Federal appeals court in Colo. hears arguments on energy leases

Oil and gas companies asked a federal appeals court Tuesday to force the U.S. Department of Interior to move more quickly on issuing oil and gas leases.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver heard arguments about whether the department’s Bureau of Land Management must issue oil and gas leases within 60 days after they’re sold. The appeal stems from a lawsuit filed by the companies after years of delays in issuing hundreds of leases in the West amid environmental protests.

A federal judge in Wyoming ruled last year that BLM must decide whether to issue an oil or gas lease within 60 days of auctioning it off. The energy companies appealed, arguing that BLM must not simply decide whether to issue the leases but must actually issue them.

The case could affect pending leases in Colorado and Utah.