Notice of Availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the Pinedale Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Project, Sublette County, WY, 36553-36554 [E8-14493]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 125 / Friday, June 27, 2008 / Notices
Dated: June 23, 2008.
Michael Fris,
Acting Regional Director, Region 8,
Sacramento, California.
[FR Doc. E8–14581 Filed 6–26–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–55–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY–100–08–1310–DB]
Notice of Availability of a Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement for the Pinedale Anticline
Oil and Gas Exploration and
Development Project, Sublette County,
WY
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has
prepared a Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement
(FSEIS) that analyzes additional oil and
gas development in the Pinedale
Anticline Project Area (PAPA).
DATES: The FSEIS will be available for
review for 30 days following the date
the Environmental Protection Agency
publishes their Notice of Availability in
the Federal Register. A Record of
Decision (ROD) will be prepared
following the 30-day review period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Caleb Hiner, BLM Project Manager, 768
West Pine Street, P.O. Box 768,
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941. Electronic
mail may be sent to:
Caleb_Hiner@blm.gov with ‘‘PAPA
FSEIS Information Request’’ in the
subject line. The FSEIS will be posted
at https://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/
NEPA/pfodocs/anticline/seis.html when
available.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM
conducted NEPA analysis and issued a
ROD for the Pinedale Anticline Oil and
Gas Exploration and Development
Project in July 2000. The BLM
conducted this analysis in response to
increasing numbers of operators
requesting approval to explore for and
develop natural gas on the Pinedale
Anticline. The 2000 PAPA ROD
established protection of big game
crucial winter ranges from oil and gas
developments (well drilling and
completion) during the winter months,
and therefore did not include analysis of
the potential impacts of oil and gas
development activities (specifically
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:47 Jun 26, 2008
Jkt 214001
drilling and completions) to big game on
crucial winter ranges during the period
of November 15 through April 30. The
PAPA ROD provided that the BLM
could grant limited exceptions to this
winter closure period based on current
conditions such as presence of
wintering animals or depth of snow
cover. Finally, the analysis in the PAPA
EIS considered a total of 900 wells
drilled with 700 producing well pads.
The PAPA ROD stated that if the level
of proposed development exceeds that
analyzed in the EIS, BLM would
conduct additional environmental
analysis. There are currently
approximately 460 producing wells in
the PAPA.
Starting in winter 2002–2003, the
BLM authorized Questar Exploration
and Development Company to continue
winter gas development operations at
one well pad within big game crucial
winter range with the requirement that
they work closely with the Wyoming
Game and Fish Department in its study
of impacts to the Sublette Mule Deer.
Since then, other operators within the
PAPA have expressed interest in
conducting gas development activities
including year-round drilling within big
game crucial winter range. In summer
2005, Anschutz, Shell, and Ultra
submitted a proposal to the BLM for
year-round drilling demonstration
project on three well pads within their
leaseholds for one year. In September
2005, the BLM issued a Decision Record
to allow them to proceed (ASU YearRound Drilling Demonstration Project,
September 2005).
In 2005, BLM received a proposal for
continued and expanded long-term
development of natural gas resources in
the PAPA from Questar Exploration and
Production, Shell Exploration and
Production Company, and Ultra
Resources Inc. (‘The Operators’). The
Operators proposed to conduct yearround drilling and completions in
concentrated development areas within
a core development area coinciding
with the Anticline Crest in the PAPA.
The Operators proposed an additional
4,399 wells on approximately 10-acre
bottom hole spacing from an additional
250 well pads. The proposed
development included construction of
new well pads and substantial
expansion of existing well pads to allow
for multiple wells to be drilled from a
pad. In addition, the BLM has
determined that there is a need for new
pipeline corridors between the PAPA
and gas processing plants in
southwestern Wyoming. Therefore, the
FSEIS also includes analysis of potential
new corridors.
PO 00000
Frm 00063
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
36553
The PAPA encompasses
approximately 198,034 acres of
primarily Federal lands (nearly 80
percent), and State and private land.
Approximately 83 percent of the
mineral estate underlying the PAPA is
federally-owned. The BLM has
identified the following resources that
may be adversely impacted by the
proposal: surface and ground water
resources; air quality; wildlife and their
habitats; reclamation; visual resources;
transportation; noxious weed control;
grazing, cultural and paleontological
resources; wetland and riparian
resources; threatened and endangered
animal and plant species; and
socioeconomic resources.
