The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Elko District Office (EDO) has completed the September 2026 Oil and Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessment (EA) and associated Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The signed documents are available under the Documents link at the top of this page, under Signed Documents. In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act, as amended, and the BLM regulations at 43 CFR 3120, the BLM is offering 14 parcel(s) containing 20,600.11 acres in Nevada for internet-based competitive oil and gas leasing on September 16, 2026.
The Sale Notice for the Septemeber 2026 Oil and Gas Lease Sale contains information about the sale, parcels, and stipulations, and is published on the BLM Nevada Oil and Gas webpage located here: Nevada Oil and Gas Lease Sales | Bureau of Land Management
A 30-day protest period began July 17, 2026, and ended August 16, 2026 (CLOSED). Links to copies of the protests received and protest decisions will be posted on the BLM Nevada Oil and Gas webpage.
Once sold, the lease purchaser has the exclusive right to use as much of the leased lands as is necessary to explore and drill oil and gas within the lease boundaries, subject to the stipulations attached to the lease (43 CFR 3101.12).
Oil and gas leases are issued for a 10-year period and continue for as long thereafter as oil or gas is produced in paying quantities. If a lessee fails to produce oil and gas, does not make annual rental payments, does not comply with the terms and conditions of the lease, or relinquishes the lease, exclusive right to develop the leasehold reverts to the federal government and the lease can be re-offered in another sale. Drilling of wells on a lease is not permitted until the lease owner or operator secures approval of a drilling permit and a surface use plan specified under Onshore Oil and Gas Orders listed in 43 CFR 3162.
A permit to drill would not be authorized until site-specific NEPA analysis is conducted. Site specific mitigation measures and Best Management Practices (BMPs) would be attached as Conditions of Approval (COAs) for each proposed exploration and development activity authorized on a lease.
