Reported locally, “The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced late last week that it is removing the geothermal parcel near Nathrop from the lease sale slated for Feb. 11 at the bureau’s office in Lakewood.

The parcel, which straddles Chalk Creek, “will undergo additional environmental review and analysis,” said Greg Shoop, district manager of the bureau’s Front Range District.

“We received several substantive comments in writing after our Jan. 14 public information meeting in Buena Vista that caused us to decide to further review the current stipulations on the parcel,” Shoop said.

Senator Gail Schwartz was among those who sent letters asking the bureau to delay the geothermal lease.

“As the Colorado State Senator representing Chaffee County, I would like to communicate my concerns regarding what many consider to be a hasty timing of this lease,” she wrote.

The parcel had been listed for possible sale at the Sept. 2009 lease sale but was deferred to allow adequate time for tribal consultations.

The parcel was again listed for the Nov. 2009 sale but was deferred at the request of the director of the Colorado Division of Natural Resources so the bureau and the division could review their respective regulatory requirements.

The Mt. Princeton parcel would be the first federal geothermal lease offered for sale in Colorado, but the bureau has not set another date for offering the parcel at a future auction.

“We want to assure the public that the environmental analysis process was thoroughly followed before the parcel is offered for sale,” Shoop said.”

Source: The Mountain Mail