“BLM Greenlights Oil and Gas Projects in Gunnison County, Predicts $2.2 Billion Economic Boost”

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has approved a final supplemental environmental assessment for oil and gas development projects in Gunnison County, Colorado. The assessment includes an enhanced air quality analysis and confirms earlier decisions to approve the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan and the Dual Operator 5-Pad Proposal. The projects involve the development of 55 private and 171 federal oil and gas wells on 38 new and existing well pads within the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office.

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The Bull Mountain project is projected to generate 11,500 jobs and nearly $2.2 billion in economic output over its lifespan, according to Robert Potts, BLM Colorado Southwest District Deputy Manager. The BLM’s management of public oil and gas resources is intended to meet the nation’s energy needs in an environmentally responsible manner, in line with Executive Order 14154 and Secretary’s Order 3418, both titled “Unleashing American Energy.”

The BLM is responsible for overseeing the extraction of critical minerals on federally managed public lands, which are essential for technologies such as data centers and defense applications, and for authorizing the development of traditional energy sources like oil, gas, and coal. Through permitting, land management, and environmental oversight, the BLM aims to ensure a stable supply of these resources, reduce reliance on foreign minerals, and bolster the nation’s energy security, thereby supporting the continued operation of key industrial sectors.