Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Oil and Gas Leasing in Portions of the Wyoming Range in the Bridger-Teton National Forest, 15723-15725 [2014-05891]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 2014 / Notices
DATES:
The meeting will be held
Thursday, April 17, 2014 from 9:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. CST.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of Meeting.
AGENCY:
The Tuolumne-Mariposa
Counties Resource Advisory Committee
will meet on May 5, 2014, May 19, 2014,
and June 2, 2014), at the City of Sonora
Fire Department, in Sonora, California.
The purpose of the meeting is to
reprioritize projects due to expected
decreases to Title II RAC funding.
DATES: The meeting on May 5, 2014,
from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. is to review
project proposals. The meeting on May
19, 2013, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. is
for RAC to hear presentations by project
proponents. The meeting on June 2,
2013, from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. is to
vote on which projects to recommend
for funding.
ADDRESSES: The meetings will all be
held at the City of Sonora Fire
Department located at 201 South
Shepherd Street, in Sonora, California
(CA 95370).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beth
Martinez, Committee Coordinator,
USDA, Stanislaus National Forest,
19777 Greenley Road, Sonora, CA
95370, (209) 532–3671, extension 320;
email bethmartinez@fs.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: All
meetings are open to the public and the
public is invited to comment on meeting
proceedings.
SUMMARY:
Dated: March 12, 2014.
Scott Tangenberg,
Acting Forest Supervisor.
[FR Doc. 2014–06164 Filed 3–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Land Between the Lakes Advisory
Board
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice of meeting.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Land Between The Lakes
Advisory Board (Board) will meet in
Cadiz, Kentucky. The Board is
established consistent with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act of 1972 (5
U.S.C. App 2). Additional information
concerning the Board can be found by
visiting the Board’s Web site at: https://
www.lbl.org/LRMPadvisoryboard.html.
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:18 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 232001
Dated: March 12, 2014.
Tina R. Tilley,
Area Supervisor, Land Between The Lakes.
The meeting will be held at
the Lake Barkley State Resort Park, 3500
State Park Road, Cadiz, Kentucky.
Written comments may be submitted as
described under SUPPLEMENTARY
INFORMATION. All comments, including
names and addresses when provided,
are placed in the record and available
for public inspection and copying. The
public may inspect comments received
at the Land Between The Lakes National
Recreation Area. Please call ahead to
facilitate entry into the building.
[FR Doc. 2014–06171 Filed 3–20–14; 8:45 am]
ADDRESSES:
Tuolumne-Mariposa Counties
Resource Advisory Committee
ACTION:
15723
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Linda L. Taylor, Advisory Board
Liaison, Land Between The Lakes
National Recreation Area, 100 Van
Morgan Drive, Golden Pond, Kentucky
42211 or by phone at 270–924–2002.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, Monday
through Friday.
The
purpose of the meeting is to focus on
existing Evnironmental Education
programs and forest planning with
regional school groups. The meeting is
open to the public. The Board
discussion is limited to Forest Service
staff and board members. Individuals
wishing to provide written comments
should submit by April 10, 2014 in
order for copies to be provided to the
members for the meeting. Written
comments must be sent to Tina Tilley,
Area Supervisor, Land Between The
Lakes National Recreation Area, 100
Van Morgan Drive, Golden Pond,
Kentucky 42211. Board members will
review written comments received, and
at their request, oral clarification may be
requested for a future meeting.
Additional comments must be received,
in writing on or before May 26, 2014.
Meeting Accommodations: If you are
a person requiring reasonable
accommodation, please make requests
in advance for sign language
interpreting, assistive listening devices
or other reasonable accommodation for
access to the facility or proceedings by
contacting the person listed in the
section titled For Further Information
Contact. All reasonable accommodation
requests are managed on a case by case
basis.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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BILLING CODE 3411–15–P
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest;
Wyoming; Oil and Gas Leasing in
Portions of the Wyoming Range in the
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Forest Service, USDA.
Corrected notice of intent to
prepare a supplemental environmental
impact statement to analyze and
disclose effects of oil and gas leasing on
portions of the Bridger-Teton National
Forest previously identified as suitable
and available for oil and gas leasing in
the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This notice corrects notices of
Intent (NOI) published in the Federal
Register on February 4, 2008 (73 FR, No.
