the Trump administration. Companies are legally required to clean up and restore the land after producing oil and gas to prevent unchecked greenhouse gas emissions, toxic air pollution, contamination of soil and water, and safety threats like explosions. Gutting the rule incentivizes oil and gas companies to delay cleanup or skip it altogether, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill and increasing health and environmental harms in the meantime.

The plan shows a clear “drill, baby, drill” agenda no matter the cost — to the American people and to our lands.

We need your help to generate a massive public uproar: Act now to stop the fossil fuel industry from getting a free pass to pollute.

WHAT WE ARE DOING
NRDC is fighting to defend our public lands from this dangerous rollback, including considering going to court if that’s what it takes.

Right now, we need your help to send a message too loud for the administration to ignore.

Public comments are important to build the best case possible against this dangerous plan. They create a public record demonstrating widespread opposition to oil and gas companies having a free pass to pollute, and comments can give NRDC the power to challenge federal agencies in court if the government disregards your input.

WHAT’S AT STAKE
Gutting the Oil and Gas Leasing Rule threatens our health, wildlife habitat, and treasured recreational areas that are enjoyed by millions.

Air pollution and contamination of soil and water left behind after wells stop producing oil and gas can harm the health of local communities and threaten places that black bears, pronghorns, cutthroat trout, and countless other wildlife call home. Oil and gas leasing also jeopardizes recreation on public lands, depriving people of the chance to experience America’s natural landscape and threatening local economies that depend on tourism.

We can’t stop fighting until we can be sure that fossil fuel companies will be held accountable for their destruction. Submit your official public comment by the August 24 deadline.

Sincerely,

Amy Mall
Director, Fossil Fuels, Nature, NRDC