This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on two upcoming oil and gas lease sales affecting eastern Utah.
The agency has released a draft environmental assessment on its proposal to lease 70 parcels covering about 74,000 acres overseen by its Price and Vernal field offices. These lands would go on the block Nov. 14.
Some of these parcels are west of Sunnyside in Carbon County and along the Green and White rivers in the Uinta Basin. Other parcels are concentrated on the West Tavaputs Plateau and near Nine Mile Canyon.
Industry had nominated 150 parcels in these resource management areas, but BLM deferred leasing decisions on 80 because they overlap with sage grouse habitat or conflict with coal resources. The public has until July 14 to submit comments to BLM_UT_Vernal_Comments@blm.gov.
Ahead of its February sale, the agency is soliciting comments on the scope of an environmental assessment on 68 parcels covering nearly 77,000 acres proposed for leasing in the Monticello and Moab resource areas, also known as Utah's Canyon Country District. Most of the parcels are in the Book Cliffs and eastern San Juan County.
The public has until July 25 to e-mail comments to blm_ut_mt_og_leasing_comments@blm.gov.
The BLM has already completed an analysis of its plan to auction 33 parcels in Tooele and Rich counties on Aug. 19.
The auctions will be held at the BLM's Utah state office in Salt Lake City.