Furthermore, in what is now standard practice, the developers had to prepare full environmental analyses with extensive testing and specialized disposal of debris from their sites.
The suit, filed in Federal District Court here, seeks to have the 12 leases set aside until the lessees -- mostly oil companies -- comply with the law by providing adequate environmental analyses.
The governor said the rules would also encourage "smart growth" by allowing development in areas already designated for sewer service and by requiring "comprehensive environmental analyses" for development outside those areas.
A federal judge has blocked an oil exploration project near Arches National Park, saying the Bush administration cut corners on environmental analyses in an effort to rush the project forward.
Under the rules, which apply to all projects approved by local authorities after July 3, a developer seeking to extend sewer service or install septic systems over a certain size would have to conduct a set of environmental analyses.
According to regional staff, this practice has hindered their ability to complete sound environmental analyses under NEPA," the National Environmental Policy Act.
Friday's ruling, by Bruce R. Harris, deputy chief administrative judge of the department's board of land appeals, said leases were invalid when the leasing was "based on existing environmental analyses which either did not contain any discussion of the unique potential impacts associated with coal bed methane extraction and development or failed to consider reasonable alternatives".
"In 2009, we observed a severe slowdown in permitting, project environmental analyses, and leasing," said Kathleen Sgamma, director of governmental affairs for the Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States.
This means that New York City does not require the developers to secure discretionary permits and associated environmental analyses of the effects of their buildings — like potential shadows or traffic — as would be mandated if the zoning law were different.
Many governments now require that environmental analyses of airport development projects include evaluations of population relocation, changes in employment patterns, and distortion of existing regional land use and transportation planning.
Mr Craig says that the NFMA has become an excuse for bureaucratic inertia, with some $250m spent each year on environmental analyses and paperwork for timber sales and other decisions.
