Utah BLM offering 300,00 acres for leases

Alexander Richter 17 Dec 2008

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Utah will offer over 300,000 acres for energy leases Friday, December 19, 2008.

The final list for the sale includes 44 geothermal parcels totaling 142,333 acres in seven Utah countries. Protests from National Park Service officials have resulted in deferral of all or part of 23 lease parcels totalling 37,731 acres near national parks. Additional parcels were deferred for estate concerns, wildlife issues or conflicts with existing coal mining operations.

BLM also deferred two parcels to provide the U.S. Forest Service with more time to conduct analysis on lands near the existing geothermal plant at Cove Fort. Furthermore, native American tribes see “the important visual nature associated with some parcels may be affected by geothermal exploration and development” and were taken into consideration by BLM.

“Energy leases are issued for a primary term of 10 years and will continue as long as oil or gas is produced in paying quantities. The holder of a federal lease must obtain specific permits prior to any surface disturbing activities. If exploration does occur and the lease begins producing, the federal government will collect a 12.5 percent royalty on production. In accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act, collected revenues will be split between the BLM and the state.”

The December 19 lease sale will take place in Salt Lake City at the BLM Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South, Suite 500 in the Monument Conference Room.”

Source: Environment News Service