Montana State Office
| Contacts: | Greg Albright 406-896-5260 | |||
| Mary Apple 406-896-5258 |
BLM Delays Oil and Gas Lease Sales
In order to bring more certainty to industry and in light of expected litigation, the Bureau of Land Management in Montana and the Dakotas will delay scheduled oil and gas lease sales in order to complete additional environmental reviews under the National Environmental Policy Act. The next sale had been scheduled for April 13 and included 129 parcels in Montana and the Dakotas.
Until additional environmental reviews are completed, the BLM agreed to suspend 61 Montana oil and gas leases that were issued in 2008 and that were subject to a lawsuit. “Since we agreed to conduct additional environmental reviews on the 2008 leases, it only makes sense to complete additional environmental reviews before we offer new acreage for leasing,” said the BLM’s Montana State Director Gene Terland.
The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
Montana State Office 5001 Southgate Drive Billings, MT 59101