BLM Utah issues March 2021 oil and gas lease sale environmental assessment
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SALT LAKE CITY — The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has issued the March 2021 oil and gas lease sale environmental assessment for public review and comment. The BLM proposes to lease nine parcels, totaling approximately 7,213 acres which are described in the EA. The parcels are located in Grand, Sevier, Wayne, and Uintah counties on lands managed by the BLM’s Moab and Vernal Field Offices and the Fishlake National Forest.
Responsible energy development includes thoughtful consideration of parcels nominated for leasing as well as the potential resource impacts of decisions to lease. The act of leasing does not authorize any development or use of the surface of leased lands without further application by the operator and approval by the BLM. An additional environmental review will take place at the application for permit to drill stage, where site specific conditions of approval will be placed on the permit in addition to the lease stipulations.
Public Comments
To ensure that comments apply to the parcels actually proposed for a lease sale, the BLM encourages the public to submit comments during the official public comment period, which is now open for this environmental assessment. The BLM does not analyze comments that are not specific to parcels identified in the EA because they are outside the scope of the proposed action.
The public may view the environmental documents, lists and maps of the parcels, and attached stipulations on the BLM Land Use Planning and NEPA Register (ePlanning) at: https://go.usa.gov/xAYzx. Public comments on the environmental documents must be submitted electronically via the ePlanning webpage and comments must be received by January 19, 2021 at 4:30 p.m.
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.