BLM and the Bridger-Teton National Forest Seek Public Input on Riley Ridge Unit Development
— March 19, 2014
(Press release) —The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Pinedale Field Office and the U.S. Forest Service (FS) Bridger-Teton National Forest are seeking public comment on a proposal to develop five carbon dioxide, helium, methane and hydrogen sulfide wells and associated infrastructure approximately 20 miles west of Big Piney, Wyo., in the Riley Ridge area.
The proposal includes four wells on federal land and one on state land to be drilled from four new well pads totaling 20.4 acres over a period of six years. New pipelines would connect all five new wells and two existing wells to the Riley Ridge methane and helium recovery facility. Pipelines and access roads would use existing corridors where possible. Surface disturbance would include an estimated 7.7 miles of new pipeline and an estimated 2.3 miles of new or improved access roads.
Additional information is available at the BLM Pinedale Field Office, 1625 W. Pine St., Pinedale, Wyo., or online here.
The BLM will be preparing an environmental assessment for this proposal. Specific and constructive public comments identifying issues, potential impacts and possible mitigation measures will assist in developing a reasonable range of alternative actions. Please mail or deliver written comments to BLM Pinedale Field Office, Attn: Brian Roberts, P.O. Box 768, 1625 W. Pine St., Pinedale WY 82941; email to BLM_WY_RRUD@blm.gov; or fax to 307-367-5329. Comments must be received by April 11.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment – including your personal identifying information – may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
FS Objection Process
The FS is required to issue a decision separate from the BLM concerning the existing well and road, and proposed pipeline route on the forest. The FS decision will be subject to the FS pre-decisional administrative review (objection) process described at 36 CFR 218. Only those who submit timely and specific written comments regarding the FS portion of the proposed action during a public comment period established by the responsible official will be eligible to file an objection. The responsible official for the FS decision is: Clinton D. Kyhl, Bridger-Teton National Forest Supervisor. Comments concerning the FS action will be accepted for 30 calendar days following the publication of the legal notice of this comment period in the Casper Star-Tribune. That publication date is the exclusive means for calculating the comment period. That publication date will be posted on the BLM website at www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339to contact the individual below during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the below individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.
For more information, please contact BLM Natural Resource Specialist Brian Roberts at 307-367-5351.