More than 3,000 acres of land in the Permian Basin ar being removed from the government’s planned oil and gas lease auction scheduled in June because they sit in what experts say are sensitive geological areas near two national parks.
The Bureau of Land Management contends oil and gas drilling and production in the land could lead to contamination of the water table and collapse nearby cave systems.
The Carlsbad Current-Argus reported the BLM removed 3,152 acres from its June 20 second quarter lease lease sale. The land is in the Carlsbad area and included parcels in Eddy, Lea and Chaves Counties in New Mexico. Some land is also in Texas.
Eddy and Lea counties are among prime oil producers in the state’s share of the Permian Basin.
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