Public Comment Invited: Environmental Assessment available for June Oil and Gas Lease Sale located in the Battle Mountain District
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TONOPAH, Nev. – In keeping with the Administration’s goal of promoting American energy independence, the Bureau of Land Management propose to offer 123 parcels, totaling approximately 264,076 acres located in the Battle Mountain District, at its June 2019 quarterly oil and gas lease sale. This notice initiates a public comment period on associated environmental documents that ends on March 20, 2019. The BLM will hold the lease sale online at www.energynet.com.
This comment period complies with the terms of a Preliminary Injunction issued by the U.S. District Court of Idaho in W. Watersheds Project v. BLM (No. 1:18-cv-00187-REB), which required lengthier comment periods on environmental compliance documents associated with parcels that intersect Priority or General Habitat Management Areas for Greater Sage-Grouse.
Responsible energy development includes consideration of parcels nominated for leasing as well as potential resource impacts for each parcel. Additional environmental review will take place during processing of an Application for Permit to Drill, when site-specific Conditions of Approval will be placed on the permit in addition to the stipulations already attached to the lease at the time of sale.
The EA can be viewed on the BLM NEPA Register website at https://go.usa.gov/xEQAN. Written comments will be accepted until March 20, 2019 and can be submitted online at the NEPA Register site; mailed to the BLM Battle Mountain District Office, 50 Bastian Road, Battle Mountain, NV 89820, or to the Tonopah Field Office at P.O Box 911, Tonopah, NV 89049; or emailed to blm_nv_bmdo_TFO_
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
The oil and gas industry on public lands in Nevada contributed $3.1 million in total economic output in FY2018. Continuous exploration, development, and site restoration is required to sustain production rates, jobs, income and royalties. If you have questions please contact Tim Coward, Field Manager, at (775) 482-7801 or Melissa Jennings, Geologist at (775) 482-7840.
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.