Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, Colorado and Kansas, Oil and Gas Leasing Environmental Impact Statement, 29318-29321 [2013-11909]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
29318
Notices
Federal Register
Vol. 78, No. 97
Monday, May 20, 2013
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains documents other than rules or
proposed rules that are applicable to the
public. Notices of hearings and investigations,
committee meetings, agency decisions and
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
statements of organization and functions are
examples of documents appearing in this
section.
ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE OF
THE UNITED STATES
Notice of Public Meeting of the
Assembly of the Administrative
Conference of the United States
Administrative Conference of
the United States.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Pursuant to the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463), the Assembly of the
Administrative Conference of the
United States will hold a meeting to
consider four proposed
recommendations and to conduct other
business. This meeting will be open to
the public.
DATES: The meeting will take place on
Thursday, June 13, 2013, 2:00 p.m. to
6:00 p.m., and on Friday, June 14, 2013,
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The meeting
may adjourn early if all business is
finished.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission, Three Lafayette Centre,
1155 21st Street NW., Washington, DC
20581 (Main Conference Room).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Shawne McGibbon, General Counsel
(Designated Federal Officer),
Administrative Conference of the
United States, Suite 706 South, 1120
20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036;
Telephone 202–480–2088; email
smcgibbon@acus.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Administrative Conference of the
United States makes recommendations
to administrative agencies, the
President, Congress, and the Judicial
Conference of the United States
regarding the improvement of Federal
administrative procedures (5 U.S.C.
594). The membership of the
Conference, when meeting in plenary
session, constitutes the Assembly of the
Conference (5 U.S.C. 595).
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:09 May 17, 2013
Jkt 229001
Agenda: The Assembly will discuss
and consider the following
recommendations:
• Improving Consistency in Social
Security Disability Adjudications. This
recommendation identifies ways to
improve the adjudication process for
Social Security disability claims at the
administrative law judge hearing stage
and at the Appeals Council, and
suggests changes to the evaluation of
opinion evidence from medical
professionals.
• Benefit-Cost Analysis at
Independent Regulatory Agencies. This
recommendation highlights a series of
best practices directed at independent
regulatory agencies in the preparation of
benefit-cost analyses that accompany
proposed and final rules.
• Science in the Administrative
Process. This recommendation offers
several proposals to promote
transparency in agencies’ scientific
decisionmaking, including: articulation
of questions to be informed by science
information; attribution for agency
personnel who contributed to scientific
analyses; public access to underlying
data and literature; and conflict of
interest disclosures for privately funded
research used by the agencies in
licensing, rulemaking, or other
administrative processes.
• The Administrative Record in
Informal Rulemaking. This
recommendation offers best practices for
agencies in the compilation,
preservation, and certification of records
in informal rulemaking, and supports
the judicial presumption of regularity
for agency administrative records except
in certain limited circumstances.
Additional information about the
proposed recommendations, as well as
other materials related to the meeting,
can be found at the 58th Plenary Session
page on the Conference’s Web site
(https://www.acus.gov/meetings-andevents/plenary-meeting/58th-plenarysession).
Public Participation: The Conference
welcomes the attendance of the public
at the meeting, subject to space
limitations, and will make every effort
to accommodate persons with
disabilities or special needs. Members of
the public who wish to attend in person
are asked to RSVP online at the 58th
Plenary Session Web page listed above,
no later than two business days before
the meeting, in order to facilitate entry.
PO 00000
Frm 00001
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Members of the public who attend the
meeting may be permitted to speak only
with the consent of the Chairman and
the unanimous approval of the
members. If you need special
accommodations due to disability,
please inform the Designated Federal
Officer noted above at least 7 days in
advance of the meeting. The public may
also view the meeting through a live
webcast of the meeting, which will be
available at: https://acus.granicus.com/
ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2. In
addition, the public may follow the
meeting on our Twitter feed @acusgov
or hashtag #58thPlenary.
Written Comments: Persons who wish
to comment on any of the proposed
recommendations may do so by
submitting a written statement either
online by clicking ‘‘Submit a Comment’’
on the 58th Plenary Session Web page
listed above or by mail addressed to:
June 2013 Plenary Session Comments,
Administrative Conference of the
United States, Suite 706 South, 1120
20th Street NW., Washington, DC 20036.
