Trying to Cancel Montana Energy Lease Sales

Environmental groups and Montana landowners are upset and trying to cancel the government's recent sales of 287 oil and gas leases on federal land.

WildEarth Guardians, Montana Environmental Information Center and some landowners filed their lawsuit Tuesday in district court.

They claim the Bureau of Land Management failed to study the impact of how oil and gas drilling affects groundwater sources. They also claim the agency did not mention how drilling on the lands would affect the release of greenhouse gases and climate change.

Al Nash the BLM spokesman did not have an immediate comment on the lawsuit.

The lawsuit wants to cancel leases sold in December and March that cover nearly 234 square miles  in southeastern, southern and central Montana.