U.S. Bureau of Land Management Colorado News Releases

BLM releases draft management plan for 210,000-acre Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (05-17-13)

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:05:50 -0600

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management today began the 90-day public comment period on the Draft Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness.

The plan will provide a framework to guide subsequent management decisions on approximately 210,000 acres administered by the BLM in Delta, Mesa and Montrose counties of western Colorado.

The Draft RMP analyzes five alternatives covering all aspects of BLM resource management within the National Conservation Area boundaries, including recreation, travel management, resource protection, wildlife habitat, special designations and livestock grazing. The National Conservation Area and Wilderness were designated by Congress in 2009 in recognition of their unique and important resources and values.

“This Draft RMP is the culmination of more than two years of work by the BLM and members of the public,” said Katie Stevens, Manager of the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. “These documents cover all aspects of our management of this special area, so this is a really important opportunity to make your voice heard about how the BLM will manage these lands. We’ve seen a high degree of public interest and engagement in each step of the planning process, and we expect that the interest in the area will continue through the rest of the planning process.”

The BLM will host two public open houses to provide information and an opportunity to comment on the Draft. The public can stop by anytime between 4:30-7:30 p.m. for the following open houses:

• June 17 at the Colorado Mesa University Center

• June 19 at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center

The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Advisory Council, which is composed of ten members of the public who represent various communities and interests throughout the surrounding three-county area, will also hold meetings to discuss the Draft RMP. These meetings will provide opportunities for public input and comment to the Advisory Council and the BLM.

To be considered, comments must be received by August 22, 2013.

“We welcome all thoughts and comments, but specific comments will be particularly useful in helping us refine the Draft into its final form,” Stevens said. “Comments that provide not just a preference or recommendation, but the basis for that preference or recommendation or information that helps us better understand the issues, are the ones that really help us refine the plan. New information is also helpful.”

The BLM will use the public comments to help develop a Proposed RMP/Final EIS, which is scheduled for release in May 2014.

For additional information, including how to provide comments or obtain a copy of the Draft RMP, visithttp://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/denca/denca_rmp.html.

Before including address, phone number, email-address, or any other personal identifying information in your comments, be advised that your entire comment, including personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While individuals may request that the BLM withhold personal identifying information from public view, the BLM cannot guarantee it will be able to do so. If you wish us to withhold your personal information you must state this prominently at the beginning of your comment. We will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.

BLM Evaluating Five Parcels in Southwest Colorado for Feb. 2014 Lease Sale (05-17-13)

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:45:30 -0600

DOLORES, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management announced a two-week scoping period on a proposal to offer five parcels totaling 5,443 acres in San Miguel, Dolores and Montrose counties in its Feb. 13, 2014 lease sale. This scoping period is part of an environmental assessment that will allow the public an opportunity to provide feedback on the five parcels proposed for leasing.

Rio Grande Natural Area Commission meets May 29 in Alamosa (05-17-13)

Fri, 17 May 2013 13:40:20 -0600

ALAMOSA, Colo. – The Rio Grande Natural Area Commission will meet Wednesday, May 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Rio Grande Water Conservation District office, 10900 East U.S. Highway 160, Alamosa, Colo.

Prescribed Burn Canceled (05-16-13)

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:10:10 -0600

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Conditions for a prescribed burn scheduled for Thursday in Plateau Valley were not met so fire managers from the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit canceled a scheduled burn on Nick Mountain-Bald Mountain units.

Interior Releases Updated Draft Rule for Hydraulic Fracturing on Public and Indian Lands for Public Comment (05-16-13)

Thu, 16 May 2013 14:00:10 -0600

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above strategy to support safe and responsible domestic energy production, the Department of the Interior today announced the release of an updated draft proposal that would establish commonsense safety standards for hydraulic fracturing on public and Indian lands. Following the release of an initial draft proposal in 2012, Interior received extensive feedback, including over 177,000 public comments that helped inform today’s updated draft proposal. The new proposal maintains important safety standards, improves integration with existing state and tribal standards, and increases flexibility for oil and gas developers. The updated draft proposal will be subject to a new 30-day public comment period.

“As the President has made clear, this administration’s priority is to continue to expand safe and responsible domestic energy production. In line with that goal, we are proposing some commonsense updates that increase safety while also providing flexibility and facilitating coordination with states and tribes,” said Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell. “As we continue to offer millions of acres of America’s public lands for oil and gas development, it is important that the public has full confidence that the right safety and environmental protections are in place.”

Approximately 90 percent of wells drilled on Federal and Indian lands use hydraulic fracturing, but the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) current regulations governing hydraulic fracturing operations on public lands are more than 30 years old and were not written to address modern hydraulic fracturing activities. The revised proposed rule will modernize BLM’s management of hydraulic fracturing operations, and help to establish baseline environmental safeguards for these operations across all public and Indian lands.

The updated draft proposal maintains the three main components of the initial proposal: requiring operators to disclose the chemicals they use in fracturing activities on public lands; improving assurances of well-bore integrity to verify that fluids used during fracturing operations are not contaminating groundwater; and confirming that oil and gas operators have a water management plan in place for handling fluids that flow back to the surface.

Building on preliminary input from key stakeholders and recommendations from the Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board in 2011, the BLM proposed a draft rule in 2012 that took into account technologies already in use by companies to protect water resources, and existing methods for improving transparency through disclosure of the chemicals used in fracturing fluids.

