ROCK SPRINGS – After the Greater Little Mountain Coalition raised concerns about an exploratory well on Iron Mountain, and even approached the Sweetwater County Commissioners for support, the Bureau of Land Management has extended public comments and set up a public meeting on the well.

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office will hold a public meeting for the proposed North Dutch John Unit exploratory oil and gas well on Jan. 21 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs, Wyoming.

The proposed project is located about 17 miles north of Dutch John, Utah, in Sweetwater County, Wy., near the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. The project site is within a Class III visual resource management area which allows moderate change if it repeats the form, line, color and texture found in the natural landscape without dominating the view. The site is also within a popular hunting locale with designated pronghorn, elk and mule deer crucial winter range.

On Nov. 25, the BLM opened a scoping period for the proposal which includes one well vertically drilled to a depth of roughly 15,960 feet, a 4.8 acre well pad, upgrades to less than a mile of existing two-track road, construction of approximately 84 feet, or .1 acre, of new access road and installation of production tanks, a separator and a metering facility. If the well proves economically feasible, the anticipated life of the project is 20 to 30 years.

In response to concerns raised during the scoping period, the BLM and the project proponent will meet with the public to answer questions regarding resource issues and discuss potential impacts and mitigation. The BLM has also extended the initial 30-day public scoping period beyond the original closing date of Jan. 3 and will accept comments until Feb. 4.

Comments may be emailed to BLM_WY_North_Dutch_John_1@blm.gov with “North Dutch John Unit #1 Scoping” in the subject line; faxed to 307-352-0329; or mailed or delivered to the BLM Rock Springs Field Office, Attn: North Dutch John Unit #1 Scoping, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs WY 82901.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised 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 from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

The project map and scoping notice are available at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rsfo/NdutchjohnUnit1.html.