Posted on 09/16/2003 7:38:18 AM PDT by BOBTHENAILER
U.S. District Court Judge Paul G. Cassell ruled last month in favor of the Bureau of Land Management in the matter of Veritas DGC Land Inc's 2-D geophysical exploration project in the Uinta Basin of northeastern Utah. The ruling affirmed BLM on all counts brought before the court, the agency said.
In his decision, according to the BLM's Utah State Office, Judge Cassell wrote, "The Environmental Analysis and its suggested mitigation methods show that the BLM gave adequate consideration to the environmental effects, both in terms of direct recovery time and residual effects of the project."
In October 2002, after nearly 13 months of review and environmental analysis, the BLM authorized Veritas to conduct geophysical exploration in an area of the Uinta Basin about 30 miles south of Vernal. Subsequently, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance filed suit in federal district court, including a request for a preliminary injunction to block the project. After the court set aside the request for an injunction, the company began work. In March 2003, Veritas suspended work, having completed 11 of the 17 seismic lines, or approximately 65 percent of the project that was originally proposed. The company has until October 2004 resume work under the terms of its permit.
The court's ruling affirmed that the BLM considered a reasonable range of alternatives; fully analyzed the environmental impacts of the project, the reasonable foreseeable indirect effects, and the cumulative effects; and appropriately developed mitigation measures. Specifically the ruling upheld the agency's consideration of - and mitigation for - off-highway vehicle usage, soils, vegetation, archeological resources, wildlife and sensitive or threatened and endangered species. The court also found against the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance's allegation that the decision of a Finding of No Significant Impact was "arbitrary and capricious."
Howard Cleavinger, assistant field manager for mineral resources for the BLM's Vernal Field Office, praised the efforts of both BLM resources professional staff and the seismic company's crews. "The BLM's analysis and mitigations were right on target and the company's follow-through execution has been exemplary," Cleavinger said.
According to chief compliance officer Byron Tolman, who is in charge of overall monitoring for the project, the geophysical exploration work conducted between October 2002 and March 2003 has left a "minimal" footprint on the landscape. "In many areas it's nearly impossible to trace the path followed by the seismic trucks, let alone find any discernable impacts," Tolman said. "Contrary to allegations lodged in the suit, new roads have not developed and staging areas are reclaiming nicely," Tolman added. "Impacts analyzed in the environmental document were never predicted to be significant and were negligible on the ground."
Veritas' non-exclusive 2-D geophysical survey is being carried out over a large (3,168 square miles) area of the Uinta Basin in southeastern Uintah County.
"Still"? I never said I like or admire it. I only identified it.
Yet, this latest offering provides another opportunity for insight. Note that, in addition to that strong suit of steadfastness, we now see undeniable evidence of a penchant for jumping to unsupportable conclusions.
Now, if one values truth, reasoning, information, and logical (rather than emotional) decision making, one can see where those two traits would make for a dangerous combination. First, jump to an unsupportable conclusion. Then, stick by it (e.g. "The earth is obviously flat." "Wind power is obviously stupid.") Call it a hunch but, that may help to explain a lot of what we've seen to this point.
Really, do keep 'em coming. Every new post sheds a little more light on your situation. We could be on the verge of a breakthrough.
My work is done here.
Thanks for your cooperation. It's been a treat.
Couldn't agree more. I've been involved in the Powder River Basin for a long time. Not only does it have the coals you mention, but contains approx. 26 TCF in gas reserves, which, when fully developed, could heat, cool and power California for 20 years. After the methane is removed, the coal could more safely be extracted.
The "Big George coals by Gillette, are approximately 400' thick with overburdens that vary from 400' to 800'. The CBM wells there are tremendous, some producing over 1 mmcf pd. Central basin coals are deeper and not as thick. Western side of the basin is shallow like the Big George coals around Gillette, but contained in several seams, varing from 10' to 50' in thickness. All in all, a very mineral rich basin, with some very prolific oil and gas wells in deep formations (Muddy, Minnelusa, etc.) from 5000' to 9000'.
Enviro lawsuits against the CBM producers have slowed production, but that is changing over time. As I last understood it, the existing coal mines there are the biggest in the US, but are somewhat idle, due to lack of demand.
Your brilliance is astonishing, for an enviro geek.
You're too kind, but I'll take the compliment anyway.
All the wells that I have participated in drilling will produce natural gas, in large quantities, all day, every day, for at least 20 years to come.