Written submissions must be received at
least 5 business days prior to the
meeting to assure consideration by the
Assembly.
Dated: May 14, 2013.
Shawne McGibbon,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2013–11880 Filed 5–17–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6110–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Pike and San Isabel National Forests
and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands, Colorado and Kansas, Oil
and Gas Leasing Environmental
Impact Statement
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of intent to prepare an
environmental impact statement.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Pike and San Isabel
National Forests and Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC)
are initiating the preparation of an
environmental impact statement (EIS).
The EIS will disclose the effects of
updating the potential oil and gas areas
available and unavailable for lease, the
appropriate and applicable lease
stipulations, and post-lease oil and gas
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2013 / Notices
development that is reasonably
foreseeable as a consequence of
conducting a leasing program on the
PSICC. The proposed action includes
the following elements: identifying what
lands will be available for oil and gas
leasing; what stipulations need to be
attached to oil and gas leasing for the
protection of other resources; and what
forest/grasslands plan amendments to
the 1984 PSICC Land and Resource
Management Plan (Forest Plan) may be
needed to incorporate the revised oil
and gas leasing decision. The EIS will
document changed conditions and new
information since the PSICC 1992 Oil
and Gas Leasing Final EIS and Record
of Decision, and incorporate that
information into the analysis of
potential effects of leasing on other
resources. Changes in conditions and
information since the 1992 leasing EIS
and decision include new and improved
oil and gas drilling, completion, and
production technology; proposed listing
of the Lesser Prairie Chicken as a
threatened species; increased urban
development adjacent to the Forest
boundary; and promulgation of a rule to
protect roadless areas in Colorado.
The scope of the analysis is Forest
and Grassland-wide.
Comments concerning the scope
of this analysis should be received by
June 19, 2013. The draft environmental
impact statement is expected in January
of 2014 and the final environmental
impact statement is expected in
September of 2014. The PSICC will
convene five meetings on five separate
districts on the Forest. The meetings
will be taking place over two weeks
starting on May 14, 2013. The
Supplementary Information section of
this document provides public meeting
addresses, dates and times.
DATES:
ADDRESSES:
Send written comments to:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Pike and San Isabel National Forests
and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands Oil and Gas Scoping
Pike and San Isabel National Forests
and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo,
Colorado 81008
Submit electronic comments to:
https://cara.ecosystemmanagement.org/Public//Comment
Input?Project=33788.
Project
alternative maps, draft oil and gas
stipulations and additional project
information is available at the following
Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/
psicc/landmanagement/projects/
?cid=stelprdb5418254.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:09 May 17, 2013
Jkt 229001
Public Open Houses
Five public open houses are planned
at the following places and times:
May 14, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. in the Point of Rocks Room, 625
Colorado, Elkhart, Kansas 67950.
May 15, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. in the Minnick Building at the
Baca County Fairgrounds, 28500
County Road 24.6, Springfield,
Colorado 81073.
May 21, 2013 at the from 6:30 p.m. to
8:00 p.m. at the Walsenberg
Community Meeting Room in 928 S.
Russell St., Walsenberg, Colorado
81089.
May 22, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. at Bear Creek Elementary School,
1330 Creekside Dr., Monument,
Colorado 80132.
May 23, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m. at the North West Fire Protection
District 21455, U.S. Highway 285
District, Fairplay, Colorado 80440.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John
Dow, Forest Planner, Pike and San
Isabel National Forests and Cimarron
and Comanche National Grasslands,
2840 Kachina Dr, Pueblo, Colorado
81008, Phone: (719) 553–1476.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at -800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time
Monday through Friday.
