Public Lands & Energy Tracker
Updated Weekly - Items Open for Comment | Leases Coming Online | Public Land Sales
Updated 1/22/2026
Open for Comment Now
1) Bureau of Land Management oil & gas lease sale — Wyoming (2026 second quarter)
What’s happening: Public comment is open for the environmental assessment / finding of no significant impact materials for the 2026 second-quarter competitive oil & gas lease sale (current parcel count + acreage listed on the project page).
Deadline: Tonight — Jan 22, 2026 (10:59 pm PT / 11:59 pm MT)
How to take action: Comment via the “Participate Now” link on the project page.
Link to Participate: BLM Project Home
2) Bureau of Land Management draft supplemental environmental impact statement — Bakersfield Field Office (California)
What’s happening: Draft supplemental environmental impact statement for oil & gas leasing and development (Bakersfield planning area).
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Public meeting: February 3, 2026
How to take action: Comment via the “Participate Now” link on the project page.
Link to Participate: BLM Project Home
3) Bureau of Land Management draft supplemental environmental impact statement — Central Coast Field Office (California)
What’s happening: Draft supplemental environmental impact statement for oil & gas leasing and development (Central Coast planning area).
Deadline: March 6, 2026
Public meeting: January 29, 2026
How to take action: Comment via the “Participate Now” link on the project page.
Link to Participate: BLM Project Home
4) Soda Mountain Solar Project — California Energy Commission (opt-in certification under Assembly Bill 205)
What’s happening: Draft environmental impact report materials are out for public review (as part of the staff assessment).
Deadline: February 27, 2026 — 5:00 pm PT
How to take action: Submit comments through the project docket (linked in the notice).
Link to Participate: Submit an E-Comment
5) Colorado River: Post-2026 Reservoir Operations — Draft environmental impact statement
What’s happening: Big, long-horizon decision for Lake Powell + Lake Mead operations (and the power/water dominoes downstream).
Deadline: March 2, 2026
Public meetings: Jan 29, 2026 + Feb 10, 2026 (virtual)
How to take action: Email a comment (address listed on the page) and/or show up to one meeting.
Link to Participate: Attend in Person/Virtual or email comments to: crbpost2026@usbr.gov | Colorado River Post 2026 Operations
6) Hells Canyon Hydroelectric Project (Idaho/Oregon) — Federal Energy Regulatory Commission draft supplemental environmental impact statement
What’s happening: Draft supplemental environmental impact statement is out.
Deadline: March 2, 2026 @ 2:00 pm PT (5:00 pm ET)
How to take action: Comment through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission docket process (instructions in the release).
Link to Participate: Project Site (no comment link available)
Recent leases coming online
These are leases (the first step), not drilling approvals, but they’re the pipeline filling up.
Jan 6, 2026 — New Mexico + Oklahoma: 31 parcels (20,399 acres) leased for $326.8 million in total receipts.
Jan 13, 2026 — Montana + North Dakota: 19 parcels (4,116 acres) leased for $8.653 million in total receipts.
Dec 17, 2025 — Utah: Bureau of Land Management reported an oil & gas lease sale generating nearly $65 million.
Watchlist (auction dates):
Wyoming — March 3, 2026: scheduled sale (parcel + acreage totals listed in the announcement).
Eastern States — March 12, 2026: scheduled sale (eight parcels listed).
Public land sales / disposals
Washington County, Utah (Red Cliffs / Warner Valley land exchange): 929 acres Bureau of Land Management conveyed public acres as part of an exchange (tradeoffs matter, track the terms).
