Colorado landowner battles federal oil lease surge on Moffat County peak
Joel Mayne is appealing a Bureau of Land Management oil and gas lease sale that covers mineral rights beneath his cabin on Bakers Peak.
On Bakers Peak in Moffat County, Joel Mayne has challenged the Bureau of Land Management’s decision to auction mineral rights beneath his off-grid cabin, a sale that went ahead in December 2025 despite local protests. The lease was purchased by Carmony Exploration LLP, which now holds 13 parcels covering 16,588 acres. Mayne has filed an appeal with the Interior Board of Land Appeals, citing the mountain’s importance for elk migration and other wildlife.
His fight is part of a larger backlash against a wave of Colorado lease sales that could exceed 400,000 acres across six auctions by the end of 2026, matching the size of major national parks. Environmental groups, state wildlife agencies and county governments have voiced concerns about impacts on roadless areas, sage-grouse habitat and water resources. The federal government defends the sales as compliant with the Mineral Leasing Act and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, arguing they boost domestic energy production and generate royalty revenue for local communities.
