The BLM provided these statistics about the upcoming sale:

• Most parcels to be offered are on land managed by the Price, Richfield, Fillmore and Cedar City field offices.

"Although these areas have seen less historical development than the Uinta Basin, recent exploratory drilling and geophysical testing indicates that oil and gas reserves may exist in these areas."

• By obtaining a lease, oil and gas companies can assess if development is viable. But that does not mean it will take place. Several laws govern the process, including the National Historic Preservation Act and the Endangered Species Act.

• Industry representatives had nominated some parcels for lease that are in areas being considered for special management in the BLM's current resource management plans. "As a result, some parcels are not being offered in this sale until the affiliated resource management plan can be completed."

• Protections are placed for special values. If BLM's analysis shows that some values can't be preserved by stipulations, those parcels are not offered for lease. These include some specific areas in Nine Mile Canyon, Desolation Canyon, the lower Price River and the lower Green River.

• Quarter-mile setbacks on both sides of the river are planned for parcels cut by rivers under consideration for protection under Wild and Scenic River designation.

"Best management practices would be applied to these parcels that would reduce the visual and other impacts of operations." These could be keeping oil and gas wells away from viewpoints, or camouflaging operations and using sound mufflers. Parcels involved in this are near Range Creek, the Green River, San Rafael River, Price River, Nine Mile Creek and Range Creek.

• Land that will be offered near Capitol Reef National Park was subjected to consultations between the BLM and the National Park Service. The BLM placed stipulations on these leases to reflect NPS concerns.

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E-mail: bau@desnews.com