Judge Rules BLM Must Disclose Companies Nominating Drilling Tracts

A small chink appeared this month in the armor of nondisclosure that protects the oil and gas industry's relationship with federal leasing agencies.

Federal District Judge Richard P. Matsch ruled February 13, 2013, that the Bureau of Land Management must disclose the identities of the entities that nominated tracts for lease sales. BLM had refused to disclose the nominating entities. Judge Matsch ruled that the Freedom of Information Act requires the disclosure.

• "Judge: BLM Must Disclose Names of Entities in Drilling Nominations," Denver Post, February 15, 2013, by Kristen Leigh Painter.

This is one of the stories in the February 27, 2013 issue of SEJ's biweekly WatchDog. Find the rest of the stories and past issues here.