BLM seeks public comment on November 2014 oil and gas lease parcels

— May 9, 2014

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District is seeking public comments on the November 2014 Notice of Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale parcel offering.

Ninety whole or partial parcels totaling 114,304.7 acres will be offered within the district, including three parcels in the Kemmerer Field Office; one in the Pinedale Field Office; 61 in the Rawlins Field Office; and 31 in the Rock Springs Field Office. Six parcels cross the Rawlins and Rock Springs field office boundaries resulting in an adjusted parcel tally.

One-hundred-thirty-seven lease parcels totaling 202,314.6 acres were originally nominated and eligible for inclusion in the sale; however, all or part of 46 parcels totaling 79,491.350 acres were deferred since they met Greater Sage-Grouse core habitat and manageability criteria using the Fluid Mineral Leasing Screen in BLM guidance (WY-2012-019). The BLM Wyoming State Director has used his discretion to temporarily defer all or part of 13 parcels containing 6,598.55 acres in the interest of Greater Sage-Grouse conservation. Deferrals are pending completion of the ongoing Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan amendment process. An additional three parcels totaling 1,920 acres were deferred at the discretion of the BLM Wyoming State Director pending resolution of resource issues.

An environmental assessment (EA) addresses the impacts of offering the 90 parcels and partial parcels that are still available for oil and gas leasing. The EA is available online.

Public comments are an essential component of the National Environmental Policy Act process. The public is encouraged to identify issues, concerns, ideas or mitigation opportunities not currently addressed in the EA to help ensure the best possible analysis. Written comments may be mailed or delivered to the BLM High Desert District, Attn: Tom Foertsch, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs WY 82901; faxed to 307-352-0329; or emailed to BLM_WY_November_Parcels@blm.gov with “2014 Lease Parcels” in the subject line. Comments must be postmarked or received by June 2.

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 may 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.

For more information, please contact Tom Foertsch at (307) 352-0249.