President Trump on Monday proposed allocating $199.3 million to the Interior Department’s energy and minerals management programs, including $139.2 million for Bureau of Land Management (BLM) oil and natural gas programs.
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Brief — BLM Utah Lease Sale
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) launched a 30-day public comment on Friday (Sept. 22) for a preliminary environmental assessment (EA) and a Determination of National Environmental Policy Act Adequacy (DNA) that evaluates about 51,400 acres of federal minerals in southeastern Utah for oil and gas leasing. The proposal includes 43 parcels in Grand and San Juan counties. The EA, DNA, maps and lease stipulations are available for review online, where comments may be submitted by Oct. 23. BLM received more than 500 comments during the public scoping period to identify issues to be addressed in the environmental documents. Comments also may be submitted via email at BLM_UT_MB_Comments@blm.gov, or by mail to BLM Moab Field Office, 82 East Dogwood, Moab, UT 84532. For more information, contact Doug Rowles at (435) 259-2100.
Trillium Opens First CNG Station Under $84.5M Contract With Pennsylvania
The first of 29 compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations planned for transit agencies across Pennsylvania through an $84.5 million public private partnership opened on Thursday, roughly one year after the deal was finalized.
Briefs — Aliso Canyon | Utah BLM
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) said it plans to start hearings in mid-April on the future of Southern California Gas Co.’s (SoCalGas) 86 Bcf Aliso Canyon natural gas underground storage facility after a four-month long storage well leak in late 2015 and early 2016. The focus of the case is what role the state’s…
BLM Proposes Oil, Gas Lease Sale in Northwest Colorado
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on Monday launched a public comment period for a proposed oil and natural gas leasing sale in December that covers 28 parcels in northwestern Colorado within the Piceance Basin.
U.S. Army Corps Reissues Nationwide Permits, Adds Two New Ones
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reissued 50 existing nationwide permits (NWP), general conditions (GC) and definitions on Friday, a process completed every five years that the corps said will streamline the requirements of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Trump Picks Montana’s Rep. Zinke to Lead Interior Department
President-elect Donald Trump reportedly plans to nominate Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) as secretary of the Department of Interior (DOI), marking the fourth time a supporter of the oil and gas industry has been picked to fill a position with the incoming administration.
Pennsylvania DEP Appeals Court Ruling to Stay Some New Shale Regs
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has appealed the state Commonwealth Court’s decision last month totemporarily stay parts of the agency’s regulatory overhaul for shale producers so it may consider a lawsuit filed by the industry.
BLM’s NatGas Venting/Flaring Final Rule Faces Challenge From Western Energy Alliance, IPAA
The final rule to reduce natural gas venting and flaring from oil and gas operations on public and Indian lands, issued Tuesday by the Department of Interior, drew an immediate lawsuit by two industry groups, which claim the broad air quality regime goes beyond any authority granted by Congress.

Green Group Asks FERC to Prepare Supplemental DEIS For Nexus Pipeline
Environmental group Sustainable Medina County (SMC) filed a motion Monday asking FERC to complete a supplemental draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Nexus Gas Transmission LLC pipeline.