For Immediate Release: Feb. 11, 2003

BLM Approves Gas Well in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

Based on the results of an environmental assessment, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) and Decision Record regarding Questar Exploration and Production’s proposal to drill one conventional gas well.  The well is located on Mockingbird Mesa in the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, about 18 miles northwest Cortez.   

Questar’s proposal calls for 1.5 acres of federal lands to be cleared of vegetation, leveled, graded, and surfaced with gravel, if necessary, for the well pad site. The associated road and pipeline would disturb 2.5 acres of federal lands. The EA addresses potential impacts on natural and cultural resources in the project area of construction, operation, reclamation and abandonment of the wells associated with approval of Questar’s Application for Permit to Drill. The well would be accessed through an existing locked access gate on a native-surfaced oil and gas access road on Mockingbird Mesa in Montezuma County.   

About 85 percent of CANM is leased for oil and gas resources. The Monument Proclamation states that development of existing leases is allowed, subject to valid and existing rights, when those activities do not create new impacts that would interfere with proper care and management of the objects protected by the Proclamation.

The planned drilling depth of about 6,600 feet would target the Ismay and Desert Creek formations of the Paradox Group on an existing oil and gas lease issued by the BLM. The Proposed Action conforms to the BLM’s San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan of 1985 and to Interim Management Guidelines for the Monument.

The BLM prepared an environmental assessment that was open for public comments. Five comment letters were received. Some of the issues of concern included cultural resources, air quality, noise, and recreation. The environmental assessment has considered potential impacts and identified mitigations to minimize or prevent these impacts. 

Hard copies of the Decision Record, FONSI and EA are available at:

Dolores Public Lands Center, 100 North Sixth Street, P.O. Box 210, Dolores, CO 81323, and

San Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301.

The EA is also available on the Web at:

http://www.co.blm.gov/canm/index.html

http://www.co.blm.gov/sjra/index.html

For more information, please contact Dave Swanson at 970 385-1370.