News release BLM. As directed by Congress, the Bureau of Land Management will adjust the fee it charges to process oil and gas drilling permits on public and Indian lands for inflation, effective Oct. 1. That adjustment will increase the fee by $180, to $9,790. The non-refundable processing fee is collected when an oil and gas operator submits a drilling permit, called an Application for Permit to Drill, and is required whether or not a particular permit is subsequently approved. Congress directed the BLM to adjust the APD fee annually for inflation over 10 years as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2015. To carry out this statutory requirement, the BLM has issued guidance to its field offices regarding the collection and handling of APD fees in the current fiscal year. The new guidance largely tracks prior guidance with respect to collection and handling policies such as when the fee is required; when the BLM will begin processing the APD; and acceptable forms of payment.
