U.S. Moves to Protect Ruby Mountains from Development

The Biden administration is moving to protect roughly 264,000 acres of the Ruby Mountains in Nevada from oil, gas, and geothermal development for up to 20 years. This move, initiated by the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service, follows requests from tribes, conservationists, and local communities who value the area's scenic beauty, cultural heritage, and wildlife. Known as 'Nevada's Swiss Alps,' the Ruby Mountains are also the ancestral homelands of the Te-Moak Tribe of the Western Shoshone Indians. While the withdrawal aims to conserve the environment and support the local outdoor economy, it does not regulate mining in the area. The initiative starts a two-year prohibition on new mineral leases, with a 90-day public comment period and environmental analysis to follow. Permanent protection would require an act of Congress, but the current plan seeks to ensure the area's preservation for future generations.