More than 130,000 acres leased in one of the largest BLM oil and gas sales in recent years

The Bureau of Land Management conducted one of its largest Colorado oil and gas lease sales in recent years, leasing 134,173 acres and generating about $35 million in receipts. Nine Mesa County parcels were leased, including a 440-acre tract east of De Beque that drew the top price of $311 per acre, totaling just under $144,000. Leases run for 10 years and can extend if production continues in paying quantities, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The royalty rate for new federal onshore production was reset to 12.5%. Most parcels were in the northern counties of Colorado (Moffat, Routt, Jackson, Rio Blanco and Garfield), with several Weld County parcels on the Front Range achieving high bids. The highest bid was $11,000 for a 600-acre parcel east of Denver, while a Rio Blanco parcel of 200 acres sold for $1,321 per acre and several Weld County parcels exceeded $7,000 per acre. The BLM says oil and gas lease sales support domestic energy production and American energy independence, in line with Executive Order 14154, and help position the U.S. as a global energy leader. The Wilderness Society criticized the sale for possible impacts on wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation access.