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

Environmental Assessment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 12, 2004

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to drill an oil and gas well within the BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Robert L. Bayless has submitted a proposal to drill south of the Ismay Trading Post on top of Mail Trail Mesa, about 26 miles west of Cortez in Montezuma County.

The proposed well, identified as Bayless North Mail Trail No. 1, would be drilled to approximately 5,980 feet in the Flodine Park Field. As proposed, the project includes construction of a 1.2-acre well pad and 1.5 acres of associated access roads and pipelines. The natural gas pipeline would be buried adjacent to the proposed access road and along the existing access road, ultimately connecting to an existing surface gathering system. Total surface disturbance would be approximately 2.7 acres. If the well is unproductive, it would be abandoned, and all surface disturbances reclaimed upon abandonment according to BLM specifications.

About 85% of CANM is leased for oil and gas resources. 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 Monument 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.

Written public comments must be postmarked by December 15, 2004 and mailed to Robert Garrigues, San Juan Public Lands Center, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 81301.

View or download a PDF-format copy of the Environmental Assessment here. Hard copies of the EA are available at the San Juan Public Lands Center in Durango, or at the Anasazi Heritage Center in Dolores.

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