Oil and gas leasing on public lands: NEPA gets lost in the shuffle

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Harv. Environ. Law Rev.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5556701

Noble, H

This article describes, criticizes, and proposes reform of the present legal framework under which the Department of the Interior makes leasing decisions for the 395 million acres of land under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management and the 160 million acres of public lands in the National Forests. The first section delineates the various steps of oil and gas exploration and development and their environmental impacts. The second section describes the statutory and regulatory devices through which the federal government can protect the public lands from the adverse effects of development. The third section explains how the three federal agencies responsible for leasing decisions and environmental protection measures coordinate their activities. The fourth section describes and criticizes the present system of applying the National Environmental Policy Act to oil and gas leasing on public lands. The article concludes with a proposed framework for making decisions about oil and gas leasing on public lands. 404 references.

• OSTI ID: 5556701
• Journal Information: Harv. Environ. Law Rev.; (United States), Vol. 6:1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
02 PETROLEUM
03 NATURAL GAS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
INTERAGENCY COOPERATION
LEASES
NATURAL GAS DEPOSITS
PETROLEUM DEPOSITS
PUBLIC LANDS
EXPLORATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
LAND USE
COOPERATION
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
MINERAL RESOURCES
RESOURCES
294002* - Energy Planning & Policy- Petroleum
294003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Natural Gas
021000 - Petroleum- Legislation & Regulations
031000 - Natural Gas- Legislation & Regulations
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety