HELENA, Mont. — Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen and the State Board of Land Commissioners (Montana Land Board) approved a historic oil and gas lease sale during September’s monthly Land Board meeting.

The oil and gas lease sale was part of an agenda that generated estimated revenue of nearly $4 million for Montana schools.

“I’m proud to support generating historic revenue for our Montana K-12 schools,” said Secretary Jacobsen. “Thank you to the DNRC (Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation) for maximizing revenue potential on our state trust lands.”

The oil and gas lease sale was conducted via an online auction from August 29 to September 4. The sale consisted of four tracts in Pondera, Richland, and Toole counties and generated $2.85 million for the Montana Common Schools trust, the most from a single sale since 2012, according to the DNRC.

During the meeting, Land Board Commissioners also approved a timber sale in western Montana and various easements across the state. 

More information about Montana’s state trust lands can be found on the DNRC website.