Dinosaur excavations approved in Grand Staircase-Escalante; Island gas wells authorized in Uintah County
Scientific excavation of three dinosaur sites authorized in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
The BLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has issued an categorical exclusion and decision record that authorizes the issuance of Paleontological Resource Use Permits for the scientific excavation of three dinosaur sites. This project is located in Kane and Garfield Counties.
The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=ce98b490-2138-f111-88b4-001dd803d7d3
For more information, please contact Katja Knoll at [email protected], or the Monument Office at 435-644-1200.
Middle Fork Energy Uinta LLC approved for Island gas well development in Uintah County
The BLM Vernal Field Office has issued an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Island 33-35-622 Well Pad: DOI-BLM-UT-G010-2026-0059-EA. The Responsible Official signed a decision record under which the BLM will approve ten Applications for Permit to Drill for the applicant, Middle Fork Energy Uinta LLC, to drill gas wells to produce from their existing federal mineral leases. The EA also analyzed construction of a well pad with supporting access roads, pipelines, and a powerline and drilling up to six additional wells for a total of sixteen. The project location is approximately 15.2 miles southeast of Vernal City in Uintah County, Utah in Township 6 South, Range 22 East, Section 35. Portions of the access road, pipeline, and powerline will be on TLA-administered lands and are not authorized by the BLM decison.
The decision record can be found at: https://eplanning.blm.gov/Project-Home/?id=DDB1C5F8-7007-F111-8406-001DD804183B.
For more information, please contact JD Mallory at 801-539-4089 or [email protected], or the Vernal Field Office at 435-781-4400
The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.