BLM seeking public comment on the Jonah Year-Round Development Project Environmental Assessment
15-Day comment period open - Deadline for public comment is Feb. 22, 2016
by Bureau of Land Management
February 8, 2016
The BLM’s Pinedale Field Office has released an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Jonah Year-Round Development Project Area. The EA analyses a proposal from Jonah Energy LLC and LINN Operating, Inc. to conduct year-round development for a 5-year period in the northern portion of the Jonah Infill Development Project Area (JIDPA). Development in the JIDPA was analyzed in an EIS and approved in a Record of Decision (ROD) issued in 2006. The release of the EA also begins a 15-day public comment period that will close on Feb. 22, 2016. The EA is available for review at http://1.usa.gov/1Kv2HEf.
The EA analyzes the development of natural gas well pads, access roads, and pipeline corridors situated approximately 21 miles south of Boulder, Wyoming. Specifically, the development of about 245 natural gas wells by Jonah Energy LLC’s and LINN Operating, Inc. in the northern third of the Jonah Field within the JIDPA.
The proposed project requests that BLM approve an exception to existing time limitations on development related to wildlife, the proposal would significantly reduce the development footprint in the area relative to what is authorized under the current JIDPA ROD. While the number of wells (245) would remain the same, the number of well pads would be reduced from 245 to 24 and the total disturbance would drop from 1315 acres to 232 acres. These reductions ensure that the proposed project would not cause Jonah Field development to exceed the well number or disturbance thresholds previously analyzed in the 2006 Jonah Infill Drilling Project Final Environmental Impact Statement.
Written comments will be accepted until Feb. 22, 2016, and should be emailed to blm_wy_jonahyrd@blm.gov. To ensure comments are considered please include "Jonah YRD Project Area Comment" in the subject line.
Public comments are also being accepted by mail delivery to the following address.
BLM Pinedale Field Office
Attn: Brian Roberts
1625 West Pine Street
P.O. Box 768
Pinedale, WY 82941
Comments are most useful when they substantively address specific issues, concerns, ideas or mitigation opportunities.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be publicly available at any time. While you may ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
For more information, please contact Brian Roberts at 307-367-5351.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the individual above during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
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