BLM approves Rands Butte Project
Methane – Helium recovery project west of Big Piney
by Bureau of Land Management
June 2, 2010
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office has signed the Decision Record for the Rands Butte Project Environmental Assessment (EA) by Cimarex Corporation.
The Rands Butte project is located on approximately 618 acres southwest of Big Piney, Wyo., and includes federal and nonfederal components. The approved federal components include 69 kV and 230 kV powerlines, natural gas pipeline loop/expansion, natural gas pipeline, helium pipeline, fiber optics line, air and weather monitoring station, and applications for permit to drill (APDs) for source gas wells and an acid gas injection well.
The nonfederal components are not subject to BLM approval but were included for analysis purposes only. They include the methane and helium recovery facility, a produced water disposal well, ware yard and helium liquefaction plant.
The EA for the project was prepared following a public scoping period in September 2008, and a public comment period in February and March, 2010. The EA considered the effects of the proposed action and four other alternatives on natural resources and human values including visual, recreation, wildlife, cultural, paleontology, public safety, water quality, livestock, and air quality. Alternative III was selected because it modifies the proposed action, thereby reducing adverse impacts to historic trails, Class II visual resources, surface water, fisheries, wetland and riparian habitats, and alleviating significant impacts to Greater sage-grouse leks.
The environmental assessment and decision record are available on the web at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/pfodocs/RandsButte.html.
For more information, please contact Bill Lanning at 307-367-5318.
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