The Jonah Interagency Mitigation and Reclamation Office (JIO) was created by the Jonah Infill Drilling Project Record of Decision. One of the primary purposes of the JIO is to oversee the selection and monitor the effectiveness of offsite mitigation projects. The JIO is composed of individuals from four governmental agencies; Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and the Department of the Interior - Bureau of Land Management. Oversight of the JIO is provided by an Agency Managers Committee (Committee) comprised of each agency director or their representative. Funding for offsite mitigation projects is provided by a compensatory mitigation fund committed by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) and BP America Production Company and potentially other Jonah Field operators.

Applications for Funding

Applicants should use the Project Application Form attached to these guidelines. Supporting documentation is strongly encouraged and will be used by the JIO to evaluate applications.

Jonah Field Impact Mitigation

Projects are required to mitigate impacts from development activities in the Jonah Field and must meet at least one of the Off-Site Mitigation Strategic Goals. As a general rule, projects will be located within the Green River Basin area or the area occupied by wildlife resources that spend a portion of the year in the Basin area. Proposals for projects outside this region will be considered only if mitigation is not possible within the region. Applicants are encouraged to fully document all mitigative benefits and how these benefits support the goals of the JIO off-site mitigation strategy.

Eligible Applicants

The JIO may grant funds to non-profit, for-profit, and governmental organizations, but all applicants are encouraged to participate with other entities to enhance wildlife habitat and other natural resources. Funds may be used for planning, development, and monitoring programs at the sole discretion of the JIO and Agency Managers Committee.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects will meet at least one of the Off-Site Mitigation Strategic Goals. Applicants are encouraged to review these goals and their objectives and strategies to ensure understanding of the off-site mitigation program objectives. Additionally, various project ideas are also included with the Off-Site Mitigation Strategic Goals, though they are not meant to be exclusive in any way.

Project Size

Projects are designated as either “large” or “small” in scale. Large projects are defined as projects which require $100,000 or more in funding, any land acquisition or conservation easement (regardless of cost), and/or span multiple years. Small projects are those which require less than $100,000.

Funding Cycle

Projects will be funded annually. Applications may be submitted at any time during the year, but must be submitted by the announced due date for consideration.

Project Review

All applications will initially be reviewed for completeness and general eligibility (based on the Off-Site Mitigation Strategic Goals). Applications that meet the initial criteria will then be subjected to a formal evaluation to establish each project’s overall relative ranking. Small projects may be approved by the JIO. Large projects must be approved by the Agency Managers Committee.

Reporting Requirements

Projects should have a specific timeline for initiation and completion, with tangible benefits which relate to the Off-Site Mitigation Strategic Goals, as indicated by specific monitoring. Sponsoring entities will have the responsibility to maintain and monitor projects, and to report on progress and completion. Specific monitoring and reporting requirements will vary by project, but should be outlined in the application and should tier to the objectives of the specific project. The JIO staff reserves the right to perform field inspections and potentially institute additional project monitoring to verify results when deemed necessary. The JIO may also share with the public the progress and success of projects.

Funding Allocation

Applications should outline funding requirements, including funds requested to initiate projects. Where actual costs are not certain, no more than 80% of the project cost will be allocated prior to project completion, and payments will be adjusted to meet actual costs.

More Information

It is the goal of the JIO to assist all applicants in the process of mitigating Jonah Field development impacts by enhancing wildlife and other natural resources in the Upper Green River Basin. Please feel free to contact the JIO at any time as follows:

Jonah Interagency Mitigation and Reclamation Office
PO Box 768
1625 West Pine Street
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941
307-367-5363 (Jonah Interagency Office)
307-367-5300 (BLM Pinedale Field Office)
307-367-5329 (fax)
Website: www.wy.blm.gov/jonah_office