The federal Bureau of Land Management’s chance to cash in on millions of dollars from oil and gas leases in Utah starting this week has been delayed, at least temporarily, by a court order.

A federal judge on Saturday granted a temporary restraining order sought by seven environmental groups that blocks oil and natural gas exploration on tens of thousands of acres of federal land in the state. The judge, Ricardo M. Urbina of Federal District Court in Washington, ruled that the Interior Department had not done sufficient environmental analysis, particularly of how air quality might be degraded.

“Because of the threat of irreparable harm to public land if the leases are issued,” Judge Urbina wrote, “the balancing of equities also tips in favor” of the environmental groups.

The decision came just hours before oil and gas companies could have taken possession of the leases, which they bought on Dec. 19. The Bureau of Land Management could have cashed the checks from the winning bidders on Monday. At that point the leases would have become final.