PHOENIX– The Bureau of Land Management today opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on plans to include 132 oil and gas parcels totaling 287,284 acres in northern Arizona which may be offered over the course of two separate sales in December 2026 and February 2027. This includes 40 parcels which may be offered for sale in December 2026, totaling 78,708 acres; and 92 parcels, totaling 208,576 acres, that may be included in a February 2027 sale. The comment period ends Sept. 9, 2026. Because these parcels share a similar geographic area, they were evaluated within a single Environmental Assessment.
The BLM completed scoping on these parcels in July 2026 and is now seeking public comment on the parcels and related environmental analysis. The BLM will use input from the public to help complete its review of each parcel.
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. The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders.
All parcels that are included in a federal oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources. Information on current and upcoming BLM leases is available through the National Fluid Lease Sale System. BLM lease sales are held online through Efficient Markets.
The parcels BLM is analyzing, as well as maps and instructions on how to comment, are available on the BLM’s ePlanning website at: Project Home Page.
