Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor Project, UT, 39313-39314 [2013-15679]
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2013 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLUTG01100–13–L51010000–ER0000
LVRWJ13J8060 13X]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement for
the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor
Project, UT
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the
Federal Land Policy and Management
Act of 1976, as amended, and the
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as
amended, the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) Vernal Field Office,
Vernal, Utah, intends to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
for right-of-way (ROW) applications for
the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor
Project (Utility Corridor Project), and by
this notice is announcing the beginning
of the scoping process to solicit public
comments and identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public
scoping process for the EIS. Comments
on issues must be submitted by July 31,
2013. The date(s) and location(s) of any
public scoping meetings will be
announced at least 15 days in advance
through local news media, a project
newsletter, and the BLM Web site at:
https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/
newsroom.2.html. Additional
opportunities for public participation
will be provided upon publication of
the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Comments on issues related
to the Enefit Utility Corridor Project
may be submitted by any of the
following methods:
• Email:
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 BLM Vernal
Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information and/or to have your
name added to the Utility Corridor
Project mailing list, contact Stephanie
Howard, BLM Project Manager;
telephone 435–781–4469; email:
Stephanie_Howard@blm.gov. Persons
who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
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hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day,7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
applicant, Enefit American Oil, has filed
ROW applications seeking authorization
to construct and operate natural gas,
electricity, and water utilities on
Federal lands. As proposed, 19 miles of
water supply pipeline, 8 miles of
natural gas supply pipeline, 10 miles of
oil product line, 29 miles of single or
dual overhead 138-kilovolt H-frame
powerlines, and 5 miles of Dragon Road
upgrade and pavement would be
constructed and operated in 5 separate
utility corridors crossing BLMadministered lands within the Project
area.
The Utility Corridor Project would
provide natural gas, electricity, and
water to, and move processed oil from,
Enefit American Oil’s ‘‘South Project,’’
which is planned on private land and
minerals owned by Enefit. The Enefit
American Oil’s planned South Project
will include development of a
commercial oil shale mining, retorting,
and upgrading operation located in
Uintah County, Utah. Approval or
disapproval of Enefit American Oil’s
South Project is outside of the BLM’s
authority because it is located on private
lands and minerals; however, since it is
a connected and cumulative action to
the Utility Corridor Project, the
potential indirect and cumulative effects
associated with the South Project will
be analyzed and disclosed in the Utility
Corridor Project EIS.
The Utility Corridor Project area is
located within the southern portion of
Townships 8–10 South, Ranges 24–25
East, Salt Lake Meridian, in Uintah
County, Utah, approximately 12 miles
southeast of Bonanza, Utah. Vernal,
Utah, is the nearest major municipality,
located approximately 40 miles north of
the Utility Corridor Project area. The
community of Rangely, Colorado, is
located approximately 25 miles
northeast of the Enefit American Oil’s
planned South Project site. The
requested ROW widths for the Utility
Corridor Project range from 50 feet,
where a single pipeline would be
located, to over 350 feet, where gas,
water, and product lines would be
located adjacent to overhead
transmission lines.
Alternatives identified at this time
include the proposed action and the no
action alternatives. Additional
alternatives will be developed as a
result of issues and concerns identified
through the scoping process.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
39313
The BLM Vernal Field Office Record
of Decision and Approved Resource
Management Plan (RMP) (October 2008)
directs management of the BLMadministered public lands within the
Utility Corridor Project area. The RMP
provides for issuance of new ROWs
(RMP, pp. 96 and 97). An amendment
of the RMP is not required.
Pursuant to Section 368 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 15926), a
Programmatic EIS was prepared by the
Department of Energy for energy
corridors in the 11 western states
(Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana,
Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah,
Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico),
and notice of its availability was
published on November 28, 2008 (73 FR
72521). Records of Decision (ROD)
signed January 14, 2009, designated
energy corridors and provided guidance,
best management practices, and
mitigation measures to be used where
linear facilities are proposed crossing
Federal lands. Designation of corridors
does not require their use, nor does such
designation exempt the Federal agencies
from conducting an environmental
review on each project therein. The
Final RODs are available at the
following Web site: https://
corridoreis.anl.gov/eis/guide/index.cfm.
The Project EIS will take into
consideration the use of guidance, best
management practices, and mitigation
measures described in the RODs.
The BLM is the designated lead
Federal agency for preparation of the
EIS as defined in 40 CFR 1501.5.
Agencies with legal jurisdiction or
special expertise have been invited to
participate as cooperating agencies in
preparation of the EIS including: U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, U.S.
Bureau of Indian Affairs, Utah Public
Lands Policy and Coordination Office,
and the Ute Indian Tribe. The purpose
of the public scoping process is to
determine relevant issues that will
influence the scope of the
environmental analysis, including
alternatives, and guide the process for
developing the EIS. At present, the BLM
has identified the following resources as
potentially being impacted by the
project: 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; the White
River; regional social programs; and
regional economics.
