Drilling leases on hold in MT over climate change

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By The Associated Press

Story Published: Mar 18, 2010 at 2:58 PM MST

Story Updated: Mar 18, 2010 at 2:58 PM MST

BILLINGS - A federal judge has approved a groundbreaking settlement requiring the government to suspend oil and gas leases on almost 38,000 acres in Montana because potential climate change impacts were not studied prior to leasing.

An attorney involved in the case says it marks the first time the Bureau of Land Management has agreed to go back and consider if a lease sale could exacerbate climate change.

Thursday's order approving the settlement was issued by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy in Missoula. It ends a 2008 lawsuit brought by several environmental groups who faulted the BLM for not considering the impact of carbon dioxide, methane and other greenhouse gases emitted during the drilling process.

The 61 Montana leases at issue in the lawsuit were sold in 2008 and involve sites scattered across the state.

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