WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, November 9, 2010
WildEarth Guardians Calls on Interior Department to Look Before Leasing

Interior Secretary Petitioned to Revise Rules and Stop Selling Oil and Gas Leases Before Resolving Appeals
Contact: Jeremy Nichols (303) 573-4898 x1303

Denver, CO— Nov. 9. WildEarth Guardians today petitioned the Interior Department to revise its regulations and put an end to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) practice of selling oil and gas leases that are under protest.

“This about restoring certainty—certainty that the BLM will not irreversibly hand over the rights to drill for oil and gas before ensuring that wildlife, wild places, and other critical values are fully protected,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians.  “What we’re asking for is simple:  just look before you lease away our public lands and resources.”

At issue is the BLM’s practice of selling oil and gas leases before outstanding protests have been resolved.  Protests, which are basically appeals, allow the public to challenge BLM leasing proposals.  In many cases, protests have spurred the BLM to defer leasing oil and gas parcels to better protect sage grouse, wilderness areas, water quality, among other public resources.

Recent lawsuits from the oil and gas industry have asserted that the BLM is obligated to issue oil and gas leases within sixty days after they are sold, regardless of whether protests have been resolved.  The issuance of an oil and gas lease conveys a right to drill, meaning that if industry’s arguments prevail, the BLM would have no recourse to cancel or modify leases after they are sold, even in response to a successful protest.

Today’s petition requests the Secretary of Interior to make a simple rule change that would require the BLM to refrain from selling oil and gas leases until all protests or appeals have been resolved.

“We disagree with industry’s position, but it’s in everybody’s interest to ensure the BLM is not forced to issue oil and gas leases that could be contrary to balanced use and management of our public lands,” said Nichols.  “This petition is about establishing a consistent practice that fully preserves the BLM’s ability to ensure that oil and gas development is done right.”

WildEarth Guardians has asked for the Interior Secretary to respond to the petition within 30 days.