BLM and Forest Service seek comments on oil and gas development northeast of Paonia, Colorado
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MONTROSE, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office and Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests are seeking public comments on Gunnison Energy's North Fork Mancos Master Development Plan preliminary environmental assessment which analyzes oil and gas development about 12 miles northeast of Paonia.
The proposal is adjacent to the BLM Bull Mountain Master Development Plan and includes drilling up to 35 wells. The analysis considers placing the wells on three pads located on public lands managed by the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forest Paonia Ranger District and two pads on private land. These proposed wells could produce up to 700 billion cubic feet of natural gas over the 30-year life of the project.
“This project could make additional energy reserves available for the American public while bringing additional jobs to our local communities,” said Greg Larson, BLM Uncompahgre Field manager. “Additionally, the expansion considers new or upgraded access roads and gas and water gathering lines while encouraging environmentally responsible development of energy and minerals on public lands.”
The State of Colorado receives 49 percent of revenues from leases issued on public lands in Colorado, which could result in up to $27 million in payments over the life of the project.
The proposal and preliminary environmental assessment can be viewed online at https://go.usa.gov/xQBaq. For comments to be considered, submissions must be received by June 9, 2018, via mail to the BLM Colorado River Valley Field Office, 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652, via email to comments-rocky-mountain-gmug@
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 can 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.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.