# Presentation: 909135

## Enhancements to EnvironmentalStewardship

***Allen Crockett***
***Supervisory NRS***
***BLM, Glenwood Springs***

***Mark Kelly***
***Surface Protection Specialist***
***BLM, Farmington***

***Kathleen Erwin***
***USFWS Liaison***
***USFWS, Pinedale***

***Jimmy Dickerson***
***USFS Liaison***
***USFS, Farmington***

***Shane Findlay***
***Pilot Project Manager/NRS***
***BLM, Miles City***

**Notes:**
Lunch/Happy Hour or Bucking Horse
Introduce Team
Allen Crockett, Supervisory NRS - Glenwood Springs Energy Office
Mark Kelly, Surface Protection Specialist - Farmington Field Office
Kathleen Erwin, USFWS Liaison - Pinedale Field Office
Jimmy Dickerson, Forest Service Liaison - Farmington Field Office
Shane Findlay, Pilot Project Manager/NRS - Miles City Field Office

## Presentation Outline

***Comprehensive Strategies***
***Use of ID Teams***
***Field-Wide or Geographic Area Planning***
***Large Areal Cultural & Wildlife Inventory***
***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office***
***Stakeholder Interests***
***Pre-Permit Planning***
***Outreach Meetings***
***Surface Compliance Monitoring***
***Farmington Pilot Office***
***Cooperating Federal Agencies***
***USFWS***
***USFS***
***Questions or Comments***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
The Pilot Office have made great improvements in environmental and resource stewardship.  Some of these improvements have been captured by our outline format:

Comprehensive Strategies
Use of ID Teams
Field-Wide or Geographic Area Planning
Large Areal Cultural & Wildlife Inventory
Glenwood Springs Pilot Office
Stakeholder Interests
Pre-Permit Planning
Outreach Meetings
Surface Compliance Monitoring
Farmington Pilot Office
Cooperating Federal Agencies
USFWS
USFS
Questions or Comments

Presentation Format
Use Chapter 4 – Pilot Innovations
As they relate to Environmental Stewardship
Pilot Office/Collaborator “Showcases”
All figures and numbers are from the Year 2 Report and not mine

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Use of Interdisciplinary Teams***
***Team Make-up***
***BLM personnel***
***Participating  federal, state and county agencies***
***Project proponent***
***Stakeholder Involvement***
***Modify proposed actions and environmental practices***
***ID Team Process ***
***Streamlines NEPA efforts***
***Provides improved environmental stewardship***
***Potential cost & time savings ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**

Pilot offices are routinely working with local oil and gas operators and other federal and state surface management agencies using the comprehensive drilling/surface use plan concept and the geographic area analysis strategy. 

These efforts result in a greater numbers of APD approvals and better management of the resources entrusted to BLM and other surface management entities. 

Pilot offices and Industry are using the following permit submission strategies:
	Multi-stakeholder ID Teams
	POD, GAP or Standard operation practice agreements
	Use of Interdisciplinary Teams

IDTeam Make-up
Many IDT’s are composed of BLM personnel and other personnel from federal, state and county agencies
USFWS, USACE, USFS, state (e.g., SHPOs, Game and Fish Departments, DEQs, Oil and Gas Commissions), and County representatives
Project proponent and proponent’s third-party NEPA contractor preparing the NEPA document

The use IDTs provide an early opportunity for the stakeholders (i.e., other federal and state agencies and the local counties) who have an interest in ongoing activities on BLM-managed lands to provide input into BLM’s NEPA/Planning processes.
Provides for modification of proposed actions based on ID Team proposals and incorporation of enhanced  environmental practices or new technological measures 

Generally the use of the ID Team Process provides for: 
Streamlining the NEPA Efforts/Process
Provides for Improved Environmental Stewardship
Potentially a Cost & Time Savings for the Proponent and BLM 

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Field-wide or Geographic Area Planning***
***Plans of Development/Geographic Area Plans/Standard Operating Practice Agreements***
***Comprehensive planning efforts***
***Oil and gas field or geographic area within a field analysis ***
***Multiple APD and facilities package***
***Evaluate proposed actions, environmental consequences, and mitigation measures for multi-year development ***
***Eliminates additional or small project scale NEPA documentation***
***Stakeholders and agency cooperation***
***Establish Development Strategies to meet environmental and economic needs***
***Field-wide drilling and surface use practices  ***
***Provide automated data for surface management and I&E personnel***
***Provides comprehensive environmental stewardship***
***Potential cost & time savings ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
Field-wide or Geographic Area Planning 

