The Oil, Gas, Geophysical, and Geothermal Development Environmental Best Management Practices Awards Program 2010 Nominations DD: 12/01/09; 01/04/10

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240September 24, 2009In Reply Refer To:2800/3100 (300) PEMS TRANSMISSION 09/28/2009Instruction Memorandum No. 2009-216Expires:  09/30/2010 To:                     All Field OfficialsFrom:                 Assistant Director, Minerals and Realty ManagementSubject:              The Oil, Gas, Geophysical, and Geothermal Development Environmental Best Management Practices Awards Program – 2010 Nominations  DD:  12/01/09; 01/04/10Program Areas:  Oil, Gas, Geophysical, and Geothermal Operations.Purpose:  The purpose of this Instruction Memorandum (IM) is to solicit nominations for the 2010 Oil, Gas, Geophysical, and Geothermal Development Environmental Best Management Practices (BMP) Awards Program.  Nominations will be accepted until December 1, 2009.Policy/Action:  The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invites nominations from surface management agencies, the public, and the energy industry for the 2010 Oil, Gas, Geophysical, and Geothermal Development Environmental BMP Awards Program.  The purpose of the BMP Awards Program is to promote and showcase the finest examples of responsible fluid minerals resource development on Federal, Indian Trust, and Federal split estate lands, and to recognize oil, gas, geophysical, and geothermal operators and their partners who demonstrate leadership and creativity in reducing environmental impacts of energy development.The BMP Awards Program is as an important component of the BLM’s overall approach to ensure that energy development is conducted on its lands in an environmentally responsible manner.  BMP Awards Program:  These awards will recognize one or more oil, gas, geophysical, or geothermal operators or partnerships.  Fluid minerals development projects eligible for consideration must occur on BLM-managed public lands, other Federal agency lands, such as National Forest System lands or Indian Trust lands, or split estate lands where the BLM manages the mineral estate and the surface is privately owned.  Environmental BMPs must have been implemented in 2008 or 2009.  Nominations will be accepted by the BLM State Offices until December 1, 2009.  Nominations may originate from surface management agencies, the public, or companies that self-nominate.  The nominations will be screened by the BLM State Offices and forwarded by the Washington Office to a panel of judges.  The panel of judges may be composed of energy industry and natural resource experts including individuals from Federal agencies, academic institutions, trade and conservation groups, and/or the public.    The BLM State Offices will assist the Washington Office (WO) in publicizing this Awards Program.  Attachment 1 provides a detailed description of the Awards Program and will be distributed to the public and operators and posted in the Public Room as notice of the program.  The State Offices will receive and process nominations under their jurisdictions, including verifying information that is submitted with a nomination and determining if a nominee is in compliance with all applicable regulations.  State Offices will forward all nominations to Bryce Barlan in the WO Division of Fluid Minerals (WO-310) by January 4, 2009.  The State Office will include a short statement of its findings with each nomination.  Documents must be sent by Federal Express or United Parcel Service only to: U.S. Department of the InteriorBureau of Land Management 1620 L St., N.W., Room 501Washington, D.C.  20036-5605Attn: Bryce Barlan – Natural Resource Specialist (WO-310) (202) 912-7154Additional information on environmental BMPs may be obtained at http://www.blm.gov/bmp.  Timeframe:  The following is a summary of timeframes and deadlines related to this IM, which is effective immediately.• Until December 1, 2009 – State Offices accept nominations.• January 4, 2009 – State Offices review, comment, and forward all nominations to WO-310, Attn: Bryce Barlan.  • 2010 Conference (TBD) – Presentation of awards.Budget Impacts:  The budget impact of this Awards Program is minimal.  Background:  On June 22, 2004, the BLM directed all Field Offices to incorporate appropriate BMPs into Application for Permit to Drill and associated on-and off-lease rights-of-way approvals.  In addition, the BLM highly encourages oil, gas, geophysical, and geothermal companies to proactively incorporate environmental BMPs into their permit applications. A permit application containing BMPs will typically result in a more efficient permit and environmental review process and a lessened impact on the environment.  In recognition of the many outstanding BMPs developed and implemented by the energy industry, the BLM has created this Awards Program.  Manual/Handbook Sections Affected:  No manual or handbook sections are affected.Coordination:  This IM was coordinated with the U.S. Forest Service - WO.Contact:  If you have questions or concerns regarding this IM, please contact me at 202-208-4201 or Bryce Barlan, Natural Resource Specialist, WO-310, bryce_barlan@blm.gov, or by telephone, at 202-912-7154; or U.S. Forest Service – Barry Burkhardt, Assistant Director for Leasable Minerals, bburkhardt@fs.fed.us, or by telephone, at 303-275-5147. Signed by:                                       Authenticated by:Timothy R. Spisak                           Robert M. WilliamsActing, Assistant Director               Division of IRM Governance,WO-560Minerals and Realty Management 1 Attachment     1 – 2010 Oil, Gas, Geophysical, and Geothermal Development Environmental BMP Awards Program (6 pp)