Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, WY, 7296-7298 [05-2636]
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 28 / Friday, February 11, 2005 / Notices
• Updates on the Federal, State, and
educational components of the NCGMP
• Strategic Goals
DATES: March 24–25, 2005 commencing
at 9 a.m. on March 24 and adjourning
by 5 p.m. on March 25.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Laurel Bybell, U.S. Geological Survey,
908 National Center, Reston, Virginia
20192 (703) 648–5281.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Meetings
of the National Cooperative Geologic
Mapping Program Advisory Committee
are open to the Public.
P. Patrick Leahy,
Associate Director for Geology, U.S.
Geological Survey.
[FR Doc. 05–2721 Filed 2–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–17–M
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–090–1220–MA]
Notice of Seasonal Closure of Public
Lands to Motorized Vehicle Use
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of seasonal closure of
certain public lands located in Lincoln
County, Wyoming, to all types of motor
vehicle use.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to 43 Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) subpart 8364,
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
announces its intentions to close certain
BLM-administered public lands to all
types of motor vehicle use during the
period of January 1 through April 30,
annually. This seasonal closure is
needed to protect public lands and
resources and to minimize stress to
wintering elk, moose, pronghorn
antelope and mule deer.
This seasonal closure affects public
lands located within the Raymond
Mountain Wilderness Study Area
(WSA), Slate Creek, Rock Creek, and
Bridger Creek winter ranges. Except for
travel on highways or county roads,
motorized vehicle travel within these
areas will be allowed only by written
authorization from the Kemmerer Field
Manager. Personnel of the BLM,
Wyoming Game and Fish Department,
U.S. Department of Agriculture-APHIS
& Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service, and law enforcement personnel
are exempt from this closure only when
performing official duties. Operators of
existing oil and gas facilities may
perform maintenance and pumping, as
approved, and livestock operators may
perform permitted activities.
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17:18 Feb 10, 2005
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This seasonal closure will be
effective annually from January 1
through April 30.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Wally Mierzejewski, Outdoor Recreation
Planner, or Dale Wondercheck, Wildlife
Biologist, Bureau of Land Management,
312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer,
Wyoming 83101. Mr. Mierzejewski or
Mr. Wondercheck may also be contacted
by telephone at 307–828–4500.
The
Kemmerer Resource Management Plan
(RMP) Final Environmental Impact
Statement (FEIS) and Record of Decision
(ROD) states that big game winter ranges
may be closed to minimize stress to
wintering animals. Prior to effecting
seasonal closures the BLM must consult
annually with the Wyoming Game and
Fish Department. If conditions warrant,
the BLM Kemmerer Field Manager may
implement a seasonal closure on certain
BLM-administered lands and travel
ways including existing roads and twotrack trails, to all types of motorized
vehicle travel (i.e., snowmobiles, allterrain vehicles, any vehicle including
trucks, sport utility vehicles and cars,
motorcycles etc.). Crucial big game
winter range as identified in the
Kemmerer RMP may be closed annually
from January 1 through April 30. Use of
these areas by non-motorized means is
still allowed.
The BLM Kemmerer Field Office is
responsible for management of crucial
winter range habitat located on public
lands within Lincoln County. The
Raymond Mountain WSA, Slate Creek,
Rock Creek, and Bridger Creek areas are
crucial wintering ranges for elk, moose,
antelope, and mule deer. Reasons for the
closure include the effects of persistent
drought and/or severe winter conditions
which threaten the health of these
wintering wildlife species. Low forage
production associated with persistent
drought conditions causes animals to go
into winter in poor condition. Losses of
wintering habitat from development
activity can reduce the area available to
the wintering animals. These impacts to
wintering wildlife are compounded by
significant human activity, such as day
and night wildlife observation, still and
video photography, snowmobiling, and
antler gathering. Because of the
increased stress the presence of
motorized vehicles inflicts on wintering
big game during difficult winter periods,
the number of animals that could die
and the rate of aborting of fetuses on the
winter range can increase. This
decreases production of young during
the following summer. Therefore,
closing crucial winter range to
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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motorized vehicles reduces impacts to
wintering big game.
The following BLM-administered
lands are included in this closure:
• The Raymond Mountain WSA,
located approximately 15 miles north of
Cokeville and contains 32,956 acres.
• The Slate Creek area including all
BLM-administered lands south of
Fontenelle Creek, west and north of
Route 189, and east of the crest of Slate
Creek Ridge, and contains 111,100
acres.
