Feds Plan to Hold Idaho Oil and Gas Lease Sale
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BOISE, Idaho (AP) – Federal officials in Idaho in a battle with a Texas oil company over what is believed to be a profitable natural gas field in Payette County plan to offer five parcels for competitive leasing by April.
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Monday opened a 30-day public comment period about the proposed lease sale that will offer 6,350 acres to potential drilling in southwest Idaho.
Houston-based Alta Mesa responded Tuesday afternoon by saying it will suspend its request with Idaho officials to exclude BLM lands and potential royalties from a drilling unit.
The BLM concluded an environmental assessment earlier this month that found no significant impact with the leasing.
But the agency says additional steps involving drilling will require more environmental analysis.