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January 29, 2009 Contact:      Lesley A. Collins     307-261-7603 BLM BFO Releases Clabaugh CBNG POD EA for Public Comment The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Field Office (BFO) is releasing the Clabaugh coalbed natural gas (CBNG) plan of development (POD) Environmental Assessment (EA) for public comment. The four well Clabaugh POD is located in northwestern Campbell County (T53N, R76W Section 21). BLM is releasing the EA for public review to ensure that all relevant information and issues have been considered. Comments should identify missing information, incomplete or inaccurate analyses. The EA is available online at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/bfodocs/FtCreek_EAs.html. The public comment period will be open for 30 days beginning with the issuance of this news release. Only written comments will be accepted. Comments submitted by mail should be addressed to Kathy Brus, BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834. Comments may be sent by facsimile to (307) 684-1122; or sent electronically to: Fort_Crk_WYMail@blm.gov. For any questions related to the Clabaugh POD, contact Brus at (307) 684-1087. The Clabaugh POD is contained within the 123,000 acre Fortification Creek elk range of Campbell, Johnson, and Sheridan counties, Wyo. Concurrently, the BFO is amending its Resource Management Plan (RMP) for the northern portion of the elk range. Special resource values within the RMP amendment planning area include: an isolated elk herd and its habitat, high visual quality, a 12,000 acre wilderness study area (WSA), steep slopes with erosive soils, and significant cultural, historic, and paleontological values. More information on the RMP amendment can be found on the amendment’s web page (www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/bfodocs/fortification_creek.html). BLM authored documents referenced in the Clabaugh EA are also available on the Fortification Creek RMP amendment web page. The Clabaugh POD is being considered for authorization as it was determined not to affect the RMP amendment. Other PODs determined not to affect the RMP amendment are also in the environmental analysis process. Potential CBNG POD EAs that may be ready for public review within the next three months include: Anadarko’s Williams Draw Unit Gamma and Augusta Unit Zeta, Black Diamond’s Michelena, Marathon’s Hollcroft-Stotts Draw, and Williams’ Carr Draw III West and Carr Draw IV. Release of each subsequent EA will be announced with a press release. The documents will be available on the BFO National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents website (www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/bfodocs.html) for a thirty day review period, from the news release date. For more information on the Fortification Creek area, the RMP amendment, or the NEPA process contact Thomas Bills at (307) 684-1133. The BLM manages more land - 258 million acres - than any other Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western States, including Alaska. The Bureau, with a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation, livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public lands. - BLM -