The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has launched a 30-day public scoping period to evaluate the environmental impact of a proposed oil and gas lease sale for the fourth quarter of 2026. The environmental assessment covers 44 parcels nominated for competitive bidding across several Utah offices, including land in Carbon County.
Scoping period details
According to a project announcement from the BLM, the scoping period officially began on June 15, 2026. The agency is seeking public input regarding the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the BLM Utah 2026 Fourth Quarter Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale. This process allows stakeholders to identify issues relevant to the proposed action or provide new technical and scientific information.
Submission deadline and method
The agency has set a deadline of July 16, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. MT for all submissions. To be considered in the decision-making process, comments must be submitted electronically via the BLM Land Use Planning and NEPA Register (ePlanning) by clicking the "Participate Now" button on the project's official page.
Lease sale parcel locations
The proposed lease sale includes 44 specific parcels that have been nominated for inclusion in the fourth quarter sale. The project area involves multiple regional offices, including the State Office in Utah, as well as the Richfield, Moab, Price, and Vernal field offices. One of the identified locations for these parcels is within Carbon County, specifically near Price, Utah (84501).
Project classification and status
The BLM categorized the project under its Fluid Minerals program, which encompasses oil and gas, tar sands, and oil shale. The current status of the environmental assessment is listed as "Planned - Preparation and Planning," indicating that the agency is in the early stages of the NEPA process.
Guidelines for effective comments
The BLM has provided specific instructions for those wishing to participate in the scoping process. The agency noted that the most useful comments are those that identify specific issues related to the proposed action or contain new scientific data. The agency cautioned that comments consisting solely of opinions, preferences, or those that are essentially identical to other submissions may not be specifically addressed in the final environmental documents, though they may still be considered during decision-making.
Requirements for attachments
For participants submitting exhibits or attachments alongside their comments, the BLM requires a summary of those additional documents. The agency stated that if a submittal fails to include such a summary, it may not consider the information contained within the exhibits or attachments during its evaluation.
The BLM also issued a privacy warning regarding public comments. The agency advised that any personal identifying information, such as addresses, phone numbers, or email addresses included in a comment, may be made available to the public at any time. While individuals can request that their personal information be withheld from public review, the BLM noted it cannot guarantee such requests will be honored.
Contact persons listed for the project include Tylia Varilema, Melinda Moffitt, and Nathan Packer, all of whom are associated with the BLM Utah State Office.
