On December 12, 2023, the BLM offered one parcel, 7672, for auction. The parcel was successfully sold, please see the "Documents" section for the Sale Results.

On August 15, 2023, the BLM selected one parcel, 7672, from the Proposed Action. A total of five (5) parcels (8,210.88 acres) were removed from the lease sale. Therefore, one (1) parcel encompassing 761.36 acres is being considered for the lease sale and will be identified in the Notice of Competitive Lease Sale (NCLS).

The BLM received Expressions of Interests to sell federal oil and gas leases for six parcels encompassing 8,972.24 acres located within the BLM’s Vernal Field Office in Uintah County, Utah

Future BLM leases will include updated fiscal provisions authorized in the Inflation Reduction Act: 

o   Minimum bids for all offered parcels will be $10 per acre, an increase from the $2-per-acre minimum bid set in 1987.       

o   Royalty rates will be 16.67%, up from the previous minimum of 12.5%.        

o   Rental rates will be $3 per acre for the first two years, $5 per acre for years three through year eight, and $15 per acre in years nine and 10. Prior to the Inflation Reduction Act, rates were $1.50 per acre for the first five years and $2 per acre for each year thereafter, rates originally set in 1987. 

Future information about the Inflation Reduction Act can be found here at DOI Moves Forward with Leasing Provisions in Inflation Reduction Act. 

Timeline:

The 30-day Scoping Period-December 20, 2022 to January 19, 2023 has closed.

The 30-day Public Comment Period-June 2, 2023 to July 3, 2023 has closed.

The 30-day Protest Period-August 23, 2023 to September 23, 2023 has closed.