The BLM’s Notice of Intent (NOI) to
prepare a SEIS was printed in the
Federal Register on October 21, 2005. A
Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft
SEIS was published in the Federal
Register on December 15, 2006. The
public comment period on the Draft
SEIS closed in April 2006. Based upon
public comment, the BLM determined
two additional alternatives needed to be
analyzed and made available for public
review. A NOA for Revised Draft SEIS
was published in the Federal Register
on December 28, 2007. The comment
period on the Revised Draft SEIS closed
on February 11, 2008.
The FSEIS describes and analyzes five
alternatives, including the No Action
Alternative and The Operators proposed
action. A summary of the alternatives
follows:
(A) The No Action Alternative would
continue development on the Pinedale
Anticline under the conditions imposed
by the 2000 PAPA ROD. The Operator’s
proposal for year-round access would be
denied. This alternative does not
provide for full resource recovery.
(B) Alternative 2, The Operators
proposed action, includes year-round
development of up to 4,399 additional
wells. Development would occur in
three areas of concentrated development
within a core area. Tier 2 equivalent
emission controls would be installed on
drilling rig engines in 29 of 48 drilling
rigs in 2009. The Operators have also
committed to 3:1 offsite mitigation for
wildlife, if necessary.
(C) Alternative 3 considers the same
project components as Alternative 2;
however implementation would be
phased spatially. It analyzes a smaller
core area, with five areas of
development; year-round access would
be limited by area. The goal of
Alternative 3 is to minimize surface
disturbance in some areas while
maximizing development in other areas.
Air quality mitigation to reduce impacts
E:\FR\FM\27JNN1.SGM
27JNN1
36554
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 125 / Friday, June 27, 2008 / Notices
in nearby sensitive areas is included in
this alternative.
(D) Alternative 4, the BLM Preferred
Alternative, is the result of comments
received on the Draft SEIS. This
alternative expands the core area
slightly as compared to Alternatives 2
and 3, and delineates a potential
development area around the core.
Similar to Alternatives 2 and 3 the core
area is broken into five development
areas. The alternative also analyzes
spatial phasing of development and
applies Operator offered mitigation
measures including Federal suspended
leases and areas of no surface
occupancy on areas outside the core of
the PAPA. Adaptive management and a
compensatory mitigation fund are also
important elements of this alternative.
Additional air quality mitigation is also
included to further reduce impacts.
(E) Alternative 5 describes
development of the full Operator
proposed number of new wells (4,399)
under conditions similar to the 2000
PAPA ROD, and without winter access
in restricted wildlife habitats.
James K. Murkin,
Acting Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E8–14493 Filed 6–26–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–22–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[CO–921–03–1320–EL; COC–73016]
Notice of Invitation for Coal
Exploration License Application,
Peabody Coal Company, COC–73016;
Colorado
AGENCY:
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Invitation for Coal
Exploration License Application,
Peabody Coal Company.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the Mineral
Leasing Act of February 25, 1920, as
amended, and to Title 43, Code of
Federal Regulations, Subpart 3410,
members of the public are hereby
invited to participate with Peabody Coal
Company, in a program for the
exploration of unleased coal deposits
owned by the United States of America
containing approximately 3,980.0 acres
in Morgan & Routt County, Colorado.
DATES: Written Notice of Intent to
Participate should be addressed to the
attention of the following persons and
must be received by them within 30
days after publication of this Notice of
Invitation in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Kurt M. Barton, CO–921,
Solid Minerals Staff, Division of Energy,
Lands and Minerals, Colorado State
Office, Bureau of Land Management,
2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood,
Colorado 80215; and, Peabody Coal
Company, PO Box 373, St. Louis, MO
63166.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
application for coal exploration license
is available for public inspection during
normal business hours under serial
number COC–73016 at the Bureau of
Land Management, Colorado State
Office, 2850 Youngfield Street,
Lakewood, Colorado 80215; and at the
Little Snake Field Office, 455 Emerson
St., Craig, Colorado 81625. Any party
electing to participate in this program
must share all costs on a pro rata basis
with Peabody Coal Company, and with
any other party or parties who elect to
participate.
Kurt M. Barton,
Solid Minerals Staff, Division of Energy,
Lands and Minerals.
