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<br />its x <br />-United States Department of the In <br />" terior <br />OFFICE OF HEARINGS AND APPEALS <br />p CFr 3 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 2007-213 Decided June 26, 2,008 <br />RECEIVED <br />JUL 16 2008 <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 inclusion; 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. Oll and Gas Leases: Competitive Leases <br />Methane released into the environment, which the U.S. <br />Environmental Prgtectilan Agency encourages coal mining <br />complies to capture, from vents drilled by a .'o mine <br />-operator at the direct ort of the U.S. Mine Safety and <br />I ealth Adin n st tio.Dfar the protection of'" <br />miners, is <br />not an oil q nd .gas.deposLt subject to. leasing ui7de`i• <br />sectiQri 17 of the`Mineral Leasing Act, 30 U:S,C: § 226 <br />(2006). <br />APPEARANCES: James X. 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 />Mrkham, 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.' The lands embraced in the three parcels directly <br />' The Feb_ 20, 2007, lease sale offered for issuance, by competitive bidding, leases <br />(continued...) <br />175 IBLA 8 <br />Elel 'ON <br />zzo/zooms osn win Viol 10Cfi 1N,4ti0:71 9007 -V ?n;• <br />YV-q Z£:BT 80oZ/LZ/90