Roan Natural Gas Lease Deal Back On Track
GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A possible settlement that would allow a portion of the top of the Roan Plateau to be drilled for natural gas has won the support of Garfield County commissioners.
The commission delayed a vote over concerns about details of the proposed deal. Negotiations included environmental groups that sued to halt drilling on top of the Roan, the Bureau of Land Management, Bill Barrett Corp., which purchased the leases that are at issue, and the state.
The proposed settlement would free up some leases to be developed, but would allow others to be canceled. It involves federal mineral leases on the top of the Roan, most of which would be relinquished in exchange for allowing development of leases held by several energy companies at the base of the Roan.
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