[FR Doc. E8–14614 Filed 6–26–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Environmental Documents Prepared
for Proposed Oil and Gas Operations
on the Gulf of Mexico Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS)
Minerals Management Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of the Availability of
Environmental Documents. Prepared for
AGENCY:
OCS Mineral Proposals on the Gulf of
Mexico OCS.
SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service
(MMS), in accordance with Federal
Regulations that implement the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
announces the availability of NEPArelated Site-Specific Environmental
Assessments (SEA) and Findings of No
Significant Impact (FONSI), prepared by
MMS for the following oil and gas
activities proposed on the Gulf of
Mexico OCS.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Public Information Unit, Information
Services Section at the number below.
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, Attention: Public
Information Office (MS 5034), 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, or
by calling 1–800–200–GULF.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MMS
prepares SEAs and FONSIs for
proposals that relate to exploration for
and the development/production of oil
and gas resources on the Gulf of Mexico
OCS. These SEAs examine the potential
environmental effects of activities
described in the proposals and present
MMS conclusions regarding the
significance of those effects.
Environmental Assessments are used as
a basis for determining whether or not
approval of the proposals constitutes
major Federal actions that significantly
affect the quality of the human
environment in the sense of NEPA
Section 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared
in those instances where MMS finds
that approval will not result in
significant effects on the quality of the
human environment. The FONSI briefly
presents the basis for that finding and
includes a summary or copy of the SEA.
This notice constitutes the public
notice of availability of environmental
documents required under the NEPA
Regulations.
This listing includes all proposals for
which the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
prepared a FONSI in the period
subsequent to publication of the
preceding notice.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Activity/operator
Location
Murphy Exploration and Production Company-USA, Initial Exploration Plan, SEA N–9060.
Apache Corporation, Supplemental Exploration Plan, SEA S–
7139.
El Paso Production Oil & Gas Company, Structure Removal,
SEA ES/SR 05–157A.
El Paso Production Oil & Gas Company, Structure Removal,
SEA ES/SR 06–092A.
W & T Offshore, Inc., Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 07–160 ..
De Soto Canyon, Block 838, Lease OCS–G 10475, located 95
miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
High Island, Block A–376, Lease OCS–G 02754, located 120
miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Vermilion, Block 102, Lease OCS–G 03393, located 29 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Eugene Island, Block 53, Lease OCS–G 00479, located 15
miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Ship Shoal, Block 201, Lease OCS–G 05557, located 42 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
VerDate Aug<31>2005
18:47 Jun 26, 2008
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Date
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1/8/2008
1/8/2008
1/10/2008
1/10/2008
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 125 (Friday, June 27, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36553-36554]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14493]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-100-08-1310-DB]
Notice of Availability of a Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement for the Pinedale Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration and
Development Project, Sublette County, WY
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(FSEIS) that analyzes additional oil and gas development in the
Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA).
DATES: The FSEIS will be available for review for 30 days following the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register. A Record of Decision (ROD) will
be prepared following the 30-day review period.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Caleb Hiner, BLM Project Manager, 768
West Pine Street, P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941. Electronic
mail may be sent to: Caleb_Hiner@blm.gov with ``PAPA FSEIS Information
Request'' in the subject line. The FSEIS will be posted at https://
www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/pfodocs/anticline/seis.html when
available.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM conducted NEPA analysis and issued a
ROD for the Pinedale Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration and Development
Project in July 2000. The BLM conducted this analysis in response to
increasing numbers of operators requesting approval to explore for and
develop natural gas on the Pinedale Anticline. The 2000 PAPA ROD
established protection of big game crucial winter ranges from oil and
gas developments (well drilling and completion) during the winter
months, and therefore did not include analysis of the potential impacts
of oil and gas development activities (specifically drilling and
completions) to big game on crucial winter ranges during the period of
November 15 through April 30. The PAPA ROD provided that the BLM could
grant limited exceptions to this winter closure period based on current
conditions such as presence of wintering animals or depth of snow
cover. Finally, the analysis in the PAPA EIS considered a total of 900
wells drilled with 700 producing well pads. The PAPA ROD stated that if
the level of proposed development exceeds that analyzed in the EIS, BLM
would conduct additional environmental analysis. There are currently
approximately 460 producing wells in the PAPA.
