BLM Expands Oil Leasing Drive with July Auction Plans

The Bureau of Land Management is teeing up another round of federal oil and gas leasing, with 66 parcels across Montana and North Dakota headed for auction in July as Washington continues pushing a noticeably more drill-friendly agenda. The July 14 lease sale will offer 29,087 acres across the two states, according to a BLM announcement Thursday. Companies interested in bidding will first have to make it through another familiar stage of the federal energy process: paperwork, environmental reviews, public comments, and likely at least a few lawsuits.…