Include Plans of Development/Geographic Area Plans/Standard Operating Practice Agreements
These 3 are broad-scale Planning strategies which provide
Provides more Comprehensive/Improved Environmental Stewardship
Industry & BLM Cost & Time Savings 
Brief description of each include:
Plans of Development
Multiple APD and Facilities Package
Master Drilling Plan
Master Surface Use Plan
Share a common geographic area for future development

Geographic Area Plans
Comprehensive Planning Effort
Oil and gas field or geographic area within a field analysis 
Evaluate proposed actions, environmental consequences, and mitigation measures for multi-year development 
Compliance with NEPA and Eliminates additional or small project scale NEPA documentation
Stakeholders and Agency Cooperation
Establish Development Strategies to meet environmental and economic needs

Standard Operating Practice Agreements
Documented agreements between BLM and Oil & Gas Operators
Field-wide Drilling and Surface Use Practices, including production facilities, for an entire field or geologic formation
SOPs may include disposal of produced water, venting, flaring, tank batteries, pipelines, and compressor sites. 
SOP agreements typically are initiated and improved through the sundry notice process, stand-alone agreements, or agreement letters. 
Periodic updates to existing agreements addressing new practices and procedures
Provide automated data for surface management and I&E personnel 

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Large Areal Cultural & Wildlife Inventory***
***Large scale Cultural Block Survey and Wildlife Inventory***
***Comprehensive cultural/wildlife resource identification, mapping and review during oil & gas permitting  ***
***Facilitate present/future development and accommodate POD/GAP level analyses***
***Inventories and mapping conducted regardless to political/ownership boundaries***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
Large Areal Cultural & Wildlife Inventory

The pilot offices have used large scale Section 106 cultural block surveys and Section 7 wildlife inventories to provide a comprehensive cultural/wildlife resource identification, mapping and review during oil & gas permitting  

Many of our office utilize cultural block surveys or large scale wildlife inventories to facilitate present and future development and accommodate POD/GAP level analyses.

Much of the inventory and mapping occur and are conducted regardless to political/ownership boundaries

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**GLENWOOD SPRINGS ENERGY OFFICE, COLORADO**
**Master Development Plans (Geographic Area Plans)**
**Interdisciplinary Team**
**Improvements in Reclamation**
**Allen B. Crockett, Ph.D., J.D.**
**Supervisory Natural Resource Specialist/Physical Scientist**
**allen_crockett@blm.gov,   970-947-5234**

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office – Continued***
***Master Development Plans/ Geographic Area Plans (MDPs/GAPs)***
***Submitted by a Single Operator for a Specific Area***
***3- to 5-Year Development Horizon***
***One or Multiple Leases (Follow Lease Boundaries)***
***Proposed and Existing Pads, Pipelines, Access Roads***
***Federal, Split-Estate, and Fee Wells (with Bottom holes)***
***Federal Includes both BLM and USFS locations***
***Evaluate total project instead of piecemeal***
***Comprehensive resource surveys, “block clearances”***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office – Continued***
***MDPs/ GAPs – Continued***
***Identify ways to consolidate or shift facilities – pad location, pipeline alignments, offsite vs. onsite tanks***
***Provide geographic basis for stipulations/conditions of approval, impact analysis, and mitigation planning***
***Give public better picture of planned developments***
***Satisfy Onshore Order No. 1 posting process up-front***
***Facilitate use of Statutory Categorical Exclusions***
***Sometimes need to “carve out” components***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office – Continued***
***Interdisciplinary (ID) Team***
***Full range of specialists – botany, wildlife/fisheries, soils/hydrology, geology/paleo, cultural/archaeo, landscape architect, NEPA coordinator, lands & realty spec., civil eng. tech. + 5 Natural Resource Specialists/Physical Scientists***
***Dedicated to supporting Energy actions***
***Focused on best possible developments – understand O&G and resources in project area***
***Sufficient staffing level to meet customer needs***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office – Continued***
***ID Team – Continued***
***Sufficient staff to work extensively with other agencies and operators toward innovative mitigation***
***Supplements I&E Team to monitor resource protection, reclamation, weed control, etc. ***
***Includes some USFS and contractor personnel***
***Also includes USFWS and USACE representatives ***
***Backup provided by non-Energy Office staff***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office – Continued***
***Improvements in Reclamation***
***Ecologist/Reclamation Specialist focused on O&G***
***Continual refinement of re-vegetation (menu-based seed mixes, mulching, temporary seeding, monitoring)***
***Operators willing to experiment (e.g., woody stock, irrigation, colored erosion fabrics)***
***Operators funding university research project***
***Improvements to weed management program – Pesticide Use Proposals (PUPs)***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Comprehensive Strategies

