Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project, Uintah County, UT, 46458-46459 [E9-21661]

Download as PDF 46458 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 9, 2009 / Notices cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES would encourage the use of the refuge to demonstrate restoration and best adaptive management practices. We would enhance opportunities for all six priority public uses, and emphasize two of them—wildlife observation and photography. We would seek new partnerships, such as those with environmental educators, to encourage their use of the refuge as a living laboratory and help us improve our programs. The seasonal closures in some areas would continue to protect nesting or wintering birds. Outreach and Service visibility on the refuge and in the local community would improve. We would station two additional staff at Eastern Neck NWR, but, as in alternative A, access to all refuge complex staff would continue to be available as needed. Alternative C (Emphasis on Tidal Wetlands and Forest Habitat) As in alternatives A and B, the highest priority in alternative C is to protect and restore the refuge shoreline and tidal marsh. However, its emphasis on managing forest habitat in the refuge uplands to benefit forest-dependent species distinguishes it from alternatives A and B. We would eliminate the cropland program, and would not construct new moist soil units. Instead, we would allow those lands to revert through natural succession to forest, and intervene with treatments when necessary to ensure that a native, healthy, diverse forest results. We would not begin any other significant new inventorying or monitoring, except established protocols when required by mandates on Federal trust species or when recommended by the Regional biologist. We would permit compatible research programs requested by our partners on refuge lands, but would limit our involvement. As in alternative B, we would encourage the use of the refuge to demonstrate restoration and best adaptive management practices. Under alternative C, we would offer more visitor services programs and build more infrastructure than in alternatives A or B. We would open for public access the areas previously closed to protect wintering waterfowl. The suitability of those areas for waterfowl would diminish greatly as they revert to forest. We would improve our programs for environmental education, interpretation, and wildlife observation and photography. We would hold teacher workshops, become actively involved in developing local school programs using the refuge, and promote senior education programs. We VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:47 Sep 08, 2009 Jkt 217001 would consider a new trail and boat launch at the south end of the island, and would expand the turkey hunt by opening it to adult hunters for a limited time. As in alternative B, we would improve Service outreach and visibility, and station two new staff at the refuge. Public Meetings We will give the public opportunities to provide input at one public meeting in Rock Hall, Maryland. You can obtain the schedule from the project leader or natural resource planner (see ADDRESSES or FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT, above). You may also submit comments at any time during the planning process, by any means shown in the ADDRESSES section. Public Availability of Comments Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comments, you should be aware 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 your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Dated: August 7, 2009. Salvatore M. Amato, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, MA 01035. [FR Doc. E9–21737 Filed 9–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–55–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLUTG01100–09–L13100000–EJ0000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project, Uintah County, UT AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vernal Field Office, Vernal, Utah, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping process and soliciting input on the identification of issues. DATES: A public scoping period will end on October 9, 2009. The BLM will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant issues through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Web site https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/ info/newsroom.2.html at least 15 days prior to each meeting. We will provide additional opportunities for public participation upon publication of the Draft EIS, including a 45-day public comment period. ADDRESSES: Comments on issues related to the Greater Chapita Wells EIS may be submitted through any of the following methods: • E-mail: UT_Vernal_Comments@blm.gov. • Fax: (435) 781–4410. • Mail: 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Vernal Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have your name added to the mailing list, contact Stephanie Howard by telephone: (435) 781–4469; or e-mail: Stephanie_Howard@blm.gov. This document provides notice that the BLM Field Office, Vernal, Utah intends to prepare an EIS for the Greater Chapita Wells project and announces the beginning of the scoping process and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project Area (GCWPA) consists of 42,027 acres in a developed gas-producing area, located approximately 30 miles southeast of Vernal and 12 miles east of Ouray, Utah. The GCWPA is located in the Uinta Basin in Uintah County. The GCWPA includes 32,823 acres (78 percent) of Federal lands administered by the BLM; 1,914 acres (five percent) of State lands administered by the State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration; 6,727 acres (16 percent) of Northern Ute Tribal and allotted lands administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and 563 acres (one percent) of privately owned lands. EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) plans to drill up to 7,028 new infill natural gas wells to fully develop all currently known productive formations beneath EOG’s leased acreage. EOG proposes to drill wells at an average rate of approximately 469 wells per year over a period of 15 years, or until the resource base is fully developed. The productive life of each well would be approximately 40 years, and EOG expects all wells to be productive. EOG would use the existing infrastructure to the greatest possible extent by drilling vertical and directional wells. Well pads within the GCWPA would contain from one to six wells, with most well pads SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1 cprice-sewell on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 173 / Wednesday, September 9, 2009 / Notices containing more than one well. EOG would construct up to approximately 700 new well pads and access roads and would expand approximately 979 existing or