BLM Montana-Dakotas Q3 August 2026 Oil & Gas Lease Sale
Current
Parcel Count: 64
Current Acreage: 29,057.57
Please note: The BLM is launching an updated version of our NEPA Register in early 2026. From January 16 - 19, interested parties will not be able to submit EA comments for the DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA through the ePlanning project page. The new ePlanning portal will launch on January 20 and interested parties will once again be able to submit comments through the NEPA Register at that time. During the four-day blackout period, interested parties can still submit comments via email at [email protected] and through the mail.
January 13, 2026 - the public scoping period for the preliminary parcel list and applied stipulations for the proposed Quarter 3, 2026 lease sale will be open from January 13 - February 19, 2026.
To the extent you submit exhibits or attachments to any submitted public comment, you must provide a summary of the attached documents, and explain why they are important for us to consider. If the submittal fails to include the requested summary, BLM may not consider any information in the exhibits or attachments during its decision-making process. Electronic comment submission is available. Comments should be within the scope of the proposed action, specific to the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action and include supporting reasons for the BLM to consider. Issues identified from public comment may be used to modify or add project design features, mitigation, or alternatives.
THE BLM WILL NOT ACCEPT COMMENTS BY EMAIL
Comments may be submitted using the following methods:
Electronic: BLM e-Planning website – https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/home
-Use the “Text Search” tab with the below State/Office/Document Type/Fiscal Year -Click Search and select DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA - Montana-Dakotas Q3 August 2026 Oil and Gas Lease Sale.
-Click “Documents” on the left hand side of the screen to display documents available for review.
-Click “Comment on Document” to submit comments.
- All documents associated with this Lease Sale are posted under the documents link on the left hand side of your screen.
- The USFS stipulation maps, GIS data, and PDF Maps can be found on the 'Maps' link on the left hand side of the screen.
- *Shapefiles are available however, parcel acreage is most accurately reflected on Appendix A and Sale Notice.
For media questions, please contact Brittany Jones at [email protected]
The following dates and times for public involvement are subject to change. Please check this ePlanning location for newest updates associated with this project.
Document(s) | Date(s) Available | Notes/Comments |
30 Day Public Scoping Nominated Parcels List Nominated Parcel Maps GIS Data (Preliminary List) Dear Reader Letter (Public Scoping) | Publish Date: January 13, 2026 Scoping Period: 30 Days Submit Comments to: *Electronically: See Documents, Appendix A *Mail: Bureau of Land Management
Montana/Dakotas State Office
Branch of Fluid Minerals
Attn: Hattie Payne
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101 Contact: Hattie Payne (701) 260-4997 [email protected] | Thirty-day public scoping period of nominated lease
parcels including the field office's preliminary
recommendations and stipulations. Stipulation summaries, GIS shapefiles, and maps are also provided.
This allows the public an opportunity to provide
comments which are then analyzed and incorporated into
the final environmental analysis as appropriate. |
30 Day Public Review
Dear Reader Letter (Public Comment)
Environmental Assessment (EA)
Unsigned FONSI | Publish Date: March 17, 2026
Comment Period: 30 days
Submit Comments to:
*Electronically: See Documents, Environmental Assessment (EA)
*Mail: Bureau of Land Management
Montana/Dakotas State Office
Branch of Fluid Minerals
Attn: Hattie Payne
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Contact: Hattie Payne (701) 260-4997 [email protected] | Thirty-day public review and comment period of the
lease sale Environmental Assessment (EA) and the
unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).
Comments received from the public will be analyzed and
incorporated into the environmental analysis as appropriate. |
Lease Sale Notice and Protest Period
Competitive Sale Notice and List
Map of Sale Parcels
GIS Data
Final Environmental Assessment (EA)
Finding of No Significant Impact (Unsigned) | Publish Date: June 2, 2026 Protest Period: 30 days Submit Protests to:
*Electronically: See Documents, Environmental Assessment EA
*Mail: Bureau of Land Management Montana/Dakotas State Office
Attn: State Director
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Or Fax: 406-896-5292
| The Sale Notice includes a list of all sale parcels,
legal descriptions, applicable stipulations, and
questions and answers about the lease sale process.
The Amendments section will also include amendments
to the original sale notice if changes are made before the sale. |
Decision Record Environmental Assessment Signed FONSI | Publish Date: August 11, 2026 | Signed Decision Record (DR) and FONSI for Leasing EA and Lease Sale |
Protests | Publish Date: August 11, 2026 | Resolution |
Sale Date Sale Results | Sale Date: August 11, 2026 Publish Date: August 11 or 12, 2026 | Summary of the lease sale results. This includes the total number and acreage of parcels sold and the net revenue (bonus bids, fees, and first-year rentals) generated from the sale. |
