Decision:
The Finding of No
Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record (DR) were approved and signed on
March 25, 2024. The final
Environmental Assessment (EA), FONSI, DR, Notice of Competitive Oil and Gas Internet Lease Sale, and
other documents associated with this project may be accessed via the
“Documents” tab on the left-hand side of this webpage.
On September 23, 2025 (2) parcels (Expressions of
Interests ES00017975 and ES00017976) of split-estate Federal minerals in Greene County,, Mississippi were be re-offered
for lease in the Eastern States September 2025 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease
Sale. Both parcels were sold. For information on the sold parcels and the lease sale, please contact Chris Hite, Branch Chief of Minerals, BLM Eastern States Office, at [email protected].
Background:
Protest Period:
No protests were received during the
30-day protest period on the Notice of Competitive Oil and Gas Internet Lease Sale that ran from January
26, 2024, through February 26, 2024.
Public
Participation Periods:
The
project description and maps of the proposed lease parcels were available for a
30-day public scoping period beginning October 6, 2023, and ending November 6,
2023.
The
draft EA and unsigned FONSI were made available for a 30-day public comment period starting November 29, 2023, and ending at midnight on December 29,
2023. The BLM responded to comments that were received during this period in the
final EA, which is located under the “Documents” tab on the left-hand side of this
webpage.
Other Information:
If you would like to view
maps of the parcels individually, you may also access them under the “Documents”
tab to the left.
The legal descriptions for
the parcels are as follows:
EOI ES000014059 (Smith
County, Mississippi):
Choctaw Meridian,
Mississippi
T. 3 N., R. 6 E.,
Sec. 1, S2SW (2.70 acres)
EOI ES000017975 (Greene
County, Mississippi)
St. Stephens Meridian, Mississippi
T. 4 N., R. 8 W.,
Sec. 5, NENE (38.16 acres)
EOI ES000017976 (Greene
County, Mississippi)
St. Stephens Meridian,
Mississippi
T. 5 N., R. 8 W.,
Sec. 32, SWSE, W2W2SESE (50
acres)
As authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, the
BLM will apply a 16.67 percent royalty rate for any new leases from this sale.
More information about the Act is available on the BLM's online fact sheet.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop
Federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an
operator must submit an application for permit to drill, detailing development
plans. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public
review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with State partners
and stakeholders.
All parcels leased as part of an oil and gas lease
sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources.
Information on current and upcoming BLM lease sales is available through
the National Fluid Lease Sale System.
