THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY
COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS* CONSERVATION LANDS FOUNDATION*
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE*
NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION*
NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL*
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD
September 2, 2025
SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING
Melanie Barnes
State Director
Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico
(505) 954-2222
Project Contacts:
|
Catherine Brewster Cody McCullah |
Max Wiegmann Matias Telles |
Re: Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessments and Findings of No Significant Impact for the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico 2026 First Quarter Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2025-1005-EA & DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2025-0033-EA)
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments on the Draft Environmental Assessments (Draft EAs)1BUREAU OF LAND MGMT., CARLSBAD FIELD OFFICE OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, EDDY AND LEA COUNTIES, NEW MEXICO, QUARTER 1 2026, DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2025-1005-EA [hereinafter CARLSBAD DRAFT EA]; FARMINGTON FIELD OFFICE COMPETITIVE OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, RIO ARRIBA AND SANDOVAL COUNTIES, NEW MEXICO, QUARTER 1 2026 DOI- BLM-NM-F010-2025-0033-EA [hereinafter FARMINGTON DRAFT EA]. and Draft Findings of No Significant Impact (Draft FONSIs)2BUREAU OF LAND MGMT., QUARTER 1 2026 COMPETITIVE OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2025-1005-EA, FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT [hereinafter CARLSBAD DRAFT FONSI]; QUARTER 1 2026 COMPETITIVE OIL AND GAS LEASE SALE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT, DOI-BLM-NM-F010-2025-0033-EA, FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT [hereinafter FARMINGTON DRAFT FONSI]. analyzing 28 parcels covering 19,527.56 acres out of the Carlsbad Field Office and 2 parcels covering 831.28 acres in the Farmington Field Office under consideration for potential oil and gas exploration and development for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) New Mexico 2026 First Quarter Oil and Gas Lease Sale. Our organizations and members are deeply invested in sound stewardship of public lands and committed to ensuring that public land management prioritizes the health and resilience of ecosystems, benefits the public and local communities, protects biodiversity, and mitigates the impacts of climate change.
As the BLM prepares for this lease sale and evaluates which parcels to offer for lease, the agency must continue to abide by its obligations under the law and existing policy, including relevant portions of the Fluid Mineral Leases and Leasing Process Rule (Leasing Rule). In carrying out this lease sale, the BLM must comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
Click here to read the full submission letter.