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<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
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