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BLM opens public comment on 1st oil, gas drilling bidding in Arizona since 2018

An oil well in northern Utah
Getty Images
An oil well in northern Utah

The Bureau of Land Management has opened the process for companies to bid on public lands for oil and gas drilling in Arizona for the first time since 2018.

The agency just opened a public comment period, which goes through June 11.

BLM is taking public input on potentially leasing 78,708 acres of land over 40 parcels near the Nevada and Utah borders.

After the comment period, developers would still need to lease the land and send projects for BLM review and approval.

President Donald Trump’s major spending package, called the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, that passed last year promotes expanded oil and gas production nationwide.

A report from the federal Energy Information Administration says Arizona has no significant oil or gas reserves.

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Greg Hahne started as a news intern at KJZZ in 2020 and returned as a field correspondent in 2021. He learned his love for radio by joining Arizona State University's Blaze Radio, where he worked on the production team.