As the manager of subsurface minerals in public land, the BLM has the authority to lease land for oil and gas once a quarter. Companies or individuals can request that parcels of land be made available for lease through an expression of interest.

In April 2017, the Bureau of Land Management received an expression of interest in leasing 54,000 acres in and around the Ruby Mountains from Ethan Murray of Murray Land Service. The land in Elko and White Pine counties — south of Lamoille Creek and north of Sherman Creek on the west side of the Ruby Mountains — was classified as available for such use.

Because the land is under the jurisdiction of the National Forest Service, the state BLM office had to receive an environmental assessment from the Forest Service regarding the land in Elko County. The analysis sought to determine if the lands can be made available administratively, and what stipulations would be included to protect surface resources.

The Forest Service began accepting comments on the plan in the fall of 2017, and eventually extended the comment period through April 2018.

Sportsmen, environmental and tribal groups were among the many who announced their opposition to the plan.