Purpose and Need for the Action
The Pike and San Isabel National
Forests and the Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC)
issued its current oil and gas leasing
availability decision in 1992 (Final Oil
and Gas Leasing Environmental Impact
Statement and Record of Decision). The
FS has provided consent to BLM to
lease some PSICC lands since the 1992
decision was implemented and
currently has pending requests to lease
roughly another 27,000 acres of PSICC
lands. Before the FS can authorize the
BLM to lease these lands, it must verify
that oil and gas leasing is adequately
addressed in a NEPA document. Since
1992 information and circumstances
considered under that decision have
changed, including technological
advances in oil and gas development
activities, increased urban and suburban
development, and new threatened and
endangered species. Consequently, the
Forest Supervisor of the PSICC has
identified a need to prepare a new Oil
and Gas Leasing EIS. The new Oil and
Gas Leasing EIS will consider the new
information or changed conditions
across the Pike and San Isabel National
Forests and Cimarron and Comanche
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29319
National Grasslands to determine which
NFS lands administered by the PSICC
should be made available for oil and gas
leasing and what lease stipulations
should apply to those lands for the
protection of other resources. The
Bureau of Land Management will be a
cooperating agency in this effort. The
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
will be prepared in a manner that would
support BLM’s independent decision to
include those NFS lands administered
by the PSICC that are made available for
leasing, in future competitive oil and
gas lease sales. Hence, the purpose for
the proposed action is to allow both
agencies to satisfy their respective
regulatory obligations to respond to both
pending and future requests to lease
PSICC lands for oil and gas.
The purpose of the proposed action is
to: (1) Ensure that the new technology
and information is considered and
adequately addressed in a NEPA
document and is consistent with the
PSICC land and resource management
plan prior to the leasing of specific NFS
lands ; (2) Fulfill the federal
government’s policy to ’’ foster and
encourage private enterprise in the
orderly and economic development of
domestic resources to help assure
satisfaction of industrial, security, and
environmental needs’’ (Mining and
Minerals Policy Act of 1970), while
continuing to sustain the land’s
productivity for other uses and
capability to support biodiversity goals
(US Forest Service Minerals Program
Policy); and (3) Enable the BLM to
exercise its discretionary authority to
offer and issue leases on NFS lands
administered by the PSICC.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to
identify lands administered by the
PSICC that would be administratively
available for oil and gas leasing and to
identify which stipulations would be
necessary in areas where protection of
surface resources can be reasonably
assured and is otherwise in accordance
with law and regulation.
The Proposed Action considers the
following: (1) Information that addresses
new and different circumstances from
those analyzed under the 1992 leasing
decision; (2) lease stipulations on future
leases, where needed, on lands
identified as administratively available
for leasing, for the purpose of protecting
other resources including—(a) No
Surface Occupancy (NSO) stipulations
for areas identified as needing greater
surface resource protection, laws,
regulations, policies, and Forest Plan
Standards such as, species listed under
the Endangered Species Act, slopes
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
29320
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2013 / Notices
greater than 60%; upper tier roadless
acres, identified in the Colorado
Roadless Rule, on leases issued after
July 3. 2012; (b) Controlled Surface Use
(CSU) for other specific resource
concerns (c) Timing Limitations (TL) for
certain—potential raptor breeding
territories and winter roost sites; deer,
elk, moose and pronghorn habitats; and
(4) prohibition of road construction or
reconstruction on oil and gas leases
issued within a Colorado Roadless Area
after July 3, 2012.
Current valid existing leases,
including the associated terms,
conditions, and stipulations would not
be considered nor affected by this
analysis, nor would the exercising of
reserved and outstanding mineral rights
on NFS lands. Proposed land
availability and lease stipulation
changes would only affect leases issued
after a decision is implemented. The
proposed changes would apply to new
leases on lands that are currently leased
after existing leases have been
terminated, relinquished, or
subsequently nominated for lease.
MOUs, to provide resource specific
expertise when needed.
Responsible Official
The Forest Service responsible official
is Jerri Marr, Forest Supervisor, Pike
and San Isabel National Forests and
Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo,
CO 81008.
The BLM responsible official is Keith
Berger, Field Office Manager, Royal
Gorge Field Office, 3028 Main St.,
Canon City, CO 81212.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
Nature of the Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will
determine whether, if, and how the
current oil and gas leasing decision, as
it relates to land availability and lease
stipulations should be changed based on
current information and analysis. The
Responsible Official will decide which
lands administered by the PSICC will be
administratively available for oil and
gas leasing, which land will be
administratively unavailable for oil and
gas leasing through management
direction or legal reasons, and which
lease stipulations would be applied to
future oil and gas leases for the
protection of other resources [36 CFR
228.102(c)]. Subsequent to the
Responsible Official’s decision, the
Regional Forester will authorize the
BLM to offer specific lands for lease.