***Glenwood Springs Pilot Office – Continued***
***Bottom Line***
***Pilot Program has allowed BLM to build a staff with full-time commitment to O&G projects***
***Enhances staff expertise with O&G ***
***Provides adequate staff to ensure best possible developments: project design, resource protection, mitigation, reclamation, and monitoring***
***Provides basis for continual improvements in environmental stewardship of O&G activities in GSFO area***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Stakeholder Interests

***Pre-Permit Planning***
***Improves the Quality of Permit Submissions***
***Provides for Enhanced Resource Conservation/Protection***
***Early Coordination with IDTs***
***Identify Resource Issues & Requirements***
***Enhances Industry & BLM Coordination/Education***
***Performance Measure 3.2 – Number of Meetings for Permits Where Pre-Planning is Conducted***
***FY 2007 Total – 427 ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
Pilot offices have been working aggressively to improve responsiveness to stakeholders. The improvements have occurred due to permit oversight and monitoring and a greater focus on providing outreach to Industry.

This has occurred in three ways: (1) providing operator pre-permit planning support to improve the quality of permit submissions to BLM, thereby saving BLM and Industry time and expenses; (2) conducting more timely surface compliance monitoring when concerns or issues are identified; and (3) hosting periodic Industry outreach meetings, which provides permitting and compliance information,  training, and a forum to identify and discuss issues.

Pilot offices have recognized the critical need to initiate early pre-permit resource protection and issue coordination work with operators to help effect good on-the-ground facility planning in a manner that will improve the quality of permit submissions (i.e., APDs, PODs, GAPs, and ROWs). 

Many offices are working up to a year in advance of permit submissions with Industry on oil and gas developments through early coordination with pilot office IDTs.

Increasing the number and type of team members who conduct onsite visits before permit submissions are sent to BLM, with the objective of identifying resource protection issues and requirements as early as possible in the permitting process

Conducting increased pre-permit planning with Industry eliminates confusion in permitting processes and educates both Industry and BLM regarding coordination expectations, regulatory requirements, and revisions to those requirements.

Performance Measure 3.2 – Number of Meetings for Permits Where Pre-Planning is Conducted
Total: 476 FY 2007

## Stakeholder Interests

***Outreach Meetings***
***Stakeholder Outreach Events***
***Conducted throughout the year or on demand***
***48% increase, 101 events in FY06 to 149 in FY07***
***Events Include:***
***Regular operator educational meetings***
***On-the-ground “tailgate” sessions with operator field personnel***
***Presentations at local Industry trade organization conferences***
***Participating in Industry/public/local govt. oil and gas working groups***
***Sponsoring educational outreach programs for the public***
***Information Provided:***
***BMPs***
***Permit data and processing requirements***
***BLM policies & procedures***
***Emerging issues***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
Outreach Meetings - Pilot offices have established a consistent number of stakeholder outreach events/meetings, conducted throughout the year or on demand as requested by the Industry

During FY07, the pilot offices have increased outreach sessions/meetings with all stakeholders by 48 percent from 101 sessions/meetings in FY06 to 149 in FY07.

Since passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, , an effort has been made to inform the public and stakeholders about the establishing the pilot offices, improving state and federal interagency coordination and collaboration, streamlining the oil and gas permitting process, and increasing I&E support. 

