DUSTIN BLEIZEFFER Star-Tribune energy reporter | Posted: Wednesday, August 6, 2008 12:00 am
The state's plan to protect sage grouse and its habitat in Wyoming includes a map of "core" areas where energy developers, agriculture and other users may face special stipulations from state agencies.
The success of the plan, according to those who helped formulate it, largely depends on the cooperation of the energy industry and the Bureau of Land Management, which controls more than 60 percent of the mineral estate in Wyoming but is not beholden to the state's authority.
Some believe the BLM has sent mixed signals regarding its pledge of cooperation.
The BLM proceeded with an oil and gas lease sale on Tuesday that included more than 50,000 acres within the state's identified "core" areas for sage grouse. However, the agency pulled, or "deferred," six of 173 lease parcels from the sale so it could further analyze the development implications in some of those core areas, according to the agency.
A day before the sale, Wyoming BLM officials issued a press release warning potential bidders that the agency may reject the sale of any or all parcels from the Tuesday offering if it is determined that formal protests of the parcels have merit.
"If, after evaluating the concerns raised in the protests this office determines they have merit, we may reject a lease offer made at the sale and may refund all monies paid," the BLM stated.
Most of the 173 lease parcels were formally protested in June.
Some conservationists are disappointed that the BLM offered any parcels at all within the state's core areas, while some in the energy industry say it's an opportunity for both industry and the BLM to prove their commitment to the state's effort to protect sage grouse.
"As an industry, we're going to have to step up to the plate and prove we can develop in core areas without a negative impact," said Paul Ullrich, community liaison for natural gas developer EnCana.
Ullrich, who served on the governor's Sage Grouse Implementation Team, said he believes the state has come up with a "workable" plan to protect sage grouse and sage grouse habitat in Wyoming. The state's new stipulations mandate that developers must prove in advance that a proposed project in the "core" areas result in no negative impact to the sage grouse. Ullrich said it's an opportunity for industry to apply new drilling and restoration techniques.
But whether the industry should proceed at a density of one well per 40 acres, one well per 80 acres or even one well per 640 acres within core areas should be decided on a site by site basis, Ullrich said.
"It's incumbent upon industry to come into core areas and prove that we can do it without negatively impacting sage grouse. And that's going to be a big challenge for industry," said Ullrich.
Audubon Wyoming executive director Brian Rutledge also served on the governor's sage grouse implementation team. Rutledge said it is also incumbent upon industry to show some restraint by not nominating federal lease parcels in the state's core sage grouse areas. And whether BLM is fully committed to the state's plan to protect the bird remains to be seen.
"This is a bit of a mystery," Rutledge said, referring to the BLM's sale of lease parcels within core areas. "Why continue to exacerbate the problem by continuing to sell these leases when we clearly recognize they are part of the survival plan for these birds - not to mention a slew of other species?"
Wyoming BLM spokeswoman Teresa Howes said the agency is currently in discussions at its state headquarters about how to coordinate with the state on its sage grouse plan. It's likely that the BLM's various field offices across the state will not act in uniform, she said.
"We have to be really agile as we look at this and manage for both energy and sage grouse habitat. And we appreciate people's patience," Howes said.
Regarding the BLM's sale of oil and gas leases within the state's core areas, Howes said the agency still has time to determine whether to add stipulations, reject any sales or do nothing.
"So we're looking at those parcels and saying we need to maybe defer those as we collaborate and look at the mapping efforts with the state," said Howes.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to decide before year's end whether to list the game bird under the Endangered Species Act - a move that could have a chilling effect on Wyoming's booming energy industry.
Energy reporter Dustin Bleizeffer can be reached at (307) 577-6069 or dustin.bleizeffer@trib.com.
BLM oil and gas lease sale nets $14M
The Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday auctioned more than 155,121 acres of federal mineral lease parcels to potential energy developers for a total of $14.3 million in leasing rights and rental fees, according to the agency.
A total of 163 parcels were sold throughout the state. One parcel went for a total of $1.86 million.
About half of the bid and rental receipts go the state, according to the BLM.
BLM-administered lands in Wyoming generated about $1.045 billion in federal oil and gas royalties in fiscal year 2007, half of which are returned to state coffers, according to the BLM.
The Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday auctioned more than 155,121 acres of federal mineral lease parcels to potential energy developers for a total of $14.3 million in leasing rights and rental fees, according to the agency.
A total of 163 parcels were sold throughout the state. One parcel went for a total of $1.86 million.
About half of the bid and rental receipts go the state, according to the BLM.
BLM-administered lands in Wyoming generated about $1.045 billion in federal oil and gas royalties in fiscal year 2007, half of which are returned to state coffers, according to the BLM.]]->
Last we knew: Gov. Dave Freudenthal on Friday issued an executive order outlining the state's sage grouse plan, based on several of the recommendations.
The latest: The BLM proceeded with an oil and gas lease sale on Tuesday that included more than 50,000 acres within the state's identified "core" areas for sage grouse.
What's next: The BLM will review several protests submitted to the agency regarding specific parcels in the lease sale.]]->
- Grazing workshop helps ranchers play key role in sage grouse management/A3 (B1 second run)
- Strong reactions to state's sage grouse plan/B1 (A3 second run)]]->