The U.S. Bureau of Land Management is asking the public to comment on a proposed lease sale of 2320 acres in Nevada. The public consultation process, aimed at determining the best use for these federal lands, has opened with a 30-day window for responses.
The announcement regarding this land deal gives an insight into the timeline and details. A 30-day comment period for a proposed lease sale of two oil and gas parcels that comprise 2320 acres in the Ely District has opened and will close on Dec. 27, 203, according to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) press release.
As part of ensuring transparent participation, there are various methods available for submitting feedback. According to the planning website for this project, individuals who are interested may submit feedback by mail or email. Written comments may be submitted to Concetta Brown, at the BLM Ely District Office, 702 North Industrial Way, Ely, NV 89301. Comments may also be submitted electronically to Concetta Brown at ccbrown@blm.gov.
Further breaking down the sale proposal reveals interesting specifics about each parcel's size and location. According to planning documents, the first of the two parcels is approximately 240 acres in Nye County, Nevada. The second parcel is approximately 2,080 acres in Lincoln County, Nevada.
In relation to how federal oil and gas resources development operates - it all begins with leasing. The first step in the development of federal oil and gas resources starts with leasing. That process includes applying for a drilling permit, submission of detailed plans to develop on the parcel (or parcels), and review of applications for these permits by the BLM. The next step is to gather public input before the BLM does an environmental review and begins to coordinate with stakeholders to ensure this lease is in the best interest of the people, the land, and the resources available to the community.
As part of regulatory measures set by authorities, certain costs will be imposed on participants involved in such transactions. As part of the Inflation Reduction Act, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management imposes a fee of just over 16% of the total sale price for each parcel. It also charges a nonrefundable fee to file an expression of interest, at a fee of $5 per acre, or fraction of an acre, according to a memorandum from the Bureau of Land Management to update policies after the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. For this sale, that could look like $11,600 for the 2,320 acres in the two parcel that are up for sale.
