BLM announces January 2026 sale of oil and gas leases in Montana and North Dakota
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BILLINGS, Mont. – The Bureau of Land Management today announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for Jan. 13, 2026, to offer 20 oil and gas parcels totaling 4,276 acres in Montana and North Dakota.
The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in July 2025 and held a public comment period that closed in September 2025 on the parcels and the related environmental analysis. A 30-day public protest period to receive additional public input opened today and will close Dec. 4, 2025.
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 that are included in a federal oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System. BLM lease sales are held online through EnergyNet.
The parcels BLM analyzed, as well as maps and instructions on how to submit a protest, are available on BLM’s ePlanning website at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/2039217/510.
The BLM manages about 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.