It’s the usual round of opposition to newly announced oil and gas lease possibilities in Duchesne and Uintah County. The Bureau of Land Management released their environmental assessment this month on 64 parcels nominated for a competitive oil and gas lease sale in December. The parcels are all located within the Vernal Field Office boundaries and comprise around 64,500 acres of federal land and 2,080 acres of split estate land. Parcels garnering opposition include those located on the west side boundary of Dinosaur National Monument and the monument entrances from Highway 40. While it’s no surprise that environmental groups are opposed, KSL reports that Monument superintendent Mark Foust has also detailed worries that oil and gas exploration could compromise the experience of the monument’s visitors who come each year. The Environmental Assessment outlines mitigation of potential impacts.