previously authorized well pads. If fully developed, each section would contain 32 well pads such that optimal surface density would be one well pad every 20 acres. EOG would directionally drill wells to produce from bottom hole locations spaced at approximately five to 10 acres. The project would be supported by existing produced water disposal and treatment facilities, produced water pipelines, natural gas pipelines, and gas compression and processing facilities. EOG would construct and install support facilities where needed, including new well pad access roads, new or expanded well pads, new gasgathering lines, and new produced water-injection wells. Potential issues include impacts to local and regional air quality and air quality related values; surface water and groundwater resources; floodplains; cultural and paleontological resources; soils; special status plant and animal species; range management; recreation; and socioeconomics. Alternatives identified at this time include the proposed action and the no action alternative. Additional alternatives will be developed as a result of issues and concerns identified through the scoping process. The BLM Vernal Field Office Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management Plan (RMP) (October 2008) directs the management of the BLMadministered public lands within the GCWPA. The RMP provides for energy resource exploration and development including a variety of oil and gas operations and geophysical explorations, unless precluded by other program prescriptions and surfacedisturbance related stipulations (RMP, pp. 96 and 97). Comments on issues and planning criteria may be submitted in writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or using one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, comments should be submitted by the end of the public scoping period (within 30 days from the BLM’s publication in the Federal Register). Before including an address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that the entire comment—including personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While a request can be made to withhold VerDate Nov<24>2008 15:47 Sep 08, 2009 Jkt 217001 46459 personal identifying information from public review, it cannot be guaranteed. accommodated on a first-come-firstserved basis. Jeff Rawson, Acting State Director. [FR Doc. E9–21661 Filed 9–8–09; 8:45 am] Assistance to Individuals With Disabilities at the Public Meeting BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Concessions Management Advisory Board, Meeting AGENCY: Department of the Interior, National Park Service. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Concessions Management Advisory Board will be held on October 21–22, starting at 9 a.m. each day at The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California. DATES: Wednesday, October 21 and Thursday, October 22, 2009. ADDRESSES: Tudor Room of The Ahwahnee Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California 95389. Park phone number: (209) 372–0200. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: National Park Service, WASO Commercial Services Program, 1201 Eye Street, NW., 11th Floor, Washington, DC 20005, telephone: 202/513–7150. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Concessions Management Advisory Board (the Board) was established by Title IV, Section 409 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998, November 13, 1998 (Pub. L. 105– 391). The purpose of the Board is to advise the Secretary and the National Park Service on matters relating to management of concessions in the National Park System. The Board will meet at 9 a.m. Wednesday, October 21, and 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, for the regular business meeting and continued discussion on a number of subjects that will include: • Concession Contracting Status Update. • Regional Reports. • Rate Approval Review and Standards, Evaluations, and Rate Approval Project Update. • Cooperating Association Steering Committee Report. • Report on Professionalization of Commercial Services Program—Human Capital Strategy. • New business. The meeting will be open to the public, however, facilities and space for accommodating members of the public are limited, and persons will be PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 The meeting site is accessible to individuals with disabilities. If you plan to attend and will require an auxiliary aid or service to participate in the meeting (e.g., interpreting service, assistive listening device, or materials in an alternate format), notify the contact person listed in this notice at least 2 weeks before the scheduled meeting date. Attempts will be made to meet any request(s) we receive after that date, however, we may not be able to make the requested auxiliary aid or service available because of insufficient time to arrange for it. Anyone may file with the Board a written statement concerning matters to be discussed. The Board may also permit attendees to address the Board, but may restrict the length of the presentations, as necessary to allow the Board to complete its agenda within the allotted time. Such requests should be made to the Director, National Park Service, Attention: Chief, Commercial Services Program, at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Draft minutes of the meeting will be available for public inspection approximately 6 weeks after the meeting, at the Commercial Services Program office located at 1201 Eye Street, NW., 11th Floor, Washington, DC. Dated: August 26, 2009. Daniel N. Wenk, Acting Director. [FR Doc. E9–21632 Filed 9–8–09; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE M DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLIDB00000 L11500000.CB0000 LXSS024D0000: 4500008921] Notice of Public Meeting: Resource Advisory Council to the Boise District, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of public meeting. SUMMARY: In accordance with the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Boise District Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will hold a meeting as indicated below. E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM 09SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 173 (Wednesday, September 9, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46458-46459]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-21661]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTG01100-09-L13100000-EJ0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project, Uintah County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vernal Field Office, 
Vernal, Utah, intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for the proposed Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill 
Project, and by this notice is announcing the beginning of the scoping 
process and soliciting input on the identification of issues.

