Cultural Resources in an Era of "Energy Dominance": Process and Policy for BLM Oil and Gas Leasing

Summary

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) mission of multiple use is unique among federal agencies. Managing areas with cultural resources for multiple use is a tricky balancing act of NEPA, NHPA, Native American Consultation, Bureau directives and policy, and Statewide policy. Add public scoping and consulting parties representing the local community and special interest groups and things get even more complicated. This paper discusses the challenges associated with oil and gas lease sales that BLM cultural resource specialists face every year. Landmark and innovate approaches to cultural compliance for lease sales will be discussed including issues associated with the "keep it in the ground" movement, lease sales near national parks and monuments, and the Badger Two Medicine case. How these lease sales have progressed has implications for future lease sales Bureau-wide. A discussion of the December 2017 Lease sale process and results for the Price Field Office will discuss the local implications of national policy and court decisions.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 83rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC (2018)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 20164