1. OIL AND GAS:
Federal court rejects industry challenge of BLM leasing, but larger issues unresolved
A federal appeals court in Denver yesterday dismissed an oil and natural gas industry appeal that argued the Bureau of Land Management cannot indefinitely withhold issuing leases to companies that have submitted winning bids. But the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not address the central issue targeted by industry that the Mineral Leasing Act requires BLM to issue leases within 60 days of payment by a successful bidder.