DATES: A public scoping period will end on October 9, 2009. The BLM 
will announce public scoping meetings to identify relevant issues 
through local news media, newsletters, and the BLM Web site https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/newsroom.2.html at least 15 days prior to 
each meeting. We will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS, including a 45-day 
public comment period.

ADDRESSES: Comments on issues related to the Greater Chapita Wells EIS 
may be submitted through any of the following methods:
     E-mail: UT_Vernal_Comments@blm.gov.
     Fax: (435) 781-4410.
     Mail: 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078.

Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the Vernal 
Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to the mailing list, contact Stephanie Howard by 
telephone: (435) 781-4469; or e-mail: Stephanie_Howard@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This document provides notice that the BLM 
Field Office, Vernal, Utah intends to prepare an EIS for the Greater 
Chapita Wells project and announces the beginning of the scoping 
process and seeks public input on issues and planning criteria. The 
Greater Chapita Wells Natural Gas Infill Project Area (GCWPA) consists 
of 42,027 acres in a developed gas-producing area, located 
approximately 30 miles southeast of Vernal and 12 miles east of Ouray, 
Utah. The GCWPA is located in the Uinta Basin in Uintah County. The 
GCWPA includes 32,823 acres (78 percent) of Federal lands administered 
by the BLM; 1,914 acres (five percent) of State lands administered by 
the State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration; 
6,727 acres (16 percent) of Northern Ute Tribal and allotted lands 
administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and 563 acres (one 
percent) of privately owned lands.
    EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) plans to drill up to 7,028 new infill 
natural gas wells to fully develop all currently known productive 
formations beneath EOG's leased acreage. EOG proposes to drill wells at 
an average rate of approximately 469 wells per year over a period of 15 
years, or until the resource base is fully developed. The productive 
life of each well would be approximately 40 years, and EOG expects all 
wells to be productive. EOG would use the existing infrastructure to 
the greatest possible extent by drilling vertical and directional 
wells. Well pads within the GCWPA would contain from one to six wells, 
with most well pads

[[Page 46459]]

containing more than one well. EOG would construct up to approximately 
700 new well pads and access roads and would expand approximately 979 
existing or previously authorized well pads. If fully developed, each 
section would contain 32 well pads such that optimal surface density 
would be one well pad every 20 acres. EOG would directionally drill 
wells to produce from bottom hole locations spaced at approximately 
five to 10 acres.
    The project would be supported by existing produced water disposal 
and treatment facilities, produced water pipelines, natural gas 
pipelines, and gas compression and processing facilities. EOG would 
construct and install support facilities where needed, including new 
well pad access roads, new or expanded well pads, new gas-gathering 
lines, and new produced water-injection wells.
    Potential issues include impacts to local and regional air quality 
and air quality related values; surface water and groundwater 
resources; floodplains; cultural and paleontological resources; soils; 
special status plant and animal species; range management; recreation; 
and socioeconomics. Alternatives identified at this time include the 
proposed action and the no action alternative. Additional alternatives 
will be developed as a result of issues and concerns identified through 
the scoping process.
    The BLM Vernal Field Office Record of Decision and Approved 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) (October 2008) directs the management of 
the BLM-administered public lands within the GCWPA. The RMP provides 
for energy resource exploration and development including a variety of 
oil and gas operations and geophysical explorations, unless precluded 
by other program prescriptions and surface-disturbance related 
stipulations (RMP, pp. 96 and 97).
    Comments on issues and planning criteria may be submitted in 
writing to the BLM at any public scoping meeting, or using one of the 
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be most helpful, 
comments should be submitted by the end of the public scoping period 
(within 30 days from the BLM's publication in the Federal Register). 
Before including an address, phone number, e-mail address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, be aware that the 
entire comment--including personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While a request can be made to withhold 
personal identifying information from public review, it cannot be 
guaranteed.

Jeff Rawson,
Acting State Director.
[FR Doc. E9-21661 Filed 9-8-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P
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