BLM ACCEPTING PUBLIC COMMENTS ON PROPOSAL TO DRILL TWO
CO2 WELLS IN CANYONS OF THE ANCIENTS NATIONAL MONUMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 25, 2006

Environmental Assessment # CO-800-2006-054 (pdf)

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on an environment analysis of a proposal by Kinder Morgan CO2 Company to drill two carbon dioxide (CO2) gas wells on existing federal leases, in the Yellow Jacket and McElmo Dome Units, in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The locations are in the vicinity of Mockingbird Mesa and Burro Point.

Oil and gas leases issued by the BLM at the direction of Congress under the 1920 Mineral Leasing Act are contractual agreements between the U.S. government and the lessee. The lease rights granted consist of the right to occupy as much of the lease surface as is reasonable for the extraction of the resource and the right to remove the resource.

The proposals include all activities associated with gas development, including activities to construct, operate, reclaim, and abandon one well per Application for Permit to Drill (APD). As proposed, the two well pads would be constructed on well pads approximately three acres in size each. Associated access roads and pipelines would create an additional approximately one acre of disturbance each. Pipelines would be constructed within the right of way of the access road and would tie into existing pipeline corridors adjacent to each well site. Total surface disturbance for the proposed action is estimated to be 7.43 acres. If the wells were unproductive, all surface disturbances would be reclaimed and abandoned, according to BLM specifications.

Written public comment must be postmarked by Monday, November 27, 2006, and mailed to Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Hwy 184, Dolores, CO 81323. No electronic or verbal comments will be accepted.

The EA is available on the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument website at: www.co.blm.gov/canm/canmnepadocs.htm

Paper copies of the EA will be available at the Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, C0, and at the Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores.

For more information, contact Lucas Vargo at (970) 882-6845.