On Feb. 10, 2026, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) opened a 30-day public scoping period to gather input on 14 oil and gas parcels in Nevada that could be included in a September 2026 competitive lease sale. The parcels, totaling 20,600 acres, are located within the Elko District. The comment period will be open until March 11.
According to the BLM, “Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources.” Before any drilling can begin, an operator must first apply for a permit and explain how it plans to carry out the project. The BLM then reviews the application, makes it available for public comment, studies possible environmental impacts, and works with state agencies and community stakeholders before deciding.
The oil and gas lease sale will be conducted by the Nevada State Office on Sept. 16, 2026. Oil and gas leases are issued for an initial 10-year period, and may continue beyond that as long as oil or gas is produced in paying quantities. The BLM emphasized that “All parcels that are included in a federal oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources.”
Information about current and upcoming lease sales can be found at the National Fluid Lease Sale System.
Parcels, maps, and instructions on how to comment are available at eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=6824e840-5501-f111-8407-001dd8084607
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