Mesa County approves letter on March 2026 BLM oil and gas lease sale
On Dec. 9, the Board of Mesa County Commissioners unanimously approved a letter to the Bureau of Land Management regarding the agency’s proposed March 2026 Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale, which includes federal lands in Mesa County.
The proposed lease sale includes:
- 103 parcels statewide totaling about 72,848 acres
- 18 parcels in Mesa County, covering approximately 6,400 acres
Leasing does not authorize drilling. Any future development would require additional permits, environmental reviews and regulatory approvals.
In the approved letter, Mesa County:
- Supports the proposed alternative in the BLM’s draft Environmental Assessment
- Reaffirms support for the responsible use of public lands to benefit residents and local communities
- Notes the economic contributions of oil and gas, including local jobs, road maintenance, and funding for public services through taxes
Mesa County emphasized that any lessee would be required to:
- Comply with the Endangered Species Act
- Meet air and water quality standards
- Protect big game and critical wildlife habitat
- Mitigate impacts to surrounding communities
Mesa County also noted that oil and gas produced in Colorado is subject to some of the most rigorous environmental regulations in the nation.
While outside BLM authority, the County encouraged future operators to participate in Community Counts Colorado, which provides residents and visitors a clear way to communicate concerns directly with operators.
Learn more:
The BLM’s Environmental Assessment and project details are available on its ePlanning website.
The public comment period ends Friday, Dec. 12, 2025.