23, pages 6453–6454) and March 28,
2008 (73 FR, No. 61 pages 16621–
16622), to prepare a supplemental
environmental impact statement (SEIS)
to analyze and disclose environmental
effects relative to oil and gas leasing on
portions of the forest previously
identified as suitable and available for
oil and gas leasing in the Bridger-Teton
National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan. The Forest Service is
providing this corrected NOI because it
intends to prepare a new draft and final
SEIS in place of the draft and final SEIS
released in February 2010 and January
2011, respectively. Extensive public
involvement efforts were conducted
with the 2008 scoping period. Because
extensive public comments covering the
range of relevant issues for the analysis
were received in the 2008 scoping
period and in the comment period on
the 2010 Draft SEIS, an additional
scoping period is not being conducted.
Scoping comments and comments on
the Draft SEIS previously submitted will
be considered in preparation of the new
SEIS. Scoping for a supplemental
environmental impact statement is not
required [40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)]. The
public will have another opportunity to
comment on this project when the new
Draft SEIS is released. A draft Record of
Decision will be released with the new
Final SEIS, and will be subject to the
pre-decisional (objection) administrative
review process [36 CFR 218].
Individuals and entities who submitted
timely, specific written comments
SUMMARY:
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15724
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 2014 / Notices
regarding this project during the 2008
scoping period and the 2010 Draft SEIS
comment period and those who submit
comments on the new 2014 Draft SEIS
will be eligible to file objections.
DATES: The new Draft SEIS is expected
to be published in October 2014. The
estimated completion date for the Final
SEIS is May 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob
Hoelscher, Big Piney District Ranger,
Bridger-Teton National Forest, 10418
South Highway 189, P.O. Box 218, Big
Piney, WY 83113.
Individuals who use
telecommunication devices for the deaf
(TDD) may call the Federal Information
Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern
Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A
previous revised NOI was published in
the Federal Register on March 28, 2008
(73 FR, No. 61, pages 16621–16622)
with the title: Revised Notice of Intent
To Prepare a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement To
Analyze and Disclose New Information
Relative to Oil and Gas Leasing of
44,720 Acres on the Big Piney Ranger
District; its purpose was to extend the
scoping comment period. This corrected
notice updates the original February
2008 NOI and the revised NOI of March
2008 to announce the intent to prepare
a new draft and final SEIS. In February
2010, a Draft SEIS was released for
public review and comment (75 FR, No.
24, page 6027). In January 2011, a Final
SEIS (76 FR, No. 29, page 7844) and
Record of Decision were released. In
May 2011, the Record of Decision was
withdrawn to allow for additional
analyses considering updated
information. The Forest Service is
preparing a new SEIS and Record of
Decision to replace previous analysis
efforts regarding these specific parcels
with the most up-to-date information
and scientific analysis. Since the
previous notices were published, the
Forest Service received notice from the
Bureau of Land Management that some
parcels are no longer being considered
for leasing (updated project map
available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/
projects/btnf/landmanagement/
projects). The title of this analysis is
revised to reflect this updated
information. The purpose and need,
proposed action, and known possible
alternatives are clarified as noted below.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose for offering parcels and
subsequent issuance of leases is to meet
the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:18 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 232001
Objective 1.1(d) to ‘‘provide leasable,
locatable, and salable mineral
exploration and development
opportunities;’’ and Goal 4.4 ‘‘other
resources are protected during
exploration and development of
subsurface resources;’’ the Bureau of
Land Management Pinedale Resource
Management Plan mineral management
goal to ‘‘provide opportunities for
mineral extraction and energy
exploration and development to provide
resources to meet national and local
needs while avoiding or otherwise
mitigating significant impacts on other
resource objectives;’’ and the Bureau of
Land Management Kemmerer Resource
Management Plan Goal MR: 1 to
‘‘provide opportunities for exploration
and developing mineral resources on
available public lands.’’ The offering for
sale and subsequent issuance of oil and
gas leases is needed to respond to
interest in obtaining future
opportunities for exploration and
development of mineral resources under
specific parcels. The Mineral Leasing
Act of 1920, as amended, requires the
Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management to respond to all leasing
interests.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service and Bureau of
Land Management propose to offer
specific parcels for oil and gas leasing
on the eastern slope of the Wyoming
Range, along the western portion of
Sublette County in areas identified as
suitable and available for oil and gas
leasing within the Bridger-Teton
National Forest and not prohibited by
the Wyoming Range Legacy Act.
