Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas Development Project, WY, 58113-58114 [E7-20114]
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices
approximately 21,500 individuals are
residents on the Reservation, with
approximately 98 percent of those
individuals living in the Plan Area’s
Valley Floor Conservation Area. An
additional approximately 200 residents
live within off-Reservation Target
Acquisition Areas. Within the Plan Area
and the surrounding incorporated areas
of Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage,
Cathedral City, and Desert Hot Springs
as well as the unincorporated County of
Riverside, the Southern California Area
Government (SCAG) anticipates the
growth rate over the next 30-year period
(between 2000 and 2030) to average 129
percent between these areas.
The THCP Plan Area encompasses
approximately 35,871 acres in the
Coachella Valley within the vicinity of
the following three incorporated cities:
Cathedral City, Palm Springs, and
Rancho Mirage. Specifically, the Plan
Area encompasses sections of land in a
checkerboard pattern with lands
included in the Coachella Valley Area
Government’s draft Multiple Species
Habitat Conservation Plan. The THCP
Plan Area encompasses both
Reservation (i.e., Tribal Trust Land,
Allotted Trust Land, and Fee Land) and
other off-Reservation lands held by the
applicant and is one of three large
habitat planning efforts in Riverside
County.
As described in the Draft THCP and
the Draft EIS, the proposed THCP would
provide for the creation of a reserve
system that protects and manages up to
approximately 19,375 acres of habitat
for the Covered Species. The proposed
reserve system will be established from
lands within the Plan Area as well as
lands outside the current Plan Area
(identified as the Action Area in the
THCP) and within a priority system
encompassing seven conservation areas
that are either adjacent or linked by
biological corridors. The acquisition
program for the reserve system,
involving conservation of a maximum of
19,375 acres, is anticipated to occur
over the life of the permit. When
completed, the reserve system will
include core habitat for Covered
Species, essential ecological processes,
and biological corridors and linkages to
provide for the conservation of the
proposed Covered Species.
The THCP includes measures to
avoid, minimize, and mitigate
incidental take of the Covered Species,
emphasizing project design
modifications to protect both habitats
and species’ individuals where
appropriate. A monitoring and reporting
plan would gauge the Plan’s success
based on achievement of biological
goals and objectives and would ensure
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16:35 Oct 11, 2007
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that conservation keeps pace with
development. The THCP also includes a
management program, including
adaptive management, which allows for
changes in the conservation program if
the biological species objectives are not
met, or new information becomes
available to improve the efficacy of the
THCP conservation strategy. Covered
Activities would include public and
private development conducted by the
applicant, Tribal members, or nonFederal third parties within the Plan
Area that requires certain ministerial
and discretionary actions by the
applicant subject to consistency with
THCP policies.
The Draft EIS analyzes three other
alternatives in addition to the proposed
THCP Preferred Project Alternative
described above including: A No Action
Alternative in which the applicant and
Bureau of Indian Affairs would continue
to seek incidental take authorizations on
a project-by-project basis, as necessary,
resulting in a piece-meal approach to
habitat conservation; an alternative that
includes implementing the 2002approved THCP without a section 10(a)
permit resulting in less conservation;
and, an expanded conservation
alternative that includes additional
Peninsular bighorn sheep habitat impact
avoidance.
Public Comments
The Service and the applicant invite
the public to comment on the Draft
THCP, Draft Implementing Agreement,
and Draft EIS during a 90-day public
comment period beginning the date of
this notice. Before including your
address, phone number, e-mail address,
or other personal identifying
information in your comment, you
should be aware that your entire
comment—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you may ask us in your comment to
withhold your personal identifying
information from public review, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
This notice is provided pursuant to
section 10(a) of the Act and Service
regulations for implementing the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). The Service will evaluate the
application, associated documents, and
comments submitted thereon to prepare
a Final to the draft EIS. A permit
decision will be made no sooner than 30
days after the publication of the Final
EIS and completion of the Record of
Decision.
