Current Oil and Gas Comment Periods. 

We monitor oil and gas leasing across the Rocky Mountain West

You can help make sure that our federal agencies manage these areas in ways that benefit all of us by making public comments and protests during comment and protest periods.

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Upcoming Oil and Gas Lease Sales:

The Oil and Gas Lease Sales map below shows parcels proposed to be offered for lease by the Bureau of Land Management. This interactive map shows current and upcoming lease sales and their conflicts with wildlife and natural areas.

Advice on how to use the map: Zoom in for more detail. Select the layer list icon in the upper left, expand and turn on conservation_conflicts and other layers and sublayers. Click on parcels or conservation conflict areas for more information. Scroll through pop-ups for multiple overlapping areas by clicking on the right triangle/arrow.

Click here for the full screen map.

Open Comment and Protest Periods:

New Mexico

January (Q1) 2026 Lease Sale

Environmental Assessment (posted 8/1/2025)

  • Comments are due Tuesday, September 2, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents section of the Farmington Field Office and Carlsbad Field Office ePlanning webpages (click ‘Participate Now’ to comment). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section, in the Announcement and on the BLM New Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  • According to the website and documents, BLM is analyzing 30 parcels / 20,359 acres in the Carlsbad and Farmington Field Offices of New Mexico. The parcels include 19 in Eddy County, 9 in Lea County, 1 in Rio Arriba County and 1 in Sandoval County. Additional parcels are proposed for sale in Oklahoma.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in the Brantley Wildlife Area, on lands within 10 miles of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, priority habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, other habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, parcels within an area identified as a priority corridor region for pronghorn and multi-species, and parcels within the Human-powered recreation footprint (Outdoor Alliance).
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Scoping (posted 5/12/2025)

  • Comments are due Wednesday, June 11, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents section of the Farmington Field Office and Carlsbad Field Office ePlanning webpages (click ‘Participate Now’ to comment). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section, in the Announcement and on the BLM New Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  • According to the website and documents, BLM is analyzing 30 parcels / 20,359 acres in the Carlsbad and Farmington Field Offices of New Mexico. The parcels include 19 in Eddy County, 9 in Lea County, 1 in Rio Arriba County and 1 in Sandoval County. Additional parcels are proposed for sale in Oklahoma.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in the Brantley Wildlife Area, on lands within 10 miles of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, priority habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, other habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, parcels within an area identified as a priority corridor region for pronghorn and multi-species, and parcels within the Human-powered recreation footprint (Outdoor Alliance).
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.
November 2025 Lease Sale

Sale Notice (posted 8/4/2025)

  • Protests on the Sale Notice for the proposed November 2025 lease sale are due Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Information on how to protest is available on the Farmington and Rio Puerco Field Offices and Pecos District Office ePlanning webpages. General information about the sale can be found under the Home section and instructions for how to submit a protest by email, paper mail, or hand delivery can be found under the Documents section. Additional information about the sale is available in the announcement and on the BLM New Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sales website. 
  •  According to the website and documents, BLM is analyzing 17 parcels / 8,637.16 acres in the Carlsbad, Farmington, Rio Puerco and Roswell Field Offices of New Mexico. The parcels include 9 in Eddy County, 3 in Mckinley, 1 in Rio Arriba, 1 in Roosevelt and 3 in Sandoval Counties. Additional parcels are proposed for sale in Oklahoma.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in the Torrejon Fossil Fauna Area of Critical Environmental Concern, lands within 10 miles of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, other habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, and parcels within an area identified as a priority corridor region for pronghorn and multi-species.
  • Low potential for development:
    • Significant portions of 11 parcels / 4,945 acres are in areas identified in Bureau of Land Management published Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario Documents as having low potential for oil and gas development: NM-2025-11-0474, -0531, -0532, -0574, -0576, -0578, -0579, -0580, -6866, – 6870, -6871
    • Of those parcels, significant portions of 5 parcels / 2,760 acres are not close to existing development (more than 2 miles away from active wells): NM-2025-11-0531, -0532, -0574, -0578, -6866
  • Lease Sale Notice Parcels: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Notice ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Environmental Assessment (posted 4/21/2025)

