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NEPA Number: DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2026-0484-EA
Project Name: Q3 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale - Carlsbad Field Office

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Project Information

NEPA Number

DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2026-0484-EA
Project Name

Q3 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale - Carlsbad Field Office
Project Type

EA
NEPA Status

In Progress - Public Review and Comment Period
Lead Office

Carlsbad Field Office
Last Updated

4/14/2026 5:00:00 PM

Project Description

The Proposed Action is to lease 9 nominated parcels of federal minerals administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Carlsbad Field Office (CFO), covering 2,239.28 acres. Standard terms and conditions as well as lease stipulations listed in the BLM CFO Resource Management Plan(s) (as amended) and relevant Surface Management Agencies stipulations, per the SMA, would apply. 
 
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.  

 The parcels for the CFO include 7 in Eddy County and 2 in Lea County. This is one of 4 offices involved in this lease sale. Reference the Related Projects & Links tab on the left-hand side of this page to see the other e-Planning pages involved in this lease sale.

What's New

Public Comment Period Now Open (04/15/2026 through 05/15/2026)

To view and comment on the draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) documents specific to this Field Office, go to the Documents section located on the left-hand column of this page and click the "Participate Now" button. For other parcels lists, EAs, unsigned FONSIs, etc. associated with this lease sale, return to the Related Projects & Links tab and select the appropriate field office.

Public Scoping Period Now Open (02/20/2026 through 03/23/2026)

To view and comment on the draft parcel lists specific to this field office, go to the Documents section on the left-hand column of this page or click the “Participate Now” button. For all other draft parcel lists associated with this lease sale, navigate to the Related Projects & Links tab and select the appropriate field office page.

Project Location

City	State/Territory	Zip Code	County(ies)
Carlsbad	New Mexico	88220	Eddy

Application Information

Program

Fluid Minerals (Oil & Gas, Tar Sands, Oil Shale)
Sub-Program

Oil & Gas

Project Dates

Start Date

2/18/2026

Project Office Information

Lead Office

Carlsbad Field Office
Offices

Carlsbad FO

Contacts

Contact 1 Name

Audrey Jennings - [email protected] - BLM
Contact 1 Email

[email protected]
Contact 1 Phone

Contact 2 Name

Catherine Brewster - [email protected] - BLM
Contact 2 Email

[email protected]
Contact 2 Phone

(505) 954-2170

Contact 3 Name

Cody Mccullah - [email protected] - BLM
Contact 3 Email

[email protected]
Contact 3 Phone