BLM Prepares for Upcoming Oil and Gas Lease Sale

LAKEWOOD – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado today announced that it will offer 171 parcels totaling about 192,334 acres in its May 11 oil and gas lease sale.

Portions of five parcels in Mesa County originally scheduled to be part of this sale have been deferred, as has a portion of a parcel in Routt County. These deferrals are in response to concerns raised by local officials according to BLM Colorado Deputy State Director Lynn Rust.

“We take seriously the concerns of the local community and incorporate their comments into our planning process,” Rust said. “As we follow our mandate to manage for multiple uses – including recreation, conservation and energy development – it is important that we continue to work with our neighbors for the benefit of Colorado citizens.”

Rust said that each of the parcels that received protests will be reviewed before a lease will be issued.

Of the total acreage managed nationally by the BLM, less than 1 percent of surface land is disturbed by oil and gas activity. To minimize impacts on the land, the BLM analyzes the potential environmental effects from exploration and development before offering any leases for sale. All leases come with stipulations on oil and gas activities to protect the environment. Stipulations also can include specific restrictions, such as limits on seasons when drilling can occur and restrictions on surface occupancy by oil and gas operators.

When preparing land use plans, revisions, or when parcels are nominated for leasing, the BLM considers available new information, such as wilderness surveys conducted by environmental groups, to determine if any significant new circumstances or impacts have occurred since the completion of the most recent land use plan. All parcels offered for lease in this sale were analyzed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether existing environmental analysis was adequate.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages 8.3 million acres of public lands in Colorado. These lands are managed for a multitude of uses including, but not limited to, recreation, mining, wildlife habitat and livestock grazing. Along with these 8.3 million acres, BLM oversees 27.3 million subsurface acres for mineral development in the state.

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