Issuance of leases would follow,
incorporating the appropriate standard
stipulations for forest management areas
12, 23, 24, 25, 26, and 32, and the
applicable Bureau of Land Management
resource management plan.
Preliminary Issues
Following are the preliminary issues
developed from previous public
involvement efforts and considered
during alternative development:
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
have cumulative effects on the social
and economic well-being of the local
communities and quality of life for
residents.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
change the backcountry recreation
setting, detracting from the quality of
recreation opportunities in the area.
Not issuing leases for these specific
parcels or applying additional
constraints to leases could prevent
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
effective recovery of energy resources in
the area.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
affect groundwater quality and quantity
in the area.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
occur to terrestrial wildlife including
threatened, endangered, sensitive,
management indicator species’ habitats
and populations; large game; and trophy
game species.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
occur to water quality and could affect
habitat for fish and other special status
aquatic species.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
occur to rare plant species habitats
including sensitive and management
indicator species’ habitats and
populations.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
impact air quality and air quality-related
values, with emphasis on cumulative
effects because of extensive
development in the Pinedale area and
previously monitored exceedances of
National Ambient Air Quality Standards
for ozone in Sublette County.
Potential impacts from post-leasing
exploration and/or development could
affect permitted livestock grazing,
cultural resources, and visual resources.
Possible Alternatives
Alternative 1: No action/No leasing.
The Forest Service would object to the
Bureau of Land Management offering for
sale leases within these specific parcels.
Alternative 2: Proposed Action,
Implement Forest Plan Leasing
Availability Decision. The Forest
Service would not object to the Bureau
of Land Management offering for sale
leases within these specific parcels. The
Bureau of Land Management would
offer for sale leases with existing
standard lease stipulations as required
by the Bridger-Teton National Forest
Land and Resource Management Plan.
The Bureau of Land Management may
add additional stipulations in
accordance with the applicable resource
management plan. Future oil and gas
exploration and development would
occur in accordance with procedures
established under an approved Federal
oil and gas unit agreement.
Alternative 3: Implement Forest Plan
Leasing Availability Decision, Meet
Site-Specific Management Goals. The
Forest Service would not object to the
Bureau of Land Management offering for
sale leases within these specific parcels,
with site-specific and management area
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 55 / Friday, March 21, 2014 / Notices
standard lease stipulations required by
the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land
and Resource Management Plan. For
example, a combination of No Surface
Occupancy, Timing Limitation,
Controlled Surface Use, Conditional No
Surface Occupancy, and the Jackson
Hole Area Oil and Gas Lease
stipulations may be used depending
upon resource issues. The Bureau of
Land Management may add additional
stipulations in accordance with the
applicable resource management plan.
Future oil and gas exploration and
development would occur in
accordance with procedures established
under an approved Federal oil and gas
unit agreement.
Alternative 4: Implement Forest Plan
Leasing Availability Decision with No
Surface Occupancy. The Forest Service
would not object to the Bureau of Land
Management offering for sale leases
within these specific parcels with a No
Surface Occupancy stipulation. Future
oil and gas exploration and
development would occur in
accordance with procedures established
under an approved Federal oil and gas
unit agreement.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency.
The Bureau of Land Management, the
State of Wyoming, and Sublette County
are cooperating agencies.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Responsible Official
This corrected NOI updates the
responsible officials for this project. The
Forest Service responsible official for
this decision [36 CFR 228.102(d)] is
Clinton D. Kyhl, Bridger-Teton National
Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton
National Forest, 340 N. Cache (P.O. Box
1888), Jackson, Wyoming 83001. The
Bureau of Land Management
responsible official for final decision (43
CFR 3101.7) relative to the issuance or
disposition of the leases and lease
parcels is Donald A. Simpson, State
Director, Bureau of Land Management—
Wyoming State Office, 5353
Yellowstone (P.O. Box 1828), Cheyenne,
Wyoming 82009.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is whether
the Forest Service objects or does not
object to the Bureau of Land
Management offering for sale oil and gas
leases on these specific parcels, and
under what terms and conditions. This
decision will supersede prior Forest
Service decisions regarding oil and gas
leasing on these specific parcels. Based
upon the Forest Service’s decision, the
Bureau of Land Management will decide
which parcels would be offered for lease
VerDate Mar<15>2010
17:18 Mar 20, 2014
Jkt 232001
with appropriate stipulations, which
parcels will be deferred, which parcels
are not available for leasing, and which
parcels are canceled.
