BLM Announces Auction of Federally Owned Helium
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AMARILLO, Texas – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is holding an auction of Federally owned helium for delivery in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, which is in keeping with its mission to manage public lands for multiple uses for the benefit of current and future generations. The auction will be held on July 19, 2017, at the BLM Amarillo Field Office, 801 South Fillmore Street, Suite 500, Amarillo, Texas.
The Federal Helium Program is responsible for the conservation and sale of Federally owned helium. The BLM operates and maintains a helium storage reservoir, enrichment plant, and pipeline system near Amarillo that supplies enough helium to meet more than 40 percent of domestic demand. These helium resources support the mission of our military as well as the Department of Homeland Security. The BLM-produced crude helium helps meet the vital needs of multiple Defense systems including everything from rocket fuel propellant to helium filled airships used for border patrol monitoring.
The BLM operates under the authority of the Helium Stewardship Act of 2013 and conducted sales and auctions for fiscal years 2014 through 2017, refining the process based upon public and stakeholders’ comments. As a result, the BLM will use the same auction and sale process used for FY 2017 for the FY 2018 delivery.
Additional documents relating to the proposed plan for the FY 2018 auction and sale, including documents related to the previous Federal Register Notices and the 2018 Auction Guide on the helium program website, are located at: http://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/helium.
A copy of the Federal Register Notice and associated documents can be obtained by email at blm_nm_amfo_spo@blm.gov; fax at 806-356-1041; or mail at BLM Amarillo Field Office, Attention: Samuel Burton, Field Manager, 801 South Fillmore Street, Suite 500, Amarillo, Texas 79101.
For additional information, please contact Samuel Burton at 806-356-1000.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.