Prepare for marathon reading

The Bureau of Land Management has spent several years going through its planning processes to prepare several voluminous environmental impact statements and environmental assessments that will have significant future impacts in Sublette County. While public participation has already been a part of the process, the major work for the public may soon begin. It now appears that the public will be reading and responding to several of the planning documents simultaneously.

According to the latest BLM timeline, the EIS for the South Piney coalbed methane development should be released in mid- to late-October. That document should be followed in early November by release of the EA and a decision for Questar's year-round drilling program for the Mesa.

The Jonah EIS is set for release in early- to mid-November, while the draft EIS for the Pinedale Resource Management Plan is set for Nov. 5.