Dated: March 12, 2014.
Clinton D. Kyhl,
Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National
Forest.
[FR Doc. 2014–05891 Filed 3–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410–11–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[Docket B–58–2013]
Foreign-Trade Zone (FTZ) 83—
Huntsville, Alabama; Application for
Production Authority, Toray Carbon
Fibers America, Inc., Opening of
Comment Period on New Evidence
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign-Trade Zones Board by the
Huntsville-Madison County Airport
Authority, grantee of FTZ 83, requesting
production authority on behalf of Toray
Carbon Fibers America, Inc. (Toray),
located in Decatur, Alabama. Toray is
requesting authority to produce
polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fiber and PANbased carbon fiber under FTZ
procedures. The Toray facility produces
carbon fiber from both proprietary,
domestically-produced PAN and
foreign-sourced PAN.
On March 7, 2014, Toray made a
submission to the FTZ Board that
included new evidence in response to
the examiner’s preliminary
recommendation for approval with a
restriction requiring re-export of all
foreign-status PAN. Public comment is
invited on Toray’s new evidence
through April 21, 2014. Rebuttal
comments may be submitted during the
subsequent 15-day period, until May 5,
2014. Submissions shall be addressed to
the FTZ Board’s Executive Secretary at:
Foreign-Trade Zones Board, U.S.
Department of Commerce, Room 21013,
1401 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20230.
A copy of Toray’s March 7, 2014,
submission will be available for public
inspection at the address above, and in
the ‘‘Reading Room’’ section of the FTZ
Board’s Web site, which is accessible
via www.trade.gov/ftz.
For further information, contact Diane
Finver at Diane.Finver@trade.gov or
(202) 482–1367.
Dated: March 14, 2014.
Andrew McGilvray,
Executive Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–06252 Filed 3–20–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510–DS–P
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15725
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Foreign-Trade Zones Board
[B–22–2014]
Foreign-Trade Zone 26—Atlanta,
Georgia, Application for Additional
Production Authority, PBR, Inc. d/b/a
SKAPS Industries, (Non-Woven
Geotextiles), Athens, Georgia
An application has been submitted to
the Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ) Board by
the Georgia Foreign-Trade Zone, Inc.,
grantee of FTZ 26, requesting additional
production authority on behalf of PBR,
Inc. d/b/a SKAPS Industries (SKAPS),
located in Athens, Georgia. The
application conforming to the
requirements of the regulations of the
FTZ Board (15 CFR 400.23) was
docketed on March 12, 2014.
The SKAPS facilities (185 employees)
are located within Site 29 of FTZ 26.
The facilities are used for the
production of non-woven geotextile
fabric using polypropylene staple fiber.
SKAPS requested FTZ production
authority in a notification proceeding
(15 CFR 400.22) in 2013 (see, 78 FR
54234, 9–3–2013; Doc. B–37–2013).
After an initial review, the requested
production authority was limited to a
five-year initial term, as well as a
restriction that precludes inverted tariff
benefits on foreign polypropylene staple
fiber used in production of non-woven
geotextile fabrics for U.S. consumption.
The pending application seeks to
remove the above-mentioned restriction
by requesting authority for SKAPS to
choose the duty rate during customs
entry procedures that applies to nonwoven geotextile fabrics (duty rate—
free) for the polypropylene staple fiber
(duty rate—4.3%) sourced from abroad.
The request indicates that the savings
related to inverted tariff benefits on
polypropylene staple fiber used in
production for the U.S. market would
further improve the facilities’
international competitiveness.
In accordance with the FTZ Board’s
regulations, Pierre Duy of the FTZ Staff
is designated examiner to evaluate and
analyze the facts and information
presented in the application and case
record and to report findings and
recommendations to the FTZ Board.
