Most of the 4,053 acres of public land set for auction to the oil and gas industry in February is in Eddy County.

The Bureau of Land Management announced the lease sale Aug. 5, opening a “public scoping period” when initial technical feedback on the proposed lands can be submitted until Sept. 4.

After public scoping, a 30-day public comment period will be opened amid publication of an environmental assessment. Next will be a protest period where those opposed to the sale can submit their final comments.

The final sale was planned for February 2027, the first of the bureau’s quarterly lease sales of 2027 and the latest move by the agency to open more land in the Permian Basin to drilling.

The Permian Basin, a 55,000-square-mile oil and gas deposit, stretches from eastern New Mexico – Eddy and Lea counties – into West Texas. It’s the most active oilfield in the U.S., on track to produce an average of 6.6 million barrels per day in 2026, according to a report from the Energy Information Administration.

Here’s what to know about ongoing land leasing in the Permian.

Where are the lands being offered?

Of the 15 parcels offered for leases, nine are in Eddy County on 3,181 acres, or about 78% of the total acreage offered.

Another 482 acres on two parcels were offered in Lea County, along with 240 acres on two parcels in Rio Arriba County in northern New Mexico.

Two more parcels were offered in Oklahoma – 80 acres in Kingfisher County and 70 acres in Custer County.

What are the terms of the leases?

Federal oil and gas leases are active for 10 years or for as long as fossil fuels are produced from the property.

In exchange for such access, operators pay a 12.5% royalty rate taken as a portion of the proceeds from oil and gas production and split between the federal government and the host state.

How to submit feedback

Public scoping comments can be submitted to the Bureau of Land Management on its website blm.gov under the New Mexico oil and gas leases page.

On the project page, those interested can review a map and listing of proposed parcels and click the “Participate Now” button to submit comments. Commenters may provide their name, address, contact information and supporting documents along with their comments.

What other sales are planned?

The next lease sale offered by the land management bureau will be on Aug. 19 when bidding will be held on about 21,181 acres, including nine parcels in southeast New Mexico.

Those include 2,239 acres in total – seven parcels in Eddy County and two in Lea County.

The other 16,855 acres offered were in an area of northern New Mexico near the San Juan Basin known for heavy natural gas production. This included 10 parcels in Sandoval County and two parcels in Rio Arriba County.

Another 8,071 acres was planned for lease in November, including 11 parcels in Eddy County on 3,921 acres and three in Lea County on 440 acres. A public comment period for that sale will close Aug. 17.

State Land Office offers monthly oil lease sales

The New Mexico State Land Office offers monthly sales of leases on State Trust land to the oil and gas industry, also mostly centered in the Permian Basin.

In July, the land office sold leases on 12 parcels of land including 11 in Lea County on 2,256 acres and one in Eddy County on 321 acres. That sale brought in about $23.7 million.

In August, the Land Office is planning to offer another nine parcels – eight in Lea County on 1,509 acres and one in Eddy County on 40 acres.

The state’s September lease sale will offer seven parcels in Lea County on 1,560 acres.

Managing Editor Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

July 24

Gabriel Ray Grado arrested for battery against a household member.

Jamie Leigh Wilson arrested for criminal trespass

Dominic Izaac Gardea arrested for  driving while under influence of intoxicated liquor; consume/possession of alcohol-open container in motor vehicle; speeding; no passing zone

Maria Elena Aguilar arrested for failure to appear (if released for misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor.

8:28 am- Officers dispatched to 907 S 11th St. in reference to the welfare adult.

9:38 am- officers dispatched to West champ Clark Ave. and N 10th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

11:46 am- officer dispatched to the 700 block of N 10th St. in reference to battery.

12:29 am cops are dispatched to the 3300 block of W Main St. in reference to a wanted subject.

1:19 pm- officer dispatched the 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

4:52 pm- officer dispatched to S 26th St. and W. Richardson Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

July 25

12:57 am- officer dispatched to the 600 block of N 8th St. in reference to a fight in progress.

1:23 am- officer dispatched to S 13th St. in West Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

1:27 am- officer dispatched to the 700 block of W Washington Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

2:24 am- officers dispatched to the 600 block of N 8th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

316 am- officers dispatched to the 900 block of N 13th St. in reference to DWI.

