ELKO (AP) - A Houston-based energy company must alter its plans to explore for oil in Elko County to minimize the visual impacts on the California Trail, federal land managers said.
Noble Energy Inc. has proposed nearly three dozen drilling sites that border the historic pioneer trail near Mary's River, Starr Valley and Jiggs.
However, the Bureau of Land Management determined that 22 of the 33 sites would have an adverse visual impact on the view from the trail, The Elko Daily Free Press reported on July 15.
BLM District Manager Jill Silvey said all but six of those plans could be changed to reduce the impact.
"They could paint (the equipment) to blend into the landscape, or they could use lower profile drills," she said.
Noble officials had no immediate comment.
Historically, oil production hasn't been successful in Elko County in northern Nevada, but Noble officials hope hydraulic fracturing will allow it to extract oil it believes is in otherwise impermeable rock pockets. The company aims to break ground this summer.
Six of the proposed sites were either directly on the trail or near it - too close to mitigate impact, Silvey said.
"The BLM and Noble will meet soon to discuss possible solutions, she added.
County leaders who have supported Noble's project as a source of revenue said they were concerned that BLM's regulations could scuttle the development plans.
"On the surface it looks like it's a new tool to discourage development and economic prosperity in the West," Commission Chairman Glen Guttry said.
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