BLM Wyoming releases sale notice for March 2020 oil and gas lease sale
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The Bureau of Land Management Wyoming State Office today released the sale notice for the March 2020 oil and gas lease sale, which includes 105 parcels totaling about 118,292.7 acres. The sale will occur online at www.energynet.com on March 21, 2020.
The BLM initially analyzed 125 parcels nominated for the sale. Four whole parcels and parts of 12 others were deleted from the sale list because they are in areas closed to oil and gas leasing. The BLM plans to defer 16 whole parcels and part of one other due to resource conflicts.
On the recommendation of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the deferred parcels include four whole parcels and portions of another that intersect state-designated mule deer migration corridors. This is consistent with Secretarial Order 3362 on improving habitat quality in western big game winter range. The BLM reviewed all parcels to ensure leasing them conforms to the 2015 Approved Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan Amendments for the Rocky Mountain Region.
Today’s publication of the sale notice initiates a 30-day protest period that will close Feb. 20, 2020. The sale notice, environmental review documents and additional information, including protest instructions, are available online at https://go.usa.gov/xda99.
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.
Wyoming is one of the country’s top producers on public lands. In 2018, BLM Wyoming lease sales raised nearly $117 million. Nearly half of the revenue from each lease sale goes directly to the State of Wyoming. When leasing results in production, royalties from production are also shared with the state. The revenue supports 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.