Analysis of Oil and Gas Industry Interest and Mining Potential
On Federal Public Lands
Within Bears Ears National Monument
Center for Biological Diversity
August 29, 2017
The Center for Biological Diversity undertook an analysis of recent interest in development of oil, gas and
mining potential in the land now designated as Bears Ears National Monument to understand potential
risks to the monument.
Findings
Since 2013, energy companies have asked the BLM to lease more than 105,187 acres for oil and gas
development within or near public lands that now constitute Bears Ears National Monument in Utah.
In terms of hard rock minerals, the area contains several mineral deposits, largely uranium.
Methods for Assessing Parcels Nominated for Oil and Gas Leasing
An Expression of Interest (EOI) is a request by oil and gas companies to nominate lands for inclusion in
competitive oil and gas lease sales, which are administered by the BLM. In each EOI, the nominator
identifies parcels of land they wish to nominate. The Center obtained digital map files from BLM of parcels
nominated entirely within or within one mile of Bears Ears National Monument as well as copies of the
actual requests from companies in PDF form. We then transcribed those parcels into a Geographic
Information System (GIS) for computer mapping. Our analysis of parcels nominated for leasing by the
BLM covers the period January 23, 2013 through May 24, 2017. For reference, as of 2014 each BLM
state office is obligated to publicly disclose EOIs on its website, however, companies can submit EOIs
anonymously. At the time of our analysis, BLM Utah did not have the information on their website, but
they did respond to our request for the EOIs. The resulting map and acreage tally reflects the location and
acreage of parcels entirely within or within one mile of Bears Ears National Monument that were
nominated by industry for Bureau of Land Management to consider offering for oil and gas leasing.
Methods for Assessing Hard Rock Mining Threats
We used United States Geologic Survey (USGS) data from 2016 to identify hard rock mineral resource
“occurrences” within the national monument. “Occurrences” are defined by USGS as “ore mineralization
found in outcrop, shallow pits, or isolated drill hole. Grade, tonnage, and extent of mineralization are
unknown. No production and little or no activity since discovery other than routine claim maintenance.”
Because the tonnage and extent of mineralization are unknown, these claims necessarily lack “valid
existing rights.” Because exploration and mining are prohibited on mining claims within national
monuments that lack valid existing rights, our analysis therefore identifies and maps those claims or
areas where there are minerals on which development is now prohibited but would be allowed if
monument protections were lifted.
Attached are the following materials:
1. Map that shows the parcels nominated for oil and gas leasing and locations of mineral deposits
including uranium.
2. Examples of Expressions of Interest submitted to the BLM; and
3. Excel spread sheet for each EOI submitted to BLM that is depicted on the map. Please note, for
several parcels, the BLM did not include submission dates of the EOIs.