How does the BLM determine what specific areas will be made available at a sale?
Leasing decisions are based upon land use plans where decisions are made on availability of areas for leasing and the degree of protection required. BLM considers parcels, based upon nominations from the industry. Before deciding to offer lands, BLM does additional environmental reviews and considers new information or circumstances. Even though other important uses or resources may exist, BLM can still protect the resources and lease the land using a variety of tools and stipulations, such as limits on seasons when drilling can occur and limitations or exclusions of surface use. The process typically goes as follows: Lands nominated are reviewed to determine if they are eligible and available for oil and gas leasing. (e.g. closed to leasing by law, withdrawn, currently leased, private lands, etc.) and in conformance with the existing land use plan. Land is then delineated into parcels not to exceed the maximum allowable acreage of 2,560 acres. The acreage is computed and special prote
