The first land parcels in 15 years within the San Juan National Forest will be available for lease this spring through the Bureau of Land Management’s quarterly oil and gas lease sale.
Since 2001, Forest Service officials have worked on an Oil and Gas Leasing Availability Analysis to protect resources and manage oil and gas development. It was completed in 2013. The past three years have been spent implementing the plan, said Walt Brown, geologist with the San Juan National Forest. During that time, about 200 lease proposals have been on hold.
Six land parcels, four of which are in the San Juan National Forest, will be up for competitive bid on May 12.
Four parcels totaling 6,137 acres are in Archuleta and La Plata counties. The Forest Service analyzed its parcels separately and gave authorization to put them up for bid. Two parcels totaling 813 acres are located in Moffat and Routt counties.
Conditions are attached to each parcel addressing the protection of water, land and air quality. The BLM may also impose site-specific regulations.
The public has until 4 p.m. March 14 to submit comments on the parcels for lease, which must be sent to BLM Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street in Lakewood, CO 80215.
If the leases are sold at the sale, which will be held in Lakewood, the purchaser has 10 years to propose development.
Forty-nine percent of proceeds from each lease sale benefits the state. In the past fiscal year, Colorado received approximately $247 million in royalties, rentals and bonus bid payments for federal minerals.
jpace@durangoherald.com