When lands are nominated for leasing,
the Forest Service will (1) verify that
leasing the specific lands has been
adequately addressed in a National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
document and is consistent with the
Forest Plan, and that no significant new
information or circumstances would
require further analysis; (2) ensure that
conditions of surface occupancy are
properly included as stipulations in
resulting leases; and (3) determine that
operations and development could be
allowed somewhere on each proposed
lease, except where stipulations will
prohibit all surface occupancy [36 CFR
228.102(e)]. The BLM State Director
must decide whether to offer for lease
specific lands authorized for leasing by
the PSICC, and must include Forest
Service stipulations on any leases
offered on NFS lands.
The Forest Service is the lead agency.
As the agency responsible for offering,
selling, and issuing leases, the BLM will
participate as a cooperating agency
under a memorandum of understanding
(MOU). Additionally, the United States
Fish and Wildlife Agency (USFWS) and
the Colorado Department of Natural
Resources will participate as
cooperating agencies, under separate
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to
comment on the revised oil and gas
leasing availability and stipulations
proposal is during the scoping process
(40 CFR 1501.7), which begins with the
issuance of this Notice of Intent. The
Forest Service requests comments on
the nature and scope of potential
environmental, social, and economic
Possible Alternatives
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
(1) No New Leasing—Under this
alternative, no new NFS lands
administered by the PSICC would be
available in the future for oil and gas
leasing. Operations on existing leases
would continue under applicable lease
terms, statutory, and regulatory
direction, and Forest Plan direction.
Existing federal oil and gas leases on the
PSICC that are not extended by
production would terminate at the
conclusion of their primary term, and
those lands would not be available for
further leasing. Implementation of this
alternative would require a Forest Plan
amendment to identify lands as closed
to oil and gas leasing.
(2) No Action (Current
Management)—This alternative would
continue, with no changes in oil and gas
leasing availability and no new or
changed stipulations on the PSICC as
directed by the RODs for the PSICC
1992 Oil and Gas Leasing EIS (February
12, 1992) and the Land and Resource
Management Plan (November 18, 1984).
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:09 May 17, 2013
Jkt 229001
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
issues, and possible project alternatives
related to oil and gas leasing on NFS
lands administered by the PSICC. The
Forest Service will work directly with
tribal governments to address issues that
would significantly or uniquely affect
them.
Five open house meetings are
planned. The meeting addresses, dates
and times are provided in the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of
this notice.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the
scoping process, which guides the
development of the PSICC oil and gas
leasing availability environmental
impact statement. Through the 1992 Oil
and Gas EIS and decision, the PSICC has
an understanding of the broad range of
perspectives on the resource issues and
social values attributed to resource
activities on the PSICC. Consequently,
site-specific comments or concerns are
the most important types of information
the PSICC needs from the public
scoping process. In scoping, the agency,
with the assistance of the public,
determines the scope of the issues to be
addressed and identifies the significant
issues related to the proposed action
(see 40 CFR 1501.7).
It is important that reviewers provide
their comments at such times and in
such a way that they are useful to the
Agency’s preparation of the revised plan
and the EIS. Therefore, comments
should be provided prior to the close of
the comment period and should clearly
articulate the reviewers’ concerns and
contentions. The submission of timely
and specific comments can affect a
reviewer’s ability to participate in
subsequent administrative appeal or
judicial review.
Comments received in response to
this solicitation, including the names
and addresses of those who comment
will be part of the public record for this
proposed action. Comments submitted
anonymously will be accepted and
considered.
Send written comments to:
Pike and San Isabel National Forests
and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands Oil and Gas Scoping
Pike and San Isabel National Forests
and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo,
Colorado 81008.
Submit electronic comments to
psicc_oandg@fs.fed.us.
To assist the Forest Service in
identifying and considering issues and
concerns on the proposed action,
comments should be as specific as
possible. Only individuals or entities
who submit timely and specific written
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 97 / Monday, May 20, 2013 / Notices
comments will have eligibility (36 CFR
218.5) to file an objection under 36 CFR
218.8. For objection eligibility, each
individual or representative from each
entity submitting timely and specific
written comments must either sign the
comment or verify identity upon
request. Issues raised in an objection
must be based on previously submitted
timely, specific written comments
regarding the proposed action unless
based on new information arising after
the designated comment opportunities.
