## - ANNOUNCEMENT -

## 

## 2007 Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Development

## Environmental Best Management Practices

##  Awards Program

United States Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
announces the second annual Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Development
Environmental Best Management Practices (BMP) Awards Program to promote
and showcase the finest examples of responsible fluid mineral resource
development on BLM-managed public lands, other Federal agency lands,
Indian trust lands, or on split estate lands where the surface is
privately owned and the BLM manages the mineral estate. The 2007 BMP
awards will recognize oil, gas, and geothermal operators and their
partners who demonstrate leadership and creativity in reducing the
impacts of oil, gas, and geothermal development. The BMP awards program
will serve as an important component of the BLM's overall approach to
ensuring that energy development is conducted in an environmentally
responsible manner. For current information on the Awards Program,
visit: <http://www.blm.gov/bmp>

**[What are BMPs]{.underline}?**

BMPs are innovative, dynamic, and economically feasible mitigation
measures applied on a site-specific basis to reduce, prevent, or avoid
adverse environmental impacts. By reducing the area of disturbance,
adjusting the location of facilities, and by utilizing various other
techniques to minimize environmental effects, the BLM and oil, gas, and
geothermal operators are significantly reducing impacts to wildlife,
soil, water, air, and scenic quality that may be associated with new
energy development.

Typical BMPs that have been used on a case-by-case basis include:

-   Constructing the smallest well pads and access roads needed to
    safely develop and access the well. Unnecessarily large well pads
    and roads contribute to greater loss of vegetation and wildlife
    habitat. Where it has been determined to be appropriate, some
    operators are now using small, two-track roads, resulting in
    significant reductions in the loss of vegetation.

-   Reshaping and revegetating producing oil or gas well locations
    through interim reclamation to restore wildlife habitat, protect
    soils, and to maintain scenic quality. With standard interim
    reclamation, operators have typically reduced the size of producing
    well locations by half. For new, producing well pads, the current
    trend is to reshape more of the well pad to blend it with the
    surrounding topography and to cover it with topsoil and revegetate
    nearly the entire well pad. This still allows the operator to set up
    future workover operations on the remaining flat area and on top of
    the new vegetation when necessary.

-   Reshaping plugged and abandoned well locations and access roads to
    the original contour or a contour that blends with the surrounding
    topography, replacing the topsoil, and revegetating the sites so
    that they blend with the landscape over time. In 5 to 20 years, it
    will be increasingly difficult to identify where many of these wells
    and roads were located as the planted and local native vegetation
    recolonize the sites.

-   Where appropriate, burying pipelines in or adjacent to the road to
    reduce the loss of native vegetation and scenic resources, rather
    than burying cross-country or laying pipelines on the surface.

-   Many operators are burying power lines to hide them from view and to
    prevent raptor electrocution or raptor perching and preying on other
    sensitive species.

-   Where it makes sense, centralizing production facilities and using
    telemetry to monitor wells in important wildlife habitat to reduce
    the need for all-weather roads and vehicle trips that disturb
    wildlife. For example, one operator in Wyoming estimated that by
    centralizing its production facilities offsite, it will eliminate up
    to 25,000 truck trips per year in important wildlife habitat.

**[Leadership in the Use of Oil, Gas, or Geothermal Environmental
BMPs]{.underline}**

Awards will be presented to one or more fluid minerals operators and
their partners, as applicable. Awards will recognize environmental
leadership and stewardship through the use of environmental BMPs in oil,
gas, or geothermal operations and development. This award recognizes
continuous achievements in utilizing BMPs to successfully meet or exceed
Federal, State, or local environmental protection requirements with
minimal oversight. Those eligible for the BMP award include oil, gas, or
geothermal operators or partnerships entered into by operators. Nominees
must clearly demonstrate a commitment to excellence by putting into
practice outstanding examples of BMPs for minimizing impacts to the
land, resources, or communities. Nominations will be accepted from
**August 1, 2006, to October 1, 2006**. BMPs must have been put into use
in 2005 or 2006. A nominations review panel consisting of the BLM, the
energy industry, and conservation groups will review nominations. It is
anticipated that awards will be presented at the BLM National Fluid
Minerals Conference in 2007.

