Fluid Mineral Leasing of Lands Adjacent to Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas

In Reply Refer To: 1210/3100/3200 (NV922)P United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Nevada State Office 1340 Financial Boulevard Reno, Nevada 89502-7147 http://www.blm.gov/nv 4/23/2014 EMS TRANSMISSION Instruction Memorandum No. NV 2014-031 Expires: 09/30/2016 To: District Managers, Nevada Northern California District Manager, California Field Managers, Eagle Lake and Surprise Field Offices Deputy State Director, California (CA-920) From: Deputy State Director, Minerals Management Subject: Fluid Mineral Leasing of Lands Adjacent to Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas The purpose of this Instruction memorandum (IM) is to detail and authorize a setback around Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) to compensate for the uncertainty in establishing the legal description of the lease parcels in relation to the largely unsurveyed boundaries of the Wilderness and WSA's. Specifically, the IM describes the circumstances where leasing may be authorized, the appropriate setback and the process by which lands were excluded from the parcel nomination. The Branch of Minerals Adjudication has received numerous Expressions of Interest (EOI) to lease for oil, gas and geothermal where lands nominated are within or overlap WSA boundaries. Pursuant to 43 CFR 3100.0-3(b)(2)(ix) and(x), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) does not offer any lands "within" Wilderness or WSAs. However, the BLM may offer lands for lease up to the Wilderness or WSA boundary. A large portion of these Wilderness and WSA boundaries do not have an official survey. Without an official survey, the issue becomes the legal land description of the parcel offered, and ultimately the legal land description of the lease. Parcels offered and leases issued must be described by accurate legal land descriptions. The BLM will offer and issue fluid mineral leases within one quarter mile of a Wilderness or WSA boundary. Any quarter-quarter sections intersected by and including a portion of Wilderness or WSA boundary will be excluded from the parcel nominated. The Branch of Adjudication has offered parcels and issued fluid mineral leases that are within one quarter mile of a WSA boundary. Any quarter-quarter section (1320 ft.) intersected by a Wilderness or WSA boundary was excluded from the parcel nomination; therefore, Nevada's policy is that we will still offer and issue fluid mineral leases to within one quarter mile of a Wilderness or WSA boundary. Any quarter-quarter sections intersecting a portion of a wilderness or WSA boundary will be excluded from the parcel nominated. However, exceptions to this policy can be made on a case-by-case basis as determined by the availability and accuracy of an official Cadastral Survey. Contact: If there are any questions regarding this directive, please contact Patricia Laframboise, Chief, Branch of Minerals Adjudication at 775-861-6632. /s/ Gary Johnson Attachment 1 - Example of setback for leasing (1p)