WSPC07444

• File Number: 7630.500
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Rio Grande River
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 9/1/1989
• Author: DOI-BLM
• Title: San Luis Resource Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement - Draft - Volume II - Chapters 4-Appendices
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

001587

CHAPTER 4

TABLE 4-7
MANAGEMENT OF GEOTHERMAL LEASES BY ACRES
(Existing Management)

Percent of
Management Low Moderate High Mineral
Category Potential Potential Potential Total Estate
Open:
Standard
Lease Terms 295,610 56,195 4,845 356,650 58.0
Seasonal
Restrictions 225,686 18,870 4,040 248,596 39.0
NSO or Similar
Constraints 9,324 2,536 145 12,005 2.5 ~
Closed:
Nnndiscretionary 3,620 0.5

Continuation of current management could result in a slight
modification of the above identified management categories
based On new resource data. Such modification would be
in conformance with the resource decisions of the current
Oil and Gas/Geothermal Umbrella Environmental
Assessment (EA).

Managing 6,260 acres for bighorn sheep lambing range and
150 acres of bald eagle hahitat with a nO surface occupancy
(NSO) stipulation would result in substantially higher (50
to 100 percent) drilling and development costs as directional
drilling would be required, if feasible. Managing crucial big
game winter range, antelope yearlong range and fawning
range, bald eagle roosting sites, and waterfowl nesting areas
under a seasonal use restriction On 248,596 acres of mineral
estate would result in higher exploration, drilling, and
development costs in addition to possible scheduling
problems.

The management of 4,395 acres of fluid mineral estate within
the Rio Grande River Corridor Special Recreation
Management Area and 1,200 acres within the Pike
Stockade/Monte Vista park sites through use of a nO surface
occupancy stipulation would result in substantially (50 to
100 percent) higher drilling and development costs because
of required use of directional drilling (if feasible) from off-
site locations.

All Federal fluid mineral estate would be open for leasing
with the exception of the 3,620 acres within the incorporated
city of Del Norte and the WSAs recommended for wilderness
designation. Managing 356,650 acres under standard lease
terms would allow for the exploration and development
of potential fluid mineral resources from these lands with

few restrictions. Managing 248,596 acres with seasonal
stipulations could result in higher exploration and
development costs along with scheduling inconvenience. Any
increase in exploration and/or development costs for fluid
minerals could result in a potential loss of fluid minerals
production within the planning area. A no surface occupancy
stipulation On 12,005 acres for recreation, residential, and
wildlife management requiremenls would result in
substantially higher drilling and development costs for these
areas. This negative impact would be significant because
of the general lack of information concerning fluid resources
in the planning area and the inability to obtain such
information because of the restrictions On these lands.

Identifying approximately 610,621 acres (98 percent) as
open to mineral entry and location would leave this acreage
available for exploration and development under the general
mining laws. The continuation of current withdrawals On
6,950 acres and the inclusion of 3,300 acres into the
wilderness system would eliminate these lands (2 percent)
from potential mineral location and development These
lands bave a low potential for locatable minerals of all types;
therefore, the continuation of these withdrawals should not
result in a significant impact.

The management of 5,060 acres of BLM lands as closed
to off-highway vehicle (OHY) use would result in increased
operation costs and inconvenience to the mining claimant/
operator as 43 CFR 3809 regulations would require a plan
of operation for aU actions otber than casnal use.

Identifying approximately 613,176 acres (99 percent) of
BLM land within the planning area as open to disposal
of mineral materials would leave this acreage available for

4-8

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