Bureau of Land Management is in the business of leasing government lands to energy companies. Significant exploratory drilling is being conducted in precisely the same area where the Bundy family has been running cattle since the 1870′s. The Gold Butte area can be clearly seen in the map of areas drilled (purple demarcations
BLM sells 29 oil, gas leases in northeast Nevada
http://m.shalereporter.com/industry/article_0de547ba-8ca4-11e2-ab4e-0019bb30f31a.html