For Immediate Release: October 30, 2007
Contact: Jaime Gardner  303-239-3681
Jim Sample 303-239-3861

BLM Updates Parcels for November Lease Sale

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer 135 parcels, totaling 129,726 acres, in its November 8, 2007 oil and gas lease sale.  The BLM has made a decision to defer a number of parcels in Grand and Jackson counties from the sale, in order to conduct additional analysis and public outreach with local communities.

BLM Colorado Deputy State Director Lynn Rust said “We acknowledge that, with little Federal oil and gas leasing in Grand County in recent years, all parties involved will benefit from additional discussions and outreach on the Federal oil and gas leasing process. To facilitate this outreach without impending deadlines, I have decided to defer a portion of the parcels from the November 2007 oil and gas lease sale.”  Rust continued, “I am deferring some additional parcels outside of Grand County, for further analysis.”

The original decision to offer these proposed lease parcels in the November competitive oil and gas lease sale was not undertaken lightly. Consistent with regular practice, BLM thoroughly analyzed each Resource Management Plan and documented that the planning decisions regarding oil and gas leasing are still valid in all affected area.
 
BLM will work with Grand county, as well as local Congressional Delegation offices, in the near future to facilitate any requested outreach meetings with the interested public.

The Bureau of Land Management manages 8.3 million acres in Colorado, as well as 27 million acres of federal sub-surface mineral estate.  Under the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act, the BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.  The BLM accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, energy production and mineral development, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural and other resources on the public lands.  BLM Colorado holds lease sales quarterly, on the second Thursday of February, May, August and November.

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