June 21, 2013

Idaho Department of Lands, Boise Staff Office

P.O. Box 83720, Boise, ID 83720-0050

comments@idl.idaho.gov

Director Schultz and IDL staff,

On behalf of over 1500 members of Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), I offer these comments concerning the application submitted to the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) by Alta Mesa Services (AMS) requesting permits to drill the ML Investments 2-10 well in Payette County, Idaho.  Unlike my previous comments addressing the Alta Mesa Services application to drill the Smoke Ranch 1-21 well, which IDL inexplicably dismissed despite their relevance to the application in question, I request inclusion of these comments in the public record.

WIRT members oppose permitting, drilling, and potential hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) of the proposed Alta Mesa Resources ML Investments 2-10 well due to the inadequacy and incompleteness of AMS plans submitted for public review.  Considering that additional documents were added to the Smoke Ranch 1-21 well application after the public comment period and before IDL permitting of said application, we request that, if the currently submitted AMS application to drill the ML Investments 2-10 well is modified or augmented in any way, the Idaho Department of Lands re-open the comment period for this application.  We also ask that IDL re-open the comment period for the Smoke Ranch 1-21 well for the same reasons.  Failure to both post revised applications and re-open public review of them violates section 51 of 20.07.02 Rules Governing Oil and Gas Conservation in the State of Idaho. Continue reading →

Payette County Commissioners set to decide rules for drilling on Monday

Payette County Commissioners are scheduled to make a decision on Monday on a new ordinance regulating gas and oil drilling in the county.

During a public hearing last week, community members told commissioners that the proposed ordinance needed to be more specific about work times, financial assistance from the state, and training for local fire stations.

Snake River Oil and Gas is purchasing mineral rights in Payette and Washington counties for the purpose of drilling for natural gas.  The company has already begun to drill wells in preparation for commercial use.

Company officials have said that all the wells in Idaho were drilled conventionally, without hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”  The wells are similar to a water well, except much deeper and with a lot more cement and steel casing.

The natural gas business has moved into Malheur County, Oregon, as well, with Western Land Services doing seismic testing earlier this year. Continue reading →