The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) recently instructed federal land-use planners to clear the way for increased oil and gas drilling on federal lands. This action stems from a study, requested by Congress in 2000, that inventoried oil and gas resources underlying five Western basins and examined environmental restrictions on access to those resources. The study found that 57 percent of the oil and 63 percent of the natural gas in those basins were completely open to drilling, while just 15 percent of the oil and 12 percent of the gas were completely closed to exploration -- much lower than claimed by industry and congressional Republicans. The study also found that 25 percent of the land was partially restricted to leasing. Many of these limitations are in place to protect endangered species during critical time periods during the year, such as nesting or migration seasons. BLM instructed land managers to review these partial development restrictions and encouraged officials to consider modifications, with an emphasis on loosening environmental protections that might impede energy development. “Americans expect our federal agencies to be stewards of our public lands, but the Bush administration prefers that the Bureau of Land Management spend its time and our tax dollars giving away our national treasures to the energy industry,” said Sharon Buccino of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The action, which takes effect immediately, also requires BLM offices with “a significant oil and gas program” to hold at least one meeting within the next year to discuss oil and gas-related policy changes with industry representatives.