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Joel Reese, Attorney

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Conservation Groups v. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. District Court, District of Montana Not specified in source active

Chief Judge Brian Morris ordered BLM and Wyoming to refund $109 million in bonus bids to energy companies after finding Secretary Zinke's 2018 memo illegally authorized 2019 lease sales in Wyoming sage grouse habitat by unreasonably misconstruing 2015 habitat protection plans. The court permitted nine producing wells to continue operations despite the underlying lease invalidation, with those leases having generated $15.1 million in state taxes.

Analysis

Federal Court Orders $109 Million Refund for Wyoming BLM Leases Invalidated Under NEPA, Permits Continued Production from Nine Wells

Chief Judge Brian Morris ordered BLM and Wyoming to refund $109 million in bonus bids to energy companies after finding Secretary Zinke's 2018 memo illegally authorized 2019 lease sales in Wyoming sage grouse habitat by unreasonably misconstruing 2015 habitat protection plans. The court permitted nine producing wells to continue operations despite the underlying lease invalidation, with those leases having generated $15.1 million in state taxes.

Joel Reese  |  Jul 06, 2026
BLM Lease Sales NEPA Compliance Wyoming Federal Lease Invalidation Administrative Law