BLM Signs Decision on Oil Exploration

ELKO, Nev. – The Bureau of Land Management, Elko District, Tuscarora Field Office signed a Decision Record (DR) and Finding of No Significant Impact on Noble Energy’s (Noble) proposal to conduct oil and gas exploration drilling in the Huntington Valley area, south of Elko near Jiggs, as part of Noble’s oil and gas lease.

The DR includes attached mitigation measures incorporated as conditions of approval as described in the Environmental Assessment (EA). These mitigation measures pertain to water and air quality, wildlife habitat, cultural resources, historic properties and fire management.

Noble proposes to drill and complete a maximum of 20 wells on public and private lands located approximately 21 miles south of Elko. Noble has identified 39 potential well pad locations, 20 of which may be constructed over a two-year period or more.

The lands in the project area include 34,962 public land acres, 8,420 acres of private surface with BLM-administered subsurface mineral rights, and 20,112 acres of private lands and minerals, for a total of 63,494 acres. The proposed operations would comply with all applicable federal Onshore Oil & Gas Orders. The project area does not include any wild horse herd management areas.

An EA was prepared and released for a 15-day public review period on May 21, 2014. The review period was later extended until June 24, 2014. The DR, EA and associated public comments with BLM’s response, Noble’s oil and gas exploration proposal and master surface use plan are available at on.doi.gov/1wAxouz.

For questions regarding the EA, please contact Tom Schmidt, at (775) 753-0343 or by email at huntingtonvlyea@blm.gov.