Regional
(2010-05-17)
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DENVER, CO
(KUNC) -
Federal land managers have announced new, tougher regulations for on shore oil and gas leasing. The changes pushed by western conservationists reverse a controversial policy stemming from the Bush Administration that aimed to fast-track oil and gas leasing.
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Call it a slow-down under the Obama Administration.
The new rules give the public more say in drilling decisions while also repealing a controversial policy known as "categorical exclusions." Those allowed oil and gas companies to bypass extra environmental review in certain cases.
Bureau of Land Management spokesman Matt Spangler says the changes aim to bring more balance to oil and gas drilling across the West.
"While at the same time honoring our commitment to help address our nation's energy needs," he adds.
BLM and Interior officials argue the new changes will give conservationists less reason to file protests against controversial oil and gas lease plans. Those can stall development. But oil and gas producers in the region seem more concerned with what they worry will be another layer of bureaucratic scrutiny thanks to the new rules.
"If you look at the lease process now, it takes several years to get through the process on federal lands and these additional layers of analysis will add 3 to 6 years minimum on top of that process," says Kathleen Sgamma, director of government affairs for the Denver-based Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States.
The on shore rules follow new regulations passed last week concerning off shore leasing, amid the ongoing Gulf oil spill.
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