Bureau of Land Management Seeks Comment on Amended Greenhouse Gas Leasing Analysis

The Bureau of Land Management on Nov. 9 released a revised environmental assessment for public input. The update is in response to court challenges against greenhouse gas emissions in the agency’s leasing program.

The additional assessment examines emissions that could result from the future expansion of 3,600 oil and gas leases that were offered in 74 lease sales from February 2015 to December 2020. The environmental examination analyses the impact of development and generation activities on greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, the examination looks into the emissions impact of the end use of petroleum products generated from the oil and gas leases.

The bureau issued the updated environmental analysis following a number of court rulings and settlements. The analysis encompasses the latest information and also ensures consistency with latest court rulings, executive and secretarial orders, and the Interior Department’s policy. The latest assessment is in addition to the greenhouse gas analysis issued in the earlier National Environmental Policy Act documents that support the 74 lease sales.

Comments on the supplemental review are due by Dec. 27. The bureau remains dedicated to accountable development on public lands, ensuring that its environmental reviews consider the climate impacts of energy development on lands and communities. The agency said that decisions regarding the affected lease sales will be considered separately and will take into account further analysis of impacts to other resources, as appropriate.