  • Comments are due Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents section of the Farmington and Rio Puerco Field Offices and Pecos District Office ePlanning webpages (click ‘Participate Now’ to comment). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section, in the Announcement and on the BLM New Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  •  According to the website and documents, BLM is analyzing 17 parcels / 8,637.16 acres in the Carlsbad, Farmington, Rio Puerco and Roswell Field Offices of New Mexico. The parcels include 9 in Eddy County, 3 in Mckinley, 1 in Rio Arriba, 1 in Roosevelt and 3 in Sandoval Counties. Additional parcels are proposed for sale in Oklahoma.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in the Torrejon Fossil Fauna Area of Critical Environmental Concern, lands within 10 miles of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, other habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, and parcels within an area identified as a priority corridor region for pronghorn and multi-species.
  • Low potential for development:
    • Significant portions of 11 parcels / 4,945 acres are in areas identified in Bureau of Land Management published Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario Documents as having low potential for oil and gas development: NM-2025-11-0474, -0531, -0532, -0574, -0576, -0578, -0579, -0580, -6866, – 6870, -6871
    • Of those parcels, significant portions of 5 parcels / 2,760 acres are not close to existing development (more than 2 miles away from active wells): NM-2025-11-0531, -0532, -0574, -0578, -6866
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Scoping (posted 1/31/2025)

  • Comments are due Monday, March 3, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents section of the Farmington and Rio Puerco Field Offices and Pecos District Office ePlanning webpages (click ‘Participate Now’ to comment). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section, in the Announcement and on the BLM New Mexico Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  •  According to the website and documents, BLM is analyzing 17 parcels / 8,637.16 acres in the Carlsbad, Farmington, Rio Puerco and Roswell Field Offices of New Mexico. The parcels include 9 in Eddy County, 3 in Mckinley, 1 in Rio Arriba, 1 in Roosevelt and 3 in Sandoval Counties. Additional parcels are proposed for sale in Oklahoma.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in the Torrejon Fossil Fauna Area of Critical Environmental Concern, lands within 10 miles of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, other habitat for terrestrial species of economic and recreational importance, and parcels within an area identified as a priority corridor region for pronghorn and multi-species.
  • Low potential for development:
    • Significant portions of 11 parcels / 4,945 acres are in areas identified in Bureau of Land Management published Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario Documents as having low potential for oil and gas development: NM-2025-11-0474, -0531, -0532, -0574, -0576, -0578, -0579, -0580, -6866, – 6870, -6871
    • Of those parcels, significant portions of 5 parcels / 2,760 acres are not close to existing development (more than 2 miles away from active wells): NM-2025-11-0531, -0532, -0574, -0578, -6866
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Need resources to submit your comments or protests?

Visit our Oil and Gas Toolbox for Activists! This toolbox includes information about how the process works, how to write comments and protests, a virtual recording from an Oil and Gas Lease Sale Comment Writing Workshop, and additional resources to help you writer your comments and protests.

Visit the Oil and Gas Toolbox for Activists

Recently Closed Comment and Protest Periods:

Colorado

December (Q4) 2025 Lease Sale

Draft Environmental Assessment (posted 6/18/2025)

  • Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are due 4pm MDT Friday, July 18, 2025. According to the Bureau of Land Management, “there will be no exceptions for late comments.” Comments can be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment form under the Participate Now or Documents section of the Bureau of Land Management Colorado December 2025 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale ePlanning website. Additional information is available in the Press Release and on the BLM Colorado Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  • According to the website and documents, the Bureau is presenting two alternatives for leasing in December 2025. Under the Full Leasing Alternative, the Bureau is proposing to offer 61 parcels / 51,067.87 acres. Under the Modified Leasing Alternative, the Bureau is proposing to offer 60 parcels / 50,987.87 acres. The parcels are in Garfield, Jackson, Mesa, Moffatt, Rio Blanco, and Routt Counties in the Grand Junction, Kremmling, Little Snake, and White River Field Offices in Northern and Western Colorado.
  • Place based conflicts identified include overlaps with:
    • BLM Inventoried Lands with Wilderness Characteristics
    • Grieves Easement State Wildlife Area
    • Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge (Full Leasing Alternative Only)
    • Parcel Adjacent to Black Mountain Roadless Area
    • Parcel within 10 miles of Dinosaur National Monument
    • Old Spanish National Historic Trail
    • Parcels within the North Park Master Leasing Plan area
    • Parcels within the Shale Ridges and Canyons Master Leasing Plan area
  • Animal and plant habitat-based conflicts identified include overlaps with:
    • Priority and general habitat management areas for greater sage-grouse
    • Aquatic High Priority Habitat identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
    • High Priority Habitat (migratory and winter habitats) for Big Game (elk, mule deer, and pronghorn) identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
    • Important habitat for bald eagle and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse
    • Occurrences of rare plants: Bessey’s Locoweed (Oxytropis besseyi var. obnapiformis), rock-tansy (Sphaeromeria capitata), southwestern cat’s-eye (Oreocarya mensana) and North Park phacelia (Phacelia formosula)
    • White-tailed prairie dog
  • Note that all parcels are on lands identified by the Bureau of Land Management as having high potential for oil and gas development.
  • Recreational footprint identified by Outdoor Alliance
  • Lease Sale Parcels Draft EA Full Leasing Alternative Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels Draft EA Full Leasing Alternative ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.
  • Lease Sale Parcels Draft EA Modified Leasing Alternative Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels Draft EA Modified Leasing Alternative ABI Screen

Scoping (posted 2/14/2025)

  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.
September (Q3) 2025 Lease Sale

Sale Notice (posted 7/7/2025)

  • Protest on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Colorado September 9 lease sale are due 4pm MDT on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. There is important information on how to protest in the Sale Notice. There is additional information on the Bureau of Land Management Colorado September 2025 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale ePlanning website, in the Press Release, and BLM Colorado Oil and Gas Lease Sales website.
  • According to the website and documents, BLM is proposing to offer 14 parcels / 7,895.18 acres in Northeast and Northwest Colorado. The parcels are in Arapaho, Moffatt, Rio Blanco, and Weld Counties in the Royal Gorge and White River Field Offices.
  • Place based conflicts identified include overlaps with:
    • Blair Mtn/Greasewood and North Colorow Lands with Wilderness Characteristics
    • Lower Greaswood Creek ACEC and White River Riparian Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs)
    • Lower Greasewood Gulch and White River at Rio Blanco Lake Potential Conservation Areas
    • State Wildlife Area (Piceance SWA – North Ridge Unit)
    • Lowry Ranch Comprehensive Area Plan (parcel COCO106740685)
  • Animal and plant habitat-based conflicts identified include overlaps with:
    • General and priority habitat for greater sage-grouse
    • Aquatic High Priority Habitat identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
    • High Priority Habitat (migratory and winter habitats) for Big Game (elk, mule deer, and pronghorn) identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife
    • Important habitat for bald eagle
    • Occurrences of rare plants: Fremont’s beardtongue (Penstemon fremontii var. glabrescens) and narrowstem gilia (Gilia stenothyrsa)
  • Note that all parcels are on lands identified by the Bureau of Land Management as having high potential for oil and gas development.
  • Lease Sale Parcels Sale Notice Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels Sale Notice ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Utah

December (Q4) 2025 Lease Sale

Draft Environmental Assessment (posted 7/8/2025)

  • Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) (pdf document) for the proposed Utah Fourth Quarter (December) 2025 Lease Sale must be received by 4:30 p.m. MT Friday, August 8, 2025. There is more information and a link to submit comments on the Utah 2025 Fourth Quarter Oil and Gas Competitive Lease Sale ePlanning website and with additional information in the Press Release and on the Utah Oil and Gas Lease Sales Web Page.
  • According to the announcement and documents, Utah Bureau of Land Management is analyzing 3 proposals to offer leases for oil and gas development in Uintah County in the Vernal Field Office. Alternative A, the Proposed Action would offer 46 parcels/68,263.38 acres. Alternative B, the Greater Sage-Grouse Avoidance Alternative would offer 7 parcels / 11,103.00 acres. Alternative C, the Reed Mustards and Sensitive Penstemon Species Avoidance Alternative would offer 23 parcels / 33,427.53 acres.
  • Rocky Mountain Wild has prepared a screen showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.
  • Wildlife and plant conflicts identified:
    • General habitat for greater sage-grouse including brood and winter habitat
    • Habitat for Mexican spotted owl, listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
    • Habitat for rare plants including shrubby reed-mustard (Schoenocrambe suffrutescens; ESA Endangered), clay reed-mustard (Schoenocrambe argillacea), Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis; ESA threatened)
    • Proposed critical habitat for Graham’s beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii) (Alternative A and B only)
    • Crucial winter habitat for elk and mule deer
    • Crucial fawning habitat for pronghorn (Alternatives A and C only)
  • Wildlands conflicts identified:
    • Lands identified by the Bureau of Land Management and conservation organizations as having wilderness characteristics (Lower Bitter Creek)
    • Lands proposed for Wilderness protection by the U.S. Congress (Lower Bitter Creek and Sunday School Canyon)
    • Land adjacent to the Winter Ridge Wilderness Study Area
  • Note that all of the proposed parcels are on lands identified as medium or high potential for oil and gas development.
  • Alternative A – Proposed Action
  • Alternative B – Greater Sage-Grouse Avoidance Alternative
  • Alternative C – Reed Mustards and Sensitive Penstemon Species Avoidance Alternative

Scoping (posted 4/15/2025)

September (Q3) 2025 Lease Sale

Sale Notice (posted 7/16/2025)

  • Protests on the proposed Utah Third Quarter (Q3) 2025 Lease Sale must be received by Monday, August 18, 2025. There is important information on how to protest on the Utah 2025 Third Quarter Oil and Gas Competitive Lease Sale ePlanning website and in the Sale Notice (pdf document) with additional information in the Press Release and on the Utah Oil and Gas Lease Sales Web Page.
  • There is contradictory information on how to protest on the ePlanning site and in the Sale Notice. If you are planning to protest, we recommend that you request clarification from the Bureau of Land Management.
  • According to the announcement and documents, Utah Bureau of Land Management is proposing to offer 15 parcels/19,014.39 acres in Sanpete and Uintah Counties in the Richfield and Vernal Field Offices.
  • Rocky Mountain Wild has prepared a screen showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.
  • Wildlife and plant conflicts identified:
    • Colorado River fish listed as endangered by the US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) including Critical habitat for Colorado pikeminnow and overall range for bonytail and Razorback sucker
    • Overall range for Mexican spotted owl (FWS listed threatened)
    • Rare plants: occurrence of Duchesne milkvetch, overall range for Shrubby reed-mustard (FWS listed endangered), and overall range for Ute’s ladies-tresses (FWS listed threatened)
    • General habitat for greater sage-grouse including brood and winter habitat
    • White-tailed prairie dog area
    • Black-footed ferret management area and FWS designated experimental range
    • Crucial winter habitat for elk and mule deer
    • Crucial fawning habitat for mule deer and pronghorn
  • Wildlands conflicts identified:
    • Lands identified by the Bureau of Land Management and conservation organizations as having wilderness characteristics
    • Lands proposed for Wilderness protection by the U.S. Congress
    • Land adjacent to the Winter Ridge Wilderness Study Area
    • Land within 10 miles of Dinosaur National Monument
    • Human-powered recreation footprint (Outdoor Alliance)
  • Note that all of the proposed parcels are on lands identified as medium or high potential for oil and gas development.
  • Sale Notice Parcels: Google Earth kmz | Zipped Shapefile
  • Sale Notice ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values

