The Bureau of Land Management Montana State Office has opened a 30-day public comment period on 13 oil and gas parcels totaling 1,324 acres that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in Montana and North Dakota.

The comment period ends Sept. 27.

The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in July 2024 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels, potential deferrals, and the related environmental analysis.

BLM will use the public input to help complete its review of each parcel and determine if leasing of these parcels conforms with all applicable laws, policies, and land use plans.

More information on the parcels, maps and instructions on commenting online are available here.

Comments can also be mailed to Bureau of Land Management, Branch of Fluid Minerals, Attn: Hattie Payne, 5001 Southgate Drive, Billings, MT 59101; or emailed to Hattie Payne at hpayne@blm.gov.

The terms of federal fluid mineral leases will be consistent with the Fluid Minerals Leasing and Leasing Process Rule, reflecting Congressional direction from the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, including a 16.67 percent royalty rate for production on any new leases, according to BLM. Revenues are split between the state where the drilling occurs and the U.S. Treasury.

Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources. Before development operations can begin, an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans ,according to BLM.

The agency reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.

All parcels leased for oil and gas lease include stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System.