BLM Accepting Comments on Environmental Assessment for Colorado December Oil and Gas Lease Sale
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LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will offer six parcels, totaling 4,259 acres in Jackson, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties at its December 2019 quarterly oil and gas lease sale. This notice initiates a 30-day public comment period on associated environmental documents that ends Sept. 12, 2019. The BLM will hold the lease sale online at www.energynet.com.
By statute, the BLM is required to offer quarterly oil and gas leases sales of available Federal lands. BLM state offices conduct lease sales quarterly when parcels are available for lease. These lease sales represent parcels that cleared environmental review and public comment. The BLM issues both competitive and non-competitive leases for a ten-year period. The leases are a contract to explore and develop any potential oil and gas. The lease may be extended if the production is established on the lease, otherwise the lease will expire after the primary term of ten years.
Responsible energy development includes thoughtful consideration of parcels nominated for leasing as well as potential resource impacts of decisions to lease. An additional environmental review will take place during processing of an Application for Permit to Drill (APD), when site-specific Conditions of Approval will be placed on the permit in addition to the stipulations attached to the lease.
The BLM generated a record $1.1 billion from 28 oil and gas lease sales in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018. Revenues from onshore oil and gas production on federal lands directly fund the U.S. Treasury, state budgets and support public education, infrastructure improvements, and other state-determined priorities.
The oil and gas industry on public lands in Colorado contributed over $6.9 billion in total economic output in fiscal year 2018. Continuous exploration, development, and site restoration is required to sustain production rates, jobs, income and royalties.
Public Comments
Comments on the environmental assessments (EAs) must be submitted through the December 2019 ePlanning Site. The environmental documents, lists and maps of the parcels, and attached stipulations are online on the ePlanning Site.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the individual named above. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
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The BLM manages more than 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.