| Updated: Jan. 23, 2021, 1:17 a.m.
Among the many orders the Biden administration issued this week was a temporarily halt to the leasing of fossil energy resources and new permits for drilling and mining on public lands. Signed by acting Interior Secretary Scott de la Vega on Wednesday, this order places a 60-day hold on virtually all decisions that could result in ground-disturbing activities.
Industry representatives and Utah elected leaders were quick to denounce the moratorium, claiming it will disrupt rural economies and lead to more environmental harm.
“This action perpetuates the very discord between rural and urban Americans that the President [Joe Biden] spoke out against in his inauguration speech. Although it is routine for an incoming administration to pause high-level agency decisions while agency leaders get into place, such a widespread suspension of routine permitting decisions normally made in the field is unprecedented,” said Utah’s all-Republican top pol