U.S. District Judge Denies Environmentalists’ Challenge to Four Oil and Gas Leases Sold by BLM at November 2011 Lease Sale

SALT LAKE CITY - In a case before the court on a Motion for Review of Agency Action  filed by the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, and The Wilderness Society, the plaintiffs challenged the BLM’s decision to issue four oil and gas lease parcels in the November 2011 oil and gas lease sale, and its subsequent decision to approve the  Seven-Well Project.

The plaintiffs’ suit names the United States Department of the Interior, BLM, and the Price Field Office Manager for BLM, Ahmed Mohsen as defendants. XTO Energy, Inc., which purchased the leases and submitted the proposal for the Seven-Wells Project, intervened as a defendant.

As explained in the attached memorandum decision and order, U.S. District Court Judge Jill N. Parrish affirms the agency’s action regarding the 2011 Lease Sale and dismisses plaintiffs’ claims regarding the Seven-Well Project as moot.