BLM releases environmental assessment for February oil and gas lease sale
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CRAIG, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Little Snake Field Office today released a preliminary environmental assessment analyzing the proposed sale of oil and gas leases on 41 parcels totaling 31,225 acres of public mineral estate in Moffatt and Routt counties.
The EA analyzes whether these parcels will be offered for competitive leasing to allow exploration and development of federal oil and gas resources. There are three alternatives analyzed within the EA including offering all of the nominated parcels for sale, offering a subset of the parcels for sale or not offering any parcels.
These parcels are identified as available to oil and gas leasing under the current resource management plan for the Little Snake Field Office. The RMP identifies what restrictions, or stipulations, are included with the leases.
Under the preferred alternative, 71 parcels would be deferred leaving 41 parcels available for lease sale totaling 31,225 acres. Of the parcels recommended for lease, 10 parcels are in Moffat County and 31 are in Routt County. Deferred parcels would not be offered due to Preliminary Priority Habitat for Greater Sage-Grouse as identified by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
The EA, a list of the parcels and the attached stipulations are available online athttp://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas/oil_and_gas_lease/2015/Feb_2015.html and at the Little Snake Field Office, 455 Emerson in Craig.
Written comments must be received by Sept. 5, and may be submitted via e-mail to lsfoweb@blm.gov or by mail to the Little Snake Field Office, 455 Emerson St., Craig, CO 81625.
The State of Colorado receives 49 percent of the proceeds of each lease sale. In Fiscal Year 2013, Colorado received more than $175 million from royalties, rentals and bonus bid payments for all federal minerals, including oil and gas. Statewide, there are more than 22,900 jobs tied to mineral and energy development on 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.
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.