Comments received, including the
names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the
public record on this proposal and will
be available for public inspection.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21.
Dated: May 14, 2013.
Jerri Marr,
Forest Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel
National Forests and Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands.
[FR Doc. 2013–11909 Filed 5–17–13; 8:45 am]
Jane
Leche, Colorado Recreation Resource
Advisory Committee Coordinator, at
303–275–5349 or jleche@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
meeting is open to the public.
Committee discussion is limited to
Forest Service staff and Committee
members. However, persons who wish
to bring recreation fee matters to the
attention of the Committee may file
written statements with the Committee
Coordinator before or after the meeting.
A public input session will be provided
at the meeting and individuals who
made written requests by May 29, 2013
will have the opportunity to address the
Committee at the meeting. Meeting
agenda and status can be found at:
https://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r2/raccolorado.
The Recreation RAC is authorized by
the Federal Land Recreation
Enhancement Act, which was signed
into law by President Bush in December
2004.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dated: May 14, 2013.
Craig Bobzien,
Acting Deputy Regional Forester, Operations,
Rocky Mountain Region.
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
[FR Doc. 2013–11906 Filed 5–17–13; 8:45 am]
Forest Service
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
Colorado Recreation Resource
Advisory Committee Meeting
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Rocky Mountain Region, Forest
Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of meeting.
Submission for OMB Review;
Comment Request
The Colorado Recreation
Resource Advisory Committee will
tentatively meet in Glenwood Springs,
CO. The purpose of the meeting is to
review proposals for a standard amenity
fee area change and new fee projects.
These fee proposals will include new
rentals for Fitton and Off Cow Camp
cabins located on the Rio Grande
National Forest and an area change at
East Maroon Wilderness Portal, West
Maroon Wilderness Portal and Maroon
Lake on the White River National
Forest. Proposals, updates, and other
information can be found on the
Colorado Recreation Resource Advisory
Committee Web site at: https://
www.fs.usda.gov/goto/r2/rac-colorado.
DATES: The meeting will be held June 5,
2013 from 8 a.m.–5 p.m. This meeting
will only be held if a quorum is present.
ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at
the Glenwood Suites, 2625 Gilstrap
Court, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.
Send written comments to Jim Bedwell,
Designated Federal Officer, 740 Simms
Street Golden, CO 80401 or
jbedwell@fs.fed.us.
The Department of Commerce will
submit to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for clearance the
following proposal for collection of
information under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.
chapter 35).
Agency: U.S. Census Bureau.
Title: National Survey of Fishing,
Hunting, and Wildlife-associated
Recreation (FHWAR) Pre-screener Test.
OMB Control Number: None
Form Number(s): FH–PS(T), FHW–
Q1, FHW–W1, FHW–QW1, FHW–Q2,
FHW–W2, FHW–QW2, FHW–Q3, FHW–
W3, FHW–QW3.
Type of Request: New collection.
Burden Hours: 1,750.
Number of Respondents: 15,000.
Average Hours per Response: 7
minutes.
Needs and Uses: The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (FWS) and the U.S.
Census Bureau conducted (under
separate Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) clearance number 1018–
0088) the 2011 National Survey of
Fishing, Hunting, and WildlifeAssociated Recreation (FHWAR) from
AGENCY:
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
19:09 May 17, 2013
Jkt 229001
PO 00000
Frm 00004
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
29321
April 2011 through May 2012. The
FHWAR is authorized under the Fish
and Wildlife Act of 1956 and the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000. The
Census Bureau is authorized to conduct
the FHWAR under Title 13, United
States Code Section 8(b). The FHWAR
data, collected approximately every five
years, assist Federal and State agencies
in administering the Sport Fish and
Wildlife Restoration grant programs and
provide up-to-date information on the
uses and demands for wildlife-related
recreation resources, trends in uses of
those resources, and a basis for
developing and evaluating programs
and projects to meet existing and future
needs.
The FHWAR is an address-based
survey conducted in three waves whose
sample is selected from the Master
Address File. In 2011, because of
limited funding, we had to modify our
data collection procedure from
computer-assisted personal interviewing
(CAPI) to mostly computer-assisted
telephone interviewing (CATI) with
limited CAPI to stay within budget. In
an attempt to collect household phone
numbers for CATI, we had the
telephone center conduct a telephone
research operation and we matched our
addresses to a locating vendor.