The updated draft proposal addresses many of the more than 177,000 public comments that the BLM received during the initial 120-day public comment period that ended last fall, as well as other feedback received during eight forums and other meetings held with representatives of American Indian tribes.

“We know from experience that hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling methods can be used safely and effectively, employing many of the best management practices reflected in this draft rule,” said BLM Principal Deputy Director Neil Kornze. “Our thorough review of all the comments convinced us that we could maintain a strong level of protection of health, safety, and the environment while allowing for increased flexibility and reduced regulatory duplication.”

The supplemental proposal being released today revises the array of tools operators may use to show that water is being protected, and provides more guidance on trade secret disclosure, while providing additional flexibility for meeting these objectives.

While the revised draft seeks to establish baseline environmental safeguards across all public and Indian lands, it also complements efforts of several states that are regulating hydraulic fracturing, including Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota, and Texas. The proposal includes a variance process that allows for deferring to states and tribes that already have standards in place that meet or exceed those proposed by this rule.

Although the BLM is not proposing a material change in the provision that allows hydraulic fracturing flowback fluids to be stored either in tanks or in lined pits, the BLM is seeking comments on the costs and benefits of requiring flowback fluids to only be stored in closed tanks.

The Obama Administration has made expansion of domestic oil and gas production a priority, while ensuring that it takes place safely and responsibly. Domestic production from more than 92,000 oil and gas wells on public lands accounts for about 13 percent of the nation’s natural gas production and 5 percent of its oil production. The BLM administers approximately 700 million acres of onshore mineral estate owned by the Federal government and has trust responsibilities for about 56 million acres of Indian lands.

Once comments on the updated draft have been collected and analyzed, the BLM expects to issue a final rule that will ensure that operators apply proven cost-effective safety and environmental protection processes when engaging in hydraulic fracturing on public and Indian lands.

To view the updated draft proposal, click here.

BLM Seeks Comments on Trail Project (05-13-13)

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:55:30 -0600

GUNNISON, Colo. - The Bureau of Land Management’s Gunnison Field Office is seeking public comments on an Environmental Assessment for the construction of a wide trail at the Hartman Rocks Recreation Area.

The proposed trail modifications and new segments create a unique recreational opportunity for people with disabilities to use adaptive (hand-cranked) mountain bikes where none currently exist on lands managed by the Gunnison Field Office.

“Our hope is that disabled individuals can enjoy the same feelings of solitude, independence and fun as other trail users,” said Kristi Murphy, BLM outdoor recreation planner. “This environmental analysis also addresses some sustainable trail issues associated with the Sea of Sage and Broken Shovel Trails.”

The proposed action reroutes most of the Sea of Sage Trail and portions of Broken Shovel Trail with the addition of a connector trail between the two routes. The tread clearing widths along the route would be between 42 and 44 inches wide making motorized and mechanized single track trail use and mechanized hand cycles allowed on these trails. Construction for this project could start as early as July 15, 2013.

A copy of the environmental documents and maps are available online at:http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gfo.html.

Written comments must be submitted by Thursday, May 30, to the Bureau of Land Management, Gunnison Field Office, Attn: Kristi Murphy, 650 South 11th St., Gunnison, CO 81230, by fax to 970-642-4990 or by email to kmurphy@blm.gov.

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

BLM Signs Decision Record Finalizing the Ridgway Comprehensive Travel Management Plan (05-10-13)

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:50:20 -0600

MONTROSE, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management’s Uncompahgre Field Office signed a Decision Record completing the environmental analysis for the Ridgway Comprehensive Travel Management Plan Environmental Assessment. The decision features an inter-connecting trail system and two parking area/staging areas on public lands about two miles northeast of Ridgway, Colo.

Volunteers needed for Transfer Trail maintenance May 18 (05-10-13)

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:30:50 -0600

SILT, Colo. – Volunteers are needed May 18 for the annual Transfer Trail “Open the Trail Day” north of Glenwood Springs.

Northwest Colorado parcels scheduled for upcoming oil and gas lease sales (05-10-13)

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:55:40 -0600

DENVER – The Bureau of Land Management Colorado is offering four parcels in northwestern Colorado in its August oil and gas lease sale, and reviewing a proposal to offer nine more in its February 2014 lease sale.

USFS and BLM to hold La Garita Hills analysis public meeting (05-09-13)

Thu, 9 May 2013 15:35:20 -0600

LA GARITA, Colo - The Rio Grande National Forest’s Saguache Ranger District and Bureau of Land Management’s San Luis Valley Field Office will hold a public meeting concerning the La Garita Hills Forest Restoration environmental analysis at the Saguache Public Lands Office on May 23 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. The public lands office is located at 46525 Hwy 114, Saguache. The open house meeting will also include a short presentation at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to provide interested individuals with information concerning the analysis area, proposed management goals and projects, and the new environmental analysis objection process. Meeting participants will be able to view maps and photos of the project area and interact with agency specialists.

The analysis area encompasses nearly 188,000 acres of lands west and northwest of the town of La Garita that are managed by the Saguache RD and SLVFO.

Several of the goals already identified by the Forest Service and BLM include: improve human safety and protect infrastructure in areas with beetle-killed trees; reduce soil erosion and restore native plants along creeks; salvage dead and dying beetle infested trees for human use and job creation; restore beetle infested areas by planting seedlings in areas with limited natural regeneration; improve and protect wildlife habitat for a variety of species including the Rio Grande cutthroat trout; and develop forests resilient to insect infestations and severe wildland fire.