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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 24, 2007

The Bureau of Land Management is accepting public comments on a preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) and unsigned Decision Record and Finding of No Significant Impact for a proposal to drill an oil and gas well on private lands within the boundaries of the BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. Robert L. Bayless has submitted an Application for Permit to Drill (APD) south of the Ismay Trading Post on top of Mail Trail Mesa about 26 miles west of Cortez in Montezuma County. The proposed well would be located about two miles southeast of the North Mail Trail #1 well, drilled in 2005.

The proposed well, identified as the Bayless North Mail Trail No. 2, would be drilled within what is known as the Flodine Park Field. As proposed, the project includes construction of a well pad, a short segment of new access road, and improvement of a portion of an existing two-track road. Total disturbance is estimated at about 8 acres. If the well proves to be capable of producing in payable quantities, most of the associated surface pipeline and a portion of the existing two-track that would be upgraded are on CANM lands. Total disturbance on public land is estimated at about 6 acres. The well pad and a portion of the access road and surface pipeline would be located on privately owned surface.

Surface disturbance would be minimized by placing the carbon-steel natural gas pipeline on the surface adjacent to the proposed access road, ultimately connecting to an existing surface gathering system. If the well is unproductive, it would be abandoned and all surface disturbances reclaimed to BLM and/or private landowner specifications.

About 85% of the Monument is leased for oil and gas. 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 would target the Ismay formation 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 comment must be postmarked by Monday February 26, 2007 and mailed to Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. No electronic or verbal comments will be accepted.

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, Natural Resource Specialist at the Dolores Public Lands Office at 882-6845.