In Reply To: 3100 (922.KJ) P EMAIL TRANSMISSION – 10/26/07 Instruction Memorandum No. MT-2008-008 Expires: 9/30/09 To: Field Managers (Montana only) From: State Director Subject: Guidance on Coordination with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks During Oil and Gas Lease Parcel Reviews Program Areas: Oil and Gas Leasing, Fluid Minerals and Biological Resources. Purpose: This instruction memorandum provides guidance regarding coordination with the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MT FWP) during the parcel review process and identifies timeframes for the tentative sales scheduled for calendar year 2008. Policy/Action: Attached are the procedures (Attachment 1) that the Field Offices should use to ensure coordination with the MT FWP during the parcel review process. Timeframe: This IM is effective immediately. Budget Impact: Procedures previously in place and being used by the Field Offices have included contacting the MT FWP, so impact to the budget should be minimal. Background: The procedures identified in Attachment 1 were presented and discussed at the May 8, 2007, meeting with the BLM State Director, the MT FWP Director and Staff Specialists from each agency. These procedures were developed through coordination with the Field Offices prior to the May 8meeting with the FWP. At the coordination meeting between the BLM and FWP in Bozeman on September 26, 2007, these procedures were discussed and finalized with two changes. The MT FWP Director requested that the lease review time for the FWP be extended to 15 days instead of 10 days. They also asked that in addition to sending the lease parcel, appropriate lease stipulations and parcel map to the appropriate FWP Field Office under procedure 3, that you also send the same to Mr. T. O. Smith with FWP. We agree to the changes and added 5 extra days to the overall lease review time. Mr. Smith’s address and e-mail address are listed in the attached lease review procedures. The Field Offices in Montana should follow the attached procedures to ensure that coordination with the MT FWP occurs prior to the Field Office providing a leasing decision in a Documentation of Land Use Conformance and NEPA Adequacy (DNA) to the State Office. The DNA must list those applicable mitigation measures including lease stipulations and notices that were identified, analyzed, and approved in the applicable Resource Management Plan (RMP) or RMP amendment and associated NEPA documents. These mitigation measures are either listed in the body of the DNA or on an attachment for each nominated parcel addressed by the DNA. The DNA must include a statement that the Field Office consulted with the FWP on the lease parcel(s) covered by the DNA. The Field Office should return worksheets/DNAs to the State Office within 35 days from the date that the worksheet was electronically mailed to the Field Office for leasing recommendation. Completed worksheets and stipulations should be returned to the State Office via electronic mail. Attached is a schedule reflecting the tentative dates for the competitive sales in 2008 (Attachment 2). The schedule reflects the sale dates, the mandatory 45-day posting date and the last day (cut-off date) that the reviewed nominated parcels can be placed on the upcoming competitive sale. As requested by Mr. T. O. Smith, the State Office will continue to provide him with the final Competitive Sale Notices and GIS Shapefiles. Manual/Handbook Sections Affected: Montana State Office Handbook 3101-1 – Issuance of Leases. Coordination: All Montana Field Offices and the MT FWP were contacted for input regarding the attached coordination procedures. Contact: Karen Johnson, Chief, Fluids Adjudication Section, (406) 896-5098. Signed by: Gene R. Terland Authenticated by: Kathy Ray (MT 922) 2 Attachments 1-MT FWP Coordination Procedures (1 p) 2-Sale Schedule/Cut-Off Dates (1p) Distribution (w/attms.) WO(310), LS, Rm. 501 WO(210), LS, Rm. 1075 FM, Dickinson FM, South Dakota Asst. FM Glasgow Asst. FM Havre SOMT Jeff Hagener, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701 T. O. Smith, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, P.O. Box 200701, Helena, MT 59620-0701 |
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