The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended [30 U.S.C. 181 et seq.], and the Federal Onshore Oil and Gas Leasing Reform Act of 1987, require the BLM to conduct quarterly, competitive lease sales to offer available oil and gas lease parcels. Expressions of Interest (EOIs) to nominate parcels for leasing by the BLM are submitted by the public. From these EOIs, the BLM prepares the parcels and determines whether or not the existing analyses in the Land Use Plans, as amended, provide basis for leasing oil and gas resources within these parcels, and conducts additional NEPA analysis before determining if parcels are suitable to be offered.

The 30-day Protest Period from April 18, 2022 to May 18, 2022 has closed.

The BLM Utah State Office will move forward with Alternative B, as analyzed in the environmental assessment (DOI-BLM-UT-0000-2021-0007-EA), by offering one parcel totaling 160 acres in Uintah County on public lands managed by the Vernal Field Office. The posting of the Notice of Competitive Lease Sale (NCLS) initiates a 30-day public protest period that ends on May 18, 2022. Protests on the offered parcel may only be submitted through email at [email protected]; the subject line must read: “June 2022 Protest.” The BLM must receive all protests by 4:30 p.m., on May 18, and as stated, can only accept emailed protests. 

The BLM held a 30-day public comment period from November 2, 2021 to December 12, 2021

September 30, 2021 - On September 13, 2021, a coalition of "over 50 Indigenous, frontline, environmental, business, political, and social justice organizations" led by WildEarth Guardians requested the Secretary of Interior to extend the comment period to January 3, 2022.  On September 22, 2021, the Principal Deputy Assistant Deputy rejected the request.  The request and the rejection letter have been added to this webpage.

August 31, 2021 - Beginning of Scoping Period - BLM resource specialists have reviewed the parcel list and attached the stipulations required by the appropriate Resource Management Plans (RMP) the  Moab RMP (http://go.usa.gov/xdEau), the Price RMP (http://go.usa.gov/xUPAP) and the Vernal RMP (http://go.usa.gov/xFh6E).  Lease notices derived from laws to protect the environment, decisions in the RMPs and prior analyses have also been attached.