The Garfield Board of County Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved a letter urging the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to affirm and issue 15 oil and gas leases in Garfield County — and over 300 statewide — following the agency’s supplemental environmental assessment. 

“It is imperative that BLM affirm existing leases in Garfield County and issue the pending leases with appropriate stipulations so that the county and its residents can continue to rely on stable oil and gas revenues and employment,” the letter, addressed to Doug Vilsack, director of the Colorado BLM office, states. 

In September, the BLM released draft supplemental environmental assessments for issued and pending oil and gas leases across seven states: Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.  

These supplemental reviews stem from three lawsuits filed against the BLM between 2016 and 2021. One suit, brought by WildEarth Guardians, alleged that the agency failed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and did not adequately analyze impacts to groundwater and greenhouse gas emissions. 

In Colorado, the BLM reviewed 306 leases sold between 2015 and 2020 comprising approximately 263,222 acres across seven field offices. Of these, 285 had already been issued, while 21 had been sold but not yet finalized. 

Included in the analysis were 15 lease parcels within Garfield County, totalling around 13,535 acres. Of those, five parcels were sold but unissued. 

In its letter, the county submitted comments on the draft Colorado supplemental environmental assessment, emphasizing the role oil and gas development plays in the local economy. 

According to the letter, nearly half of Garfield County’s assessed property value comes from oil and gas property and production each year.

“Oil and gas development has long been a cornerstone of our economy and our local tax base, funding schools, public safety, emergency response, health, infrastructure, and other essential county and special taxing district services,” the letter states. “At the same time, Garfield County has consistently engaged with federal and state regulators to ensure that development is conducted responsibly and in balance with important human health and welfare, wildlife, habitat and other environmental resources.” 

The county expressed support for the BLM to move forward with the 285 previously authorized leases without adding stipulations.

The letter also called on the BLM to issue the 21 pending leases located in greater sage-grouse habitats, but supported new stipulations aligned with BLM’s recently amended sage-grouse resource and big game habitat management plans. These include surface use restrictions, occupancy regulations and timing limitations meant to further protect sagebrush landscapes. 

Additionally, the county urged the BLM to maintain a “proportional, tiered analysis of (greenhouse gas) and air quality issues at the (application for permit to drill) stage.” The letter argues that climate and air quality assessments should be conducted at a stage where factors including well density, mitigation efforts and drilling and production techniques can also  be considered. 

“Certainity in lease rights is essential for maintaining community trust in the leasing process and for ensuring stability in local economic planning and revenue forecasts,” the letter states. 

The commissioners also emphasized the need for timely, consistent decision-making by the BLM, along with greater recognition of the socioeconomic value of oil and gas development in Garfield County.