Group: BLM still under-inspects wells

The Bush-era push for energy development in the Rockies forced federal land managers to shift resources to permitting while monitoring and enforcement of the industry fell by the wayside, according to a new report by the Western Organization of Resource Councils. The analysis focuses on the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's environmental inspection and enforcement program in six field offices across the West, including Buffalo and Pinedale and in four other states. The Western Organization of Resource Councils issued its initial report in 2004, highlighting a low number of field inspections and enforcement actions. This update concludes that while the BLM has increased its inspection and enforcement efforts, the agency still has a long way to go in order to properly manage the volume of energy development that's now under permit. "Inspection and enforcement is the single most critical activity to ensure protection of ecosystems, yet the BLM lacks resources," North Dakota rancher Donald Nelson said during a teleconference Thursday. Despite BLM's recent gains in inspection and enforcement, "They haven't even begun to close the gap," Nelson added...Casper Star-Tribune

The report covers field offices in Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming and is available here.