Progress

Project Summary

Bureau of Land Management Director Bob Abbey  announced that the BLM would hold a public forum on April 25 from 4 p.m. to  9 p.m. MT to discuss the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques to  stimulate natural gas production on Federal lands.  The session will be  held at the Denver Marriott West, 1717 Denver West Blvd. in Golden,  Colorado.  

The forum was to build upon a forum the Department of the Interior hosted in  November 2010 in Washington, D.C. on best practices for hydraulic  fracturing and will provide a more in-depth, technical review of natural  gas development practices on public lands. 

The meeting was part of the  Department’s proactive efforts to ensure that oil and gas development is  taking place on public lands in a responsible and environmentally  sustainable manner.   Topics discussed  included best management practices, disclosure  of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluids, well construction   and  integrity, production wastewater management and other techniques for  protecting drinking water resources.  Panelists included experts from  Federal and state governments, industry, and environmental organizations  that have been engaged in natural gas development issues.  

The BLM manages more land - over 245 million acres - than any other   Federal  agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is  primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The Bureau, with  a budget of about $1 billion, also administers 700 million acres of  sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use  mission is to sustain the health and productivity of the public lands for  the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. The Bureau  accomplishes this by managing such activities as outdoor recreation,  livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by  conserving natural, historical, cultural, and other resources on public  lands.