BLM New Mexico accepting comments for oil and gas lease sale
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SANTA FE, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management New Mexico is announcing a 30-day public comment period on the environmental analysis for its first quarter 2022 oil and gas lease sale. There are six parcels (535.72 acres) of Federal minerals proposed for lease. The parcels are located in Lea and Chaves Counties, N.M. and Dewey County, Okla. The comment period will run from Oct. 29-Nov. 28.
With public scoping now completed, the BLM will consider the initial public comment as part of preparing environmental assessments for parcels. As previously announced, parcels for scoping include those that were deferred in the first and second quarters of 2021.
Revenues from onshore oil and gas production on Federal lands directly fund the U.S. Treasury and state budgets, and support public education, infrastructure improvements, and other state-determined priorities. Forty-eight percent of lease sale revenue goes to the state while the rest goes to the U.S. Treasury. The state also receives half of the revenue from royalties if oil and gas are developed on the lease.
Lease sales represent parcels that have been through environmental review and public comment. The BLM issues both competitive and non-competitive leases for a 10-year period. A lease is a contract to explore and develop any potential oil and gas. A lease may earn an extension if the lessee establishes production; otherwise the lessee pays an annual rental fee.
Public comments will be accepted electronically via the BLM Land Use Planning and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Register (ePlanning). Comments received by other methods will not be accepted. Additional information, including spatial data and exhibits, can be obtained online at https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/oil-and-gas/leasing/regional-lease-sales/new-mexico. This website will link to ePlanning, where interested individuals and parties can provide written comments.
Please note that the most useful public comments are substantive and identify issues relevant to the proposed action. These may question, with reasonable basis, the accuracy of information, methodology or assumptions, and present reasonable alternatives other than those analyzed. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences, or comments that are essentially identical to other comments, will not be specifically addressed in the environmental review process.
Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your public scoping comment, you should be aware that your entire comment - including your personal identifying information - may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
For more information, please contact BLM Supervisory Land Law Examiner JulieAnn Serrano at 505-954-2149.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.