Lands leased in Montana

The federal government has offered 26.1 million acres of public and private land in Montana for oil and gas drilling, according to an EWG analysis of land use records maintained by the federal government from 1982 to the present. This acreage represents the sum of total land actively leased in 1982 and land newly offered from 1982 through 2004.

Montana ranks 4th among 12 western states for lands currently leased, and 5th for the amount of land currently producing oil and gas. For total lands held under lease, the top three counties in the state are Flathead County, Phillips County, and Powder River County. The top three companies holding leases in the state are Nance Petroleum Inc, Devon Energy Corporation, and ConocoPhillips.

Despite the vast offering of lands offered to the oil and gas industry across the West, government studies show that the U.S. remains increasingly and inevitably dependent on foreign energy, a trend that will not change until we invest in energy efficient and homegrown renewable power. Tables below detail oil and gas industry holdings in Montana.

NOTE:"Public land open for leasing" reflects the total area of federal public land in 12 western states less lands that are nearly always restricted from leasing and drilling regardless of administration policies or local land use plans — National Parks, Wilderness, National Monuments, Forest Service Recreation Areas, Military Reservation, National Fish and Wildlife Refuges, and National Recreation Areas.

Source: EWG analysis of leasing and drilling records in 12 western states, contained in the Bureau of Land Management's Land and Mineral Records 2000 database, acquired by EWG May 15 2004.

Breakdown of active leases by county