Public comment is invited from
interested parties. Submissions shall be
addressed to the FTZ Board’s Executive
Secretary at the address below. The
closing period for their receipt is May
20, 2014. Rebuttal comments in
response to material submitted during
the foregoing period may be submitted
during the subsequent 15-day period to
May 20, 2014.
E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15723-15725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05891]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Oil and Gas Leasing in
Portions of the Wyoming Range in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Corrected notice of intent to prepare a supplemental
environmental impact statement to analyze and disclose effects of oil
and gas leasing on portions of the Bridger-Teton National Forest
previously identified as suitable and available for oil and gas leasing
in the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice corrects notices of Intent (NOI) published in the
Federal Register on February 4, 2008 (73 FR, No. 23, pages 6453-6454)
and March 28, 2008 (73 FR, No. 61 pages 16621-16622), to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to analyze and
disclose environmental effects relative to oil and gas leasing on
portions of the forest previously identified as suitable and available
for oil and gas leasing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan. The Forest Service is providing this
corrected NOI because it intends to prepare a new draft and final SEIS
in place of the draft and final SEIS released in February 2010 and
January 2011, respectively. Extensive public involvement efforts were
conducted with the 2008 scoping period. Because extensive public
comments covering the range of relevant issues for the analysis were
received in the 2008 scoping period and in the comment period on the
2010 Draft SEIS, an additional scoping period is not being conducted.
Scoping comments and comments on the Draft SEIS previously submitted
will be considered in preparation of the new SEIS. Scoping for a
supplemental environmental impact statement is not required [40 CFR
1502.9(c)(4)]. The public will have another opportunity to comment on
this project when the new Draft SEIS is released. A draft Record of
Decision will be released with the new Final SEIS, and will be subject
to the pre-decisional (objection) administrative review process [36 CFR
218]. Individuals and entities who submitted timely, specific written
comments
[[Page 15724]]
regarding this project during the 2008 scoping period and the 2010
Draft SEIS comment period and those who submit comments on the new 2014
Draft SEIS will be eligible to file objections.
DATES: The new Draft SEIS is expected to be published in October 2014.
The estimated completion date for the Final SEIS is May 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Hoelscher, Big Piney District
Ranger, Bridger-Teton National Forest, 10418 South Highway 189, P.O.
Box 218, Big Piney, WY 83113.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A previous revised NOI was published in the
Federal Register on March 28, 2008 (73 FR, No. 61, pages 16621-16622)
with the title: Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement To Analyze and Disclose New Information
Relative to Oil and Gas Leasing of 44,720 Acres on the Big Piney Ranger
District; its purpose was to extend the scoping comment period. This
corrected notice updates the original February 2008 NOI and the revised
NOI of March 2008 to announce the intent to prepare a new draft and
final SEIS. In February 2010, a Draft SEIS was released for public
review and comment (75 FR, No. 24, page 6027). In January 2011, a Final
SEIS (76 FR, No. 29, page 7844) and Record of Decision were released.
In May 2011, the Record of Decision was withdrawn to allow for
additional analyses considering updated information. The Forest Service
is preparing a new SEIS and Record of Decision to replace previous
analysis efforts regarding these specific parcels with the most up-to-
date information and scientific analysis. Since the previous notices
were published, the Forest Service received notice from the Bureau of
Land Management that some parcels are no longer being considered for
leasing (updated project map available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/btnf/landmanagement/projects). The title of this analysis is
revised to reflect this updated information. The purpose and need,
proposed action, and known possible alternatives are clarified as noted
below.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose for offering parcels and subsequent issuance of leases
is to meet the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan Objective 1.1(d) to ``provide leasable, locatable, and
salable mineral exploration and development opportunities;'' and Goal
4.4 ``other resources are protected during exploration and development
of subsurface resources;'' the Bureau of Land Management Pinedale
Resource Management Plan mineral management goal to ``provide
opportunities for mineral extraction and energy exploration and
development to provide resources to meet national and local needs while
avoiding or otherwise mitigating significant impacts on other resource
objectives;'' and the Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer Resource
Management Plan Goal MR: 1 to ``provide opportunities for exploration
and developing mineral resources on available public lands.'' The
offering for sale and subsequent issuance of oil and gas leases is
needed to respond to interest in obtaining future opportunities for
exploration and development of mineral resources under specific
parcels. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, requires the
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to respond to all leasing
interests.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management propose to offer
specific parcels for oil and gas leasing on the eastern slope of the
Wyoming Range, along the western portion of Sublette County in areas
identified as suitable and available for oil and gas leasing within the
Bridger-Teton National Forest and not prohibited by the Wyoming Range
Legacy Act. Issuance of leases would follow, incorporating the
appropriate standard stipulations for forest management areas 12, 23,
24, 25, 26, and 32, and the applicable Bureau of Land Management
resource management plan.
