Comment on FR Doc # 2026-12734

I am submitting comments on docket number BLM-2025-0037-0001, which seeks to revise federal oil and gas leasing regulations to implement the recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act and several Executive Orders aimed at expanding domestic fossil fuel development. If finalized, these changes would make it easier to lease public lands for oil and gas extraction while weakening safeguards intended to protect taxpayers, public lands, and communities. Among the proposed changes, the rule would reduce minimum bonding requirements for oil and gas companies, making it more likely that taxpayers—not industry—will bear the cost of cleaning up abandoned wells. It would also streamline leasing and permitting processes to accelerate fossil fuel development on public lands. For health professionals and allies, this proposal raises important public health concerns. Expanded oil and gas development contributes to air pollution, climate change, water contamination, and exposure to toxic chemicals that increase the risks of asthma, cardiovascular disease, adverse pregnancy outcomes, cancer, and other serious health conditions. These impacts are often borne disproportionately by rural communities, Tribal Nations, and communities already overburdened by pollution. I urge the BLM to: 1. Evaluate how expanded oil and gas development affects human health through air pollution, climate change, and environmental contamination. 2. Prioritize protecting vulnerable populations, including children, older adults, pregnant people, Tribal communities, rural residents, and communities with disproportionate pollution burdens. 3. Ensure decisions are guided by the best available scientific and medical evidence. 4. Maintain strong financial assurance requirements so taxpayers are not left responsible for cleaning up abandoned oil and gas wells. 5 Fully consider the cumulative health impacts of increased fossil fuel development when making leasing decisions.