**[How do I nominate a company for an award]{.underline}?**

Operators, regulatory authorities, surface management agencies (such as
the BLM, Forest Service, State agencies), tribes, trade organizations,
landowners, individual Indian mineral owners, and members of the general
public may nominate operators for these awards. Company officials and
employees may nominate their own operations for recognition.

Nominations must contain all of the information listed in the "[What
should the nomination contain]{.underline}?" section of this
announcement and indicate the award category for the nomination.
Nominations should be sent to the BLM State Office with jurisdiction for
public lands in the State where the operation is located. Nominations
will be accepted by the BLM State Offices from **August 1, 2006, through
October 1, 2006**. The addresses for these State Offices and areas of
their jurisdiction are shown in the following table.

+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| BLM State Office and Mailing       | Area of Jurisdiction            |
| Address                            |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Alaska State Office                | Contact: **Greg J. Nobel**      |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Alaska                          |
|                                    |                                 |
| Division of Energy and Solid       |                                 |
| Minerals                           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 222 West 7th Avenue, \# 13         |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Anchorage. AK 99513-7599           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 907-271 --5960                     |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Arizona State Office               | Arizona                         |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Renewable and Mineral Resources    |                                 |
| Group                              |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 222 North Central Avenue           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Phoenix, AZ 85004-2203             |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 602-417-9200                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| California State Office            | Contact: **Jim Haerter**        |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | California                      |
|                                    |                                 |
| Branch of Energy and Minerals      |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 2800 Cottage Way, W1834            |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Sacramento, CA 95825               |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 916-978-4400                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Colorado State Office              | Contact: **Duane Spencer**      |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Colorado                        |
|                                    |                                 |
| Fluid Minerals                     |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 2850 Youngfield Street             |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Lakewood, CO 80215-7093            |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 303-239-3600                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Eastern States State Office        | Contact:                        |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Subsurface Federal Lands in     |
|                                    | Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, |
| Energy and Minerals                | Delaware, Florida, Georgia,     |
|                                    | Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,        |
| 7450 Boston Boulevard              | Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,     |
|                                    | Massachusetts, Maryland,        |
| Springfield, VA 22153              | Michigan, Minnesota,            |
|                                    | Mississippi, Missouri, New      |
| 703-440-1600                       | Hampshire, New Jersey, New      |
|                                    | York, North Carolina, Ohio,     |
|                                    | Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,     |
|                                    | South Carolina, Tennessee,      |
|                                    | Vermont, Virginia, West         |
|                                    | Virginia and Wisconsin          |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Idaho State Office                 | Contact: **Karen F. Shilling**  |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Idaho                           |
|                                    |                                 |
| Minerals                           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 1387 South Vinnell Way             |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Boise, ID 83709-1657               |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 208-373-3889                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Montana State Office               | Contact: **John Bown**          |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Montana, North Dakota and South |
|                                    | Dakota                          |
| Branch of Fluid Minerals           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 5001 Southgate Drive               |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Billings, MT 59101                 |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 406-896-5004                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Nevada State Office                | Contact: **Rich Hoops**         |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Nevada                          |
|                                    |                                 |
| Fluid Minerals Team                |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 1340 Financial Boulevard           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Reno, NV 89502                     |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| (PO Box 12000, Reno, NV            |                                 |
| 89520-0006)                        |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 775-861-6400                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| New Mexico State Office            | Contact: **Gary Stephens**      |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma    |
|                                    | and Texas                       |
| Oil and Gas Program                |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 1474 Rodeo Drive                   |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Santa Fe, NM 87505-0115            |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 505-438-7400                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Oregon State Office                | Oregon and Washington           |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Fluid Minerals                     |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 333 SW 1^st^ Avenue                |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| PO. Box 2965                       |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Portland, OR 97208-2965            |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 503-808-6001                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Utah State Office                  | Contact: **Al McKee**           |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Utah                            |
|                                    |                                 |
| Branch of Fluid Minerals           |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 324 South State Street             |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| P.O. Box 45155                     |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0155      |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 801-539-4001                       |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+
| Wyoming State Office               | **Contact: Darryl Watts**       |
|                                    |                                 |
| Bureau of Land Management          | Wyoming and Nebraska            |
|                                    |                                 |
| Fluid Minerals Section             |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 5353 Yellowstone Road              |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| PO. Box 1828                       |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| Cheyenne, WY 82003                 |                                 |
|                                    |                                 |
| 307-775 --6256                     |                                 |
+------------------------------------+---------------------------------+

