Group sues over canceled lease sales

BILLINGS, Mont — A trade group for the energy industry accused federal officials Thursday of illegally canceling or postponing the sale of more than two dozen oil and gas leases over the past two years.

The Western Energy Alliance sued the Obama administration in U.S. District Court in New Mexico, seeking to force officials to hold lease sales four times a year as required under the federal Mineral Leasing Act.

The group said sales have been called off in Montana, Colorado, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.

U.S. officials have blamed at least some cancellations on companies’ limited interest, citing low oil and natural gas prices that have drastically slowed exploration.