THE WILDERNESS SOCIETY * NEW MEXICO WILD *
COALITION TO PROTECT AMERICA’S NATIONAL PARKS *
NEW MEXICO WILDLIFE FEDERATION *
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD
Cody Mccullah
cm*******@*lm.gov
May 15, 2026
SUBMITTED VIA E-PLANNING
Sheila Hutcherson, New Mexico Associate State Director
U.S. Bureau of Land Management
301 Dinosaur Trail
Santa Fe, NM 87508
Project Contacts:
Audrey Jennings
aj*******@*lm.gov
Catherine Brewster
cb*******@*lm.gov
(505) 954-2044
Re: Comments on the Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No
Significant Impact for the New Mexico Bureau of Land Management Third Quarter
2026 Competitive Oil & Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-NM-P020-2026-0484-EA, DOI-
BLM-NM-F010-2026-0020-EA).
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks joined The Wilderness Society, New Mexico Wild, New Mexico Wildlife Federation, and Rocky Mountain Wild in submitting comments on the Bureau of Land Management’s Draft Environmental Assessments and Findings of No Significant Impact for the New Mexico Third Quarter 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale.
The proposed sale includes 21 parcels totaling more than 19,000 acres for potential oil and gas development. The groups urged BLM to fully comply with NEPA, FLPMA, and federal leasing regulations; to evaluate deferral of parcels with resource conflicts; and to avoid relying on emergency procedures or broad “energy emergency” claims to shortcut environmental review. The comments also raise concerns about outdated land management plans, impacts to wildlife habitat, climate and environmental justice issues, risks to Carlsbad Caverns National Park and nearby tourism economies, and the need for a reasonable range of alternatives and transparent mitigation measures.
Click here to read the full submission.