Colorado
For Immediate Release: November 19, 2004
Contact: Steven Hall 970-244-3052, Jamie Connell or Steve Bennett at 970-947-2800
BLM releases Roan Plateau DRAFT Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO—After more than four years of public input, meetings, environmental study and consultation with local and state government, the Bureau of Land Management released the Roan Plateau Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (RMP/EIS).
“We greatly appreciate the input of the public, and the hard work and insight of our cooperating agencies. On behalf of all our BLM staff, I want to thank the Town of Rifle, the Town of Parachute, Garfield and Rio Blanco counties and the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. We have worked closely with these cooperators to develop an appropriate range of alternatives, and to develop a preferred alternative that we believe reflects the BLM’s desire to be a ‘good neighbor’ and to work in partnership with communities,” said BLM Glenwood Springs Field Manager Jamie Connell.
The 73,602-acre area formerly known as the Naval Oil Shale Reserve is a popular destination for local recreation and contains some of Colorado’s richest natural gas resources. Approximately half of the Roan Plateau consists of highlands located above dramatic cliffs that provide a scenic backdrop to I-70. The remainder of the area consists of lower elevations where natural gas leasing and production is already underway. The area contains 257 miles of motorized routes, as well as seven existing gas wells above the cliffs.
Under Alternative 3, the agency preferred, the BLM would defer leasing on top of the plateau until 80 percent of anticipated wells below the cliffs have been completed. With the Roan Plateau anticipated to be one of the nation’s most productive areas for natural gas development, local communities helped the BLM Draft an alternative that would make development of those resources more sustainable over time, while allowing local communities more control over local impacts.
“We cannot over-emphasize that this is a DRAFT document,” Connell said. “After years of spirited public debate over the future of the Roan Plateau, we now have some clear management alternatives and documentation of what the impacts of those alternatives would be. We hope this will help ensure that we continue to have an informed debate over the future of this important area.”
The RMP/EIS 90-day public comment period is planned for the RMP/EIS. The BLM will analyze the comments and create a final plan that may include all or part of the alternatives contained in today’s Draft release.
Public comments should provide specific information about the plan to help inform the BLM’s decision-making process. Copies of the Draft Roan Plateau RMP/EIS and information on providing public input are available in the Glenwood Springs Field Office, 50629 Hwy 6 & 24, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602 or online at www.roanplateau.ene.com.
-BLM-
Editor's Note-Please see attached link to find a summary of the Roan Plateau, and general facts about the area and the planning process.
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