For Release: September 10, 2004 CCal-04-58
Contact: Nora DeDios (661)391-6129 or Patty Gradek (661)391-6131

BLM to Conduct Oil and Gas Lease Sale October 27, 2004

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is conducting a sale of oil and gas leases on federal land on Wednesday, October 27, 2004. The lease sale is being held at the Holiday Inn Select, 801 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, Calif. The sale room will open at 8:00 a.m. to allow bidders to register and obtain a bid number. The competitive oral auction will begin at 9:00 a.m.

The lease sale involves 16 parcels for a total of 6,423 acres of public lands in three counties: Fresno, Kern and Kings.

A detailed notice of the lease sale with parcel descriptions, acreage, lease terms and conditions, oral bidding procedures and requirements, and other sale information is available on the Internet at http://www.ca.blm.gov/caso/compsales.html.

BLM is required by law to periodically offer federal land for lease for oil and gas exploration and development. The oil and gas industry is encouraged to submit an "expression of interest" for federal land parcels in California that have potential for development. An "expression of interest" is a letter or a form listing the legal description of lands an individual or company is interested in seeing offered for lease.

Expressions of interest should be sent to the BLM, Attention: Debra Marsh, at 2800 Cottage Way, Suite W-1618, Sacramento, Calif, 95825. "Expressions of Interest" may be submitted at any time and will be considered for inclusion in the next scheduled lease sale.

For questions regarding the October lease sale or to obtain a form to submit an expression of interest, contact Nora DeDios at the BLM Bakersfield office, (661) 391-6129.

-BLM-

Bakersfield Field Office - 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308