BLM announces April 2024 oil and gas lease sale in North Dakota, Montana

BILLINGS, Mont. – The Bureau of Land Management Montana-Dakotas State Office today announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for April 16, 2024, to offer 30 oil and gas parcels totaling 5,987.02 acres in North Dakota and Montana.

The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in October 2023 and held a public comment period that closed in December 2023 on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis. A 30-day public protest period to receive additional public input opened today and will close March 13, 2024.

The parcels the BLM has analyzed, as well as maps and instructions on how to submit a protest are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2026484/510.

As authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act, BLM will apply a 16.67 percent royalty rate for production on any new leases from this sale. More information about the Act is available on BLM's online fact sheet. Revenues are split between the state where the drilling occurs and the U.S. Treasury.

Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.

All parcels leased for oil and gas lease include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System.