BLM lease parcels in California, auctioned in 2011.
.  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has distinct jurisdictional responsibility for land and resource management activities occurring on the public lands. Responsibilities include management of the mineral rights and actions relating to the Trust responsibilities of the U.S. Government estate.  For For a source of steady income, the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 [Sec.5102(a)(b)(1)(A)(FOOGLRA)] directs the BLM to auction public land for oil and gas development leases, on a quarterly basis when eligible lands are available.

These parcels were sold to lease in 2011.  The sale was challenged by a joint lawsuit from the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club.  The appelete court determined the BLM had relied on outdated environmental impact assessments for the sale.  The BLM is therefore planning to conduct a new assessment.
[]
nan
nan
nan