SANTA FE, N.M., April 21 (UPI) -- Environmental groups are protesting some of the $12.3 million in federal oil and gas leases sold in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma.
The Bureau of Land Management sold 73 leases Wednesday in Santa Fe, N.M., but a coalition of five environmental groups protested about 40 of the leases in New Mexico and Oklahoma.
The environmentalists claim the BLM, which administers more than 261 million acres of federal lands, failed to follow requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act before putting the lands up for lease for oil and gas development.
The coalition says the drilling could threaten the Pecos and Conchas rivers in New Mexico and three endangered species. The protested parcels encompass about 26,000 acres of public lands in the two states.
BLM officials say protecting the environmental is part of their job and they followed the requirements in preparing the parcels for lease. They say further restrictions may be required when oil companies apply for drilling permits.
