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Energy

Expressions of Interest in Oil and Gas Leasing

An Expression of Interest (EOI) is an informal nomination to request that certain lands be included in an oil and gas competitive lease sale. This request must be made in writing (no specific form required) to the BLM State Office having jurisdiction over the lands. No filing fee or rental is required with an EOI. EOIs are not automatically placed on a sale when received. The parcels must be reviewed for availability and environmental concerns prior to being placed on a sale. Additionally, if your EOI includes lands where the surface is managed by another agency, BLM is required to obtain approval and recommendations from that surface managing agency (SMA) prior to placing the lands on a competitive lease sale notice. Please be prepared if another SMA does not consider our request for concurrence/consent as their highest priority. The SMA may need to prepare or update its environmental document, which may require additional time. BLM is also required (see 43 CFR 3120.4-2) to post the Notice of Competitive Sale 45 days prior to the sale.

Oil and Gas

As of August 8, 1995, all BLM offices must hold as confidential the names of all parties that file an informal EOI until 2 days following the last day of the competitive sale, or in other words, until the next day following the conclusion of the noncompetitive day-after-the sale filings.

Regulations pertaining to competitive leasing can be found at 43 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 3120. Prior to submitting your EOI, BLM public records should be reviewed to make certain the lands are available for leasing. Some lands not available for leasing are, but not limited to:

  • Lands already leased for oil and gas
  • Lands with non-Federally owned minerals
  • Lands within city limits
  • Lands withdrawn from mineral leasing
  • Lands located in designated or proposed wilderness study areas
  • Lands within an Indian Reservation
  • Lands with pending mineral entry applications
  • Lands with patented mining claims

In checking the public records, make certain that:

  • Expired leases have not been extended beyond their expiration date by diligent drilling; and
  • Terminated leases are not in the process of being reinstated.

EOIs must be submitted with a complete legal land description. If your EOI contains lands not within a 6-mile square area, please configure the lands into the parcels as you would like to see them on a sale notice. Parcels will not exceed 2,560.00 acres on the sale notice, so if your EOI contains more than 2,560.00 acres and you have not configured or prioritized your parcels, BLM will parcelize the lands, which may not agree with the parcel configuration you prefer.

Make certain your EOI contains, as a minimum, your name or company name with address and telephone number and a complete legal land description

Mail your EOI to:

Lands and Minerals (ID-933)
Bureau of Land Management
Idaho State Office
1387 S. Vinnel Way
Boise, Idaho 83709

   
Last updated: 10-09-2007