| Contacts: | Erin Curtis, Public Information Officer, (970) 244-3097 |
BLM to Consider Geothermal Lease Near Gunnison (05-25-10)
Gunnison, Colo. -- The BLM Gunnison Field Office is seeking public comments on a proposal to lease two blocks of land near Gunnison for geothermal energy development.
Both areas were nominated for lease by a renewable energy company. They include nearly 9,000 acres of mostly public land in southeastern Gunnison County near Tomichi Dome and the Waunita Hot Springs.
BLM will analyze the environmental impacts of leasing the land for geothermal development to determine if such a lease should go forward. All of the nominated lands are within occupied Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, and conservation measures may be required to adequately conserve the habitat in and near the nominated areas. The Gunnison sage-grouse is currently being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“This is a unique opportunity to explore the opportunities presented by geothermal renewable energy while ensuring the protection of our important natural resources,” said Brian St. George, Gunnison Field Office Manager. “Given the situation with Gunnison sage-grouse and other wildlife species, it’s especially important that we hear from the public as we begin the environmental analysis.”
Nominated land includes about 4,586 acres of public lands and 400 acres of private land with federal minerals underneath. The second block includes about 3,765 acres of U.S. Forest Service lands. The Forest Service will analyze the potential leasing of those lands separately. The Forest Service has already conducted their 30-day public scoping period which ended on April 5, 2010.
On March 11, the BLM and Forest Service hosted a joint public workshop in Gunnison. Information about geothermal energy development and these specific proposals for lease nominations was provided along with presentations from the State of Colorado.
On June 14, 2010, the BLM will have an open house for the public where information similar to that presented at the March 11 public meeting will be available for public review. BLM staff persons will be on hand to answer any questions. The open house will be at the Forest Service/BLM/NRCS office at 216 N. Colorado St. in Gunnison and will run from 11:00 am to 4:30 pm.
The purpose of the public comment period, which extends through June 24, is to gather information and identify issues for the environmental analysis. Information on the proposal can be accessed online at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gfo.html or at the Gunnison Field Office at 216 N. Colorado Street in Gunnison. Comments can be provided via email to marnie_medina@blm.gov, or can be dropped off at the Gunnison Field Office.
This is the first time lands have been nominated for geothermal lease in the Gunnison Basin in 35 years. The last geothermal leases were applied for in 1974 and were for U.S. Forest System lands near the Waunita Hot Springs. Mobil Oil Corporation was the applicant, and they withdrew their applications in 1991. Currently, no public lands in Colorado are leased for geothermal energy development.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2011, recreational and other activities on BLM-managed land contributed more than $130 billion to the U.S. economy and supported more than 600,000 American jobs. The Bureau is also one of a handful of agencies that collects more revenue than it spends. In FY 2012, nearly $5.7 billion will be generated on lands managed by the BLM, which operates on a $1.1 billion budget. 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 Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands.
216 North Colorado Gunnison, CO 81230