BLM provides public comment period for supplemental analysis of February 2020 oil & gas lease sales
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SANTA FE, N.M. - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) New Mexico State Office (NMSO) today opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on supplemental analysis regarding lease parcels initially included in the February 2020 Rio Puerco Field Office (RPFO) and Farmington Field Office (FFO) Oil and Gas Lease Sales. The comment period ends Jan. 19, 2024.
On Dec. 30, 2020, the BLM issued a decision regarding the February 2020 RPFO and FFO Lease Sales. The decision was challenged in Diné Citizens Against Ruining Our Environment v. BLM, No. 1:20-cv-00673 (D.N.M.). On April 5, 2022, the BLM entered into a settlement agreement in that case in which the BLM agreed to review the adequacy of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analyses underlying the challenged leasing decisions. On July 31, 2022, the BLM issued a new decision reaffirming the previous decision to issue the lease parcel described in the February 2020 Lease Sale Notice. Plaintiffs subsequently filed a new lawsuit, Diné CARE v. BLM, 1:22-cv-00804 (D.N.M.), challenging the July 31, 2022 decision. That lawsuit is pending as to the parcels undergoing supplemental review.
These supplemental analyses to the RPFO and FFO February 2020 Oil and Gas Lease Sale Environmental Assessments (DOI-BLM-NM-A010-2019-0084-EA and DOI-BLM-NMA010-2019-0103-EA) are the result of BLM’s review of the subject NEPA analyses and provides information, data, and/or analyses that are 1) new since work was completed on the Final EA (Dec. 30, 2020) and the accompanying supplement (July 31, 2022), and 2) substantive and relevant to the BLM’s informed decision making and public disclosure process.
Submit Public comments via ePlanning by Jan. 19, 2024:
February 2020 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale, RPFO:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1500871/570
February 2020 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale, FFO:
https://eplanning.blm.gov/eplanning-ui/project/1500868/570
For more information, contact BLM NMSO Natural Resource Specialist Catherine Brewster at 505-954-2044 or cbrewster@blm.gov.
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.