The pilot offices continue to take initiatives to expand existing and/or determine new ways to interact with Industry, stakeholders, and the general public. This outreach is taking the form of 
Regular operator educational meetings
On-the-ground “tailgate” sessions with operator field personnel
Presentations at local Industry trade organization conferences
Participating in Industry/public/local government oil and gas issue working groups
Sponsoring educational outreach programs for the general public

At these gatherings, BLM provides information on BMPs, permit data and processing requirements, new or existing policies & procedures, and identifies emerging issues.  From pilot office perspective, the Industry, stakeholders, and generally public response is favorable

Industry frequently seeks educational opportunities to allow new and existing personnel to learn and keep current on BLM policies and procedures

## Stakeholder Interests

***Surface Compliance Inspections***
***Improved Environmental and Resource Stewardship ***
***Year 2 Report***
***12% decrease in environmental violations***
***4.4% decrease in technical violations ***
***100% planned inspections were accomplished***
***Increased I&E Funding***
***Additional staff & training***
***Increased inspection numbers***
***Industry Compliance***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
Surface Compliance Inspections

Substantial improvement in I&E accomplishments are occurring with emphasis on environmental inspections to improve resource protection stewardship.   These improvements have been demonstrated through the increased of environmental and technical inspections

A 12% drop in environmental violations and a 4.4% drop in technical violations during year two. 100% of BLM’s planned inspections were accomplished during year two compared to 97 percent during year one.

Increased I&E funding has allowed the hiring of additional staff and training which has substantially increased inspection productivity after the start of the pilot, with significantly increased number of inspections conducted for FY07. 

Increased inspections have led to better compliance by Industry through a reduction in major violations.   The violation reduction is a result of the increased number of inspectors in the field, early identification and intervention of emerging violation situations, and through ongoing I&E outreach sessions where BLM is sharing technical and environmental violations insights.

## Stakeholder Interests

***10,982 Total Inspections FY07***
***8,880 Inspections FY06***
***24% increase ***
***100% Planned Inspections FY07 ***
***91% FY06***
***	******                           ******Total Inspections for All Pilot Offices (Planned vs. Completed)***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
In addition to processing APDs, the offices conducted 10,982 total inspections (environmental inspections, drilling inspections, and production inspections), as opposed to 8,880 inspections conducted in FY06, for a 24 percent increase. 
100% of BLM’s planned inspections were completed during FY07 compared to 91 percent during FY06.

## Stakeholder Interests

***5,976 Environmental Inspections FY07***
***3,365 Environmental Inspections FY06***
***78%  Increase***
***Largest categories of inspections for FY07***
***Overall Inspections Increase from FY06 to FY07***
***	******	******	******Total Inspections by Inspection Type for All Pilot Offices***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
FY07 Environmental Inspections increased by 78 percent from 3,365 inspections in FY06 to 5,976 inspections in FY07

The number of Environmental Inspections (5,976) and Production Inspections (2,188) are the largest categories of inspections for FY07

Overall inspections show a sharp rise from FY06 to FY07

## Stakeholder Interests

***Technical and Environmental Major Enforcement Actions***
***Stable from FY05 to FY07***
***Environmental actions increase***
***4% Decrease FY07***
***	******	******Total Environmental and Technical Enforcement Actions for All Pilot Offices***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
Technical and Environmental Major Enforcement Actions
The overall number of major technical enforcement actions has remained stable from FY05 to FY07. The overall number of major environmental enforcement actions has increased since the start of the pilot, but has decreased by four percent during FY07. 

## Stakeholder Interests

***Farmington Pilot Office – Mark Kelly***
***Goal = 100% Compliance with COA’s***
***Environmental Compliance Team***
***Educate Operators and Contractors Regarding Interim and Final Reclamation (Gold Book)***
***Site Specific Onsite Meetings with Operators and Contractors to discuss Reclamation Expectations***
***Inspection of Interim and Final Reclamation Earthwork***
***Dynamic Process***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***Federal & State Interagency Collaboration***
***Interagency collaboration is providing:***
***Earlier and better communication and coordination***
***Minimization of surprises and permitting delays***
***Resolution of misunderstandings between agencies and Industry personnel***
***Use of programmatic agreements utilizing BMPs***
***Improved permit processing, related training and outreach opportunities***
***Enhanced monitoring, protection, and conservation of natural resources***
***Decrease in elapsed time for interagency coordination***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
During the second year of the pilot project, the pilot offices demonstrated an increased commitment through interagency collaboration to collocate and streamline federal and state permit processing and resource protection. As a result, interagency collaboration is providing:

Earlier and better communication and coordination on energy-related projects

Minimization of surprises and permitting delays through improved communication

Quicker resolution of misunderstandings between agencies and Industry personnel

Greater use of programmatic agreements utilizing best management practices (BMPs) 

Improved oil and gas permit process-related training and outreach opportunities

Enhanced monitoring, protection, and conservation of other natural resources.

