The size of the planned drilling program is irrelevant. What...

The size of the planned drilling program is irrelevant. What matters is the level of environmental risk that may be caused by the drilling. Whether that's one hole or five hundred - it doesn't matter on jot. That two earlier rounds of drilling was approved by the BLM says everything you want to know about the environmental risk concerns at Big Sandy. The drawn out approval process is mostly due to ensuring respect is provided to the local tribe. A hasty decision and approval may have been interpreted as a sign of disrespect and a rushed process that hasn't considered all the matters raised by concerned locals. I'm happy with the five or six month process. It leaves everyone a winner. Apart from non-holders of course.