Today, a federal district court allowed an extension in a case over energy development in the Badger-Two Medicine area of Lewis and Clark National Forest.
After years of being denied drilling access, Louisiana company Solenex brought suit against the federal government in 2013 to act on their lease to drill for oil.
The Blackfeet Tribe consider the Badger Two Medicine sacred, tribal ground and strongly oppose drilling in the area.
Last November, the Department of Interior indicated that they would move to cancel Solenex’s leases.
Then in December, both parties agreed to month-long stay of Solenex’s case in an attempt to settle outside of court.
The federal district court's most recent time extension gives Solenex and the Department of Interior until January 15 to announce a negotiated settlement.