The Bureau of Land Management has opened a 30-day public scoping period on 15 oil and gas parcels covering 4,054 acres in New Mexico and Oklahoma. The parcels are candidates for a lease sale set for February 2027, and public comment is open through Sept. 4, 2026.
Leasing is the first step toward developing federal oil and gas resources. Before any drilling can begin, an operator must file an application for permit to drill that lays out its development plans. BLM then reviews that application, opens it to public review, runs an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and other stakeholders.
Every parcel included in a federal lease sale carries stipulations meant to protect natural resources.
Where the parcels sit
The parcels under review fall under three BLM field offices, each tied to its own environmental assessment:
- Carlsbad Field Office: DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2026-1439-EA
- Farmington Field Office: DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2026-0077-EA
- Oklahoma Field Office: DOI-BLM-NM-0040-2026-0040-EA
Maps of the parcels and instructions for submitting comments are posted on BLM's ePlanning website. BLM lease sales are held online through Efficient Markets, and information on current and upcoming leases is tracked through the National Fluid Lease Sale System.
BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land, mostly across 12 western states including Alaska, and administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate nationwide.
