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DENVER - Aiming to balance development and wildlife on the scenic Roan Plateau in western Colorado, the Bureau of Land Management announced a final management plan Thursday that adopted suggestions to limit oil and natural gas drilling.
The BLM plan included suggestions to stage drilling, put oil and gas wells in clusters, so that no more than 1 percent of the 34,758 acres on top of the plateau would be disturbed at any one time.
Wells would be clustered on pads spaced a half-mile apart, with one pad per 160 acres, BLM State Director Sally Wisely said. One operator would conduct all the groundwork for lease holders. Both moves would reduce the amount of disturbance to the land.
Wisely said development would be allowed only on higher ridges, away from ecologically sensitive canyons and water resources.
The plan would preserve almost 23,000 acres of areas on top and below the plateau that the Colorado Division of Wildlife said deserved protection.
The public has until Oct. 15 to submit protests to the plan, and Gov. Bill Owens has 60 days to review the plan to see whether it meets state law.
The BLM received nearly 75,000 comments on a draft of the management plan. The agency oversees 73,602 acres of federal land on the 9,000-foot plateau, home to elk, deer, mountain lions, peregrine falcons, bears, native Colorado trout and other wildlife.
Town and city officials in surrounding communities have opposed any drilling on top of the plateau. Gas wells already have been drilled on private land there.
The BLM plan included suggestions to stage drilling, put oil and gas wells in clusters, so that no more than 1 percent of the 34,758 acres on top of the plateau would be disturbed at any one time.
Wells would be clustered on pads spaced a half-mile apart, with one pad per 160 acres, BLM State Director Sally Wisely said. One operator would conduct all the groundwork for lease holders. Both moves would reduce the amount of disturbance to the land.
Wisely said development would be allowed only on higher ridges, away from ecologically sensitive canyons and water resources.
The plan would preserve almost 23,000 acres of areas on top and below the plateau that the Colorado Division of Wildlife said deserved protection.
The public has until Oct. 15 to submit protests to the plan, and Gov. Bill Owens has 60 days to review the plan to see whether it meets state law.
The BLM received nearly 75,000 comments on a draft of the management plan. The agency oversees 73,602 acres of federal land on the 9,000-foot plateau, home to elk, deer, mountain lions, peregrine falcons, bears, native Colorado trout and other wildlife.
Town and city officials in surrounding communities have opposed any drilling on top of the plateau. Gas wells already have been drilled on private land there.
