BLM Wyoming analyzing 581 parcels statewide for fourth quarter oil and gas lease sale
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CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Bureau of Land Management in Wyoming has released its initial environmental analysis for the fourth quarter competitive oil and gas lease sale. The 581 proposed lease parcels total approximately 780,679.36 acres of federal mineral estate located throughout the state.
In a June 5, 2018, letter, the Wyoming Department of Game and Fish asked the Department of the Interior to defer leasing two parcels located wholly within the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor. As consistent with Secretarial Order 3362 on improving habitat quality in the western big-game winter range, neither of these parcels are currently being considered for lease.
For the remaining parcels intersecting the migration corridor, a special lease notice was developed and applied: Special Lease Notice: This parcel is located within a big game migration corridor designated or currently under review by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. The lessee or their designated operator will be required to work with the BLM and Wyoming Game and Fish Department to take reasonable measures (see 43 CFR 3101.1-2) to avoid and minimize impacts to maintain big game migration corridor functionality, such as those contained within the “Wyoming Game and Fish Commission Ungulate Migration Corridor Strategy” (February 2016). The BLM will encourage the use of Master Development Plans for operations proposed on this lease parcel in accordance with Onshore Oil and Gas Order No. 1.
Today’s release of the draft EA and unsigned FONSI starts a two-week public comment period that will close at 4 p.m. MST on Sept. 12, 2018. The environmental documents are available at the following website, which will also be used to accept public comments: https://go.usa.gov/xUAjm. The sale is scheduled for the week of Dec. 10, 2018.
If you choose to submit a comment, please be advised that your entire comment—including any personal identifying information (i.e., address, phone number, or email address)—may be publicly available. While you may request in your comment that BLM withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the individuals below during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24/7 to leave a message or question for the contact below. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
For more information, please contact Brad Purdy at 307-775-6328.
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.