3:42 am- officers dispatched the 700 block of N 13th St. in reference to a disorderly disturbance.

7:53 am- officers dispatched to the 1300 block of W Bush Ave. in reference to a vandal.

10:06 AM officers dispatched to the 3800 block of W Missouri Ave. in reference to a verbal domestic.

11:04 am – officers dispatched to the 1300 block of S 1st St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

12:05 pm – officers dispatched to the 800 block of South Roseland Ave. in reference to a neighborly disturbance.

1:02 pm- officers dispatched to the 2600 block of W Main St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

1:24 pm – officers dispatched to the 1300 block of West Hermosa Dr. in reference to threats.

1:38 pm- officers dispatched to the 600 block of N 8th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

2:18 pm – officers dispatched to N 10th St. and West Lolita Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

6:08 pm – officers dispatched to the 1300 block of West Main Street and reference to an unwanted subject.

616 pm – officers dispatched to the 1400 block of West Gilcrest Ave. in reference to an unattended death.

7:25 pm- officers dispatched to N 13th St. and W Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

9:49 pm- officers dispatched to the 1000 block of S 20th St. and referenced to an unwanted subject.

10:34 pm- officers dispatched to the 1000 block of W Runyan Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

11:08 pm- officer dispatched to the 500 block of West Chisum Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

 11:22 pm- officer dispatched to the 1800 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to suspicious activity.

July 26

2:07 am- officer dispatched to the 700 block of N 10th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

2:54 am- officer dispatched to the 1000 block of S 20th St. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

10:21 am –  officers dispatched N 1st St. and W Champ Clark Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

12:34 pm – officers dispatched to the 600 block of N 26th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

12:42 pm – authors dispatch to the 2500 block of W Missouri Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

3:09 pm – officers dispatched to the 1300 block of West Ray Ave. in reference to an auto burglary.

3:46 pm – officers dispatched to the 800 block of South Roselawn Ave. in reference to a structured burglary.

5:54 pm- officers dispatched to the 300 block of N 4th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

6:28 pm – officers dispatched to the 400 block of N 26th St. and reference to the welfare of an adult.

7:30 pm – officers dispatched to the 1500 block of S 16th St. in reference to a family disturbance.

7:57 pm – officers dispatched to the 600 block of N 14th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

8:04 pm – officers dispatched to the 3700 block of W Grand Ave. in reference to a verbal domestic.

8:26 pm – officers dispatched to S 7th St. and W Grand Ave. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

9:01 pm – officers dispatched to the 1900 block of West Ritchie Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

9:25 pm – officers dispatched to West Ave. in reference to a battery.

9:26 pm – officers dispatched to the 400 block of N York st in reference to a fight in progress.

July 27

Arrest

Javier Delgado arrested for criminal trespass.

2:16 am – officers dispatched to the 700 block of N 13th St. and reference to shots fired.

3:49 am – officers dispatched to the 100 block of N 26th St. in reference to a burglary.

4:27 am – officers dispatched to the 700 block of N 10th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

3:58 pm – officers are dispatched to the 400 block of N 13th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

4:25 pm – officer dispatched to the 300 block of E Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

7:33 pm – officer dispatched the 600 block of N 26th St In reference to a motor vehicle accident.

7:45 pm – officer dispatched to the 700 block of N 13th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

8:04 pm – officer dispatched to the 900 block of S 11th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

9:23 pm – officer dispatched to the 200 block of N 5th St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

9:29 pm – officer dispatched to the 1300 walk of West Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

9:49 pm – officer dispatched to the 700 block of N 13th St. in reference to an unwanted subject.

10:29 pm – officer dispatched to the 2200 block of W Main St. in reference to burglary alarm.

10:45 pm – officer dispatched to the 3200 block of W Main St. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

July 28

Arrest

Victor Catellano Rodriquez arrested for battery against a household member.

12:51 am – officer dispatched to the 1900 block of W Main St. in reference to larceny.

