Sept. 6, 2006
Contact: Rey Adame 307-352-0399
Susan Davis 307-352-0346
David Boyd 970-947-2832 BLM Seeks Public Comment on Hiawatha Regional
Energy Development EISThe Rock Springs, Wyo., and Little Snake, Colo., Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Field Offices are seeking public comments on an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) concerning the Hiawatha Regional Energy Development proposal. BLM is asking the public to help identify issues or concerns and provide general input on the proposal during a 45-day scoping period, Sept. 6-Oct. 20, 2006. The Hiawatha energy development proposal includes drilling exploratory and development wells on existing natural gas fields in southern Sweetwater County, Wyoming and northern Moffat County, Colorado. The project area of approximately 157,335 acres is generally located within Townships 11-14 north, Ranges 99-102 west, about 55 miles south of Rock Springs. The proponents, Questar Exploration and Production Company and Wexpro Company propose to drill 4207 new wells mainly within the boundaries of the existing Hiawatha, Canyon Creek, and trail field areas of Southwest Wyoming and Northeast Colorado. It is estimated that about 66 percent of the proposed wells will be in Wyoming with the remainder in Colorado. The wells are anticipated to be drilled during an estimated 30-year period after project approval with as many as 200 wells possibly drilled each year. The total number of wells drilled will depend on production success, drainage area, technology, economics, commodity prices and environmental restrictions. EIS issues tentatively identified include wildlife winter range, air quality, raptor nesting, soil erosion, reclamation, grazing conflicts, Colorado River salinity control, historic trails, and road maintenance. The Scoping Notice is available on the Wyoming BLM NEPA web site at: http://www.blm.gov/eis/wy/hiawatha For more information, contact the BLM project manager, Susan Davis at (307) 352-0346, or to submit public comment, e-mail Hiawatha_EIS_Wymail@blm.gov . -BLM-
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