Preliminary Issues
Following are the preliminary issues developed from previous public
involvement efforts and considered during alternative development:
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could have cumulative effects on the social and economic well-being of
the local communities and quality of life for residents.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could change the backcountry recreation setting, detracting from the
quality of recreation opportunities in the area.
Not issuing leases for these specific parcels or applying
additional constraints to leases could prevent effective recovery of
energy resources in the area.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could affect groundwater quality and quantity in the area.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could occur to terrestrial wildlife including threatened, endangered,
sensitive, management indicator species' habitats and populations;
large game; and trophy game species.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could occur to water quality and could affect habitat for fish and
other special status aquatic species.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could occur to rare plant species habitats including sensitive and
management indicator species' habitats and populations.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could impact air quality and air quality-related values, with emphasis
on cumulative effects because of extensive development in the Pinedale
area and previously monitored exceedances of National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for ozone in Sublette County.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could affect permitted livestock grazing, cultural resources, and
visual resources.
Possible Alternatives
Alternative 1: No action/No leasing. The Forest Service would
object to the Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within
these specific parcels.
Alternative 2: Proposed Action, Implement Forest Plan Leasing
Availability Decision. The Forest Service would not object to the
Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within these
specific parcels. The Bureau of Land Management would offer for sale
leases with existing standard lease stipulations as required by the
Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The
Bureau of Land Management may add additional stipulations in accordance
with the applicable resource management plan. Future oil and gas
exploration and development would occur in accordance with procedures
established under an approved Federal oil and gas unit agreement.
Alternative 3: Implement Forest Plan Leasing Availability Decision,
Meet Site-Specific Management Goals. The Forest Service would not
object to the Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within
these specific parcels, with site-specific and management area
[[Page 15725]]
standard lease stipulations required by the Bridger-Teton National
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. For example, a combination of
No Surface Occupancy, Timing Limitation, Controlled Surface Use,
Conditional No Surface Occupancy, and the Jackson Hole Area Oil and Gas
Lease stipulations may be used depending upon resource issues. The
Bureau of Land Management may add additional stipulations in accordance
with the applicable resource management plan. Future oil and gas
exploration and development would occur in accordance with procedures
established under an approved Federal oil and gas unit agreement.
Alternative 4: Implement Forest Plan Leasing Availability Decision
with No Surface Occupancy. The Forest Service would not object to the
Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within these
specific parcels with a No Surface Occupancy stipulation. Future oil
and gas exploration and development would occur in accordance with
procedures established under an approved Federal oil and gas unit
agreement.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency. The Bureau of Land
Management, the State of Wyoming, and Sublette County are cooperating
agencies.
Responsible Official
This corrected NOI updates the responsible officials for this
project. The Forest Service responsible official for this decision [36
CFR 228.102(d)] is Clinton D. Kyhl, Bridger-Teton National Forest
Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest, 340 N. Cache (P.O. Box
1888), Jackson, Wyoming 83001. The Bureau of Land Management
responsible official for final decision (43 CFR 3101.7) relative to the
issuance or disposition of the leases and lease parcels is Donald A.
Simpson, State Director, Bureau of Land Management--Wyoming State
Office, 5353 Yellowstone (P.O. Box 1828), Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is whether the Forest Service objects or
does not object to the Bureau of Land Management offering for sale oil
and gas leases on these specific parcels, and under what terms and
conditions. This decision will supersede prior Forest Service decisions
regarding oil and gas leasing on these specific parcels. Based upon the
Forest Service's decision, the Bureau of Land Management will decide
which parcels would be offered for lease with appropriate stipulations,
which parcels will be deferred, which parcels are not available for
leasing, and which parcels are canceled.
Dated: March 12, 2014.
Clinton D. Kyhl,
Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2014-05891 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P