BLM Colorado evaluating oil and gas leasing proposals
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LAKEWOOD, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public scoping comments on approximately 6,095 acres of public lands proposed for the upcoming June 2020 competitive oil and gas lease sale in Jackson, Lincoln, Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Weld counties. The public scoping period starts tomorrow, Dec. 31, 2019 and ends Jan. 15, 2020. Before beginning an environmental analysis, the BLM would like to hear from the public about issues that should be considered.
Maps, parcel lists, lease stipulations, instructions for submitting comments, and local contact information for the Kremmling, Little Snake, Royal Gorge, and White River field offices are available online Dec. 31 on the BLM ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xpFn6. The June 2020 lease sale and future sales with parcels in Greater Sage-Grouse (GRSG) habitat will be offered consistent with the requirements under the 2015 GRSG Resource Management Plan amendment.
Scoping comments will need to be received by Jan. 15, 2020 and may be submitted online at https://go.usa.gov/xpFn6. The next opportunity for the public to provide comment will be a 30-day public review and comment period on draft environmental assessment documents.
The State of Colorado receives 48 percent of proceeds from each lease sale, with the remainder going to the U.S. government. In 2018, BLM Colorado sold 103 parcels totaling 67,980 acres for a total of $5,750,756 including rentals and fees. In Fiscal Year 2018, oil and gas development on public lands managed by the BLM in Colorado contributed an estimated $6.9 billion to the economy. Statewide, approximately 30,600 jobs are tied to oil and gas development on BLM-managed public lands.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail 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-
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.