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<br />Qpa?,M ? ?y?'y
<br />-United States Department of the hiterior
<br />7 A
<br />OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS
<br />Interior Board of Land Appeals
<br />801 N. Quincy St. Suite 300
<br />Arlington, VA 22203
<br />703 235 3750 703 235 8349 (fax)
<br />VESSELS COAL GAS, INC.
<br />IBLA 2007-223 Decided June 26, 2008
<br />RECEIVED
<br />JUL 162008
<br />Division of Reclamation,
<br />Mining and Safety
<br />Appeal from a decision of the State Director, Utah State Office, Bureau of Land
<br />Management, denying a protest against the inclusions of three parcels in a competitive
<br />oil and gas lease sale. UTU0207,124, UTU0207-125, and UTU0207-126.
<br />Lease sale protest decision reversed.
<br />1. Oil and Gas Leases: Competitive Leases
<br />Methane released into the environment, which the U.S.
<br />Environmental°PrPtection Agency encourages coal zrrining
<br />coinpWes to capture.; from vents drilled by a . o l mine
<br />operator aie:diectorr of the U.S. Mine Safety ahd
<br />eaIth Adirtin sti-flog fa:r the protection of _c .al. i nets, is
<br />not an oil and gars deposit.?t.jb ect to. leasin under
<br />section ly .c fthe`Wt eral iasing.Act, 30 U:SJ § 226
<br />(2000).
<br />APPEARANCES: James K Aronstein, Esq., and Ilona Dotterrer, Esq., Denver,
<br />Colorado, for Vessels Coal Gas, Inc.; Christopher J. Morley, Esq., Office of the
<br />Regional Solicitor, Salt Lake City, Utah, for the Bureau of Land Management; John S.
<br />Kirkham, Esq., and Richard R. Hall, Esq., Salt Lake City, Utah, for intervenor
<br />UtahAmerican Energy, Inc.; Gregory S. Brown, Esq,, and Jack M. Merritts, Esq.,
<br />Denver, Colorado, for intervenor Oso Oil & Gas Properties, LLC.
<br />OPINION BY ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE HEMMER
<br />Vessels Coal Gas, Inc, (Vessels), appeals from an April 23, 2007, decision of
<br />the State Director, Utah State Office, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), denying
<br />Vessels' protest against the Inclusion of three parcels offered in a February 20, 2007,
<br />competitive oil and gas lease sale.I The lands embraced in the three parcels directly
<br />1 The Feb_ 20, 2007, lease sale offered for issuance, by competitive bidding, leases
<br />(continued...)
<br />175 IBLA 8
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