• The Rock Creek area including all
BLM-administered lands south of
County Road 204 (Pine Creek Road),
west of the crest of Dempsey Ridge, west
of Fossil Butte National Monument,
north and east of Highway 30, and
contains 105,750 acres.
• The Bridger Creek area including all
BLM-administered lands south of
Highway 30, west of Fossil Ridge, west
of Bear River Divide, north of the
Uinta—Lincoln County line, east of the
Utah—Wyoming border, and southeast
of Highway 89, and contains 98,400
acres.
Maps of these areas will be posted
with this notice at key locations that
provide access into the closure areas, as
well as at the Kemmerer Field Office,
312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer,
Wyoming 83101–9710.
Seasonal closure orders may be
implemented as provided in 43 CFR,
subparts 8341.2 and 8364.1. Violations
of this closure are punishable by a fine
not to exceed $1000, and/or
imprisonment not to exceed 12 months.
Dated: December 21, 2004.
Robert A. Bennett,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 05–2638 Filed 2–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–100–04–1310–DB]
Notice of Availability of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Jonah Infill Drilling Project,
Sublette County, WY
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
for the proposed Jonah Infill Drilling
Project and notice of public
involvement meeting for the purposes of
providing comment on the DEIS.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: Under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 28 / Friday, February 11, 2005 / Notices
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated
regulations, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) in cooperation with
the State of Wyoming, announces the
availability of a DEIS that evaluates,
analyzes, and discloses to the public
direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental impacts of a proposal to
continue to develop a natural gas field
by increasing the density of well
locations by drilling additional wells.
This practice is known as ‘‘infill’’
drilling.
The Jonah Infill Drilling Project (JIDP)
area is located approximately 32 miles
southeast of Pinedale and 28 miles
northwest of Farson, Sublette County,
Wyoming. The JIDP area is
approximately 30,200 acres in
Townships 29 and 30 North, Range 114
West, 6th Principal Meridian. The DEIS
analyzes a proposal made by EnCana Oil
& Gas (USA) Inc., (EnCana) and BP
America Production Company (BP),
referred to collectively as ‘‘the
Companies,’’ to increase development of
Federal natural gas resources in an area
known as the Jonah Field. The
Companies’ proposal includes drilling
up to 3,100 natural gas wells from
existing and new well pads, at a
minimum well pad density of 64 well
pads per aliquot section (1 wellpad/10
acres), and at a rate of 250 wells per
year. The infill drilling is expected to be
concentrated in a 21,000 acre portion of
the Jonah Field. The proposed life of
project (LOP) is 70 to 80 years with the
majority of drilling and development
activities to occur within the first 8 to
12 years following approval. The
proposal also includes constructing or
upgrading associated ancillary
transportation and transmission
facilities within the 30,200 acres project
area. The total project area is comprised
of: Approximately 28,280 acres of
Federal surface and mineral estate
administered by the BLM; 1,280 acres of
State of Wyoming surface and minerals;
and 640 acres of private surface
ownership with Federal mineral (split
estate).
Under the provisions of NEPA, the
State of Wyoming assisted in the
preparation of the DEIS as a cooperating
agency.
The DEIS will be available for
review for 60 calendar days following
the date that the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) publishes its
Notice of Availability (NOA) in the
Federal Register. The BLM can best use
your comments and resource
information within the 60 day review
period provided above.
DATES:
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The BLM will announce public
meetings and other opportunities to
submit comments on this project at least
15 days prior to the event.
Announcements will be made through
local news media and the Pinedale Field
Office’s Web site; https://
www.wy.blm.gov/pfo/info.htm. These
meetings will provide the public with
the opportunity to submit oral or
written comments on the DEIS to the
BLM.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the DEIS has been
sent to affected Federal, State and local
government agencies and to interested
parties.
An electronic copy of the DEIS may
be viewed or downloaded from the BLM
Web site at https://www.wy.blm.gov/pfo.
Copies of the DEIS are available for
public inspection at the following BLM
office locations:
• Bureau of Land Management,
Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne,
Wyoming.
• Bureau of Land Management,
Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill
Street, Pinedale, Wyoming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Ms. Carol Kruse, Project
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office,
432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming
82941. Ms. Kruse may also be reached
at (307) 367–5352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In
response to a proposal submitted by the
Companies, the BLM published in the
March 13, 2003, Federal Register a
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
and notice of the potential for
amendment of the Pinedale Resource
Management Plan (RMP).
