NEPA Resources

Project Status Reports

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The Bureau of Land Management is required to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act, commonly known as NEPA. This page replaces the NEPA Project Report previously released to the public as a newsletter. Only major projects are mentioned on this page. Major projects are defined as those projects for which BLM seeks public input during the NEPA process.  You can view the status of all NEPA documents (NEPA Register showing categorical exclusions, Documentation of NEPA Adequacy [DNA], environmental assessments, or environmental impacts statements) produced since fiscal year 2005 for the Rock Springs Field Office. You can view entire NEPA documents by fiscal year (NEPA documents) for all field offices.

Project Location Map

Active Projects

Hiawatha Regional Energy Development EIS
Questar Exploration and Production Company and Wexpro Company propose to drill exploratory and development wells on their leases within existing natural gas fields in southern Sweetwater County, Wyoming and northern Moffat County, Colorado. The project area of approximately 157,335 acres is generally located within Townships 11-14 north, Ranges 99-102 west, about 55 miles south of Rock Springs.

The proponents propose to drill up to 4207 new wells primarily within the boundaries of the existing Hiawatha, Canyon Creek, and Trail units of southwest Wyoming and northwest Colorado. It is estimated that about 66% of the proposed wells will be in Wyoming with the remainder in Colorado. The total number of wells ultimately drilled will depend on production success, drainage area, technology, economics, commodity prices and environmental restrictions. This proposal assumes that the wells will be drilled conventionally, i.e., with vertical well bores. All proposed wells are anticipated to be drilled during an approximately 20 to 30 year period after project approval.

Issues tentatively identified include: wildlife winter range, raptor nesting, soil erosion, reclamation, grazing conflicts, Colorado River salinity control, historic trails, and road maintenance.

The Preferred Alternative is currently being worked on with the anticipation of the Draft EIS being published during the summer of 2008.

For more information contact: John MacDonald (307-352-0238).

Normally Pressured Lance
EnCana Oil and Gas proposes to drill 85 wells within 70,156 acres of BLM administered lands located approximately 68 miles northwest of Rock Springs. This project area, the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL), is located within the Crimson, Sol, and Hacienda Federal Units which are lands administered by the Rock Spring sand Pinedale field offices. The majority of the exploration, 70 wells, will be located within a “core area” of the NPL while the remaining 15 wells will be scattered throughout the rest of the project area and drilled on an as needed basis to maintain EnCana’s leasehold rights.  The core area consists of 6,225 acres of contiguous lands located south of the Jonah field. The geology and subsurface conditions of the Lance formation within the NPL project area are unlike the conditions of the Jonah Field other regional gas fields. The pressures of the hydrocarbons at depth are lower as well as the field boundaries less defined.  Since 1999, 14 natural gas wells have been drilled within the Project Area. The plan of development for the NPL calls for an average well density within the core area of one well per 80 acres and a maximum density of one well per 40 acres.  EnCana proposes initial drilling in the core area to begin in 2008 and continuing with a five year schedule.  For the purpose of completing the NEPA planning and analysis, EnCana plans to drill 20 wells on known locations in 2008.

Development activities would include construction of well pads, drilling, completion and production, testing, and construction of ancillary facilities. Other project components would include access roads, gathering pipelines, production equipment, and compressor stations. EnCana would use as much of the existing infrastructure (e.g., access roads and pipelines) as possible. The exact locations of wells and access roads would be determined during the Application for Permit to Drill (APD) process. 

An Environmental Assessment (EA) is being prepared for the proposed actions associated with the NPL project.   The 30 day public scoping period ended on March27. 

For more information contact: Joanna Nara-Kloepper at 307-352-0238.

Projects Approved But Within Regulatory Appeal Period

Certain projects may be implemented full force and effect even though regulations allow for a State Director Review (SDR) or appeal to the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). The following projects fall within these time frames.

Implemented Projects

The following projects have been approved, have been or are currently being implemented. The projects have been organized by fiscal year for your convenience.

FY2007
Pit 14 Coal Lease-by-Application Project

FY 2006
Jack Morrow Hills Coordinated Activity Plan
Monell Enhanced Oil Recovery Project

FY 2005
Pacific Creek 3D Geophysical Project
Bitter Creek Shallow Gas Project
Dickie Springs Placer Gold Exploration Project

FY 2004
West Flank 3D Geophysical Project
Ten Mile Rim Coal LBA & Associated ROW Project
Pacific Rim Shallow Gas Project
Simpson Gulch 3D Geophyiscal Project
Desolation Flats Natural Gas Project
Salt Wells 3D Geophysical Project
Little Monument Natural Gas Project
Copper Ridge Shallow Gas Project
Hay Reservoir 3D Geophysical Project

FY 2003
Lower Bush Creek CBM Exploratory Pilot Project
Monell CO2 Pipeline Project

FY 2002
EA for the Jim Bridger Power Plant Flue Pond Expansion
South Jonah 3D Vibroseis Project
Vermillion Basin Exploratory and Development Project
Quantum Geophysical Project

FY 2001
Haystack Geophysical Exploration Project
Pacific Creek Temporary Surface Pipeline
Wolverine Exploratory Drilling Project

Pre-2001
Continental Divide/Wamsutter II
Continental Divide Scenic Trail