| Contacts: | Vanessa Delgado 303-239-3681 | |||
| Marnie Medina 970-642-4457 |
BLM begins 30-day public review of Environmental Assessment of proposed geothermal leasing near Gunnison
GUNNISON, Colo. – On Nov. 4, the Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office will release an environmental assessment that analyzes a proposal to lease land near Gunnison for geothermal energy development. The EA will be available for public review and comment for 30 days.
Two blocks of land were nominated for geothermal leasing in January 2009. The first block includes 4,586 acres of BLM-managed lands and 400 acres of private land with subsurface federal minerals. The second block includes about 3,765 acres of U.S. Forest Service lands. The Forest Service is analyzing the potential for leasing those lands in a separate environmental assessment. Both blocks are in southeastern Gunnison County near Tomichi Dome and the Waunita Hot Springs.
The proposed action is to offer leases for geothermal resources on the federal mineral estate and to attach conditions (lease stipulations) necessary to protect resource values. No development of geothermal resources is proposed at this time. Issuing a geothermal lease does not authorize any ground-disturbing activities to explore for or develop geothermal resources without further application, environmental review and approval by the BLM.
Issues analyzed in the EA include conservation of Gunnison sage-grouse population and habitat, big game winter habitat, riparian and water resources, soils, geology, cultural resources, and the cumulative impacts associated with potential exploration and development operations. The Gunnison sage-grouse was recently determined to be warranted for protection under the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
“We have been working diligently with our partners and local community members to ensure we address their concerns in this part of the planning process,” Brian St. George, Gunnison Field Office Manager said.
The comment period will remain open through Dec. 4, 2010. The EA, including 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 submitted at the Gunnison Field Office.
After the 30-day public review period, the BLM will make any necessary changes to the EA based on public comments. The BLM will then be poised to issue a proposed decision, which will be subject to a 30-day protest period.
This is the first nomination for geothermal leasing in the Gunnison Basin in 35 years. The last geothermal leases involved U.S. Forest System lands near the Waunita Hot Springs. Mobil Oil Corporation was the applicant, and it withdrew the applications in 1991. The BLM will offer approximately 799 acres of federal minerals in Chaffee County for a competitive geothermal lease on Nov. 10.
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 N. Colorado Gunnison CO 81230