The first public land oil and natural gas lease sales of the Trump administration have netted more than $39 million.
The modest auctions took place in recent weeks in Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico and Nevada. In total, 34 parcels of federal land, adding up to 25,038 acres, were leased to oil and gas prospectors.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Thursday that the auctions “demonstrate Interior’s unwavering commitment to fostering American Energy Dominance” and expressed gratitude to the nation’s producers of energy on federal lands.
“By building on the commonsense, pro-growth policies of the Trump administration, we’re ensuring public lands are being used to their fullest potential to support national security, economic strength and livelihood of the American people,” he said in a statement.
