Recent articles regarding BLM’s obligations in the oil gas leasing process have confused the public rather than informing or clarifying the leasing process.

BLM is offering for lease in its December sale, parcels which have been set aside for a number of years pending completion of resource management plans for six field offices.  Five of those plans were signed by the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals, Stephen Allred, last week in Washington.  The signing of those resource management plans means that BLM can begin implementing the leasing decisions contained in the plans.  These decisions represent far more stringent environmental protections than existed in old plans or that have ever been imposed by any BLM Utah plan.  In other words, these new environmental restrictions provide many layers of safeguards to prevent environmental damage to sensitive natural resources.  So lands previously set aside are now available for leasing, but with stricter-than-ever controls. 

BLM has conducted a comprehensive, cooperative process which included other federal agencies in writing these plans.  Representatives from the State of Utah, National Park Service, Forest Service, and US Fish & Wildlife Service were fully involved in plan development, as were local government officials.  The planning process is open to public comment and well publicized through public meetings, news releases and updated information on BLM Utah’s website.  That the plans are now being implemented should come as a surprise to no one.  What has escaped notice is that these lands were deferred from leasing – sometimes for as many as five years – in order to provide better protection afforded through new and improved resource management plans.  Now that these plans are in place, so are the improved protections they afford sensitive lands. 

No corners have been cut, no process abridged, in preparing these resource management plans.  The updated plans bring BLM’s ability to make vital public land management decisions into the 21st century, using the most up-to-date science and analysis available.  All of the decisions in these plans conform to the rules, laws, regulations and policy by which BLM is bound.

I am aware that sensationalized reporting sells newspapers.  In this era of mass communications, the American public has the benefit of direct information and communication through the BLM Utah website (http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en.html).  I encourage the public interested in seeking the truth of BLM’s actions to read BLM’s website.  There the public will find the extensive steps BLM takes to protect the environment, while developing our nation’s vital energy resources.  BLM is doing its level best to fulfill its multiple use mandate, while providing protection to sensitive natural resources.

By Selma Sierra
BLM Utah State Director