Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks
National Parks Conservation Association
Badlands Conservation Alliance
Dakota Resource Council
May 5, 2026
Bureau of Land Management
Montana/Dakotas State Office
Branch of Fluid Minerals
Attention: Hattie Payne
5001 Southgate Drive
Billings, MT 59101
Subject: Comments on Draft Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact for the BLM Montana-Dakotas 2026 Q3 (August) Oil and Gas Lease Sale (DOI-BLM-MT-0000-2026-0001-EA)
Synopsis:
The Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks, National Parks Conservation Association, Badlands Conservation Alliance, and Dakota Resource Council submitted comments opposing key portions of the Bureau of Land Management’s Montana-Dakotas 2026 Q3 oil and gas lease sale. The groups raised serious concerns about proposed lease parcels located near Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s North Unit and the Maah Daah Hey Trail, including parcels less than three miles from the park boundary.
The comments argue that BLM failed to analyze a reasonable deferral alternative, despite the agency’s own “Low Preference for Leasing” ratings for the parcels of concern. The groups also criticized the Draft Environmental Assessment for lacking a meaningful cumulative impacts analysis of existing and future oil and gas development around the park, inadequately addressing potential impacts to air quality and visibility in this Class I area, and relying too heavily on future site-specific review at the permitting stage.
The organizations urge BLM to defer the parcels closest to Theodore Roosevelt National Park—particularly ND-2026-08-6900 and ND-2026-08-0892—because they lack the stronger No Surface Occupancy protections that apply to several other nearby parcels. The comments emphasize that continued leasing near the park and trail threatens scenic views, wilderness character, air quality, visitor experience, and the nationally significant landscape that helped shape Theodore Roosevelt’s conservation legacy.
Click here to read the full letter.