As described in the NOI, the
Companies’ original proposal to drill
450 wells in addition to 47 existing
wells at the same number of well
locations was approved by the BLM in
the Environmental Assessment (EA),
Finding of No Significant Impact and
Decision Record for the Modified Jonah
Field II Natural Gas Project, March 2000
(Modified Jonah Field II EA). In
September 2002, the Companies
submitted a proposal to drill and
develop an additional 1,250 wells from
850 well pad locations within the same
area analyzed in the Modified Jonah
Field II EA. This proposal was based on
a well pad spacing of one well pad per
20 to 10 acres. (32 to 64 wells per
aliquot section). In November 2003, the
Companies submitted a revision to their
proposal; this revised proposal is
described and analyzed as the
‘‘Proposed Action’’ alternative. The
Companies revised their proposal from
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7297
drilling and development of an
additional 1,250 wells to drilling and
development of an additional 3,100
wells. Well location spacing would be
dictated by the geologic conditions,
such as geologic formations and the
location of gas resources. Well pad
spacing would vary from one well pad
per 5 acres to one well pad per 20 acres.
The DEIS describes in detail and
analyzes the impacts of eight
alternatives, in addition to the No
Action Alternative and the Companies’
Proposed Action. The following is a
summary of the alternatives:
1. No Action Alternative—No
additional development would be
authorized beyond what is currently
authorized as recorded in the March
2000 decision made for Modified Jonah
II Project.
2. Proposed Action—Up to 3,100 new
wells would be drilled and developed.
Well pad location spacing would
depend on geologic conditions. Drilling
rate would be up to 250 wells per year.
Operator-committed mitigation
measures would be applied.
3. Alternative A—This alternative
proposes to maximize economic
recovery of gas resources. Up to 3,100
new wells would be drilled and
developed. Well pad location would
depend on geologic conditions. Drilling
and well development rates would vary
between 75 and 250 wells per year. No
‘‘operator-committed’’ mitigation
measures would apply, but some BLMstandard mitigation measures would be
applied.
4. Alternative B—This alternative
proposes activities that would minimize
surface disturbance within the project
area. No new well pads would be
constructed and existing well pads
would be expanded to accommodate
additional directionally drilled wells as
appropriate. Drilling and well
development rates would vary between
75 and 250 wells per year. The
Companies would agree to some
‘‘operator committed’’ mitigation and
some mitigation measures would be
required in addition to standard
mitigation measures.
5. Alternative C—This alternative
proposes activities that would allow a
moderate level of surface disturbance.
Up to 1,250 new wells would be drilled
and developed. Drilling and
development rates would vary between
75 and 250 wells per year. The
Companies would agree to some
‘‘operator committed’’ mitigation and
some mitigation measures would be
required in addition to standard
mitigation measures.
6. Alternative D—This alternative
proposes activities that would allow an
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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 28 / Friday, February 11, 2005 / Notices
intermediate level of surface
disturbance. Up to 2,200 new well pads
would be drilled and developed.
Drilling and development rates would
vary between 75 and 250 wells per year.
The Companies would agree to some
‘‘operator committed’’ mitigation and
some mitigation measures would be
required in addition to standard
mitigation measures.
7. Alternative E—This alternative
proposes to restrict well pad spacing to
16 well pads per aliquot section or 1
well pad per 40 acres. Up to 3,100 new
wells and up to 266 new well pads
would be drilled and developed.
Drilling and well development rates
would vary between 75 and 250 wells
per year. The Companies would agree to
some ‘‘operator committed’’ mitigation
and some mitigation measures would be
required in addition to standard
mitigation measures.
8. Alternative F—This alternative
proposes to restrict well pad spacing to
32 well pads per aliquot section, or 1
well pad per 20 acres. Up to 3,100 new
wells and up to 1,208 well pads would
be drilled and developed. Drilling and
well development rates would vary
between 75 and 250 wells per year. The
Companies would agree to some
‘‘operator committed’’ mitigation and
some mitigation measures would be
required in addition to standard
mitigation measures.
9. Alternative G—This alternative
proposes to restrict well pad spacing to
64 well pads per aliquot section, or 1
well pad per 10 acres. The Companies
would agree to some ‘‘operator
committed’’ mitigation and some
mitigation measures would be required
in addition to standard mitigation
measures.
10. Agency Preferred Alternative—
This alternative would allow up to
3,100 new wells from a variable number
of well pads to be drilled and
developed. Three drilling density zones
in the project area would govern surface
well pad location. The drilling rate is
250 well per year. In addition to
‘‘operator committed’’ mitigation onsite, the Companies would agree to
conduct off-site mitigation and an
accelerated reclamation schedule.
