Natural Gas May Compete with Conservation in BLM's Proposed ... - Natural Gas Intelligence

Natural Gas May Compete with Conservation in BLM’s Proposed Land Management Shift - Natural Gas Intelligence

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Natural Gas May Compete with Conservation in BLM’s Proposed Land Management Shift

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to change how public lands are managed to put conservation on equal footing as other uses, including oil and natural gas extraction.

The BLM plan for conservation leasing would entail a time-limited lease of public land that allows interested organizations to conduct specific restoration or mitigation activities. These leases also would generate revenue, which could include establishing carbon markets.

“As the nation continues to face unprecedented drought, increasing wildfires and the declining health of our landscapes, our public lands are under growing pressure. It is our responsibility to use the best tools available to restore wildlife habitat, plan for smart development and conserve the most important places for the benefit of the generations to come,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. “As we welcome millions of visitors to hunt, fish and recreate on our public lands each year, now is the time to improve the health and management of special places.”

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The federal agency manages more than 245 million acres of public land primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska. The proposed Public Lands Rule would build on other changes announced by the Biden administration as it aims to curb new oil and natural gas drilling on public lands.

The proposal would provide tools for the BLM to “improve the resilience of public lands in the face of a changing climate; conserve important wildlife habitat and intact landscapes; plan for development; and better recognize unique cultural and natural resources on public lands,” the agency said last week.

The rule would also allow the federal government to identify areas in need of restoration or conservation.

Although President Biden had campaigned on ending drilling on federal lands, the White House last year resumed selling leases to drill for oil and gas on federal lands. The number of acres available, however, declined dramatically and it now costs drillers more to work on public property.

In 2022, sales of oil, gas, and natural gas liquids produced from the federal mineral estate accounted for 11% of all oil and 9% of all natural gas produced in the United States, according to BLM.

The proposed rule includes a roadmap to align the BLM with other land management agencies, such as the U.S. Forest Service, in “ensuring the agency is inventorying and assessing the health of public lands, including watersheds, forests and wildlife habitat.”

The publication of the proposed Public Lands Rule in the Federal Register in the coming days would initiate a 75-day public comment period. In addition, the BLM plans to host five information forums to discuss the details of the rule.

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