News Release

For Release:  May 22, 2007       
Contact: Nora DeDios (661) 391-6129
CA-CC-07-46

BLM Announces Availability of Oil & Gas Lease Auction Environmental Assessment

The Bureau of Land Management has completed the environmental assessment (EA) for the oil and gas lease auction scheduled for September 12.  A 30-day public review and comment period runs from May 25 to June 25.

The EA analyzes the environmental impacts of leasing the mineral estate for oil and gas exploration and development.  The lands considered for competitive lease are located in central Kern County and in Kings County.

After the comment period closes, BLM will read and consider the public comments and then issue a decision.

To ensure compliance with the environmental laws and provide protection for threatened, endangered, and other special status species and their habitat, all lands considered for competitive lease will be subject to special “Limited Surface Use- Federal Candidate, State Listed and Bureau Sensitive Species,” stipulations.

The EA is available online at:  http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/fo/bakersfield.html, or contact Nora DeDios at (661) 391-6129, or email ndedios@ca.blm.gov

-BLM-