State of Montana Newsroom
Governor Gianforte Praises Rollback of Restrictive Energy Policies
President Donald J. Trump lifts federal requirements for environmental impact statements for oil and gas drilling
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Greg Gianforte today praised an announcement that the Department of the Interior (DOI) will no longer require the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to prepare an environmental impact statement for approximately 3,224 oil and gas leases in seven Western states.
“At a time when Montanans and Americans are battling an energy affordability crisis, President Trump and Secretary Burgum are taking action to unleash American energy, create jobs, and lower costs,” Gov. Gianforte said. “Montana is rich with natural resources. I welcome the Department’s actions to responsibly develop energy to meet the needs of consumers while also prioritizing our national security.”
"During the last four years, the State of Montana has prioritized the responsible management of state lands while also recognizing the significant role that natural gas and oil development play in supporting our economy and energy security," Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Director Amanda Kaster said. "In Montana, we've shown we can do both. Guided by Governor Gianforte's vision, we will continue to explore ways to expand energy development across our state for the benefit of our trust beneficiaries."
According to DOI, the BLM will no longer move forward with preparing an environmental impact statement for oil and gas leasing decisions encompassing 3.5 million acres across Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The action aims to reduce red tape for oil and gas companies and expanding domestic production of energy in the United States.
In Montana, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation is responsible for leasing, permitting and managing approximately 1,283 oil and gas leases on over 460,000 acres throughout Montana.
Since taking office, Gov. Gianforte has promoted an “all-of-the-above” energy approach, to encourage American-made energy produced from coal, natural gas, wind, solar, and hydropower.
In the coming weeks, the governor will launch an Unleashing Energy Task Force. The task force will develop long-term solutions to ensure we have affordable, reliable energy now and well into the future.
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