Group: BLM under-inspects oil and gas wells

KAHRIN DEINES Associated Press Writer HELENA

An environmental group has released a report finding U.S. Bureau of Land Management environmental inspections have not kept pace with oil and natural gas development in five energy-rich Western states. The report released by the Wes tern Organi zat ion of Resource Councils on Thursday follows up on a similar 2004 s tudy done in Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, New Mexico and Colorado. While the study found the agency has improved, council member Peggy Utesch said its inspections of oil and natural gas wells is "still woefully underfunded and inade...