Unfortunately, neither operation had a
high success rate in obtaining the
correct phone numbers for our
addresses. This caused the Wave 1 CATI
response rates to plummet. Wave 2 and
Wave 3 CATI did better because the
majority of the telephone numbers were
provided by the respondents in Wave 1.
Because our 2011 methodology for
obtaining phone numbers did not work
as expected, we (Census and FWS)
would like to research new
methodologies to collect household
phone numbers for our sample
addresses through a pre-screener test.
The purpose of the test will be to
determine what percentage of
households will return a mail or
Internet questionnaire with a telephone
number that reaches the sample address.
This proposed research is directly
related to the 2011 FHWAR and is vital
for future iterations of the survey since
the majority of interviewing will
continue in CATI which is less
expensive than CAPI.
The pre-screener test is a two-part
test. The first part of the test is a mail
operation that will ask household
respondents to complete a pre-screener
survey by paper questionnaire or by
Internet for the purpose of obtaining
household telephone numbers, verifying
the sample address, and obtaining
general household-level information on
E:\FR\FM\20MYN1.SGM
20MYN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29318-29321]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-11909]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche
National Grasslands, Colorado and Kansas, Oil and Gas Leasing
Environmental Impact Statement
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) are initiating the preparation of
an environmental impact statement (EIS). The EIS will disclose the
effects of updating the potential oil and gas areas available and
unavailable for lease, the appropriate and applicable lease
stipulations, and post-lease oil and gas
[[Page 29319]]
development that is reasonably foreseeable as a consequence of
conducting a leasing program on the PSICC. The proposed action includes
the following elements: identifying what lands will be available for
oil and gas leasing; what stipulations need to be attached to oil and
gas leasing for the protection of other resources; and what forest/
grasslands plan amendments to the 1984 PSICC Land and Resource
Management Plan (Forest Plan) may be needed to incorporate the revised
oil and gas leasing decision. The EIS will document changed conditions
and new information since the PSICC 1992 Oil and Gas Leasing Final EIS
and Record of Decision, and incorporate that information into the
analysis of potential effects of leasing on other resources. Changes in
conditions and information since the 1992 leasing EIS and decision
include new and improved oil and gas drilling, completion, and
production technology; proposed listing of the Lesser Prairie Chicken
as a threatened species; increased urban development adjacent to the
Forest boundary; and promulgation of a rule to protect roadless areas
in Colorado.
The scope of the analysis is Forest and Grassland-wide.
DATES: Comments concerning the scope of this analysis should be
received by June 19, 2013. The draft environmental impact statement is
expected in January of 2014 and the final environmental impact
statement is expected in September of 2014. The PSICC will convene five
meetings on five separate districts on the Forest. The meetings will be
taking place over two weeks starting on May 14, 2013. The Supplementary
Information section of this document provides public meeting addresses,
dates and times.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to:
Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands Oil and Gas Scoping
Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo, Colorado 81008
Submit electronic comments to: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=33788.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Project alternative maps, draft oil and gas
stipulations and additional project information is available at the
following Web site: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/psicc/landmanagement/projects/?cid=stelprdb5418254.
Public Open Houses
Five public open houses are planned at the following places and
times:
May 14, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Point of Rocks Room,
625 Colorado, Elkhart, Kansas 67950.
May 15, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Minnick Building at the
Baca County Fairgrounds, 28500 County Road 24.6, Springfield, Colorado
81073.
May 21, 2013 at the from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Walsenberg
Community Meeting Room in 928 S. Russell St., Walsenberg, Colorado
81089.
May 22, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Bear Creek Elementary
School, 1330 Creekside Dr., Monument, Colorado 80132.
May 23, 2013 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the North West Fire
Protection District 21455, U.S. Highway 285 District, Fairplay,
Colorado 80440.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Dow, Forest Planner, Pike and San
Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands,
2840 Kachina Dr, Pueblo, Colorado 81008, Phone: (719) 553-1476.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at -800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time Monday through Friday.