Features common to all action
alternatives: Exploration of unexplored
formations; inclusion of the north half
of Section 23, T. 28 N., R. 109 W. as a
similar action for analysis purposes;
development of ancillary facilities,
including but not limited to a new wareyard, expansion of existing compressor
stations, and new/expanded water
disposal facilities; some degree of
upgrade of the Burma Road; and an
average Life of Field (LOF) of 70 to 80
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17:18 Feb 10, 2005
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years beginning with project
authorization through reclamation.
Disposition of Potential for
Amendment of the Pinedale RMP: Based
on a review of information and
comments received in response to the
NOI and during the preparation of the
DEIS, the Pinedale Field Manager has
determined that this proposal is in
conformance with the Pinedale RMP
(1988). Postponing this DEIS until the
Pinedale RMP revisions, that are
currently underway, are completed,
would not be in the public interest nor
a timely agency response to the
Companies’ proposal made in 2001.
Therefore, no amendment to the
Pinedale RMP will be made as a result
of analyses conducted for this DEIS.
How To Submit Comments
The BLM welcomes your comments
on the JIDP DEIS. The BLM asks that
those submitting comments make them
as specific as possible with reference to
chapters, page numbers, and paragraphs
in the DEIS document. Comments that
contain only opinions or preferences
will not receive a formal response;
however, they will be considered, and
included, as part of the BLM decisionmaking process. The most useful
comments will contain new technical or
scientific information, identify data gaps
in the impact analysis, or provide
technical or scientific rationale for
opinions or preferences.
Written comments may be mailed
directly or delivered to the BLM at:
Jonah Infill Drilling Project DEIS,
Project Manager, Bureau of Land
Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432
East Mill Street, P.O. Box 768, Pinedale,
Wyoming 82941.
You may send comments
electronically to
WYMail_Jonah_Infill@blm.gov. Please
put ‘‘Attention: Carol Kruse’’ in the
subject line. Comments submitted by
facsimile will not be accepted or
considered.
To receive full consideration by the
BLM all DEIS comment submittals must
include the commenter’s name and
street address.
Comments, including the names and
street addresses of each respondent, will
be available for public review at the
BLM office listed above during regular
business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except for
Federal holidays. Your comments may
be published as part of the EIS process.
Individual respondents may request
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold
your name or street address, or both,
from public review or from disclosure
under the Freedom of Information Act,
you must state this prominently at the
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beginning of your written comments.
Such requests will be honored to the
extent allowed by law. We will not
consider anonymous comments. All
submissions from organizations or
businesses will be made available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Robert A. Bennett,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 05–2636 Filed 2–10–05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–100–05–1310–DB]
Notice of Meeting of the Pinedale
Anticline Working Group’s
Transportation Task Group
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of public meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act (1976) and the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (1972), the U.S.
Department of the Interior, Bureau of
Land Management (BLM) Pinedale
Anticline Working Group (PAWG)
Transportation Task Group
(subcommittee) will meet in Pinedale,
Wyoming, for a business meeting. Task
Group meetings are open to the public.
DATES: A PAWG Transportation Task
Group meeting is scheduled for March
8, 2005, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
ADDRESSES: The meeting of the PAWG
Transportation Task Group will be held
in the Board Room of the Pinedale
Library at 155 S. Tyler Ave., Pinedale,
WY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill
Wadsworth, BLM/Transportation TG
Liaison, Bureau of Land Management,
Pinedale Field Office, 432 E. Mills St.,
PO Box 738, Pinedale, WY, 82941; 307–
367–5341.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Pinedale Anticline Working Group
(PAWG) was authorized and established
with release of the Record of Decision
(ROD) for the Pinedale Anticline Oil
and Gas Exploration and Development
Project on July 27, 2000. The PAWG
advises the BLM on the development
and implementation of monitoring plans
and adaptive management decisions as
development of the Pinedale Anticline
Natural Gas Field (PAPA) proceeds for
the life of the field.
After the ROD was issued, Interior
determined that a Federal Advisory
Committees Act (FACA) charter was
required for this group. The charter was
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 28 (Friday, February 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7296-7298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2636]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-100-04-1310-DB]
Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement
for the Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, WY
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Jonah Infill Drilling Project and
notice of public involvement meeting for the purposes of providing
comment on the DEIS.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
[[Page 7297]]
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated
regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in cooperation with
the State of Wyoming, announces the availability of a DEIS that
evaluates, analyzes, and discloses to the public direct, indirect, and
cumulative environmental impacts of a proposal to continue to develop a
natural gas field by increasing the density of well locations by
drilling additional wells. This practice is known as ``infill''
drilling.
