BLM News Release
Nearly half the bid and rental receipts from lease sales go to the state of Utah to directly support public education, infrastructure improvements and other state-determined priorities.
SALT LAKE CITY— The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced Friday that it will offer 146 parcels of land, totaling nearly 183,520 acres, at its September quarterly oil and gas lease sale. The parcels are on lands managed by BLM’s Canyon Country, Color Country, Green River and West Desert Districts. The BLM will hold the lease sale online at www.energynet.com.
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.
The BLM is a key contributor to the Trump Administration’s America-First Energy Plan, an all-of-the-above strategy that includes oil and gas, coal, strategic minerals, and renewable sources such as wind, geothermal, and solar – all of which can be produced on public lands.
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.
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.
Public Comments
This sale notice initiates a 30-day public protest period that ends on Aug. 26, 2019. Protests must be submitted to the BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT, 84101or faxed to Leah Waldner 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://bit.ly/2Z5PlYd.
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.