BLM Utah to offer 25 parcels in the March oil and gas lease sale
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SALT LAKE CITY — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today that it will offer 25 parcels of land, totaling approximately 32,714 acres, at the March quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The parcels are located in Uintah County on lands managed by the BLM’s Vernal Field Office. The BLM will hold the lease sale online on March 10 at www.energynet.com. Parcels may be viewed online at the EnergyNet website approximately 10 business days after the posting of this sale notice on the BLM website.
Responsible energy development includes thoughtful consideration of parcels nominated for leasing as well as potential resource impacts of decisions to lease. An additional environmental review will take place at the Application for Permit to Drill stage, where site specific Conditions of Approval will be placed on the permit in addition to the lease stipulations.
This sale notice initiates a 30-day public protest period that ends on Feb. 24, 2020. Protests must be submitted to the BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT, 84101or faxed to Angela Wadman at (801) 539-4237. 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 https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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. The oil and gas industry on public lands in Utah contributed $2.6 billion in total economic output and jobs for FY 2017. 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.
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.