Draft Environmental Assessment (posted 5/7/2025)

Scoping (posted 2/25/2025)

Montana

January 2026 Lease Sale

Scoping Notice (Posted 6/26/2026)

  • Comments are due Monday, July 28, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents section of the ePlanning site (click ‘Participate Now’ to comment). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section, in the Announcement, and on the Montana-Dakotas BLM Oil and Gas Leasing website.
  • According to the website, documents and GIS data, BLM is proposing to offer 2 parcels/385 acres in the Miles City and Havre Field Offices in Montana (with additional parcels in North Dakota). The proposed parcels in Montana are located in Liberty and Richland counties. Please email Alison Gallensky (alison@rockymountainwild.org) for more information on the North Dakota parcels.
  • Conflicts identified include a parcel in a Mule Deer Winter Distribution Area.
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen (Montana only), a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.
September 2025 Lease Sale

Sale Notice (posted 7/8/2025)

  • Protests on the Sale Notice are due Friday, August 8, 2025. Important information on how to protest is in the Sale Notice and on the Montana-Dakotas September 2025 Oil and Gas Lease Sale ePlanning site. Protests may be submitted through hand delivery, fax, mailed in hardcopy form, or through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents or Participate Now sections of the ePlanning site (click ‘File Protest’ to submit your protest). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section and on the Montana-Dakotas BLM Oil and Gas Leasing website.
  • According to the ePlanning site, and sale notice (PDF document), BLM is proposing to offer 16 parcels/5,492 acres in the Havre and Miles City Field Offices in Montana (with, additionally, 10 parcels/2,875.5 acres proposed in North Dakota). The proposed parcels in Montana are located in Blaine, Richland, Roosevelt and Rosebud counties. 
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in Piping Plover Critical Habitat, Greater Sage-Grouse General Habitat Management Areas, a Multi-Species Big Game Corridor Priority Region, and Mule Deer, Pronghorn and Whitetail Deer Winter Distribution Areas.
  • Lease Sale Parcels: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale ABI Screen (Montana only), a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Draft Environmental Assessment (Posted 3/25/2025)

  • Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment are due Friday, April 25, 2025. The Draft EA, appendices, information on how to comment, and a link to an electronic comment form are available on the Montana/Dakotas September 2025 Oil and Gas Lease Sale ePlanning website (click on Home on the left panel for instructions and click on Documents or Participate Now for the comment link). Additional information is available in the Dear Reader Letter and general information is available on the Montana-Dakotas BLM Oil and Gas Leasing website.
  • According to the website, documents and GIS data, BLM is proposing to offer 17 parcels/5516 acres in the Miles City and Havre Field Offices in Montana (with, additionally, 12 parcels/2946 acres in North Dakota). The proposed parcels in Montana are located in Blaine, Richland, Roosevelt and Rosebud counties. Please email Alison Gallensky (alison@rockymountainwild.org) for more information on the North Dakota parcels.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in Piping Plover Critical Habitat, Greater Sage-Grouse General Habitat Management Areas, a Multi-Species Big Game Corridor Priority Region, and Mule Deer, Pronghorn and Whitetail Deer Winter Distribution Areas.
  • Low potential for development: Three proposed parcels, MT-2025-09-0270, MT-2025-09-0367, and MT-2025-09-0403, are in areas identified in Bureau of Land Management published Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario Documents as having low potential for oil and gas development. Note that all of these proposed parcels are closer than 2 miles away from currently producing wells.
  • Lease Sale Parcels EA: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale EA ABI Screen (Montana only), a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Scoping Notice (Posted 1/29/2025)