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58113
Dated: October 2, 2007.
Ken McDermond,
Deputy Manager, California/Nevada
Operations Office, Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E7–19852 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–090–07–1310–DB]
Notice of availability of the Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas
Development Project, WY
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
(DEIS) for the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas
Development Project, Kemmerer,
Wyoming.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969 as amended, and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Moxa Arch Area Infill
Gas Development Project DEIS. The
DEIS analyzes the environmental
consequences of a proposed natural gas
development and production operation
on the 475,808 acre Moxa Arch project
area.
DATES: The DEIS will be available for
public review and comment for 60
calendar days starting on the date the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
publishes their Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register. The BLM can best
utilize your comments and resource
information submissions within the 60day review period.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the DEIS has been
sent to affected Federal, State, and local
government agencies and to interested
parties. The document will be available
electronically on the following Web site:
https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/
NEPA/kfodocs/moxa_arch.html.
If you are interested in viewing
material referenced or posted to the
BLM Web site, please contact the
Kemmerer Field Office as to its
availability. Copies of the DEIS will be
available for public inspection at the
following locations:
• Bureau of Land Management,
Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming
82009; and
• Bureau of Land Management,
Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Highway
189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101.
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jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
58114
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 197 / Friday, October 12, 2007 / Notices
(For additional information on how to
submit comments, refer to the
Supplementary Information section
below.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michele Easley, Project Lead, BLM
Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Highway
189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101,
or by telephone at (307) 828–4524.
Requests for information also may be
sent electronically to:
kemmerer_wymail@blm.gov with
‘‘Attention: Moxa Arch DEIS
Information Request’’ in the subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The area
is located within the administrative
jurisdiction of the BLM Kemmerer Field
Office, Townships 15 through 23 North
(T15–23N), Ranges 111 through 113
West (R111–113W), 6th Principal
Meridian, west of Green River,
Wyoming, east of Lyman and Opal,
Wyoming, and south of the Green River
and Fontenelle Reservoir. Interstate 80
(I–80) bisects the southern third of the
Project Area.
EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) and other
companies (Operators) propose to
expand the existing natural gas drilling
and field development operations on
BLM-administered Federal, state, and
private lands in the Moxa Arch Area of
southwestern Wyoming. The Operators
propose to drill up to 1,861 new wells
from 1,861 new well pads over a 10-year
period. Wells would be drilled to the
Frontier and Dakota formations at
depths of 11,000 to 12,000 feet. The
Life-of-Project is expected to be 40 to 60
years and the wells would be drilled at
densities ranging from 4–12 wells per
square mile. Of the 1,861 wells, 695
would be drilled from lands
administered by the BLM, Bureau of
Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. The remaining 1,166 wells
would be drilled from private lands, or
lands administered by the State of
Wyoming.
The BLM published its Notice of
Intent to prepare an EIS for the Moxa
Arch Area Infill Gas Development
Project in the Federal Register on
October 7, 2005. Based upon issues and
concerns identified during scoping and
throughout the NEPA process, the Moxa
Arch Area Infill Gas Development
Project DEIS focuses on potential
impacts to air quality, biological and
physical resources, transportation,
socio-economics, and grazing. In
compliance with Section 7(c) of the
Endangered Species Act, as amended,
the DEIS includes a biological
assessment for the purpose of
identifying endangered or threatened
species, which may be affected by the
Proposed Action.
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16:35 Oct 11, 2007
Jkt 214001
The current identified range of
alternatives will allow the BLM to select
a management strategy that will meet
project objectives, while providing
adequate environmental protection.
