| Contacts: | Christopher B Joyner, BLM Public Affairs Specialist, (970) 210-2126 |
BLM approves 95-mile pipeline in western Colorado, eastern Utah (09-14-12)
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Construction is expected to being this year on a 95-mile natural gas liquids pipeline in western Colorado and eastern Utah that was approved by the Bureau of Land Management today.
The pipeline, called the Western Expansion Project II, will increase Enterprise Mid-America Pipeline’s capacity for transporting natural gas liquids from Wyoming and Colorado to Hobbs, New Mexico. The pipeline will increase current capacity by 15,000 barrels per day.
It follows an existing pipeline corridor across Rio Blanco, Garfield, and Mesa counties in Colorado, and Uintah and Grand counties in Utah. BLM today is approving the right-of-way for the 60 miles that will cross federal land. Documents associated with this can be found at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html
Enterprise Mid America Pipeline estimates that construction would require the employment of approximately 400 to 450 workers (consisting of Enterprise MAPL employees, contractor employees, construction inspection staff, and environmental monitoring staff). Construction is anticipated to take about six months.
Liquid natural gas consists of marketable products such as propane, butane and benzene that can be recovered during natural gas production.
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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.
2815 H Road Grand Junction, CO 81506