CHEYENNE, Wyo. — Consistent with Governor Mark Gordon’s priority to increase energy production in the state, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Wyoming State Office leased approximately 51 land parcels during an auction on Tuesday, June 10. The land lease sales accrued over $9 million in revenue.
During the BLM’s quarterly oil and gas lease sale, 29 land parcels, totaling 22,964.88 acres, were sold to earn $7,741,266. In addition to the quarterly lease sale, the BLM also leased 22 parcels, totaling 29,892 acres, for $1,426,421. These parcels did not sell during previous 2023 and 2024 lease sales.
According to the BLM, the combined bonus bids and rentals from the leases will be distributed between the federal government and the State of Wyoming.
The BLM wrote via press release that “oil and gas lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, while contributing to the nation’s economic and military security.”
On January 20, President Trump’s Executive Order 14154, “Unleashing American Energy,” paved the way for increased energy development in Wyoming. In April, Gordon traveled to the White House to celebrate the signing of Executive Orders to strengthen the coal industry in Wyoming.
One of the goals of EO 14154 is “to encourage energy exploration and production on federal lands and waters.”
The BLM wrote that leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Oil and gas leases are awarded for a term of 10 years and longer if production continues to earn a revenue. The federal government receives a royalty of 16.67% of the value of production.
The BLM wrote that energy development must adhere to the “requirements set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, and other applicable legal authorities.” The White House Council on Environmental Quality withdrew its implementation of NEPA on April 11, the mechanism that has safeguarded the nation’s public lands for over 40 years. Environmental oversight has now been placed in the hands of individual federal agencies. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that environmental reviews conducted under NEPA do not need to consider the upstream or downstream impacts of an infrastructure project.
Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System.
BLM lease sales are held online through EnergyNet. Results are available on the National Fluid Lease Sale System. After navigating to the page, filter to the sale, and select the action “View Sale Documents” to view the sale results.
