Oil and gas lease sale assessments for northwestern Colorado parcels available for public comment (11-15-12)
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Today the Bureau of Land Management released two environmental assessments for public review analyzing parcels in Jackson, Larimer, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties proposed to be offered in the May 2013 competitive oil and gas lease sale.The environmental assessment for the BLM White River Field Office analyzes leasing 32 parcels totaling 17,247 acres, with about two-thirds of the acreage in Rio Blanco County and the remainder in Moffat County. Another 25,000 acres were considered for leasing in the May lease sale but deferred primarily due to concerns about Greater Sage-Grouse habitat or potential lands with wilderness characteristics. The EA, maps and information about how to comment is located at the White River Field Office in Meeker during regular business hours.The environmental assessment for the Kremmling Field Office analyzes one 80-acre parcel in Jackson County and three parcels totaling 2,165 acres in Larimer County. The EA, maps and information about how to comment on these parcels is located the Kremmling Field Office in Kremmling during regular business hours.This information is also available online at: www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas/oil_and_gas_lease/2013/may_2013_lease_sale.html. All comments on these EAs must be received by Dec. 17, 2012. More information about the BLM’s oil and gas leasing program and opportunities for public involvement is available at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/oilandgas.html.The May 9, 2013 lease sale takes place at the BLM Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield St. in Lakewood. The BLM will announce the final list of proposed parcels for this lease sale Feb. 8, 2013, initiating a 30-day protect period.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 State of Colorado received more than $154 million in Fiscal Year 2011 from royalties, rentals and bonus bid payments for all federal minerals, including oil and gas. BLM Colorado currently has approximately 4.4 million acres of public mineral estate leased for oil and natural gas development, generating more than $2.9 billion in direct economic benefits in 2010, and approximately $4.9 billion in total economic impacts.
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.