Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment Concerning Oil and Gas Leasing in the Buffalo Field Office, Wyoming

摘要

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is commencing preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The purpose of the analysis is to examine particular environmental effects of the oil and gas lease issuance decisions made since February 2000. This EA responds to rulings of the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals (the Court), which held that certain effects of coal bed natural gas (CBNG) development were not analyzed, or contemplated, in the 1985 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Buffalo Resource Management Plan (RMP) Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). See Pennaco Energy v. DOI, 377 F.3d 1147 (10th Cir., filed August 10, 2004).