BLM cancels 17 of 19 leases on top of the Roan Plateau
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As part of a landmark settlement agreement announced by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell in November 2014, the Bureau of Land Management today canceled 17 of the 19 leases on top of the Roan Plateau. The settlement agreement included refunding approximately $47.6 million in bonus bids and annual rental payments to leaseholders. The environmental assessment and decision record for the lease cancellation is available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/gsfo/completed_2015_nepa.htmlThe settlement agreement, reached with conservation groups and oil and gas leaseholders, protects wildlife and supports opportunities for outdoor recreation on the Roan Plateau while also encouraging oil and gas development. The Roan Plateau is considered one of Colorado's most ecologically diverse landscapes, providing a popular destination for hunting, fishing, and backcountry recreation.The BLM is also preparing a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for the Roan Plateau Resource Management Plan that will address long-term management of the area. The SEIS will analyze a range of management alternatives including one based on the terms of the settlement reached last November that would prevent re-leasing the canceled lease areas on top of the Roan Plateau for the life of that decision.
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.