Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison County, CO, 44652 [2016-16090]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Land Management

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 131 (Friday, July 8, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 44652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16090]



[[Page 44652]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOS05000.L13100000.DB0000.16X]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison 
County, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976 (FLPMA), as amended, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 (MLA), as 
amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master 
Development Plan (MDP) and by this notice is announcing its 
availability.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date the Environmental Protection Agency 
publishes its Notice of Availability for the Bull Mountain MDP Final 
EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bull Mountain MDP Final EIS are available for 
public inspection at the Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 South Townsend 
Ave., Montrose, CO 81401. Interested persons may also review the Final 
EIS on the project Web site at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/ufo/Bull_Mountain_EIS.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Jones, Southwest District NEPA 
Coordinator; telephone (970) 240-5300; Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 
South Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401; email gmjones@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, seven days a week, to leave a message or 
question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during 
normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: SG Interests I, Ltd. (SGI) submitted a 
master development plan proposal, the Bull Mountain MDP, to the BLM's 
Uncompahgre Field Office for its Bull Mountain Unit. The MDP covers 
natural gas exploration and development within the Bull Mountain Unit. 
An MDP provides information common to multiple planned wells, including 
drilling plans, Surface Use Plans of Operations, and plans for future 
production in order to guide that development going forward. The MDP 
allows SGI to exercise their lease rights, while drilling in a manner 
that limits the impacts to natural resources in the area.
    The Bull Mountain Unit MDP Final EIS analyzed the environmental 
impacts of the exploration and development of up to 146 natural gas 
wells, four water disposal wells, and associated infrastructure on 
Federal and private mineral leases within a federally unitized area 
known as the Bull Mountain Unit. SGI developed the unit after 
exploration wells demonstrated the potential for economically viable 
reserves of natural gas.
    The Bull Mountain Unit is located within the Colorado River basin, 
approximately 30 miles northeast of the town of Paonia, and is bisected 
by State Highway 133. The boundaries of the unit encompass 
approximately 19,670 acres of Federal and private oil and gas mineral 
estate in Gunnison County, CO. The unit consists of 440 acres of 
federally owned surface lands and mineral estate administered by the 
BLM; 12,900 acres of split-estate lands, consisting of private surface 
and BLM-administered Federal mineral estate; and 6,330 acres of fee 
land, consisting of private surface and private mineral estate.
    Work on the MDP began with a preliminary Environmental Assessment 
(EA) in 2008. In 2012, the BLM determined that an EIS was necessary, 
due to potential significant impacts to air quality in nearby Class I 
air sheds, water, socioeconomics, and wildlife. The BLM released the 
Draft EIS for a 45-day public comment period on January 16, 2015. The 
comment period was subsequently extended for an additional 45 days and 
closed on April 16, 2015. The BLM held one public meeting on February 
10, 2015, and received 565 unique comment letters and 83 form letters. 
The BLM carefully reviewed and responded to those comments as part of 
the development of the Final EIS.
    To comply with the Endangered Species Act, the BLM consulted with 
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for two threatened species--
greenback cutthroat trout and the Canada Lynx. The USFWS concurred with 
the BLM's finding that the proposed action ``may affect, but is not 
likely to adversely affect'' the greenback cutthroat trout and the 
Canada Lynx, or designated habitat for either species. To comply with 
Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the BLM 
consulted with the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) 
and interested Indian Tribes. The SHPO concurred with the BLM's finding 
of no effect on historic properties.
    The Final EIS analyzes a reasonable range of alternatives, 
including a No Action Alternative (Alternative A), the proposed action 
(Alternative B), and a modified action (Alternative C). Based on the 
public comment received, additional internal reviews were completed by 
the BLM; updated information was provided by SGI; the BLM added 
clarifying text to the Final EIS; and the BLM developed an additional 
alternative, Alternative D, which was selected as the preferred 
alternative. Alternative D includes additional design features that 
specifically address impacts to air resources and air quality-related 
resource values, water resources, and wildlife.
    Alternative D is also the environmentally preferred alternative, 
because it best achieves the following:
     Satisfies statutory requirements (true for all 
alternatives);
     Represents what the BLM believes to be the best 
combination of action alternatives analyzed in the EIS and best meets 
the purpose and need for action, as described in Chapter 1 of the Final 
EIS;
     Provides the best approach to address key resource and 
planning issues;
     Provides resource protection and a viable strategy for 
development of the mineral resources in the area;
     Responds to the public comments received; and
     Reflects input from cooperating agencies, stakeholders, 
the public, and BLM resource specialists.
    Alternative D is within the scope of the Alternatives analyzed in 
the Draft EIS.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Ruth Welch,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2016-16090 Filed 7-7-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JB-P