The US Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comments on EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc.’s proposed Pumba natural gas pipeline south of Rifle, Colo. Written comments for an environmental assessment which is being prepared will be accepted through Feb. 15.
EnCana USA’s proposal calls for construction of a 24-in. pipeline across 7.2 miles of BLM acreage and 4 miles of private land from the East Mamm Creek compressor station southeast of Rifle to the Rifle compressor station west of the town, the US Department of the Interior agency’s Silt, Colo., field office said on Jan. 24.
It said that EnCana USA also proposes construction of a 16-in. steel water pipeline paralleling the Pumba pipeline. The water pipeline from the Lake Fox Tie-In (South Grass Mesa) to the Rifle compressor station would cross 5.5 miles of BLM land and 1.2 miles of private acreage.
Both pipelines would be bored 130-280 ft under the Colorado River from private property to avoid impacts to the riverbed, aquatic wildlife, and the adjacent riparian ecosystem, according to BLM. The new bores would be near an existing pipeline bore beneath the river, it said.
The notice said while BLM only has jurisdiction on the sections of proposed pipeline that would cross land which it manages, private land, including the river bore, will be included in its environmental analysis.
Contact Nick Snow at [email protected].
