On February 12, 2026, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, the National Parks Conservation Association, and the Badlands Conservation Alliance filed scoping comments urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to defer key oil and gas lease parcels proposed for the Montana–Dakotas Q3 (August) 2026 lease sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA).
The groups recommend that BLM designate nine parcels (~5,292 acres) as “low preference” and defer them because they are either:
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Less than 5 miles from the Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness Area (North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park), including parcels as close as ~1.25 miles, and/or
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Directly overlapping the Maah Daah Hey Trail, a nationally recognized recreation corridor connecting all three units of TRNP.
The letter emphasizes that additional leasing near the park risks worsening already-documented impacts to wilderness character, night skies, soundscapes, clean air, and scenic views, and calls for a meaningful cumulative impacts analysis—including disclosure of how many existing wells are located within 3, 5, and 10 miles of the park boundary. It also argues BLM must follow NEPA and FLPMA, seriously evaluate parcel deferral alternatives, and cannot shortcut environmental review under claims of an “energy emergency.”
Read the full submission and supporting details here.
Attachment 1: Decision Document for the Lava Ridge Wind Project, August 5, 2025