6:06 am – officer dispatched to the 1000 block of S 2nd St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

840 am – officer dispatched to the 2100 block of W Mann Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

9:42 am – officer dispatched to the 900 block of N 13th St. in reference to domestic.

11:15 am – officer dispatched to the 1100 block of W Grand Ave. and reference to an unwanted subject.

2:14 pm – officer dispatched to N 1st St. and E Richey Ave. in reference to harassment.

3:52 pm – officer dispatched to the 300 block of N 4th St. in reference to physical domestic.

4:15 pm – officer dispatched to the 700 block of N 10th St. in reference to shots fired.

6:57 pm – officer dispatched to the 2600 block of West Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

8:28 pm – officer dispatched to the 300 block of W Washington Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

9:21 pm – officer dispatched to the 400 block of W Logan Ave. and reference to the welfare of an adult.

10:06 pm – officer dispatched to the 800 block of West Lolita Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

11:58 pm – officer dispatched to the 1300 block of W Merchant Ave. in reference to disorderly disturbance.

July 29

Arrest

Justin Lloyd Hendrick arrested for trespass.

Antonio Garry Calderon arrested for battery against a household member.

Jesse Allen Scott arrested for municipal failure to pay.

9:01 am – officer dispatched to the 200 block of S 20th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

9:04 am – officer dispatched to the 1500 block of West ray Ave. in reference to a structure vandal.

10:12 am – officer dispatched W grand Ave. and S 26th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult 10:15 am – officer dispatched to the 300 block of N 13th St. in reference to a missing adult.

11:11 am – officer dispatched to 1100 block W Grand Ave. In reference to an unwanted subject.

12:36 am – officer dispatched the 1800 block of W Runyan Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

1:41 pm – officer dispatched to 1100 block of W merchant Ave. and reference to graffiti.

2:56 pm – officer dispatched to the 3300 block of W Main St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

3:59 pm – officer dispatched to the 1300 block of West Ritchie Ave. in reference to fraud.

5:20 pm – officer dispatched W Hermosa Dr. in S 13th St. in reference to the welfare of a child.

6:00 pm – officer dispatched to the 1800 block of W Runyan Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

8:01 pm – officer dispatched to the 1100 block of S 4th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

10:32 pm – officer dispatched to N 1st St. and E Ritchie Ave. and reference to the welfare of an adult.

July 30

Arrest

Gabriel Lujan Jr. arrested for fugitive from justice arrest warrant.

4:32 am – officers dispatched to JC park in reference to shots fired in the area.

4:35 am – officer dispatched to the 3100 block of West Dallas Ave. and reference to suspicious activity.

5:13 am – officer dispatched to the 300 block of W Washington Ave. in reference to a burglary alarm.

5:43 am – officer dispatched N 1st St. in West Richey Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

6:12 am – officer dispatched to the 1000 block of W Missouri Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

7:43 am – officer dispatched to the 1000 block of W Missouri Ave. in reference to a suicidal subject.

11:28 am – officer dispatched to the 900 block of W Missouri Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

12:35 pm – officer dispatched to the 400 block of West Cleveland Ave. in reference to an overdose.

2:50 pm – officer dispatched the 1100 block of S 2nd St. in reference to harassment.

3:22 pm – officer dispatched to the 200 block of S 8th St. in reverend to suspicious trespass.

3:48 pm – officer dispatched to the 900 block of S 1st St. in reference to a vandal.

4:57 pm – officers dispatched to the 1300 block of West Richey Ave. in reference to motor vehicle accident.

6:36 pm – officers dispatched to the 1400 block of W Gilchrist Ave. in reference to a disorderly disturbance.

6:50 pm – officers dispatched to the 1900 block of West Richey Ave. in rector larceny.

7:33 pm – officers dispatched to the 1000 block of N 4th St. in reference to larceny.

8:52 pm – officers dispatched the 800 block of South Roselawn Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

9:43 pm – officers dispatched to the 1300 block of W merchant Ave. in reference to threats.

10:27 pm- officers dispatched to the 1400 block of W Gilchrest Ave. in reference to threats.

11:20 pm – officers dispatched to the 2700 block of N 1st St. in reference to burglary alarm.

11:23 pm – officers dispatched to the 1200 block of West Chisum Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.