Starting in winter 2002-2003, the BLM authorized Questar
Exploration and Development Company to continue winter gas development
operations at one well pad within big game crucial winter range with
the requirement that they work closely with the Wyoming Game and Fish
Department in its study of impacts to the Sublette Mule Deer. Since
then, other operators within the PAPA have expressed interest in
conducting gas development activities including year-round drilling
within big game crucial winter range. In summer 2005, Anschutz, Shell,
and Ultra submitted a proposal to the BLM for year-round drilling
demonstration project on three well pads within their leaseholds for
one year. In September 2005, the BLM issued a Decision Record to allow
them to proceed (ASU Year-Round Drilling Demonstration Project,
September 2005).
In 2005, BLM received a proposal for continued and expanded long-
term development of natural gas resources in the PAPA from Questar
Exploration and Production, Shell Exploration and Production Company,
and Ultra Resources Inc. (`The Operators'). The Operators proposed to
conduct year-round drilling and completions in concentrated development
areas within a core development area coinciding with the Anticline
Crest in the PAPA. The Operators proposed an additional 4,399 wells on
approximately 10-acre bottom hole spacing from an additional 250 well
pads. The proposed development included construction of new well pads
and substantial expansion of existing well pads to allow for multiple
wells to be drilled from a pad. In addition, the BLM has determined
that there is a need for new pipeline corridors between the PAPA and
gas processing plants in southwestern Wyoming. Therefore, the FSEIS
also includes analysis of potential new corridors.
The PAPA encompasses approximately 198,034 acres of primarily
Federal lands (nearly 80 percent), and State and private land.
Approximately 83 percent of the mineral estate underlying the PAPA is
federally-owned. The BLM has identified the following resources that
may be adversely impacted by the proposal: surface and ground water
resources; air quality; wildlife and their habitats; reclamation;
visual resources; transportation; noxious weed control; grazing,
cultural and paleontological resources; wetland and riparian resources;
threatened and endangered animal and plant species; and socioeconomic
resources.
The BLM's Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a SEIS was printed in
the Federal Register on October 21, 2005. A Notice of Availability
(NOA) of the Draft SEIS was published in the Federal Register on
December 15, 2006. The public comment period on the Draft SEIS closed
in April 2006. Based upon public comment, the BLM determined two
additional alternatives needed to be analyzed and made available for
public review. A NOA for Revised Draft SEIS was published in the
Federal Register on December 28, 2007. The comment period on the
Revised Draft SEIS closed on February 11, 2008.
The FSEIS describes and analyzes five alternatives, including the
No Action Alternative and The Operators proposed action. A summary of
the alternatives follows:
(A) The No Action Alternative would continue development on the
Pinedale Anticline under the conditions imposed by the 2000 PAPA ROD.
The Operator's proposal for year-round access would be denied. This
alternative does not provide for full resource recovery.
(B) Alternative 2, The Operators proposed action, includes year-
round development of up to 4,399 additional wells. Development would
occur in three areas of concentrated development within a core area.
Tier 2 equivalent emission controls would be installed on drilling rig
engines in 29 of 48 drilling rigs in 2009. The Operators have also
committed to 3:1 offsite mitigation for wildlife, if necessary.
(C) Alternative 3 considers the same project components as
Alternative 2; however implementation would be phased spatially. It
analyzes a smaller core area, with five areas of development; year-
round access would be limited by area. The goal of Alternative 3 is to
minimize surface disturbance in some areas while maximizing development
in other areas. Air quality mitigation to reduce impacts
[[Page 36554]]
in nearby sensitive areas is included in this alternative.
(D) Alternative 4, the BLM Preferred Alternative, is the result of
comments received on the Draft SEIS. This alternative expands the core
area slightly as compared to Alternatives 2 and 3, and delineates a
potential development area around the core. Similar to Alternatives 2
and 3 the core area is broken into five development areas. The
alternative also analyzes spatial phasing of development and applies
Operator offered mitigation measures including Federal suspended leases
and areas of no surface occupancy on areas outside the core of the
PAPA. Adaptive management and a compensatory mitigation fund are also
important elements of this alternative. Additional air quality
mitigation is also included to further reduce impacts.
(E) Alternative 5 describes development of the full Operator
proposed number of new wells (4,399) under conditions similar to the
2000 PAPA ROD, and without winter access in restricted wildlife
habitats.
James K. Murkin,
Acting Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. E8-14493 Filed 6-26-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
