Letter to BLM regarding Supplemental Analysis of Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions
During their Oct. 28 public hearing, the Board of County Commissioners approved a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) regarding the Supplemental Analysis of Oil and Gas Leasing Decisions in Colorado from 2015 to 2020.
In response to several lawsuits challenging the original analysis, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a supplemental National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) analysis to provide further examination of the impacts to air quality and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that may result from future development of certain leases.
This supplemental Environmental Assessment (EA) provides information to assist the BLM in choosing the alternatives considered to make decisions regarding 285 authorized leases that were issued as a result of being sold at 14 competitive oil and gas lease sales in Colorado between May 2015 and December 2020. This is in addition to the 21 pending leases from BLM Colorado’s Northwest District’s September 2019 sale, located in the Kremmling, Little Snake, and White River Field Offices.
These 21 pending leases are sold parcels; however, the BLM did not issue leases pending the release of a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Greater Sage Grouse (GRSG) Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA). The 285 authorized leases are comprised of 238,960 acres, while the 21 pending leases are comprised of 24,260 acres. Total acreage across the 306 subject leases is approximately 263,220 acres. The analysis includes 19 leases covering approximately 16,486 acres in Mesa County.
Before these leases are authorized for development, they will need to gain approval from the Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, which includes consultation with Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and other regulatory agencies. The Supplemental Environmental Analysis is available at BLM Eplanning website.
The full letter follows:
Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Supplemental Environmental Assessment Analysis for Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Air Quality Related to Oil and Gas Leasing in Colorado from May 2015 to December 2020 ("Supplemental EA"). This EA includes review of more than 16,400 acres on 19 leases within Mesa County, Colorado.
Mesa County supports the Bureau of Land Management's ("BLM") Proposed Action, which affirms the prior decisions to issue 285 leases, recognizing them as valid existing rights that are not subject to additional stipulations. Further, we support the issuance of the 14 pending leases, provided that will include updated stipulations.
Severance Tax, Federal Mineral Lease funding, and property tax revenue from the oil and gas industry are crucial to the financial viability of our local governments, schools, and special districts. This industry not only generates direct employment opportunities but also supports a wide range of ancillary businesses and stimulates local economies.
Per the Oil, Gas, and Coal Resource Objective in the Mesa County Resource Management Plan, in order to maintain a robust and diverse economic portfolio, Mesa County will encourage the development and production of oil and gas resources in and around Mesa County and provide a business-friendly environment within Mesa County to energy industry support services. This is further supported by Policy Statement number 6 in which Mesa County supports development of natural resources on federally managed lands which could produce significant employment and residential growth in the future.
We urge the Bureau of Land Management to affirm the leases within Mesa County, along with the others analyzed in the Supplemental EA.
