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BLM’s Proposed On-Shore Oil/Gas Leasing Rule Reform Comment Deadline
September 22, 2023 @ 9:30 pm - 10:00 pm
Under direction of the Biden administration BLM is planning to do long overdue changes to its’ oil and gas leasing rules. Bonding rates and rules haven’t been updated in 60 years and are insufficient to cover the costs to clean up spills and abandoned wells. New bonding proposals in proposed rule will better protect taxpayers from footing the bill of clean-up and restoration costs when oil and gas companies leave hazardous messes behind.
The Comment deadline is Friday Sept 22nd, We assume on-line the comment portal will shut down at midnight in DC. Go to this link to submit formal comment or scroll down to link for the Audubon pre-fab on-line letter portal. Federal link to comment:
Quote from the BLM:
“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to revise the BLM’s oil and gas leasing regulations. Among other things, the proposed rule would reflect provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act pertaining to royalty rates, rentals, and minimum bids, and would update the bonding requirements for leasing, development, and production. The proposed rule would also improve the BLM’s leasing process to ensure proper stewardship of public lands and resources and would revise some operating requirements.”
National Audubon Society, Earth Justice, NRDC and the Wilderness Society support the changes. If you read their writings you could create some comments complimenting the rule changes:
Here is an Earth Justice Press release: https://earthjustice.org/press/2023/environmental-groups-react-to-new-blm-rules-for-oil-and-gas-leasing-on-federal-lands
Here is a link to a pre-fab on-line comment letter provided by the National Audubon Society:
There are several group sign-on comment letters being written, at least by Earth Justice, Western Environmental Law Center and WORC. Nancy Hilding is trying to get a copy of those. (605-787-6466 or phas.wsd@rapidnet.com)