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LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will offer 83 parcels, totaling approximately 78,691 acres, in the Sept. 26, 2019 quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The BLM will hold the lease sale online via www.energynet.com. Bidding will begin at 9 a.m. MST.

The BLM will offer parcels in the Royal Gorge, Kremmling, Little Snake, and White River field offices in Cheyenne, Kiowa, Weld, Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties. The environmental documents, parcel lists and maps, lease stipulations, and other relevant documents can be found online at the BLM ePlanning website.

In Fiscal Year 2018, oil and gas development on public lands managed by the BLM in Colorado contributed an estimated $6.9 billion to the economy. BLM Colorado sold 103 parcels totaling 67,980 acres for a total of $5,750,756 including rentals and fees. Statewide, approximately 30,600 jobs are tied to oil and gas development on BLM-managed public lands. State of Colorado receives 48 percent of the proceeds from each lease sale, with the remainder going to the U.S. Government.

The BLM continues to work with the State of Colorado to ensure responsible energy development through thoughtful consideration of parcels nominated for leasing and potential resource impacts of decisions to lease in identified big game habitat. This lease sale includes 75 parcels totaling approximately 69,058 acres of previously deferred Greater Sage-Grouse habitat. Parcels located within Greater-Sage Grouse habitat will comply with the March 2019 Greater-Sage Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendment.

Lease sales support the agency’s multiple-use mission to manage public lands through environmentally responsible development. Online oil and gas lease sales streamline the bidding process and allow the BLM to serve the public better and faster. These lease sales strengthen domestic energy production and contribute to the country’s energy security.

Background

By statute, the BLM is required to offer quarterly oil and gas leases sales of available Federal lands. BLM state offices conduct lease sales quarterly when parcels are available for lease. These lease sales represent parcels that cleared environmental review and public comment. The BLM issues both competitive and non-competitive leases for a 10-year period. The leases are a contract to explore and develop any potential oil and gas. The lease may be extended if the production is established on the lease, otherwise the lease will expire after the primary term of 10 years.

The BLM generated a record $1.1 billion from 28 oil and gas lease sales in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. Revenues from onshore oil and gas production on federal lands directly fund the U.S. Treasury, state budgets and support public education, infrastructure improvements, and other state-determined priorities.

Public Comments

This sale notice initiates a 30-day public protest period that ends on August 26, 2019. Protests must be submitted to the BLM Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield St., Lakewood, CO 80215. Links to the environmental assessments and Determinations of NEPA Adequacy, lists and maps of the parcels and the attached stipulations, and information on how to file a protest are online at the BLM ePlanning website.

Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact these individuals during normal business hours. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to leave a message or question with these individuals.  You will receive a reply during normal business hours

-BLM-