  • Comments are due Monday, March 3, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the links provided to the electronic comment forms under the Documents section of the ePlanning site (click ‘Participate Now’ to comment). Additional information about the sale is available under the Home section, in the Announcement, and on the Montana-Dakotas BLM Oil and Gas Leasing website.
  • According to the website, documents and GIS data, BLM is proposing to offer 17 parcels/5516 acres in the Miles City and Havre Field Offices in Montana (with, additionally, 12 parcels/2946 acres in North Dakota). The proposed parcels in Montana are located in Blaine, Richland, Roosevelt and Rosebud counties. Please email Alison Gallensky (alison@rockymountainwild.org) for more information on the North Dakota parcels.
  • Conflicts identified include parcels in Piping Plover Critical Habitat, Greater Sage-Grouse General Habitat Management Areas, a Multi-Species Big Game Corridor Priority Region, and Mule Deer, Pronghorn and Whitetail Deer Winter Distribution Areas.
  • Low potential for development: Three proposed parcels, MT-2025-09-0270, MT-2025-09-0367, and MT-2025-09-0403, are in areas identified in Bureau of Land Management published Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenario Documents as having low potential for oil and gas development. Note that all of these proposed parcels are closer than 2 miles away from currently producing wells.
  • Lease Sale Parcels Scoping: Google Earth kmz | Zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen (Montana only), a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values.

Wyoming

March (Q1) 2026 Lease Sale

Scoping (posted 7/7/2025)

  • Comments on the Preliminary Parcel List and Scoping Parcel Map are due Thursday, August 7, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the link provided to the electronic comment form under the Participate Now or Documents section of the 2026 First Quarter Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale ePlanning page. Additional information is available in the Press Release and on the BLM Wyoming Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  • According to the website and documents, BLM is proposing to offer 66 parcels / 94,465.23 acres. The proposed parcels are in Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Johnson, Laramie, Niobrara, and Sweetwater Counties in the Buffalo, Casper, Newcastle, Rawlins, and Rock Springs Field Offices in eastern and central Wyoming.
  • Conflicts identified include
    • Overlaps with habitat for greater sage-grouse including priority habitat.
    • Crucial winter habitat for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn and mule deer migration corridors
    • Important habitat for black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dog including potential reintroduction sites for black-footed ferret
    • Species range for the rare Colorado Butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana var. coloradensis)
    • Species range for the rare butterfly Western regal fritillary (Argynnis idalia occidentalis; ESA proposed threatened)
    • Citizen recommended wilderness areas (Adobe Town and Wild Cow Creek)
    • Chain Lakes State Wildlife Habitat Management Area
    • Area of Critical Environmental Concern (Sand Hills/JO Ranch)
    • Areas managed for historic trails
    • Low potential for oil and gas development (all parcels in areas identified in BLM Reasonable Foreseeable Development Scenarios as low potential are within 5 miles of producing wells)
  • Lease Sale Scoping Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Scoping ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values
December (Q4) 2025 Lease Sale

Draft Environmental Assessment (posted 6/16/2025)

  • Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are due Thursday, July 17, 2025. Comments must be submitted through the link provided to the electronic comment form under the Participate Now or Documents section of the 2025 Fourth Quarter Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale ePlanning page. Additional information is available in the Press Release and on the BLM Wyoming Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  • According to the website and documents, BLM is presenting two alternatives for leasing in December 2025. Alternative 2, the Proposed Action, proposes to offer 99 parcels / 84,010.80 acres. Alternative 3, the Modified Proposed Action, proposes to offer 86 parcels / 79,228.76. The proposed parcels are in Big Horn, Campbell, Carbon, Converse, Crook, Fremont, Laramie, Natrona, Niobrara, Sweetwater, and Weston Counties in the Buffalo, Casper, Lander, Newcastle, Rawlins, Rock Springs, and Worland Field Offices in eastern and central Wyoming.
  • Conflicts identified include
    • Overlaps with habitat for greater sage-grouse. Under Alternative 2, 94 of the proposed parcels are in greater sage-grouse habitat. Under Alternative 3, 80 of the proposed parcels are in greater sage-grouse habitat. 2 parcels, 1,147 acres in Alternative 2 significantly overlap priority habitat. None of the parcels in Alternative 3 significantly overlap priority habitat.
    • Crucial winter habitat for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn and mule deer migration corridors
    • Important habitat for black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dog including potential reintroduction sites for black-footed ferret
    • Species range for rare plants: blowout penstemon (Penstemon haydenii; ESA endangered), Colorado Butterfly plant (Gaura neomexicana var. coloradensis), and Ute ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes diluvialis; ESA threatened)
    • Species range for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse (ESA Threatened)
    • Lands identified as having wilderness characteristics (Little Pine Ridge and Rotten Springs)
    • Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (Greater Sand Dunes and Salt Creek Drainage)
    • Forest Service Roadless Area (Duck Creek in the Thunder Basin National Grasslands)
    • Greater Little Mountain proposed Master Leasing Plan area (Alternative 2 only)
    • Areas managed for historic trails
    • Low potential for development:
      • Under Alternative 2, Portions of 76 parcels are in areas identified as having a low potential for development in BLM Reasonably Foreseeable Development Potential documents.
      • Under Alternative 3, Portions of 63 parcels are in areas identified as having a low potential for development in BLM Reasonably Foreseeable Development Potential documents.
      • Under both Alternatives, 3 of the parcels in low potential areas are also more than 5 miles from producing wells (parcels WY-2025-12-7059, -7070, and -7073).
    • Human powered recreation footprint according to data from Outdoor Alliance
  • Lease Sale Parcels EA Alternative 2 Proposed Action Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels EA Alternative 2 Proposed Action ABI Screen, , a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values
  • Lease Sale Parcels EA Alternative 3 Modified Proposed Action Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels EA Alternative 3 Modified Proposed Action ABI Screen

Scoping (posted 4/8/2025)

September (Q3) 2025 Lease Sale

Sale Notice (posted 7/8/2025)

  • Protests on the Draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Draft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are due by 4:00 pm Mountain Time Thursday, August 7, 2025. There is important information about how to protest in the Sale Notice. There is additional information on 2025 Third Quarter Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale ePlanning page, in the Press Release, and on the BLM Wyoming Oil and Gas Lease Sales web site.
  • According to the website and documents, BLM is proposing to offer 32 parcels / 39,225.02 acres. The proposed parcels are in Campbell, Converse, Johnson, Natrona, Niobrara, and Sweetwater Counties in the Casper, Buffalo, Lander, and Rawlins Field Offices in eastern and central Wyoming.
  • Conflicts identified include
    • Overlaps with habitat for greater sage-grouse. All of the proposed parcels are in greater sage-grouse habitat including priority habitat.
    • Crucial winter habitat for mule deer and pronghorn
    • Important habitat for black-tailed and white-tailed prairie dog including potential reintroduction sites for black-footed ferret
    • Habitat for the Ute ladies’-tresses plant (Spiranthes diluvialis) that is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act
    • Habitat for the Western regal fritillary butterfly (Argynnis idalia occidentalis) that is proposed to be listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act
    • Lands identified as having wilderness characteristics (Madden and Red Creek)
    • Areas managed for historic trails
    • Private land with a conservation easement
    • Low potential for development:
      • All of the parcels in areas identified as having low potential for development in Reasonably Foreseeable Development Scenarios are within 5 miles of producing wells.
  • Lease Sale Parcels Sale Notice Google Earth kmz | zipped shapefile
  • Lease Sale Parcels Sale Notice ABI Screen, a spreadsheet showing conflicts between the proposed parcels and important wildlife, wilderness and other resource values

Draft Environmental Assessment (posted 4/14/2025)

Scoping (posted 1/31/2025)