# [What should the nomination contain]{.underline}? 

# 

# Each nomination should include the following:

Cover sheet containing:

-   Name of the nominated company

-   Name and location of the project area(s), if applicable.

-   Contact information for the person or company or organization
    representative making the nomination including name, affiliation,
    address, telephone number and e-mail address.

-   Contact information for the oil, gas, or geothermal company, if
    different from above.

Narrative Description that includes:

-   Description of the specific BMP activity or practice, including
    specifics, where applicable, on leadership, creativity, problems,
    solutions, extent of BMP use, approximate costs, partnering, land
    ownership, and unusual circumstances.

-   History of why the BMP was selected, and whether it was required or
    voluntary.

-   Short- and long-term benefits of the BMP(s) to the environment or
    community.

-   Effectiveness of the work, quantified where possible.

-   Transferability of the work or value of the accomplishments to other
    oil, gas, or geothermal operations.

-   A list of references, with telephone numbers of individuals who can
    validate the successful use of the BMP(s).

-   Statement summarizing why the award is deserved.

Photographs (recommended):

Photographs are [highly]{.underline} encouraged if they help to document
the success of the nominated activity. Not all nominated activities can
be photographed, but pictures should be included whenever available.
Photographs should be 8" by 10" or smaller and include a description
explaining what is illustrated and the approximate date the photo was
taken. Photos submitted on a CD as jpgs, along with a signed statement
that the photos are released for public use, are appreciated.

Format:

> Submit three copies of the nomination on 8½" by 11" paper. Please try
> to limit nominations to 10 pages or less of typed text. There is no
> limit on the number of photographs.

Supporting documentation, such as letters of recognition from regulators
or community officials or newspaper articles, is not required, but may
be submitted with the nomination.

**[How will the award winners be selected]{.underline}?**

# 

Each BLM State Office will review the nominations submitted to that
office and verify the information contained in the nomination and that
the operation or program complies with applicable regulations and
permits. All nominations will be accompanied by a Statement of Findings,
prepared by the BLM State Office, and will be forwarded to the BLM
Headquarters Office for referral to a panel of judges.

The panel of judges will consist of energy industry and natural resource
experts and may comprise Federal agencies, academic institutions, trade
and conservation groups, and members of the public. Each judge will rate
each application based on the following criteria:

  ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------
  **Criteria**                                           **Maximum
                                                         Points**

  Clarity and thoroughness of the nomination             5

  Effectiveness of the project or program                25

  Transferability of the technique, practice or program  20

  Short- and long-term benefits of the BMP(s) to the     20
  environment or community                               

  Difficulty presented by the problem addressed by the   20
  project or program                                     

  Extent to which the project or program exceeds         10
  regulatory requirements or public expectations         
  ------------------------------------------------------ ----------------

The judges' scores will be tallied and the finalists selected. The
judges will use their personal experience when evaluating the unique
aspects of each application. There may be situations where the
categories above do not adequately capture all of these unique
characteristics. The judges may modify the criteria by consensus. The
judges determine the award winners. There is no minimum or maximum
number of awards that may be granted in any one year.

# [Important Dates]{.underline}:

Nominations for the 2007 awards program must be filed with the BLM State
Offices between August 1, 2006, and October 1, 2006. BLM State Offices
will review and forward all nominations to BLM Headquarters by October
30, 2006. It is anticipated that results will be formally announced at
the BLM's National Fluid Minerals Conference in 2007.