BLM Utah comment period extended for March 2021 Oil and Gas Competitive lease sale

The BLM extended the comment period an additional seven days because the draft FONSI document link was broken during the initial comment period. The extended public comment period ended on January 28, 2021. Comments on the draft FONSI were added to the "Documents" link at left.

The BLM extended the comment period an additional 7 days from January 21, 2021 to January 28, 2021.

The BLM offered a 30-day public comment period, from December 17, 2020 to January 19, 2021. 

Background

The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), as amended [30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.], supports the exploration and development of oil and gas owned by the Federal Government. The MLA establishes that deposits of oil and gas owned by the United States (US) are subject to disposition in the form and manner provided by the MLA under the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior, where consistent with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and other applicable laws, regulations, and policies. The Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987 (FOOGLRA) created the means for oil and gas leasing on National Forest System (NFS) lands (36 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 228 Subpart E and Part 261) to be consistent with the FOOGLRA and to provide guidance for oil and gas leasing and surface-use management on NFS lands.  BLM retains the authority of leasing agent for the Federal Government and is tasked with holding quarterly or more frequent lease sales in Utah where eligible lands are available. Eligible lands are those that are open for leasing, and which the BLM or the USFS have received Expressions of Interest (EOIs) nominating lands to be offered for lease. All lease parcels in the March 2021 Lease Sale were nominated by the public.