|
The Trump administration is considering nominated oil and gas leases within a half-mile of Utah's iconic national parks. The 230 nominations for the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) September lease sale cover more than 150,000 acres across southern Utah.
Many of the nominations come from anonymous operators and are near to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks and Bears Ears National Monument. Development on the leases would transform the region from one known for pristine night skies and stark topography into an industry-focused landscape disturbed by methane flaring, pump-jacks, and poor air quality.
Although the BLM could still reject the nominations, the Trump administration has rushed to offer over 24 million acres for oil and gas development under a system overwhelmingly tilted in favor of the oil and gas industry. The system allows operators to anonymously nominate parcels, which are analyzed and offered in extensive lease sales. While some of these leases are consistent with conservation and recreation uses, many are inappropriately sited under the Trump administration; oil and gas leases and wells are often in sage-grouse habitat and migration corridors, or near popular recreation areas and vulnerable water resources.
Just a few weeks ago the BLM pulled leases slated for auction on Moab’s Slickrock Trail after protests from Utah's governor and local communities, who argued the legendary mountain biking spot should be off-limits to drilling.
Dashboard tracks oil and gas leasing
The Center for Western Priorities has developed a dashboard to track onshore oil and gas leasing under the Trump administration. The dashboard will be continuously updated, reflecting the results of oil and gas lease sales around the country. As part of the administration’s “energy dominance” agenda, tens of millions of acres have been offered up for lease, far more area than the oil and gas industry has been interested in purchasing.
Amid the COVID-19 outbreak and tumbling oil and gas prices, the oil and gas industry has asked the administration to speed up drilling permits on public lands, lower royalty rates, and buy up reserves. The administration has stated it will continue offering oil and gas leases during the crisis.
|
If even a portion of these leases are sold, it would fundamentally change the nature of Utah’s Red Rock Country from an area that has internationally renowned dark night skies and natural quiet to an industrial zone.”