During scoping and alternatives
development, few public comments
were received. The BLM is seeking
additional public input, and has not
identified a preferred alternative at this
time. The DEIS analyzes four
alternatives in detail:
• The Proposed Action Alternative:
The construction of well pads, access
roads, pipelines, and other ancillary
facilities (gas processing plant,
compressor stations, etc.) for projected
development of 1,861 natural gas wells;
• Alternative A (No Action):
Development of approximately 757 new
wells would continue under the 1997
Record of Decision for the Expanded
Moxa Arch Area Natural Gas
Development Project EIS;
• Alternative B: Development would
occur as in the Proposed Action, but
would apply additional Best
Management Practices to reduce
impacts on sensitive resources; and
• Alternative C: Development of
5,165 new wells and well pads
throughout the Moxa Arch gas field
(densities ranging from 4–16 wells per
square mile).
Comments may be submitted as
follows:
1. Electronically mailed to
kemmerer_wymail@blm.gov. Please
submit comments with ‘‘Attn: Moxa
Arch Project Manager’’ in the subject
line and do not use special characters or
any form of encryption. Do not include
attachments, as the BLM e-mail security
system will not accept them. If you do
not receive a confirmation of receipt of
your comment, contact Michele Easley
at the same address or telephone
number provided in the FOR FURTHER
INFORMATION section.
2. Written comments may be mailed
or delivered to the BLM at: Moxa Arch
DEIS, Project Manager, Bureau of Land
Management Kemmerer Field Office,
312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, WY
83101.
The BLM will only accept comments
on the Moxa Arch DEIS if they are
submitted using one of the methods
described above. All comment
submittals must include the
commenter’s name and street address.
Before including your address, phone
number, e-mail address, or other
personal identifying information in your
comment, be advised that your entire
comment—including your personal
identifying information—may be made
publicly available at any time. While
you can ask us in your comment to
PO 00000
Frm 00069
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
withhold from public review your
personal identifying information, we
cannot guarantee that we will be able to
do so.
Alan Rabinoff,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. E7–20114 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[AK–930–08–1310–DQ]
Notice of Extension of Comment
Period for the Northeast National
Petroleum Reserve—Alaska Draft
Supplemental Integrated Activity Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
Notice of extension of comment
period for the Northeast National
Petroleum Reserve—Alaska Draft
Supplemental Integrated Activity Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement.
ACTION:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces an
extension of the comment period on the
Northeast National Petroleum Reserve—
Alaska Draft Supplemental Integrated
Activity Plan/Environmental Impact
Statement (IAP/EIS). The original notice
issued August 24, 2007, provided for a
comment period to end on October 23,
2007. The BLM is extending the
comment period to November 6, 2007.
Jim
Ducker, BLM Alaska State Office, 907–
271–3130.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The
Notice of Availability published in the
Federal Register on August 24, 2007
provided for comments on the Draft
IAP/EIS to be received through October
23, 2007. The North Slope Borough, the
local government for the plan area and
a cooperating agency on this plan, has
requested an extension of the comment
period. The BLM has decided to accede
to the borough’s request. Comments on
the Draft IAP/EIS will now be accepted
through November 6, 2007.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: October 1, 2007.
Thomas P. Lonnie,
State Director.
[FR Doc. E7–20133 Filed 10–11–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 197 (Friday, October 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58113-58114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20114]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-090-07-1310-DB]
Notice of availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement for the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas Development Project, WY
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS) for the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas Development Project,
Kemmerer, Wyoming.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969 as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas Development Project DEIS.
The DEIS analyzes the environmental consequences of a proposed natural
gas development and production operation on the 475,808 acre Moxa Arch
project area.
DATES: The DEIS will be available for public review and comment for 60
calendar days starting on the date the Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) publishes their Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.
The BLM can best utilize your comments and resource information
submissions within the 60-day review period.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the DEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State,
and local government agencies and to interested parties. The document
will be available electronically on the following Web site: https://
www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/kfodocs/moxa_arch.html.
If you are interested in viewing material referenced or posted to
the BLM Web site, please contact the Kemmerer Field Office as to its
availability. Copies of the DEIS will be available for public
inspection at the following locations:
Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009; and
Bureau of Land Management, Kemmerer Field Office, 312
Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101.
