The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is accepting public comments on a preliminary Environmental Assessment (EA) for a proposal to drill seven carbon dioxide wells and install collection and transportation facilities on public land within the boundaries of the BLM Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The wells would be drilled on a mesa top near the eastern boundary of the Monument, known as Burro Point. Kinder Morgan has submitted the Applications for Permit to Drill (APD) the wells on Burro Point, about 15 miles west-northwest of the City of Cortez, Montezuma County, Colorado.

 

The proposed wells would be drilled within what is known as the McElmo Dome Unit. As proposed, the project includes construction of seven well pads and associated collection and tie in facilities, some new access roads, and the improvement of an existing dirt two-track. Initial disturbance is estimated at about 60 acres. If all the wells prove to be capable of producing in payable quantities, interim reclamation would restore about 40 acres, leaving about 20 acres disturbed for the long term. Any locations that are not capable of producing commercial quantities would be fully reclaimed.

 

About 80% of the Monument is leased for oil and gas. Development of existing leases is allowed, subject to valid and existing rights, when those activities do not create new impacts that would interfere with proper care and management of the objects protected by the Monument Proclamation. The planned drilling would be on an existing lease issued by the BLM.  The Proposed Action conforms to the BLM San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Plan of 1985.

 

Written public comment must be postmarked by Wednesday April 30, 2008 and mailed to Manager, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, CO 81323. No electronic or verbal comments will be accepted.

 

The EA is available on the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument website at: www.co.blm.gov/canm/canmnepadocs.htm. Paper copies of the EA will be available at the Anasazi Heritage Center, 27501 Highway 184, Dolores, C0, and at the Dolores Public Lands Office, 29211 Highway 184, Dolores.

 

For more information, contact Eric La Price, NEPA Coordinator, at the Dolores Public Lands Office at 882-6827.