The BLM will use and coordinate the
NEPA commenting process to assist in
satisfying the public involvement
E:\FR\FM\01JYN1.SGM
01JYN1
39314
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 126 / Monday, July 1, 2013 / Notices
process for Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C.
470f) as provided for in 36 CFR
800.2(d)(3). Native American Tribal
consultations will be conducted and
Tribal concerns will be given due
consideration, including impacts on
Indian trust assets. Federal, State, and
local agencies, along with other
stakeholders that may be interested or
affected by the BLM’s decision on this
project are invited to participate in the
scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be requested by the BLM to
participate as a cooperating agency.
Comments may be submitted in
writing to the BLM at any public
scoping meeting, or you may submit
them to the BLM using one of the
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section
above. To be considered, comments
must be submitted by July 31, 2013.
Before including your address, phone
number, email 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 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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Jenna Whitlock,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–15679 Filed 6–28–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–DQ–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLAKA02000.L12200000.LXSIWSGK0000.
AL0000]
Notice of Availability of the Decision
Record for the Delta River Special
Recreation Management Area and East
Alaska Resource Management Plan
Amendment
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) announces the
availability of the Decision Record (DR)
for the Delta River Special Recreation
Management Area and East Alaska
Resource Management Plan Amendment
(Approved Plan). The BLM-Alaska State
Director, Bud C. Cribley, signed the DR
on March 29, 2013. The DR constitutes
the final decision of the Department on
the plan and is effective immediately.
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The DR is available on the
BLM-Alaska Web site at www.blm.gov/
ak/planning. Hard copies of the DR are
available upon request from the BLM
Glennallen Field Office, P.O. Box 147,
Glennallen, AK 99588 or by calling 907–
822–3217. The Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the Delta River
Special Recreation Management Area
(SRMA) Plan and East Alaska Resource
Management Plan (RMP) Amendment,
which provides the analysis upon
which the decision is based, is also
available at the above Web site address,
the BLM Glennallen Field Office, or by
calling the office at 907–822–3217.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
further information contact Serena
Sweet, telephone 909–271–4543 or by
email at sweet@blm.gov. Persons who
use a telecommunications device for the
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–
800–877–8339 to contact the above
individual during normal business
hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message
or question with the above individual.
You will receive a reply during normal
business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Delta
River SRMA Plan and East Alaska RMP
Amendment planning process began in
2005 with a Delta River recreation
survey designed to obtain river users’
opinions on issues, management
actions, and preferences within the
Delta River SRMA. In February and
March of 2007, the BLM-Alaska
Glennallen Field Office conducted a
series of Benefits Based Management
focus group meetings with Delta River
stakeholders and Alaska Native tribes
and corporations to discuss primary
uses of the Delta River planning area
and desired future conditions and
management options. A Notice of Intent
was published in the Federal Register
on April 10, 2008 to initiate the formal
planning process. A 60-day formal
scoping period began July 15, 2008 and
ended September 15, 2008. After the
scoping period, the BLM, in
consultation with the cooperating
agencies and tribes, received input from
the public, collected information on the
resources and uses of the area,
developed a range of reasonable future
management alternatives, and analyzed
the impacts of those alternatives. These
analyses were reviewed within the BLM
and among the cooperating agencies,
and were used to develop the
Environmental Assessment for the Delta
River SRMA Plan and East Alaska RMP
Amendment released on March 23,
2010. The comment period for the EA
ended May 6, 2010. Comments received
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00064
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
were used in the development of the
Proposed Delta River SRMA Plan and
Eastern Alaska RMP Amendment. The
Proposed Delta River SRMA Plan and
Eastern Alaska RMP Amendment was
released August 1, 2011 for a 30-day
protest period and a 60-day Governor’s
Consistency Review (GCR). The protest
period ended August 31, 2011 and the
GCR ended September 30, 2011. The
BLM received two protests, both of
which were denied in part. However, in
response to issues raised in the protests,
the BLM made some minor
modifications to clarify terminology in
the Approved Plan. On September 20,
2011, the Governor of Alaska submitted
a GCR Finding of Inconsistency to the
BLM Alaska State Director for the EA
and Finding of No Siginficant Impact for
the Delta River SRMA Plan and East
Alaska RMP Amendment. On March 28,
2012, the State Director determined the
Governor’s finding was outside the
scope of the GCR process and did not
accept the Governor’s
recommendations. On April 27, 2012,
the Governor appealed the BLM-Alaska
State Director’s decision to the BLM
Director. On January 15, 2013, the BLM
Director issued a letter to the Governor
affirming the BLM-Alaska State
Director’s decision to reject the
Governor’s Inconsistency Finding.
The Approved Plan provides for a mix
of river recreation uses and users, while
managing to protect the environment
and the outstandingly remarkable values
of the Delta River SRMA. It provides a
balanced management approach by
emphasizing the protection of river
resources from human impacts by
utilizing an adaptive management
approach to track the implementation
and effectiveness of management
actions, while still allowing for a wide
range of current and future public uses
and high quality recreational
experiences in the Delta River SRMA.
The Approved Plan also provides
management direction that will
minimize social conflicts, with a strong
emphasis on public education and
interpretive outreach.
Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6.
Bud C. Cribley,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013–15681 Filed 6–28–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39313-39314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15679]
[[Page 39313]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[LLUTG01100-13-L51010000-ER0000 LVRWJ13J8060 13X]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for
the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor Project, UT
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of
1969, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act
of 1976, as amended, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended,
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vernal Field Office, Vernal, Utah,
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for right-
of-way (ROW) applications for the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor
Project (Utility Corridor Project), and by this notice is announcing
the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public comments and
identify issues.
DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS.
Comments on issues must be submitted by July 31, 2013. The date(s) and
location(s) of any public scoping meetings will be announced at least
15 days in advance through local news media, a project newsletter, and
the BLM Web site at: https://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/newsroom.2.html.
Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided upon
publication of the Draft EIS.
ADDRESSES: Comments on issues related to the Enefit Utility Corridor
Project may be submitted by any of the following methods:
Email: 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 BLM
Vernal Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have
your name added to the Utility Corridor Project mailing list, contact
Stephanie Howard, BLM Project Manager; telephone 435-781-4469; email:
Stephanie_Howard@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device
for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Information Relay Service
(FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above individual during normal
business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours a day,7 days a week, to
leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive
a reply during normal business hours.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The applicant, Enefit American Oil, has
filed ROW applications seeking authorization to construct and operate
natural gas, electricity, and water utilities on Federal lands. As
proposed, 19 miles of water supply pipeline, 8 miles of natural gas
supply pipeline, 10 miles of oil product line, 29 miles of single or
dual overhead 138-kilovolt H-frame powerlines, and 5 miles of Dragon
Road upgrade and pavement would be constructed and operated in 5
separate utility corridors crossing BLM-administered lands within the
Project area.
The Utility Corridor Project would provide natural gas,
electricity, and water to, and move processed oil from, Enefit American
Oil's ``South Project,'' which is planned on private land and minerals
owned by Enefit. The Enefit American Oil's planned South Project will
include development of a commercial oil shale mining, retorting, and
upgrading operation located in Uintah County, Utah. Approval or
disapproval of Enefit American Oil's South Project is outside of the
BLM's authority because it is located on private lands and minerals;
however, since it is a connected and cumulative action to the Utility
Corridor Project, the potential indirect and cumulative effects
associated with the South Project will be analyzed and disclosed in the
Utility Corridor Project EIS.
The Utility Corridor Project area is located within the southern
portion of Townships 8-10 South, Ranges 24-25 East, Salt Lake Meridian,
in Uintah County, Utah, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bonanza,
Utah. Vernal, Utah, is the nearest major municipality, located
approximately 40 miles north of the Utility Corridor Project area. The
community of Rangely, Colorado, is located approximately 25 miles
northeast of the Enefit American Oil's planned South Project site. The
requested ROW widths for the Utility Corridor Project range from 50
feet, where a single pipeline would be located, to over 350 feet, where
gas, water, and product lines would be located adjacent to overhead
transmission lines.
Alternatives identified at this time include the proposed action
and the no action alternatives. 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 management of the
BLM-administered public lands within the Utility Corridor Project area.
The RMP provides for issuance of new ROWs (RMP, pp. 96 and 97). An
amendment of the RMP is not required.
Pursuant to Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C.
15926), a Programmatic EIS was prepared by the Department of Energy for
energy corridors in the 11 western states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho,
Montana, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New
Mexico), and notice of its availability was published on November 28,
2008 (73 FR 72521). Records of Decision (ROD) signed January 14, 2009,
designated energy corridors and provided guidance, best management
practices, and mitigation measures to be used where linear facilities
are proposed crossing Federal lands. Designation of corridors does not
require their use, nor does such designation exempt the Federal
agencies from conducting an environmental review on each project
therein. The Final RODs are available at the following Web site: https://corridoreis.anl.gov/eis/guide/index.cfm. The Project EIS will take
into consideration the use of guidance, best management practices, and
mitigation measures described in the RODs.
The BLM is the designated lead Federal agency for preparation of
the EIS as defined in 40 CFR 1501.5. Agencies with legal jurisdiction
or special expertise have been invited to participate as cooperating
agencies in preparation of the EIS including: U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Utah Public Lands Policy and Coordination Office, and the Ute
Indian Tribe. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine
relevant issues that will influence the scope of the environmental
analysis, including alternatives, and guide the process for developing
the EIS. At present, the BLM has identified the following resources as
potentially being impacted by the project: 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;
the White River; regional social programs; and regional economics.
The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to
assist in satisfying the public involvement
[[Page 39314]]
process for Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16
U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American
Tribal consultations will be conducted and Tribal concerns will be
given due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets.
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that
may be interested or affected by the BLM's decision on this project are
invited to participate in the scoping process and, if eligible, may
request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a cooperating
agency.
Comments may be submitted in writing to the BLM at any public
scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be considered,
comments must be submitted by July 31, 2013.
Before including your address, phone number, email 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 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.
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Jenna Whitlock,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-15679 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P
