Yesterday, District Court Judge Richard Leon ruled to reinstate two oil and gas leases in the Badger-Two Medicine, a treasured landscape on the Rocky Mountain Front that is sacred to the Blackfeet Tribe and provides crucial habitat for a multitude of species. This ruling is a setback for efforts to protect the Badger-Two Medicine, which has been a priority for the Blackfeet, MWF, and many conservation partners for decades.
The decision by Judge Leon to not uphold the cancellations of the Moncrief and Solenex oil leases is a severe loss for all Montanans. The leases in question were granted in the 1980s without proper regard for the values of the area and without consultation with the Blackfeet Nation. The overwhelming majority of Montanans support protecting this area, which harbors elk, deer, grizzly bears, bighorn sheep, and native cutthroat trout. Recognizing the value of the Badger-Two Medicine, nearly every other lease in the area has been canceled or withdrawn. All of the major energy companies that held leases supported the cancellations as the “right thing to do.” These last two leaseholders are extreme outliers and have repeatedly rejected reasonable offers to find alternative and more appropriate sites for development.
The decision by Judge Leon also contradicts statements made by Secretary of Interior, Ryan Zinke. Zinke indicated as recently as last year that he would like to consider the Badger for national monument status. At the time Secretary Zinke described the area as “one of the special places in our country that I think is deserving of monument status.” It’s hard to see how such a special place should be subject to illegal oil and gas drilling. By not upholding protections for the Badger we take a huge step backward. These actions say that righting the wrongs done to the Blackfeet Nation is not a priority.
MWF encourages Secretary Zinke, the Department of Interior, and all decision-makers to look to what is best for Montanans, take action, and work to ensure the permanent protection of the Badger Two-Medicine. In light of this recent ruling, it is now vital that Secretary Zinke stands by his word to champion the Blackfeet and stand in defense of the Badger. He should start by appealing this ruling, and then he should redouble efforts to work with local stakeholders to find permanent protection for the area.
Regardless of where Secretary Zinke lands in his decision, MWF reaffirms our stance that it was wrong and illegal to lease the area 40 years ago, and it’s wrong and illegal now to allow past errors and grievances to persist. With their decision to cancel the leases, the federal government was righting a longstanding wrong. A delay in action following a wrong does not make that wrong a right. MWF will continue to support the Blackfeet in their efforts and show up and stay engaged on this issue. If the Badger is important to you, contact your elected officials and the Department of Interior and tell them to protect the Badger in perpetuity.
