BLM ACCEPTING COMMENTS ON PROPOSAL TO DRILL IN CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS

Environmental Assessment # CO 800-2004-062

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 20, 2004

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to drill three wildcat oil and gas wells in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. EOG Resources has submitted proposals to drill these wells southeast of the Ismay Trading Post in the Flodine Park-Rincon Canyon area about 26 miles west of Cortez in Montezuma County.

The proposed wells, identified as EOG Resources North Mail Trail No. 5, North mail Trail #6, and Cannonball Unit #1-18, are wildcat wells that would be drilled to estimated depths ranging from 5,775 to 5,900 feet. As proposed, the project includes construction of three 1.5-acre well pads and approximately 4.8 acres of associated access roads. Since these are wildcat wells, no application for a natural gas pipeline right-of-way has been filed. If the wells prove to be producers, the pipeline right-of-way would be evaluated under a separate environmental assessment. Total surface disturbance for the proposed action is estimated to be 9.3 acres.  Any of the wells that are unproductive would be abandoned, and all surface disturbances reclaimed upon abandonment, according to BLM specifications.

Written public comments must be postmarked by January 19, 2005 and mailed to Robert Garrigues, Bureau of Land Management, 15 Burnett Ct., Durango, Colorado 81301. No electronic comments will be accepted. The EA is available here in PDF format.  Paper copies of the EA will be available at the Anasazi Heritage Center on Highway 184 in Dolores, Colorado and at the Durango Public Lands Center at 15 Burnett Ct. in Durango, Colorado.

For more information, contact Robert Garrigues, (970) 385-1342.