Bureau of Land Management Nevada Accepting Public Comments for Quarter 1 Oil and Gas Lease Sale
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[UPDATED 12/7] BATTLE MOUNTAIN, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management is asking the public to review and provide comment on an Environmental Assessment for 10 parcels within the Battle Mountain District proposed for inclusion in the Quarter 1 Oil and Gas Lease Sale. The comment period runs from October 29 through December 8. The competitive lease sale will occur in the first quarter of 2022 and details will be posted to www.energynet.com.
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.
Public Comments
The EA can be viewed on the BLM National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Register website at https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2015604/510. Written comments will be accepted until Dec. 8 and can be submitted online at the NEPA Register site; mailed to the BLM Battle Mountain District Office at 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820; or emailed to: rssmith@blm.gov.
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 questions. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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 call Jess Harvey at (775) 635-4000.
Background
The BLM’s 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.
*Editors note: The release originally listed February 2022 as when the lease sale would occur. It has been updated to show the lease sale will occur in the first quarter of 2022.
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.