Blm

Wyoming’s two main oil and gas trade groups are seeking to expedite the resumption of oil and gas leases on federal property by the Department of the Interior (DOI). In a merits brief filed Aug. 30 in Wyoming District Court, the Western Energy Alliance and the Petroleum Association of Wyoming (PAW) allege that DOI is…

The U.S. government confirmed in a court filing it would resume federal oil and gas lease sales — and established a timeline — to comply with a ruling that called for an end to the Biden administration’s moratorium. Critics, however, noted that Biden administration officials intend to stretch the process out over several months as…

Matador Resources Co. reported record natural gas, oil and total oil equivalent production during the second quarter, driven by “better-than-expected” performance of 13 new wells in the New Mexico portion of the Permian Basin, according to CEO Joseph Foran. Natural gas production rose 23% sequentially to about 239.1 MMcf/d, while oil output was up 28%…

Oil and natural gas industry leaders and politicians railed against President Biden’s decision to freeze oil and gas lease sales on federal lands and waters through at least June during a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Tuesday. Government officials, meanwhile, defended the pause as a necessary step as they review the program…

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) plans to incorporate potential climate impacts into a revamped resource management plan (RMP) for oil and gas leasing in western Colorado that covers nearly one million acres. The U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado last week approved the Interior Department agency’s request to remand the 20-year RMP…

A federal judge has invalidated key land use plans in Montana that were approved under former Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Acting Director William Perry Pendley, a decision that could imperil land use decisions elsewhere and pave the way for a deluge of litigation from environmental groups. The ruling issued last Friday was the second…

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has asked a district court to shelve three large-scale plans that would open most federal lands in the state to oil and gas development, arguing they were invalidated when a federal court ruled the Trump administration’s top public lands official was serving illegally. U.S. District Judge Brian Morris of the District…

A federal judge in Montana ruled that William Perry Pendley, the acting director of the U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM), had served illegally for more than a year and blocked him from continuing in the position. “Pendley has served and continues to serve unlawfully…His ascent to acting BLM director did not follow…

A coalition of environmental groups has filed a lawsuit to jettison a federal plan that would allow oil and gas drilling on public lands in southwestern Colorado. The six western U.S. groups filed the lawsuit against the Department of Interior’s Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in U.S. District Court in Denver. The plaintiffs claim that…