Land Use Planning and Oil and Gas Leasing on Onshore Federal Lands

摘要

The Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 required a study by the Comptroller General of the United States and the National Academy of Sciences to recommend any improvements that may be necessary to insure that potential oil and gas resources are adequately addressed in planning documents; the social, economic, and environmental consequences of exploration and development of oil and gas resources are determined; and any stipulations to be applied to oil and gas leases are clearly identified. The report identifies problems in land use planning that are caused by current leasing practices and the availability and reliability of information at the planning stage. The recommendations address the interrelation between oil and gas leasing decisions and the land use planning process for the federal lands.