The Montana Bureau of Land Management has opened a 30-day public hearing period on 13 oil and gas properties totaling 1,324 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in Montana and North Dakota.
The comment period ends on September 27.
The BLM completed the investigation of these parcels in July 2024 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, possible deferrals, and the associated environmental analysis.
The BLM will use public input to complete the review of each property and determine whether the leasing of those properties is consistent with all applicable laws, policies and land use plans.
Further information on the plots, maps and information on online commenting can be found here.
Comments may also be mailed to the Bureau of Land Management, Branch of Fluid Minerals, Attn: Hattie Payne, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101, or emailed to Hattie Payne at [email protected].
The terms of the federal liquid minerals leases will be consistent with the Fluid Minerals Leasing and Leasing Process Rule and reflect congressional mandates in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including a 16.67 percent royalty on production on all new leases, the BLM said. Revenues will be split between the state where drilling occurs and the U.S. Treasury.
Leasing is the first step in the process of developing federal oil and gas reserves. Before development work can begin, an operator must submit a drilling permit application with detailed development plans, according to the BLM.
The agency reviews drilling permit applications, makes them available for public review, conducts environmental analysis, and coordinates with government partners and stakeholders.
All parcels leased for oil and gas leases are subject to conditions designed to protect important natural resources. Information on current and future BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System.