Federal interagency coordination has been enhanced between Section 365 pilot participants, as evidenced by permits and permit-related reviews for interagency coordination, with little or no decrease compared to decrease in overall permitting and decreased elapsed time for interagency coordination.

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFWS Section 7 Consultation – Kathleen Erwin***
***BLM routinely works with USFWS on ESA Section 7 and sensitive species consultations where such resource protection may be required during permit processing. USFWS coordination has allowed— ***
***Effective technical assistance on trust resource issues pursuant to the ESA, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act***
***Understanding differing points of view and agency positions where issues can be addressed quickly through personal interaction, where ideas and solutions can be readily exchanged and USFWS biologists are considered critical members of ID Teams***
***Early input and improved USFWS understanding of details associated with O&G projects, allowing USFWS trust resource issues to be identified early in project processing (formal and informal communication at the field level)***
***Improved response time by addressing issues face-to-face instead of through letters and emails***
***Building trust between USFWS and BLM personnel, which establishes a collaborative “bridge” allowing complex issues to be addressed with less friction. ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFWS Section 7 Consultation – Continued***
***Wyoming Example of Programmatic Success***
***BLM In the Powder River Basin (showcased in the year two report) the FWS worked with the BLM to develop a new programmatic consultation in 2007 that covered both informal and formal ESA consultation for three affected species.  This resulted in nearly a paperless site specific project review where our biologist now works closely with the BLM bios to review the projects either in the field or during other informal discussions.  This allowed our biologist to spend less time behind a computer generating paper documents that tiered to an overarching programmatic consultation and resulted in little on the ground conservation and more time conducting effectiveness monitoring in the gas field.  This effectiveness monitoring (not compliance monitoring) has resulted in the discovery of power line construction problems that have led to many electrocuted raptors.  Our biologist initiated discussions with industry and the BLM and this has resulted in the development of an avian protection plan (APP) that ensures existing power lines are retrofitted and new lines are built raptor safe.  This discovery has been a real eye opener for the FWS and under our previous programmatic operating procedure we would have never been able to implement this due to work load.  Additionally, the increase in field time has allowed our biologist to build relationships with the BLM and industry regarding our trust resources and we're currently in the process of helping to develop more APPs with industry. ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFWS Section 7 Consultation – Continued***
***Stakeholder Interest ***
***The Rawlins pilot office the FWS has been involved in outreach with the BLM during their annual industry meetings (not sure what the title is).  We have given presentations to industry at these meetings regarding our trust resources that may be impacted and how they can plan accordingly to reduce impacts.  We've made ourselves very available to industry and/or the BLM for technical assistance. ***
***Surface Compliance ***
***The FWS is also involved in what we term as effectiveness monitoring, we defer to the BLM for compliance monitoring.  We monitor random development sites to determine if our conservation recommendations were implemented and if they were effective...and if they were necessary.  Our goal is to provide the best available recommendations to industry and the BLM that will ensure conservation of our trust resources and species of concern to preclude listing under the ESA. ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFWS Section 7 Consultation – Continued***
***Cooperating Federal Agency ***
***As indicated previous we have developed a programmatic for the Powder River Basin (and we plan to do this for other gas fields in Wyoming as well) that streamlines ESA consultation and has reduced consultation time from 30-days to only a day or so under the new programmatic.  This has given the FWS biologist more time to spend in the field interacting with industry and the BLM. ***
***	******Additionally, in Wyoming we are working to develop agreements with industry and/or the BLM and state agencies as well to conserve trust resources and species of concern.  Some of these examples include Candidate Conservation Agreements, Best Management Practices, pipeline agreements and so on. ***
***	******Finally, collocation of FWS bios in pilot offices has opened doors that previously were shut tight due to misunderstanding or simply lack of face time.  Pilot office collocation has built positive working relationships with the BLM and industry and the FWS better understands the shoes they walk in and in return we believe they understand us better.  This is not to say there are never disagreements, but we all strive to make it a win-win.***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFWS Section 7 Consultation – Continued***
***Non-Pilot Office Energy Development-Wyoming Example***
***Aside from the two designated pilot offices in Wyoming there is considerable energy development outside of the two pilot offices that the FWS is involved in.  One example is the Pinedale BLM field office, though not a pilot office, it is extremely busy in energy development and actually generated more APDs in 2007 than the Rawlins PO.  Because the WYO-FWS is concerned that there are negative impacts to migratory birds, especially songbirds, from oil and gas development, we initiated an avian protection plan with industry, the BLM, FWS-LE and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.  This plan is not yet final but we are already seeing the positive results of it:  willingness by industry to come to the table to discuss actions that may modify their development but will help them comply with the MBTA/BGEPA, willingness by industry and the BLM to work with the FWS and Game and Fish Department to do good things for wildlife while moving forward with responsible development.  Bottom line it has resulted in open communication and hopefully will reduce migratory bird mortality.  Even though Pinedale is not a pilot office we hope to use this avian protection plan as a template for other gas fields in Wyoming and possibly other pilot offices.  The plan offers as much flexibility as is possible within the MBTA/BGEPA when industry and the BLM make a good faith efforts to implement the plan. ***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFS Coordination – Jimmy Dickerson***
***The USFS cooperates with BLM to ensure that management goals and objectives for oil and gas exploration and development activities are achieved, that operations are conducted to minimize effects on surface resources, and that the land affected by operations is rehabilitated. BLM issues and administers oil and gas leases on USFS lands only after the USFS has made a leasing availability decision and taken the action necessary for BLM to offer available lands for lease. When a federal lease on USFS lands is issued, the USFS has full responsibility and authority to approve and regulate all surface-disturbing activities associated with oil and gas exploration and development through analysis and approval of the Surface Use Plan of Operations (SUPO), a component of an APD.***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
USFS Coordination
The USFS cooperates with BLM to ensure that management goals and objectives for oil and gas exploration and development activities are achieved, that operations are conducted to minimize effects on surface resources, and that the land affected by operations is rehabilitated. BLM issues and administers oil and gas leases on USFS lands only after the USFS has made a leasing availability decision and taken the action necessary for BLM to offer available lands for lease. When a federal lease on USFS lands is issued, the USFS has full responsibility and authority to approve and regulate all surface-disturbing activities associated with oil and gas exploration and development through analysis and approval of the Surface Use Plan of Operations (SUPO), a component of an APD.
By colocating USFS personnel in the pilot offices, collaboration is resulting in the following:
USFS participation on project IDTs
Streamlining and improvement of EA time frames
Collaboration and coordination on I&E activities.

