JACKSON, Wyo. — On Wednesday, March 12, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office announced an oil and gas lease sale scheduled for June 3 to offer 29 oil and gas parcels (totaling 22,965 acres) in Wyoming.

The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in October 2024 and held a public comment period that closed this January on the parcels and the related environmental analysis. A 30-day public protest period to receive additional public input opened March 12, and will close April 11.

According to a BLM press release, 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 a 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 what the BLM calls “appropriate” stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System.

The parcels BLM analyzed, as well as maps and instructions on how to submit a protest, are available on BLM’s ePlanning website here.

River Stingray is a news reporter with a passion for wildlife, history and local lenses. She holds a Master's degree in environmental archaeology from the University of Cambridge and is also a published poet, dog mom and outdoor enthusiast.