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The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is seeking public comment for several oil and gas lease sales in the United States, the organization’s site shows.
In a statement posted on its site on November 27, the BLM noted that its Nevada state office opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on two oil and gas parcels totaling 2,320 acres.
The parcels may be included in a June 2024 lease sale in Nevada, the BLM outlined in the statement. The comment period ends December 27, the organization highlighted.
In a separate statement posted on its site on November 20, the BLM revealed that its New Mexico state office opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on 26 oil and gas parcels totaling 6,162 acres “that may be included in an upcoming lease sale in New Mexico and Kansas”.
The comment period for these parcels ends on December 20, the BLM pointed out in the statement.
In a statement posted on its site on November 16, the BLM noted that its Montana-Dakotas state office opened a 30-day public comment period to receive public input on 31 oil and gas parcels totaling 6,510 acres. These parcels may be included in an upcoming lease sale in North Dakota, according to the BLM statement, which revealed that the comment period for these parcels ends on December 18.
On November 6, the BLM stated on its site that its New Mexico state office opened a 30-day public scoping period to receive public input on four oil and gas parcels totaling 6,972 acres that may be included in an August 2024 lease sale in Texas. The comment period for these parcels ends on December 6, the BLM highlighted in this statement.
The BLM outlined on its site that it will apply a 16.67 percent royalty rate for any new leases from the sales, “as authorized under the Inflation Reduction Act”.
Leasing is the first step in the process to develop federal oil and gas resources, the BLM highlighted on its site, adding that, before development operations can begin, an operator must submit an application for permit to drill detailing development plans.
“The BLM reviews applications for permits to drill, posts them for public review, conducts an environmental analysis and coordinates with state partners and stakeholders,” the BLM notes on its site.
“All parcels leased as part of an oil and gas lease sale include appropriate stipulations to protect important natural resources,” it adds.
Renewable Projects
In addition to seeking public comment for oil and gas lease sales, the BLM is also seeking public comment for renewable energy projects in the United States, according to its site.
A statement posted on the BLM’s site on November 6 revealed that the organization is seeking public comment on a proposal to evaluate the impacts of the proposed Esmeralda 7 (E7) Solar Projects near Tonopah in central Nevada.
“If approved, the seven projects are expected to generate a total of up to 5.3 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power approximately four million households,” the BLM noted in that statement.
“Approximately 118,631 acres of public lands have been withdrawn from mineral entry for a period of two years in Esmeralda County’s Big Smoky Valley near Tonopah while the projects are being considered,” it added.
In the statement, Battle Mountain District Manager Doug Furtado said, “this effort is a high priority for BLM Nevada and will be a significant source of renewable energy in support of reaching the country’s clean energy goals”.
“I am very proud of the work each of these companies have done working together with my staff to ensure a timely and efficient permitting process for the E7 Solar Projects and we look forward to hearing public comment on the proposal,” he added.
Also on November 6, the BLM said it was seeking public comment to inform development of an environmental analysis for the proposed Ranegras Plains Solar Project in western La Paz County, Arizona. If approved, the project is expected to generate up to 700 megawatts of renewable energy, the BLM highlighted in the statement.
“Once the BLM receives this initial feedback from the public and stakeholders about the project, the agency will develop a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) evaluating potential impacts from the proposed project, as well as potential alternatives to this proposal,” the BLM said in the statement.
“These issues will include Tribal concerns; impacts to threatened, endangered, and sensitive species; socioeconomic effects; environmental justice; and more,” it added.
“The DEIS, which will be subject to additional public review and comment, will also analyze mitigation measures to lessen environmental impacts and ensure the action alternatives would not result in unnecessary or undue degradation of public lands,” it continued.
In the statement, Colorado River District Manager William Mack said, “public input during the scoping period is important in helping us develop alternatives and planning criteria for the environmental impact statement”.
“Members of the public, Tribes, partners, agencies, and stakeholders can all provide information that we will consider during the planning process,” he added.
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 organization states on its site. It also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation, it adds.
To contact the author, email andreas.exarheas@rigzone.com
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