The Bureau of Land Management will offer more than 100 parcels totaling 156,000 acres in northwestern Colorado for oil and gas leasing on June 16. The sale represents the state's largest such offering in modern history and includes critical wildlife habitat.
The parcels encompass migration corridors for elk, pronghorn, and mule deer extending into southern Wyoming. Much of the acreage lies in Moffat County near Dinosaur National Monument, an area certified for its dark night skies. County tourism director Tom Kleinschnitz expressed concern that extraction activities could jeopardize the monument's dark sky status. He stated that preserving these areas as pristine remains important for the long term. The June sale follows a 2025 law signed by President Donald Trump that requires at least four lease sales annually in several western states. It contrasts with just six sales totaling several hundred acres offered in Colorado during President Joe Biden's term. Conservation groups have raised objections over potential impacts to endangered species and air quality. The Bureau of Land Management indicated it will perform additional analysis if drilling permits are later requested.