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From the Salt Lake Tribune

Response by Living Rivers

Waiting Period Ends April 16, 2012

Following conclusion of the waiting period, a Record of Decision (ROD) will be prepared and signed to disclose the BLM's final decision and any project Conditions of Approval.

• BLM web site for the GASCO Project
• The alternatives
• All maps of the alternatives
• AltA; AltB; AltC; AltD; AltE; AltF;
  
• BLM's Desolation wilderness map
  

Under Alternative F, the Agency Preferred Alternative, up to 1,298 new gas wells would be drilled from 575 well pads over a period of 15 years, resulting in approximately 3,604 acres of disturbance (about 2 percent of the total project area). Water evaporation facilities were reduced to 78 acres. This is adequate for the first 5 years of the project while other disposal options are developed and implemented. The BLM also incorporated the measures to minimize impacts to resources, while allowing for the development of valid existing rights. No surface disturbance would occur below the rim of Nine Mile Canyon, within one-half mile of the Green River, in 100-year floodplains, or endangered fish critical habitat.

Under the Proposed Action (Alternative A), Gasco Energy Inc. would develop their existing oil and gas leases by drilling 1,491 wells from the same number of well pads over a period of 15 years, and by constructing 143 acres of evaporative ponds to dispose of produced water. The Proposed Action would result in approximately 7,584 acres of surface disturbance.

This Final EIS is not a decision document. Following conclusion of the 30-day availability period, a ROD will be signed to disclose the BLM's final decision and any project Conditions of Approval. Availability of the ROD will be announced through local media, the Vernal BLM Web site, and Utah BLM's Environmental Notification Bulletin Board.

Copies of the Final EIS are available for public inspection at the BLM Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, and at the following Web site:

http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/vernal/planning/nepa_.html

Contact information:

Stephanie Howard
Environmental Coordinator
435-781-4400
170 South 500 East
Vernal, Utah, 84078
email: BLM_UT_Vernal_Comments@blm.gov

DOCUMENTS

GASCO EIS Entire Document

00 Gasco Errata to Final EIS.pdf
01 Gasco Dear Reader Letter.pdf
02 Gasco Abstract.pdf
03 Gasco Table of Contents.pdf
04 Gasco Executive Summary.pdf
05 Gasco Chapter 1. Introduction and Background.pdf
06 Gasco Chapter 02. Proposed Action and Alternatives
07 Gasco Chapter 3. Affected Environment
08 Gasco Chapter 4. Environmental Consequences
09 GascoChapter 5. Consultation and Coordination
10 Gasco References
11 Gasco Abbreviations and Glossary
12 Gasco Index
13 Gasco Maps
14 Gasco Appendix A. Interdisciplinary Team Checklist
15 Gasco Appendix B. TES Plant Conservation Measures
16 Gasco Appendix C. Visual Analysis
17 Gasco Appendix D. Special Status Species Analysis
18 Gasco Appendix E. Soil Characteristics
19 Gasco Appendix F. Determination on Special Status Species
20 Gasco Appendix G. Surface Reclamation and Monitoring Plan
21 Gasco Appendix H. Near-field Air Quality
22 Gasco Appendix I. Far-field Air Quality
23 Gasco Appendix J. Ozone Impact Assessment
24 Gasco Appendix K. Greenhouse Gas Emissions
25 Gasco Appendix L. Evaporation Pond Near-field Air Quality
26 Gasco Appendix M. Transportation Plan
27 Gasco Appendix N. Sample Spill Response Plan
28 Gasco Appendix O. Long-term Water Monitoring Plan
29 Gasco Appendix P. Public Comment and Response
30 Gasco Appendix Q. Programmatic Agreement
31 Gasco Appendix R. Ambient Air Quality Analysis-Alt. F.
32 Gasco Appendix S. Biological Opinion