The Jonah Infill Drilling Project (JIDP) area is located
approximately 32 miles southeast of Pinedale and 28 miles northwest of
Farson, Sublette County, Wyoming. The JIDP area is approximately 30,200
acres in Townships 29 and 30 North, Range 114 West, 6th Principal
Meridian. The DEIS analyzes a proposal made by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA)
Inc., (EnCana) and BP America Production Company (BP), referred to
collectively as ``the Companies,'' to increase development of Federal
natural gas resources in an area known as the Jonah Field. The
Companies' proposal includes drilling up to 3,100 natural gas wells
from existing and new well pads, at a minimum well pad density of 64
well pads per aliquot section (1 wellpad/10 acres), and at a rate of
250 wells per year. The infill drilling is expected to be concentrated
in a 21,000 acre portion of the Jonah Field. The proposed life of
project (LOP) is 70 to 80 years with the majority of drilling and
development activities to occur within the first 8 to 12 years
following approval. The proposal also includes constructing or
upgrading associated ancillary transportation and transmission
facilities within the 30,200 acres project area. The total project area
is comprised of: Approximately 28,280 acres of Federal surface and
mineral estate administered by the BLM; 1,280 acres of State of Wyoming
surface and minerals; and 640 acres of private surface ownership with
Federal mineral (split estate).
Under the provisions of NEPA, the State of Wyoming assisted in the
preparation of the DEIS as a cooperating agency.
DATES: The DEIS will be available for review for 60 calendar days
following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The
BLM can best use your comments and resource information within the 60
day review period provided above.
The BLM will announce public meetings and other opportunities to
submit comments on this project at least 15 days prior to the event.
Announcements will be made through local news media and the Pinedale
Field Office's Web site; https://www.wy.blm.gov/pfo/info.htm. These
meetings will provide the public with the opportunity to submit oral or
written comments on the DEIS to the BLM.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the DEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State
and local government agencies and to interested parties.
An electronic copy of the DEIS may be viewed or downloaded from the
BLM Web site at https://www.wy.blm.gov/pfo. Copies of the DEIS are
available for public inspection at the following BLM office locations:
Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432 East
Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Carol Kruse, Project
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale,
Wyoming 82941. Ms. Kruse may also be reached at (307) 367-5352.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a proposal submitted by the
Companies, the BLM published in the March 13, 2003, Federal Register a
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) and notice of the potential for amendment of the Pinedale
Resource Management Plan (RMP).
As described in the NOI, the Companies' original proposal to drill
450 wells in addition to 47 existing wells at the same number of well
locations was approved by the BLM in the Environmental Assessment (EA),
Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record for the Modified
Jonah Field II Natural Gas Project, March 2000 (Modified Jonah Field II
EA). In September 2002, the Companies submitted a proposal to drill and
develop an additional 1,250 wells from 850 well pad locations within
the same area analyzed in the Modified Jonah Field II EA. This proposal
was based on a well pad spacing of one well pad per 20 to 10 acres. (32
to 64 wells per aliquot section). In November 2003, the Companies
submitted a revision to their proposal; this revised proposal is
described and analyzed as the ``Proposed Action'' alternative. The
Companies revised their proposal from drilling and development of an
additional 1,250 wells to drilling and development of an additional
3,100 wells. Well location spacing would be dictated by the geologic
conditions, such as geologic formations and the location of gas
resources. Well pad spacing would vary from one well pad per 5 acres to
one well pad per 20 acres.
The DEIS describes in detail and analyzes the impacts of eight
alternatives, in addition to the No Action Alternative and the
Companies' Proposed Action. The following is a summary of the
alternatives:
1. No Action Alternative--No additional development would be
authorized beyond what is currently authorized as recorded in the March
2000 decision made for Modified Jonah II Project.
2. Proposed Action--Up to 3,100 new wells would be drilled and
developed. Well pad location spacing would depend on geologic
conditions. Drilling rate would be up to 250 wells per year. Operator-
committed mitigation measures would be applied.
3. Alternative A--This alternative proposes to maximize economic
recovery of gas resources. Up to 3,100 new wells would be drilled and
developed. Well pad location would depend on geologic conditions.
Drilling and well development rates would vary between 75 and 250 wells
per year. No ``operator-committed'' mitigation measures would apply,
but some BLM-standard mitigation measures would be applied.
