This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2005, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
A Denver-based energy company's proposal to drill 750 natural gas wells on and around central Utah's West Tavaputs Plateau will be the subject of three public meetings this week. The Bureau of Land Management will hold three "scoping" hearings in Price, Lehi and Roosevelt for the environmental impact statement, to be prepared for the project by next October. The long-term proposal by the Bill Barrett Corp. includes drilling up to 750 wells in 500 locations over the next two decades. Altogether, the project will encompass a 137,000-acre area - or about 215 square miles - including locations on the plateau, and in some areas within the Desolation Canyon and Jack Canyon Wilderness Study Areas. Nine Mile Canyon also could be impacted by the project. The BLM says no drilling will take place on public lands in the canyon itself, but a gas pipeline in the canyon would be extended for the project, as would the existing road system. Principal access to the drilling project would be on roads from Price through Nine Mile Canyon, or from Roosevelt and Myton through Gate Canyon to Nine Mile Canyon.
Public meetings
The Bureau of Land Management will hold three public meetings on the proposed natural gas drilling project on the West Tavaputs Plateau. All meetings are scheduled from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
l Tonight: Price, Holiday Inn, 838 Westwood Blvd.
l Wednesday: Lehi, Museum of Ancient Life, Thanksgiving Point, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way.
l Thursday: Roosevelt, Utah State University, Roosevelt Campus, 987 E. Lagoon St.
