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March 3, 2020 IDAHO U.S. DISTRICT COURT RULING CANCELS BLM OIL AND GAS LEASES IN THREE WESTERN STATESpdf
A ruling of the U.S. District Court in Idaho issued on February 27, 2020 set aside a 2018 Instruction Memorandum (IM 2018-034) issued under the Trump administration affecting oil and gas leases issued within greater sage-grouse habitat areas in several western states. U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald Bush found that IM 2018-034 (1) was promulgated without following notice and comment rulemaking procedures mandated by federal law; (2) improperly constrained public participation in oil and gas leasing decisions; and (3) departed from prior policy of BLM and was thus arbitrary and capricious. As a result, numerous oil and gas leases on affected sage-grouse areas in Nevada, Utah and Wyoming were cancelled. The cancelled leases were issued under lease sales in June and September 2018. The relief ordered in the decision applies only to oil and gas lease sales contained in whole or in part within the greater sage-grouse habitat management areas identified in the ruling. Judge Bush’s ruling is available on the attached order.