So, for all who use electricity, heat or cool buildings with that product, will do as you do, thank me for that supply. And, oh by the way, indirectly pay me for it. So thanks really should go to you and them for keeping me in the lifestyle I've become accustomed to.
Keep up the good work, I've got two kids in college and one going next year and I will need all your indirect checks.
Sounds like you've been doing it all, in the mining business. It is a shame that this abundant resource has been demonized into near oblivion by the radical enviro-nazis. I've long advocated the usage of coal, natural gas, fuel oil and nuclear sources for power. I was raised in Farmington, NM and worked as a grunt laborer at the Four Corners Power Plant (once the nation's largest coal fired plant--maybe still). The enormity of the trucks, shovels, etc., was mind-boggling.
I've been in the O&G business for over 25 years and also realize the vast resources we have of that energy source. If only we could get a sane policy of using them all, power would be in abundant supply and a lot cheaper that it currently is. Just three years ago gas was around $2.00 per mcf, today it is $4.70. It will go down again, but not until some additional power sources are utilized, and I don't mean wind, solar or bio-diesel.
Ironically, the green agenda forced out coal, hydro and nuclear, leaving almost exclusively a dependence on natural gas. This resulted in the thin margins of supply we now have, particularly when you factor in the obstruction of all drilling efforts.
All the wells that I have participated in drilling will produce natural gas, in large quantities, all day, every day, for at least 20 years to come.
To the aforementioned strong steadfastness and jumping to unsupportable conclusions, add pride. This is a venerable trifecta with regard to effectively shutting out any chance of reasoning.
(Drilling gas and oil wells, eh? Certainly, you'd never hear the end of it from "the guys" if you went soft on that "enviro-whacko" wind power now, would ya? Why, that'd be like a UAW man driving a Subaru! By all means, don't let 'em think you're different. Who knows what ugly accusations that might lead to!)
So, for all who use electricity, heat or cool buildings with that product, will do as you do, thank me for that supply.
(It just keeps getting better!) Here, I sense delusions of grandeur and/or a sense of entitlement. We should thank you?! Where I come from, the vendor (seller, producer) thanks the customer (buyer, consumer), not the other way around. But, hey, this nothing if it isn't fun!
And, oh by the way, indirectly pay me for it. So thanks really should go to you and them for keeping me in the lifestyle I've become accustomed to.
Well, that's better. Although it has a bit of a reluctant tone to it, there is a glimmer of hope.
Keep up the good work, I've got two kids in college and one going next year and I will need all your indirect checks.
Aw, that hope is dashed somewhat by yet another unsupportable conclusion to which you have jumped. Contrary to your conclusion, very little if any of my electricity comes from natural gas ("yours" or anyone else's)! There's a 580 MW nuclear plant only 12 miles from where I sit. And, to the best of my knowledge, there are no gas-fired power plants within a 100 mile radius, only coal.
Unfortunately, there is a new, 600 MW gas-fired plant under construction some 150 miles to my NW. As was said before, "stupid, stupid, stupid." However, within a hundred miles of that new white elephant there will soon be a 310 MW wind farm under construction (the world's largest), adding to the existing 400 MW of generating capacity in my state.
But, we already know you know all there is to know about wind power, and you steadfastly oppose it.
So, although I don't feel compelled to thank you any more than I already do (in paying my bill) for all the work you do to supply me with all that natural gas, I will thank you once more for your continued efforts to substantiate my case.
Meanwhile, if anyone in this conversation ought to be doing any thanking, it sounds like you might think about thanking the real environuts for all their efforts -- much of it unpaid, I'd think -- which have resulted in greatly increasing the demand for your labor. You and I can stand in unison in deriding them and their misguided causes. But, unlike me, it sounds as if you owe them a debt of gratitude! (This is rich!) If it wasn't for them, a lot more of this nation's electricity would be generated from coal instead of your gas.
I'll not be thanking any RICH enviros.
Anybody ever tell you that brevity is the soul of wit?
I knew I could get you to blow. Adios Mr. Analyst
Agreed. Sounds like you've done a masterful job setting your Missouri home up for excellent heating/cooling without having to pay the piper for electricity. Great thinking.
I've got a rancher friend who has done virtually the same thing in his home with geothermal heat sump system.
One of these days I'll be moving back to New Mexicio where a lot of my O&G operations are. When I do, I'll be looking for a decent sized piece of land and will build with thick adobe (1-2 feet). Out there, a properly built home can be heated with wood almost entirely and remains cool in the summer, without air conditioning. I've lived in one twenty years ago and it was heaven.
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