July 17, 2008

Contacts: Randy Karstaedt, U.S. Forest Service, 303-275-5374; Jim Sample, BLM Colorado State Office, 303-239-3861 

Fifteen lease parcels withdrawn from

August 14, 2008 Oil and Gas Lease Sale

Golden, Colo., July 17, 2008 --  On July 16, 2008, the Bureau of Land Management Colorado (BLM), following a request from the U.S. Forest Service, issued an addendum to its June 9, 2008, oil and gas lease sale notice, withdrawing 15 lease parcels on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests that had been listed as available for competitive bid at the August 14, 2008 lease sale.

The withdrawn leases overlie the West Elk Coal Mine leases and eleven of the fifteen lease parcels are within an inventoried roadless area.

The withdrawal of these lease parcels from the August BLM oil and gas lease sale will not affect any current or planned coal mining operations at the West Elk Mine.

The Forest Service draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Colorado Roadless Rule is soon to be released for public review and comment. In order to provide for clear public understanding, review and comment on the draft Colorado Roadless Rule EIS, and to avoid any potential conflict with the final decisions that will be made in the Colorado Roadless Rule, the sale of the leases has been postponed.

The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service agree that providing for the capture and use of coal mine methane, using existing federal leasing authorities, is the right thing to do. After release of the final Colorado Roadless Rule EIS and development of the final regulations for the designation, protection and management of roadless areas in Colorado, the sale of these leases will be re-evaluated and/or re-offered in whatever manner is consistent with the final regulations.

The Forest Service determines where oil and gas leases will be allowed within the National Forest System. The BLM manages the nation’s publicly-owned mineral estate, including the sale of federal mineral leases.

For the location of the remaining oil and gas lease parcels in the sale, see the following link:

(See detailed map of oil and gas lease parcels locations on the Roan.)

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