Dear John,
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Take action to protect our national forests from dangerous fossil fuel infrastructure.
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Wildfires are ripping through the West. Hurricanes are decimating the South. These extreme weather events are sounding alarm that we are in the midst of a climate crisis. Use your voice to stop oil and gas companies from perpetuating climate catastrophe.
The U.S. Forestry Service (USFS) closed all 18 national forests in California this month due to dangers from the wildlfires. While extreme events are continuing to shake the country, the USFS is pushing forward modifications to expedite permits for oil and gas infrastructure on national forest lands.
The change to promote oil and gas drilling would put the interests of the fossil fuel industry ahead of public safety. We need your help to stop it.
Take Action: Stop USFS from putting Big Oil & Gas profits before public safety and the planet.
Our national forests play a vital role in our country. They provide air that is breathable, efficiently absorb carbon emissions from the atmosphere, filter pollutants from our drinking water, and provide habitat for wildlife. Additionally, they are enjoyed by millions of visitors every year.
The changes to the rule will cut conservation protection and sneakily allow oil and gas infrastructures to be erected without public comment periods. By undermining public participation and environmental review, required by the National Environmental Policy Act, this brazen policy change is a clear message to the people -- fossil fuel interests continue to be more important that public interests.
To fight back, we must demand that our voices be heard in the public comment period -- but the Forest Service won’t act unless the response is overwhelming from concerned people like you, John.
Demand USFS allow all public comments to be heard. We have the right to stop damaging fossil infrastructures.
Pushing oil and gas leasing in national forests will no doubt add more dangerous pollution. The fracking that would come from the permits will cause irreversible harm to the environment. Water that is extracted by fracking can be radioactive -- leading to poisoning of wildlife and neighboring communities.
Additionally, more oil and gas leasing will drive more climate pollution, habitat loss, and worsening fires, droughts, and heatwaves. Our climate culture cannot afford any more oil and gas infrastructure. Preservations efforts cannot be taken for granted. It is more important than ever to protect and preserve our national forests to have a healthy world for future generations.
The proposed rule will worsen the climate crisis. The environmental review and public comment process must stand, but they will move forward if they don’t hear from concerned activists like you.
Take Action: Tell USFS to stop policy changes that lead to environmental and climate destruction.
Standing with you,
Nicole Ghio,
Senior fossil fuels program manager,
Friends of the Earth
