BLM issues final approval for huge Utah oil and gas project

PRICE — Incorporating what land managers call a historic and unprecedented agreement between environmentalists and an oil and gas production company, the Bureau of Land Management on Thursday released its final environmental impact statement on the West Tavaputs Natural Gas Full Field Development Plan.

The decision by the federal agency fuses the cooperation reached by the Bill Barrett Corp. and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, as well as other groups such as the Nine Mile Canyon Coalition and the Colorado Plateau Archaeological Alliance.

Agency officials noted that the plan substantially reduces the project's environmental impacts, yet continues to allow for new gas and oil production.

"Today's announcement shows what is possible when parties work together to find common middle ground," said BLM Utah director Juan Palma. "I want to encourage this type of collaboration as a model to others interested in finding balanced solutions to complex issues."

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the agreement was historic.

"It clearly provides for the orderly and balanced development of our nation's energy supply while at the same time serving as an outstanding example of the fresh look of how we can better manage our energy resources," Salazar said in a written statement. "It improves protections for air, land, water and cultural resources, while reducing potential conflicts that can lead to costly and time-consuming litigation."

During preparation of the final environmental statement, Bill Barrett Corp. submitted a letter voluntarily reducing the plan of development for the project, which is located in Carbon, Duchesne and Uintah counties.

Under the newly approved plan, Bill Barrett Corp. and other operators plan to drill 626 wells from 120 pads, reducing the initial proposal by 181 wells and 418 well pads. This reduces the short-term surface disturbance created by the project by more than half, from 3,656 acres to 1,603 acres.

In addition to reducing the amount of development and surface disturbance included in the company's proposal, the agreement contains a commitment not to construct wells on existing leases in the Jack and Desolation Canyon Wilderness Study Areas and minimize the amount of surface disturbance in areas with wilderness characteristics.