The Bureau of Land Management strives to balance an increasingly complex mix of resources and uses on millions of acres of public lands in Utah. As oil and gas costs continue to rise, the focus on energy resource development on public lands nationwide remains high.  The BLM Price field office Proposed Resource Management Plan supports responsible development of energy resources on lands in the Price planning area.  The plan manages oil and natural gas leasing without compromising the long-term health and diversity of these lands.

In order to understand the impact of existing and new lease agreements on public lands management and the planning process, it is helpful to be aware of how public lands are leased for oil and natural gas development. 

The first phase of oil and gas leasing is identifying areas available for lease.  This decision is normally documented for each BLM field office in the Resource Management Plan.  Under the Price proposed plan, 1.3 million acres would be open to oil and natural gas leasing with standard terms and conditions, 393,000 acres would be open with moderate constraints such as timing limitations, 218,000 acres would be open with major constraints including, in some cases, no surface occupancy designations, and 562,000 acres would be unavailable for leasing.  BLM conducted extensive analysis of these areas to determine which had the greatest potential for maximum resource recovery with minimum impact on other resources such as recreation, wildlife habitat, vegetation and livestock grazing.

A lease does not convey an unlimited right to explore or an unlimited right to develop oil or gas resources.  Leases are subject to terms designed to minimize the impacts of development.  Standard lease terms, which apply to all leases, require that the lessee conduct operations in a way that minimizes adverse impacts to the land, air, water, cultural, biological and visual values.  Additional lease terms are applied in environmentally sensitive areas.  After a lease is issued the BLM works closely with the operator to modify the siting and design of facilities, influence the rate of development and timing of activities, and require any other reasonable mitigation to minimize potential impacts on other resources.

Oil and gas exploration is costly and highly speculative.  Exploration activities are conducted on only about 1 out of 10 federal leases issued and development occurs on only 1 out of 10 leases where exploration activities are approved and completed.  If a lease is explored and preliminary data indicates field development is probable, BLM then prepares the appropriate National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document—typically an Environmental Impact Statement or an Environmental Assessment—to fully analyze and disclose the environmental impacts of energy resource development.  Additionally, the NEPA
process ensures opportunities for public involvement in the management and stewardship of public lands.

The BLM is committed to protecting the complex mix of important and unique values on the public lands it manages and the Price proposed plan provides a prescription for managing lands in the Price planning area that sustains the land and provides for responsible energy development.

Mike Stiewig
Acting Field Office Manager
Price Field Office