GREEN RIVER – With the holidays near, people may not be aware of a public scoping period by the Bureau of Land Management for a possible exploratory well in the Little Mountain area. The Greater Little Mountain Coalition approached the Sweetwater County Commissioners to get this period extended and to have another public hearing on the matter.
According to the BLM, The North Dutch John Unit #1 project encompasses approximately 4.9 acres of public land located roughly 17 miles north of Dutch John, Utah in Sweetwater County, Wyoming. The proposal includes one vertically drilled exploratory oil and gas well at a depth of roughly 15,960 feet depending on the geologic formation, upgrading less than a mile of existing two-track road, constructing approximately 84 feet of new access road, along with production tanks, separator, and a meter shack. If the well proves to be economically feasible, the life of the project is anticipated to be 20 to 30 years with a maximum surface disturbance expected to be approximately 4.9 acres.
The proposed project is located near the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area. The project area is also a popular hunting site, which is within designated pronghorn antelope, elk, and mule deer crucial winter range. In addition, the project area is within a class III visual resource management area, so low profile holding tanks and camouflage paint colors would be utilized to help the development blend into and retain the characteristics of the natural landscape.
Joshua Coursey and Monte Morlock of the coalition approached the commission for help. The public comment period on the proposed well started on Nov. 25 and will run until Jan. 3. Coursey asked if the commission would back the coalition and let the BLM know they support an extension on the public scoping period as well as having a public hearing.
Commission Chairman Wally Johnson double checked with Coursey that there was not a public hearing. Coursey said he did not believe so. Johnson said he has had several calls on the issue and agreed with the coalition.
“There is not an area we have that is as sensitive to us as the Little Mountain area,” Johnson said.
He continued to say there have been other proposals out there to explore which have come up empty.
“We can just hope there is nothing there,” Johnson said.
Commissioner Reid West agreed, telling the coalition he totally supports this request.
Commission John Kolb questioned the timing of the public hearing period, asking if the coalition believed there was some coercion involved or if it was just coincidence it was going through during the holidays.
The commission voted to draft and sign a letter to the BLM in support of the Greater Little Mountain Coalition to extend the public comment period and to have a public hearing on the proposal.
Written comments will be accepted until Jan. 3, 2014. Comments may be e-mailed to: [email protected](please include “North Dutch John Unit #1 Scoping” in the subject line), faxed to 307-352-0329, or mailed to the Bureau of Land Management, Rock Springs Field Office, N. Dutch John Unit #1 Scoping, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, WY 82901.
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 individual listed below during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the below individuals. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
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.
A copy of the proposed project map and scoping notice are available online at https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/documents/rsfo/NdutchjohnUnit1.html.