Purpose and Need for the Action
The Pike and San Isabel National Forests and the Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands (PSICC) issued its current oil and gas
leasing availability decision in 1992 (Final Oil and Gas Leasing
Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision). The FS has
provided consent to BLM to lease some PSICC lands since the 1992
decision was implemented and currently has pending requests to lease
roughly another 27,000 acres of PSICC lands. Before the FS can
authorize the BLM to lease these lands, it must verify that oil and gas
leasing is adequately addressed in a NEPA document. Since 1992
information and circumstances considered under that decision have
changed, including technological advances in oil and gas development
activities, increased urban and suburban development, and new
threatened and endangered species. Consequently, the Forest Supervisor
of the PSICC has identified a need to prepare a new Oil and Gas Leasing
EIS. The new Oil and Gas Leasing EIS will consider the new information
or changed conditions across the Pike and San Isabel National Forests
and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands to determine which NFS
lands administered by the PSICC should be made available for oil and
gas leasing and what lease stipulations should apply to those lands for
the protection of other resources. The Bureau of Land Management will
be a cooperating agency in this effort. The Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) will be prepared in a manner that would support BLM's
independent decision to include those NFS lands administered by the
PSICC that are made available for leasing, in future competitive oil
and gas lease sales. Hence, the purpose for the proposed action is to
allow both agencies to satisfy their respective regulatory obligations
to respond to both pending and future requests to lease PSICC lands for
oil and gas.
The purpose of the proposed action is to: (1) Ensure that the new
technology and information is considered and adequately addressed in a
NEPA document and is consistent with the PSICC land and resource
management plan prior to the leasing of specific NFS lands ; (2)
Fulfill the federal government's policy to '' foster and encourage
private enterprise in the orderly and economic development of domestic
resources to help assure satisfaction of industrial, security, and
environmental needs'' (Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970), while
continuing to sustain the land's productivity for other uses and
capability to support biodiversity goals (US Forest Service Minerals
Program Policy); and (3) Enable the BLM to exercise its discretionary
authority to offer and issue leases on NFS lands administered by the
PSICC.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service proposes to identify lands administered by the
PSICC that would be administratively available for oil and gas leasing
and to identify which stipulations would be necessary in areas where
protection of surface resources can be reasonably assured and is
otherwise in accordance with law and regulation.
The Proposed Action considers the following: (1) Information that
addresses new and different circumstances from those analyzed under the
1992 leasing decision; (2) lease stipulations on future leases, where
needed, on lands identified as administratively available for leasing,
for the purpose of protecting other resources including--(a) No Surface
Occupancy (NSO) stipulations for areas identified as needing greater
surface resource protection, laws, regulations, policies, and Forest
Plan Standards such as, species listed under the Endangered Species
Act, slopes
[[Page 29320]]
greater than 60%; upper tier roadless acres, identified in the Colorado
Roadless Rule, on leases issued after July 3. 2012; (b) Controlled
Surface Use (CSU) for other specific resource concerns (c) Timing
Limitations (TL) for certain--potential raptor breeding territories and
winter roost sites; deer, elk, moose and pronghorn habitats; and (4)
prohibition of road construction or reconstruction on oil and gas
leases issued within a Colorado Roadless Area after July 3, 2012.
Current valid existing leases, including the associated terms,
conditions, and stipulations would not be considered nor affected by
this analysis, nor would the exercising of reserved and outstanding
mineral rights on NFS lands. Proposed land availability and lease
stipulation changes would only affect leases issued after a decision is
implemented. The proposed changes would apply to new leases on lands
that are currently leased after existing leases have been terminated,
relinquished, or subsequently nominated for lease.
Possible Alternatives
(1) No New Leasing--Under this alternative, no new NFS lands
administered by the PSICC would be available in the future for oil and
gas leasing. Operations on existing leases would continue under
applicable lease terms, statutory, and regulatory direction, and Forest
Plan direction. Existing federal oil and gas leases on the PSICC that
are not extended by production would terminate at the conclusion of
their primary term, and those lands would not be available for further
leasing. Implementation of this alternative would require a Forest Plan
amendment to identify lands as closed to oil and gas leasing.
(2) No Action (Current Management)--This alternative would
continue, with no changes in oil and gas leasing availability and no
new or changed stipulations on the PSICC as directed by the RODs for
the PSICC 1992 Oil and Gas Leasing EIS (February 12, 1992) and the Land
and Resource Management Plan (November 18, 1984).
