BLM releases supplemental draft environmental impact statement for Converse County Oil and Gas Project
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CASPER, Wyo. – In support of the Administration’s goals to promote American energy security, expand the labor market and enhance local economies, the Bureau of Land Management Casper Field Office released a supplement to the draft environmental impact statement for the Converse County Oil and Gas Project today. The publication of a notice in today’s Federal Register begins a 90- day public comment period on the supplemental draft, which will close on July 25.
The Converse County EIS evaluates a proposal to develop oil and gas in Converse County, Wyo., submitted by Anadarko Petroleum Company, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, Devon Energy, EOG Resources, Inc. and Northwoods Energy. The operator group proposes to drill about 5,000 oil and natural gas wells in Converse County in an area encompassing approximately 1.5 million acres over a 10-year period. The proposed Converse County oil and gas project could provide up to 8,000 jobs and
$18 billion to $28 billion in federal revenues, which would be shared with the State of Wyoming.
The BLM and the U.S. Forest Service's Douglas Ranger District published a notice of availability for the draft EIS on January 26, 2018. After evaluating comments on the draft, the BLM determined that a supplement to the draft was needed to analyze the potential for a land use plan amendment to the Casper Resource Management Plan allowing for timing stipulation relief for non-eagle raptor nests within the project area. The supplement analyzes five options for amending the land use plan as part of the BLM’s proposed action. The BLM’s proposed action, updated to incorporate the selected plan amendment, would authorize the operator group’s development proposal and amend the Casper RMP to allow timing limitation relief in the project area when operators implement a conservation and monitoring framework to protect raptors and their habitat.
Project information and documents are posted on the project’s ePlanning website at https://go.usa.gov/xEFvQ. The BLM will announce future meetings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, mailings and the ePlanning site.
Written comments may be emailed to blm_wy_casper_wymail@blm.gov or mailed to Bureau of Land Management, Casper Field Office, Attn: Mike Robinson, Project Manager, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604. For more information, contact Mike Robinson at 307-261-7520.
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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.