BLM Colorado News Release
Contact: Thane Stranathan, Natural Resource Specialist, 970 -240-5300
Barb Sharrow, BLM Uncompahgre Field Manager, 970-240-5300
November 14, 2008
BLM Uncompahgre Begins Public Scoping for Mineral Development
Montrose, Colo. — The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office is asking the public to help identify issues to be addressed in a Geographic Area Plan as it begins analyzing a proposal to develop oil and gas leases on 19,645 surface acres in northwest Gunnison County, Colorado. The mineral leases previously were granted at federal oil and gas lease sales.
The area affected is called the Bull Mountain Unit, located approximately five miles north of the Paonia Reservoir near State highway 133. Overall, the unit includes 19,645 surface acres, with 97 percent under private ownership, and 3 percent federal.
An additional public comment period in conjunction with preparing an Environmental Assessment will be offered at a later date.
The proposal submitted by SG Interests I, Ltd., includes the construction of 55 natural gas wells and five produced-water disposal wells. Well spacing is proposed at an average maximum unit density of one well pad per 320 acres, with one to two wells per pad. Higher density multiple well pads are not anticipated at this time because of the terrain and underlying geology. Directional drilling has been discounted by the operator as an unlikely approach for the area.
Associated facilities for the new wells would include access roads, pipelines, compressor stations, tank batteries, and electrical lines. Produced natural gas would be transported to national markets via the Bull Mountain pipeline, which is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2009.
Approximately 67 percent of the mineral estate within the Bull Mountain Unit is federal mineral estate managed by the BLM. Including federal, state and private mineral estate there are approximately 25 existing gas wells and an additional 20 wells in the process of being permitted within a 10 mile radius.
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BLM requires operators to submit Geographic Area Plans so that a broad evaluation of plans and impacts can be completed, and environmental impacts and appropriate measures to mitigate these impacts can be identified.
Respondents’ comments, including their names and street addresses, will be available for public review at the BLM Colorado Uncompahgre Field Office during regular business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of the Environmental Assessment. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comments. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their entirety.
Comments should be submitted no later than December 12, 2008 to: Thane Stranathan, Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 South Townsend Ave., Montrose, Colorado 81401,
Fax: (970) 240-5367, email: thane_stranathan@blm.gov
Upon completion of this scoping period, the process of drafting the Geographic Area Plan will begin, which includes environmental analysis in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976.
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