[[Page 58114]]
(For additional information on how to submit comments, refer to the
Supplementary Information section below.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michele Easley, Project Lead, BLM
Kemmerer Field Office, 312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, Wyoming 83101,
or by telephone at (307) 828-4524. Requests for information also may be
sent electronically to: kemmerer_wymail@blm.gov with ``Attention: Moxa
Arch DEIS Information Request'' in the subject line.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The area is located within the
administrative jurisdiction of the BLM Kemmerer Field Office, Townships
15 through 23 North (T15-23N), Ranges 111 through 113 West (R111-113W),
6th Principal Meridian, west of Green River, Wyoming, east of Lyman and
Opal, Wyoming, and south of the Green River and Fontenelle Reservoir.
Interstate 80 (I-80) bisects the southern third of the Project Area.
EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) and other companies (Operators) propose
to expand the existing natural gas drilling and field development
operations on BLM-administered Federal, state, and private lands in the
Moxa Arch Area of southwestern Wyoming. The Operators propose to drill
up to 1,861 new wells from 1,861 new well pads over a 10-year period.
Wells would be drilled to the Frontier and Dakota formations at depths
of 11,000 to 12,000 feet. The Life-of-Project is expected to be 40 to
60 years and the wells would be drilled at densities ranging from 4-12
wells per square mile. Of the 1,861 wells, 695 would be drilled from
lands administered by the BLM, Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. The remaining 1,166 wells would be drilled from
private lands, or lands administered by the State of Wyoming.
The BLM published its Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS for the
Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas Development Project in the Federal Register
on October 7, 2005. Based upon issues and concerns identified during
scoping and throughout the NEPA process, the Moxa Arch Area Infill Gas
Development Project DEIS focuses on potential impacts to air quality,
biological and physical resources, transportation, socio-economics, and
grazing. In compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act,
as amended, the DEIS includes a biological assessment for the purpose
of identifying endangered or threatened species, which may be affected
by the Proposed Action.
The current identified range of alternatives will allow the BLM to
select a management strategy that will meet project objectives, while
providing adequate environmental protection. During scoping and
alternatives development, few public comments were received. The BLM is
seeking additional public input, and has not identified a preferred
alternative at this time. The DEIS analyzes four alternatives in
detail:
The Proposed Action Alternative: The construction of well
pads, access roads, pipelines, and other ancillary facilities (gas
processing plant, compressor stations, etc.) for projected development
of 1,861 natural gas wells;
Alternative A (No Action): Development of approximately
757 new wells would continue under the 1997 Record of Decision for the
Expanded Moxa Arch Area Natural Gas Development Project EIS;
Alternative B: Development would occur as in the Proposed
Action, but would apply additional Best Management Practices to reduce
impacts on sensitive resources; and
Alternative C: Development of 5,165 new wells and well
pads throughout the Moxa Arch gas field (densities ranging from 4-16
wells per square mile).
Comments may be submitted as follows:
1. Electronically mailed to kemmerer_wymail@blm.gov. Please submit
comments with ``Attn: Moxa Arch Project Manager'' in the subject line
and do not use special characters or any form of encryption. Do not
include attachments, as the BLM e-mail security system will not accept
them. If you do not receive a confirmation of receipt of your comment,
contact Michele Easley at the same address or telephone number provided
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION section.
2. Written comments may be mailed or delivered to the BLM at: Moxa
Arch DEIS, Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer Field
Office, 312 Highway 189 North, Kemmerer, WY 83101.
The BLM will only accept comments on the Moxa Arch DEIS if they are
submitted using one of the methods described above. All comment
submittals must include the commenter's name and street address.
Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or
other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that
your entire comment--including your personal identifying information--
may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in
your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying
information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Alan Rabinoff,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. E7-20114 Filed 10-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
