Offshore staff

WASHINGTON, DC – US government regulators for the first time will analyze greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas drilling on federal lands on a national scale, the Interior Department has said.

As reported by the Associated Press, the announcement comes as officials are set to hold lease sales in numerous Western states next year amid a fierce debate over federal fossil fuel reserves.

Interior’s Bureau of Land Management released a report saying oil, gas and coal extraction from federal lands reportedly produced more than 1 billion tons (918 million metric tons) of greenhouse gases last year.

The Interior Department says that including greenhouse gas emissions in lease sale reviews lets the administration highlight what scientists say are the increasing “social costs” of climate change — from rising sea levels and wildfires, to public health problems.

Democrats and many environmentalists want to factor those costs upfront into lease sales. They argue that failing to do so amounts to an industry subsidy. Republicans counter that emissions have been declining in the US and placing more obstacles to development will hurt both the industry and the economy.

President Biden’s efforts to suspend new offshore oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico was blocked by a federal judge in Louisiana in June, and Lease Sale 257 is set to take place on Nov. 17, 2021.

Environmental assessments that include a greenhouse gas analysis will be released in coming days for lease sales planned early next year in Colorado, Montana, North and South Dakota, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming and other states, administration officials said.

Some parcels that had been nominated by companies for sale were deferred and will not be offered. Officials cited concerns including potential impacts to struggling populations of a bird, the greater sage grouse.

New land bureau director Tracy Stone-Manning said the agency wants to develop public lands responsibly and make sure climate impacts are considered. “We will continue to exercise the authority and discretion provided under law to conduct leasing in a manner that fulfills the Interior Department’s legal responsibilities,” Stone-Manning said in a statement.

Federal agencies previously conducted reviews of potential greenhouse gas impacts from individual lease sales following court orders. Officials in many cases concluded the emissions were miniscule on a global scale.

The bureau said its future lease sale assessments also will look at impacts to air and water quality, wildlife habitat and “quality of life for nearby communities.”

11/01/2021