The BLM's Price field office approved the Bill Barrett Corporation's drilling proposal in late July after months of review, an environmental assessment, public comment and consultation with area American Indian tribes, the State Historic Preservation Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"We have taken every reasonable and necessary precaution to protect cultural, archaeological and natural resources," said Patrick Gubbins, Price field manager for the BLM, in a statement announcing the project's approval. "The proposed action will not have a significant impact on the environment when combined with the required mitigation measures to this project."

The Bill Barrett Corp.'s proposal includes 22 vertical wells on public land. The wells will be on the Tavaputs Plateau, while two buried gas lines will be in Dry Canyon and Nine Mile Canyon, routed to avoid any standing structures, rock art or other cultural artifacts.

- Dan Nailen