U.S. interior department lifts requirements for impact statements on 3,244 leases

U.S. Department of Interior said last week it will no longer require environmental impact statements for thousands of oil and gas leases in New Mexico, Colorado and five other states in the western U.S.  Interior department officials told Bureau of Land Management that environmental impact statements no longer will be required for 3,244 oil and gas leases that had been the target of litigation by environmental groups.

Hart Energy said the move “aligns with President Donald Trump’s efforts to lift hurdles on drilling.”