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency. As the agency responsible
for offering, selling, and issuing leases, the BLM will participate as
a cooperating agency under a memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Additionally, the United States Fish and Wildlife Agency (USFWS) and
the Colorado Department of Natural Resources will participate as
cooperating agencies, under separate MOUs, to provide resource specific
expertise when needed.
Responsible Official
The Forest Service responsible official is Jerri Marr, Forest
Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and
Comanche National Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo, CO 81008.
The BLM responsible official is Keith Berger, Field Office Manager,
Royal Gorge Field Office, 3028 Main St., Canon City, CO 81212.
Nature of the Decision To Be Made
The Responsible Official will determine whether, if, and how the
current oil and gas leasing decision, as it relates to land
availability and lease stipulations should be changed based on current
information and analysis. The Responsible Official will decide which
lands administered by the PSICC will be administratively available for
oil and gas leasing, which land will be administratively unavailable
for oil and gas leasing through management direction or legal reasons,
and which lease stipulations would be applied to future oil and gas
leases for the protection of other resources [36 CFR 228.102(c)].
Subsequent to the Responsible Official's decision, the Regional
Forester will authorize the BLM to offer specific lands for lease. When
lands are nominated for leasing, the Forest Service will (1) verify
that leasing the specific lands has been adequately addressed in a
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document and is consistent
with the Forest Plan, and that no significant new information or
circumstances would require further analysis; (2) ensure that
conditions of surface occupancy are properly included as stipulations
in resulting leases; and (3) determine that operations and development
could be allowed somewhere on each proposed lease, except where
stipulations will prohibit all surface occupancy [36 CFR 228.102(e)].
The BLM State Director must decide whether to offer for lease specific
lands authorized for leasing by the PSICC, and must include Forest
Service stipulations on any leases offered on NFS lands.
Scoping Process
The first formal opportunity to comment on the revised oil and gas
leasing availability and stipulations proposal is during the scoping
process (40 CFR 1501.7), which begins with the issuance of this Notice
of Intent. The Forest Service requests comments on the nature and scope
of potential environmental, social, and economic issues, and possible
project alternatives related to oil and gas leasing on NFS lands
administered by the PSICC. The Forest Service will work directly with
tribal governments to address issues that would significantly or
uniquely affect them.
Five open house meetings are planned. The meeting addresses, dates
and times are provided in the Supplementary Information section of this
notice.
Comment Requested
This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides
the development of the PSICC oil and gas leasing availability
environmental impact statement. Through the 1992 Oil and Gas EIS and
decision, the PSICC has an understanding of the broad range of
perspectives on the resource issues and social values attributed to
resource activities on the PSICC. Consequently, site-specific comments
or concerns are the most important types of information the PSICC needs
from the public scoping process. In scoping, the agency, with the
assistance of the public, determines the scope of the issues to be
addressed and identifies the significant issues related to the proposed
action (see 40 CFR 1501.7).
It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times
and in such a way that they are useful to the Agency's preparation of
the revised plan and the EIS. Therefore, comments should be provided
prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly articulate
the reviewers' concerns and contentions. The submission of timely and
specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to participate in
subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review.
Comments received in response to this solicitation, including the
names and addresses of those who comment will be part of the public
record for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be
accepted and considered.
Send written comments to:
Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands Oil and Gas Scoping
Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National
Grasslands, 2840 Kachina Dr., Pueblo, Colorado 81008.
Submit electronic comments to psicc_oandg@fs.fed.us.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments should be as specific as
possible. Only individuals or entities who submit timely and specific
written
[[Page 29321]]
comments will have eligibility (36 CFR 218.5) to file an objection
under 36 CFR 218.8. For objection eligibility, each individual or
representative from each entity submitting timely and specific written
comments must either sign the comment or verify identity upon request.
Issues raised in an objection must be based on previously submitted
timely, specific written comments regarding the proposed action unless
based on new information arising after the designated comment
opportunities.
Comments received, including the names and addresses of those who
comment, will be considered part of the public record on this proposal
and will be available for public inspection.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22; Forest Service Handbook
1909.15, Section 21.
Dated: May 14, 2013.
Jerri Marr,
Forest Supervisor, Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron
and Comanche National Grasslands.
[FR Doc. 2013-11909 Filed 5-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P
