US BLM considers expanding oil and gas leasing to Utah’s Ouray National Wildlife Refuge
The US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Sept. 2 said it was considering opening about 5,200 acres of federal land under the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge (ONWR) near Vernal in northeast Utah to oil and gas leasing. The BLM proposal contains a "no surface occupancy" restriction that bars drilling inside the refuge. Instead, if the proposal is approved, leaseholders could use only directional or horizontal drilling from well pads outside ONWR to develop leases.
BLM opened a 30-day public scoping period to seek public input on the proposal and BLM’s preparation of a resource management plan amendment and associated environmental analysis. Comments are due Oct. 5, 2026.
ONWR lies entirely within the oil and gas rich Uinta basin, which produced a record 67.9 million bbl of oil in 2025 along with 328 bcf of gas, according to the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining. The basin is known for its abundance of waxy crude oil, coveted by refineries because of its low sulfur levels, making it optimal for lubricants and engine oils.
About the Author
Cathy Landry
Washington Correspondent
Cathy Landry has worked over 20 years as a journalist, including 17 years as an energy reporter with Platts News Service (now S&P Global) in Washington and London.
She has served as a wire-service reporter, general news and sports reporter for local newspapers and a feature writer for association and company publications.
Cathy has deep public policy experience, having worked 15 years in Washington energy circles.
She earned a master’s degree in government from The Johns Hopkins University and studied newspaper journalism and psychology at Syracuse University.