SALT LAKE CITY - As part of its ongoing work to support American energy independence and strengthen national security by reducing our reliance on foreign oil, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah State Office has posted a proposed list of parcels for an upcoming internet-based quarterly competitive oil and gas lease sale. BLM-Utah plans to offer for lease nine parcels covering 14,943 acres in the Fillmore Field Office, with the sale tentatively scheduled for Sept. 14, 2017.
In addition, after conducting environmental review and in response to substantial feedback from the public, local and state government, and Utah Gov. Gary Herbert, BLM-Utah has deferred offering three Washington County parcels totaling 4,730 acres. These parcels will be further evaluated for possible reallocation under the planning process authorized by the Federal Land Policy and Management Act.
“The BLM facilitates opportunities for development of energy infrastructure and commercial recreation on our public lands that create jobs and help local communities grow," said BLM-Utah State Director Edwin Roberson. “At the same time, based on the environmental review and recognizing the rapid growth of recreational visits and tourism on adjacent public lands, the BLM believes that deferring these parcels for further review is the right decision."
The September sale will be conducted using the EnergyNet internet-based auction system. Additional details about the internet auction process are included in the Notice of Competitive Lease Sale (NCLS). All nine parcels are identified as available to oil and gas leasing under the current resource management plan for the Field Office. More information about the parcels, including maps, the environmental assessment, and unsigned Finding of No Significant Impact can be found on the BLM’s National NEPA Register at http://go.usa.gov/xXkvq.
This NCLS initiates a 30-day public protest period. All protests must be received no later than 4:30 p.m., July 3, 2017. Protests should be as specific as possible. Those which contain only opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response, but may be considered in the BLM decision-making process. Protests may be mailed to the BLM-Utah State Office at 440 West 200 South, Suite 500, Salt Lake City, UT 84101, or faxed to the attention of Sheri Wysong at (801) 539-4237.
For information on how to file a timely protest, please refer to the September 2017 Notice of Competitive Lease Sale, which can be accessed online at http://go.usa.gov/xXk8c. Hard copies of the sale notice may also be obtained in-person from the BLM-Utah State Office Public Room at the address listed above.
Before including an address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in any comments, be aware that the entire comment-including personal identifying information-may be made publicly available at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying information from public review can be submitted, but the BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so.
For additional information about oil and gas leasing in Utah, please contact Sheri Wysong at (801)539-4067. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question with the above individual. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
