BLM seeks comments on EA for May 2014 oil and gas parcel lease

BLM seeks comments on EA for May 2014 oil and gas parcel lease

ROCK SPRINGS – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) High Desert District (HDD) is seeking public input on the environmental assessment (EA) for the May 2014 Notice of Competitive Oil and Gas Lease Sale parcel offering.

Fifty-three whole or partial parcels will be offered within the HDD, including five parcels in the Kemmerer Field Office; 44 in the Rawlins Field Office; and four in the Rock Springs Field Office. One parcel falls within the boundaries of both the Rawlins and Rock Springs field offices and is included in the totals for each.

Sixty-one lease parcels were originally nominated and eligible for inclusion in the sale. All or part of 10 parcels, totaling 5,468.51 acres, are deferred for Greater Sage-Grouse core habitat and manageability using the Fluid Mineral Leasing Screen in BLM guidance (WY-2012-019).

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The Wyoming State Director has used his discretion to temporarily defer offering 7,552.81 acres in the interest of Greater Sage-Grouse conservation. Deferrals are pending completion of the Greater Sage-Grouse resource management plan amendment process in the Rock Springs, Kemmerer, Pinedale and Rawlins field offices.

The EA addresses the impacts of offering the 53 whole and partial parcels that have been determined to be available for oil and gas leasing and is available online at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/programs/energy/Oil_and_Gas/Leasing.html.

Public comments are an important component of the National Environmental Policy Act process. The public is encouraged to identify and submit issues, concerns, ideas or mitigation opportunities not currently addressed in the EA to help ensure the best possible analysis and plan.

Mail or deliver written comments to the BLM HDD, Attn: Tom Foertsch, 280 Highway 191 N., Rock Springs, WY 82901; fax to 307-352-0329; or email to BLM_WY_HDD_May_Parcels@blm.gov with “May 2014 Lease Parcels” in the subject line. Comments must be received by 4:30 p.m., Monday, December 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.

Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.