WYOMING — The federal Bureau of Land Management (BLM) removed nearly half of the proposed parcels from an upcoming Wyoming oil and gas lease sale to protect greater sage grouse habitat.
According to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), habitat is key to the sustainability of sage grouse populations. Jackson Hole is a prime location for sage grouse leks, or crucial open areas where they perform their iconic mating dance.
However, sage grouse were delisted from the Endangered Species Act in 2015 and WGFD sage grouse population counts have been significantly down since then. Despite that, an executive order signed by Governor Gordon in 2019 claimed any official greater sage grouse core area protection would have a significantly adverse effect on the economy of Wyoming, including the ability to generate revenues from state lands.
Wyoming’s first federal oil and gas lease sale this year is the second held by the BLM since President Biden took office. The sale will advance to the final round of public comment after the agency removed 93 parcels.
The 116 remaining eligible parcels of the BLM lease sale, spanning just over 127,000 acres, are requested for leasing by oil and gas companies.
The public protest period for the June 2023 lease sale is open and will close May 1. To submit a comment, click here.
