BLM outlines quieter lease sales, industry points to new costs and uncertainty

The Bureau of Land Management told the Select Federal Natural Resource Management Committee that it has resumed quarterly oil and gas lease sales but is seeing far fewer acres and expressions of interest from operators.

In a presentation to the committee, Andrew Archuleta, BLM state director for Wyoming, said the agency completed its first-quarter sale in March 2024 with 28 parcels totaling 12,974 acres and sales revenue “just over $9,000,000.” He said the leases became effective May 1, 2024, and BLM is working on a June 27 sale and a third-quarter sale scheduled for September. Archuleta also said the agency is responding to a federal court ruling that found a June 2022 decision on roughly 120,000 acres deficient for not adequately analyzing risks to drinking water, wildlife and climate.

"We're in the process of developing that language with our solicitor's office," Archuleta said, adding the department will release curative analysis to address the court's concerns.

The BLM witne…