WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management on Friday said it will analyze the greenhouse gas emissions impact of proposed oil and gas lease sales that have been scheduled for early 2022 and seek public feedback.
The BLM, which manages 245 million acres of public land in 12 western states, said its state offices will issue for the first time environmental assessments that factor in the social cost of greenhouse gases associated with the development of those acres.
These analyses could lead to some leases being removed from consideration or deferred depending on the public comments received.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici)