Judge reverses sale of Montana oil and gas leases on public lands Monday, May 4, 2020

Courthouse News Service

A federal judge in Montana ruled Friday that the Bureau of Land Management failed to fulfill its National Environmental Policy Act requirements when it issued 287 oil and gas leases in eastern Montana.

U.S. District Judge Brian Morris’ ruling vacates the leases, which were issued in December 2017 and March 2018, and his ruling remands the leases back to the agency for further review.

The oil and gas leases were on 145,065 acres of public land in Montana near Livingston, the Stillwater River, the Tongue River Valley and one parcel that is next to the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.

Read more at: https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-reverses-sale-of-montana-oil-and-gas-leases-on-public-lands/