## Cooperating Federal Agencies

***USFS Coordination – Continued ***
***By collocating USFS personnel in the pilot offices, collaboration is resulting in the following:***
***Improved communication between BLM, FS, USFWS, and other agencies – All FS Pilot Offices***
***USFS participation on shared project IDTs – Farmington***
***BLM/FS ID team - Glenwood***
***Streamlining and improvement of EA time frames***
***Archeology***
***Use of EPACT 2005 Categorical Exclusions***
***Collaboration and coordination on I&E activities.******	***
*** ******Farmington Field Office PETs inspecting wells on FS this year ***
***Glenwood – Joint BLM/FS meeting to set Inspection Priorities***

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

**Notes:**
USFS Coordination
The USFS cooperates with BLM to ensure that management goals and objectives for oil and gas exploration and development activities are achieved, that operations are conducted to minimize effects on surface resources, and that the land affected by operations is rehabilitated. BLM issues and administers oil and gas leases on USFS lands only after the USFS has made a leasing availability decision and taken the action necessary for BLM to offer available lands for lease. When a federal lease on USFS lands is issued, the USFS has full responsibility and authority to approve and regulate all surface-disturbing activities associated with oil and gas exploration and development through analysis and approval of the Surface Use Plan of Operations (SUPO), a component of an APD.
By colocating USFS personnel in the pilot offices, collaboration is resulting in the following:
USFS participation on project IDTs
Streamlining and improvement of EA time frames
Collaboration and coordination on I&E activities.

## Questions or Comments?

***Section 365 Pilot Update Session - May 20, 2008***

***Allen Crockett***
***allen_crockett@blm.gov***

***Mark Kelly***
***mark_kelly@nm.blm.gov***

***Kathleen Erwin***
***kathleen_erwin@fws.gov***

***Jimmy Dickerson***
***jwdickerson@fs.fed.us***

***Shane Findlay***
***sfindlay@blm.gov***

**Notes:**
Questions or Comments???