Six environmental and conservation groups filed a lawsuit in the federal district court for the District of Colorado challenging the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's (BLM’s) approval of a revised Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the Uncompahgre Field Office that expanded lands available to oil and gas leasing. The plaintiffs alleged that BLM failed to take “a hard look at the plan’s greenhouse gas emissions and resulting impacts to the climate and natural resources.” They asserted climate change-based claims under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Planning and Management Act (FLPMA), and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). Among other contentions, the plaintiffs asserted that “BLM’s failure to define or take action to prevent the unnecessary or undue degradation of lands in the context of recognized climate impacts,” as required by the FLPMA, violated the APA. They also contended that BLM violated NEPA by failing to consider a no leasing alternative; failing to take a hard look at “cumulative greenhouse gas emissions or the severity of resulting climate impacts” and declining to use any tool for quantitatively assessing the RMP’s climate pollution impact; and failing to take a hard look at the 20-year global warming potential of methane emissions.

Challenge to the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's approval of a revised Resource Management Plan for the Uncompahgre Field Office that expanded lands available to oil and gas leasing.

Citizens for a Healthy Community v. U.S. Bureau of Land Management

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Environmental Groups Challenged BLM Approval of Resource Management Plan for Colorado Public Lands

Filed

United States of America

Colorado

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A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

A potent, short-lived greehouse gas, largely released from livestock, fossil fuel extraction and waste management.

Actions to reduce emissions in energy generation and supply.

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Extreme weather refers to events where a weather variable exceeds (or falls below) a threshold. Meaning it is significantly different from the average or usual weather pattern.

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Environmental Groups Challenged BLM Approval of Resource Management Plan for Colorado Public Lands

Policy instrument

Risk

Impacted group

Just transition

Renewable energy

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Adaptation/resilience

Finance