Why didnt the sale and exchange creating the BCNP include the mineral rights?
Congress elected not to acquire the private mineral interests during the 1974 acquisition and the 1988 authorized expansion. At both junctures, they concluded that the value of unexplored mineral acreage was difficult to determine and could be very expensive. Additionally, Congress concluded that oil and gas operations had a long history of activity with minimal adverse impacts to the environment, and agreed that oil and gas activities could continue subject to regulations to protect the environment.
