BLM Wyoming releases sale notice for March 2019 oil and gas lease sale
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management’s Wyoming State Office released the March 2019 oil and gas lease sale list, which includes 140 parcels totaling about 148,909 acres. The sale will occur online at www.energynet.com on March 19-20, 2019. In accordance with Secretarial Order 3362 to improve wildlife habitat, the BLM worked closely with the State of Wyoming to develop a sound leasing strategy that protects important wildlife habitat in the Red Desert to Hoback Sublette mule deer migration corridor in southwest Wyoming.
The BLM is deferring six parcels in whole and two parcels in part within the migration corridor based on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s recommendation to defer them until the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan revision is completed. The BLM is also applying a special lease notice to certain parcels that overlap the corridor, mandating that lessees work with the BLM and WGFD to minimize potential impacts to big game before development.
Today’s publication of the sale notice initiates a 30-day protest period that will close at 4 p.m. on March 1. The sale notice, environmental review documents and additional information, including protest instructions, are available online at https://go.usa.gov/xPpEv.
All protests must be submitted by mail to the Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, WY 82009, or by fax to 307-775-6203.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development can begin, an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans. The BLM reviews APDs in coordination with local and state partners and stakeholders.
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.