4. Alternative B--This alternative proposes activities that would
minimize surface disturbance within the project area. No new well pads
would be constructed and existing well pads would be expanded to
accommodate additional directionally drilled wells as appropriate.
Drilling and well development rates would vary between 75 and 250 wells
per year. The Companies would agree to some ``operator committed''
mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required in addition
to standard mitigation measures.
5. Alternative C--This alternative proposes activities that would
allow a moderate level of surface disturbance. Up to 1,250 new wells
would be drilled and developed. Drilling and development rates would
vary between 75 and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to
some ``operator committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures
would be required in addition to standard mitigation measures.
6. Alternative D--This alternative proposes activities that would
allow an
[[Page 7298]]
intermediate level of surface disturbance. Up to 2,200 new well pads
would be drilled and developed. Drilling and development rates would
vary between 75 and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to
some ``operator committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures
would be required in addition to standard mitigation measures.
7. Alternative E--This alternative proposes to restrict well pad
spacing to 16 well pads per aliquot section or 1 well pad per 40 acres.
Up to 3,100 new wells and up to 266 new well pads would be drilled and
developed. Drilling and well development rates would vary between 75
and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to some ``operator
committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required
in addition to standard mitigation measures.
8. Alternative F--This alternative proposes to restrict well pad
spacing to 32 well pads per aliquot section, or 1 well pad per 20
acres. Up to 3,100 new wells and up to 1,208 well pads would be drilled
and developed. Drilling and well development rates would vary between
75 and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to some ``operator
committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required
in addition to standard mitigation measures.
9. Alternative G--This alternative proposes to restrict well pad
spacing to 64 well pads per aliquot section, or 1 well pad per 10
acres. The Companies would agree to some ``operator committed''
mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required in addition
to standard mitigation measures.
10. Agency Preferred Alternative--This alternative would allow up
to 3,100 new wells from a variable number of well pads to be drilled
and developed. Three drilling density zones in the project area would
govern surface well pad location. The drilling rate is 250 well per
year. In addition to ``operator committed'' mitigation on-site, the
Companies would agree to conduct off-site mitigation and an accelerated
reclamation schedule.
Features common to all action alternatives: Exploration of
unexplored formations; inclusion of the north half of Section 23, T. 28
N., R. 109 W. as a similar action for analysis purposes; development of
ancillary facilities, including but not limited to a new ware-yard,
expansion of existing compressor stations, and new/expanded water
disposal facilities; some degree of upgrade of the Burma Road; and an
average Life of Field (LOF) of 70 to 80 years beginning with project
authorization through reclamation.
Disposition of Potential for Amendment of the Pinedale RMP: Based
on a review of information and comments received in response to the NOI
and during the preparation of the DEIS, the Pinedale Field Manager has
determined that this proposal is in conformance with the Pinedale RMP
(1988). Postponing this DEIS until the Pinedale RMP revisions, that are
currently underway, are completed, would not be in the public interest
nor a timely agency response to the Companies' proposal made in 2001.
Therefore, no amendment to the Pinedale RMP will be made as a result of
analyses conducted for this DEIS.
How To Submit Comments
The BLM welcomes your comments on the JIDP DEIS. The BLM asks that
those submitting comments make them as specific as possible with
reference to chapters, page numbers, and paragraphs in the DEIS
document. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences will not
receive a formal response; however, they will be considered, and
included, as part of the BLM decision-making process. The most useful
comments will contain new technical or scientific information, identify
data gaps in the impact analysis, or provide technical or scientific
rationale for opinions or preferences.
Written comments may be mailed directly or delivered to the BLM at:
Jonah Infill Drilling Project DEIS, Project Manager, Bureau of Land
Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, P.O. Box 768,
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.
You may send comments electronically to WYMail--Jonah--
Infill@blm.gov. Please put ``Attention: Carol Kruse'' in the subject
line. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted or
considered.
To receive full consideration by the BLM all DEIS comment
submittals must include the commenter's name and street address.
Comments, including the names and street addresses of each
respondent, will be available for public review at the BLM office
listed above during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.),
Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. Your comments may
be published as part of the EIS process. Individual respondents may
request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street
address, or both, from public review or from disclosure under the
Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the
beginning of your written comments. Such requests will be honored to
the extent allowed by law. We will not consider anonymous comments. All
submissions from organizations or businesses will be made available for
public inspection in their entirety.
Robert A. Bennett,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2636 Filed 2-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
