Salazar Announces 38 Lease Sales for Oil and Natural Gas on U.S. Public Lands in 2010

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of the Interior has scheduled 38 oil and natural gas lease sales for U.S. public lands in 2010, including a sale in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar announced today.


“During the past year we have held 32 onshore lease sales, offering more than 2.7 million acres in the West and generating more than $126 million in revenue for American taxpayers,” Secretary Salazar said. “Next year will be just as busy with 37 quarterly sales for Western public lands and the first sale in nearly two years for tracks in the northern reaches of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. Our nation needs a balanced and appropriate use of our conventional and renewable energy resources. That means oil, gas and coal will continue to play an important role in our energy mix, as we develop and expand the use of wind, solar, geothermal and other renewable sources.”


The Bureau of Land Management's 37 quarterly oil and natural gas lease sales scheduled for 2010 will offer thousands of parcels in a dozen states, most in the West. The BLM's Alaska State Office oil and gas lease sale will offer available tracts in the Northeast and a portion of the Northwest areas of the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska. The sale is scheduled for August 11 in Anchorage, Alaska. The last sale for the Reserve was held September 24, 2008.


BLM conducts its quarterly lease sales based on nominations received from industry. These are evaluated to determine eligibility and availability for leasing before being delineated into individual parcels. A preliminary parcel list is sent to sister agencies, such as the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, for review and recommendations on which parcels to offer.


Since January of this year, the Bureau of Land Management has held 32 onshore lease sales that offered 2,346 parcels, covering 2.7 million acres, and sold 1,212 of those for $126 million. BLM will hold four more lease sales this year, for a total of 36 for 2009.


Oil and gas leasing in the NPR-A is authorized under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, as amended. Integrated Activity Plan/Environmental Impact Statements have been prepared for both the Northeast and Northwest planning areas.


More information on Interior's onshore oil and gas lease sales in online at www.blm.gov

2010 Calendar Year Oil and Gas Lease Sale Schedule
Subject to Change Without Notice
Check State Office Website Prior to Sale Date

GENERAL SALES SCHEDULE INFORMATION:

• The Alaska State Office holds National Petroleum-Alaska sales as announced in the Federal Register. Check the Alaska State Office's website for additional information.
• The Arizona State Office holds sales as parcels are nominated and available. Check the Arizona State Office's website for additional information.
• The Idaho State Office holds sales as parcels are nominated and available. Sales are combined with another state office's. Check the Idaho State Office's website for additional information.