BLM extends comment period for South Shale Ridge EA

GRAND JUNCTION—The public has an additional 30 days to comment on an Environmental Assessment addressing oil and gas leasing on 27,635 acres of public land in the South Shale Ridge area in remote Mesa and Garfield Counties. The previous deadline had been May 21.

“We want to provide adequate time for public comment on this EA,” BLM Grand Junction Field Manager Catherine Robertson said. “Public input is critical to the BLM planning process.”

The South Shale Ridge area currently contains 13 producing and 12 non-producing wells. The 1987 Grand Junction Resource Management Plan (RMP) authorizes oil and gas leasing in the area.

Of the 27,635 acres, 27,049 acres have stipulations applying to oil and gas activity to protect other natural resources in the area, ranging from protection for big game winter range to scenic and natural values.

Detailed comments inform decision makers on public land management. For consideration, comments on this EA must be submitted either by writing to BLM Grand Junction Field Office, Attention: SSR, 2815 H Rd., Grand Junction, Colorado 81506, or by email to coSSRea@blm.gov. Receipt and consideration of comments by other means cannot be guaranteed by the BLM. The extended comment period closes at midnight on June 21, 2005. For additional information, contact Jane Ross at (970) 244-3027.

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