© 2024 Wyoming Public Media
800-729-5897 | 307-766-4240
Wyoming Public Media is a service of the University of Wyoming
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Transmission & Streaming Disruptions

Environmental Groups Seek To Halt Oil And Gas Leasing

Public Lands in Wyoming
Bob Wick, BLM
/
Bureau of Land Management

Environmental groups filed a brief in federal court last Friday to halt oil and gas leasing on select public lands in Wyoming. They say development on that public land should stop there until the amount of greenhouse gases and their effect on the climate are fully understood.   

WildEarth Guardians and Physicians for Social Responsibility submitted the brief as a part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging the auction of 400,000 acres of public land in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. With this move, the organizations are hoping to undo existing leases in that area as well as stop any future auctions there.

WildEarth Guardian’s Jeremy Nichols said federal agencies aren’t considering the environmental risks of new drilling.

“Part of this is getting the agency to acknowledge the problem, if they don’t acknowledge it, they’re not going to solve it. This case is about spurring solutions to climate change,” Nichols said.

Nichols added there’s a new urgency to their lawsuit, which was filed last August, as the Department of the Interior has expressed interest in auctioning off more public land for drilling. 

He said, “We’re seeing a move to lift what they perceive as obstacles to new oil and gas developments on public lands. It’s more critical than ever to get some resolution on this.”

Industry groups say if the lawsuit prevails, it would deprive the public of new income.

Before Wyoming, Cooper McKim has reported for NPR stations in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. He's reported breaking news segments and features for several national NPR news programs. Cooper is the host of the limited podcast series Carbon Valley. Cooper studied Environmental Policy and Music. He's an avid jazz piano player, backpacker, and podcast listener.
Related Content