Notice of Availability of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, California, 17885-17886 [2019-08282]

Download as PDF amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2019 / Notices following the date of this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, mailings, and/or at the BLM website https:// go.usa.gov/xEFvQ. ADDRESSES: Written comments on the Converse County Oil and Gas Project may be submitted by any of the following methods: • Email: blm_wy_casper_wymail@ blm.gov, • Fax: 307–261–7587, • Mail or hand delivery: BLM Casper Field Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, WY 82604. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the following offices: • BLM Casper Field Office, 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 82604; • BLM Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009. Interested persons may also view the documents online at: https://go.usa.gov/ xEFvQ. Please reference the Converse County Oil and Gas EIS Attn: Mike Robinson, Project Manager, when submitting your comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Robinson, Project Manager, telephone: 307–261–7520; address: 2987 Prospector Drive, Casper, Wyoming 82604; email: blm_wy_casper_wymail@ blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact Mr. Robinson during normal business hours. The FRS 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: An operator group (OG) comprised of Anadarko Petroleum Company (Anadarko), Chesapeake Energy Corporation (Chesapeake), Devon Energy (Devon), EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG), and Northwoods Energy, propose to develop oil and gas leases within the Converse County Project Area (CCPA) in Converse County, Wyoming. The CCPA encompasses approximately 1.5 million acres of land, of which approximately 88,466 surface acres (6 percent of the CCPA) are public lands administered by the BLM and approximately 63,911 surface acres (4 percent of the CCPA) are administered by the United States Forest Service. The remaining surface estate consists of approximately 101,012 surface acres (7 VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Apr 25, 2019 Jkt 247001 percent) administered by the State of Wyoming and approximately 1,247,477 surface acres (83 percent) that are privately owned. The BLM administers approximately 964,525 acres of mineral estate (64 percent) within the CCPA. Split estate lands, lands with private surface and Federal mineral ownership, comprise approximately 812,189 acres of those 964,525 acres (54 of the 64 percent) of the Federal mineral ownership of land within the CCPA. The Supplement to the Draft EIS describes and analyzes the impacts of the OG’s Proposed Action (Alternative B) consisting of five options as amendments to the Casper RMP. The following is a summary of those options: Option 1: The No Action Option assumes that no amendment would be approved but that Alternative B would be approved with the standard stipulations for non-eagle raptor nest timing limitations applied as directed in the Casper RMP. Option 2: This option consists of an amendment to the Casper RMP that would modify all existing leases and development within the Converse County Oil and Gas Project area, removing all non-eagle raptor nest timing limitations (lease stipulations, conditions of approval, mitigations or other stipulations) through the operation of the pertinent resource’s laws, rules and regulations. Future leases or development within the Converse County Oil and Gas Project area would not apply the non-eagle raptor nest timing limitations. Option 3: This option consists of an amendment to the Casper RMP that would allow for development within non-eagle raptor nest timing limitations within the Converse County Oil and Gas Project area contingent upon the proponent committing to measures detailed in this option. Option 4: This option consists of an amendment to the Casper RMP that would allow for development within non-eagle raptor nest timing limitations within the Converse County Oil and Gas Project area contingent upon the proponent’s proposed practices or plans that the BLM determines alleviates impacts to non-eagle raptors. Option 5: This option consists of an amendment to the Casper RMP that would allow for development within non-eagle raptor nest timing limitations within the Converse County Oil and Gas Project area contingent upon completion of a Migratory Bird Conservation Plan with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in coordination with the BLM. The Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS was published in the Federal Register on May 16, 2014. Key issues identified during scoping included: Potential impacts on private landowners over Federal mineral estate; socioeconomic impacts on local communities and residents, particularly from increased noise, traffic, and population growth; potential impacts on air quality and climate change; potential impacts to PO 00000 Frm 00114 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17885 groundwater and surface water supply and quality; potential impacts to historic trails; enforcement of reclamation and other mitigation on non-Federal lands; impacts to area recreation, grazing, and hunting; the potential to impact sage grouse, migratory birds, big game, and other wildlife; and adequate analysis of cumulative impacts. The public is encouraged to comment on any and all portions of the document. The BLM asks that those submitting comments make them as specific as possible with reference to chapters, page numbers, and paragraphs in the Supplement to the Draft EIS document. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences will not receive a formal response. The most useful comments will include new technical or scientific information, identification of data gaps in the impact analysis, or technical or scientific rationale for opinions or preference. Comments and information submitted on the Supplement to the Draft EIS for the Converse County Oil and Gas project including names, email addresses, and street addresses of respondents will be available for public review online at: https://go.usa.gov/xEFvQ. The BLM will not accept anonymous comments, false names or unidentified emails. 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10 Mary Jo Rugwell, State Director, Wyoming. [FR Doc. 2019–08288 Filed 4–25–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–22–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAC06000.L13100000. DS0000.LXSIAREV0000. 19XL1109AF.MO#4500131458] Notice of Availability of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, California Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\26APN1.SGM 26APN1 17886 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 81 / Friday, April 26, 2019 / Notices In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), analyzing the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on oil and gas leases within the Bakersfield Field Office planning area, and by this notice the BLM is announcing the opening of the 45-day public comment period. DATES: To ensure consideration, the BLM must receive written comments on the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings. ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments related to the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental EIS by any of the following methods: • Website: https://go.usa.gov/xE3Nw • Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office, Attn: Bakersfield Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308 Copies of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental EIS are available during regular business hours in the Bakersfield Field Office. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural Resources Specialist, telephone: 661– 391–6000, email: csummers@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800– 877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bakersfield Field Office planning area includes Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties in California and encompasses approximately 400,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of Federal mineral estate. The supplemental environmental analysis is being conducted in response to a May 2017, U.S. District Court Order. The BLM presented preliminary resource issues for public scoping review and comment in the August 8, amozie on DSK9F9SC42PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:28 Apr 25, 2019 Jkt 247001 2018, Federal Register Notice of Intent (83 FR 39116). Issues identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders and analyzed in the Draft Supplemental EIS include: Air and atmospheric values; water quality and quantity; seismicity; special status species; and mineral resources (oil and gas). The U.S. District Court Order upheld the range of alternatives analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The five management alternatives as analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS were: • The No Action alternative (Alternative A) would continue current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 Hollister RMP, as amended. • The Proposed Plan (Alternative B) strives to balance resource conservation and ecosystem health with the production of commodities and public use of the land. • Alternative C emphasizes conserving cultural and natural resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring natural systems that are degraded. • Alternative D follows Alternative C in all aspects except with regard to livestock grazing. Alternative D would eliminate livestock grazing from the BLM-managed lands in the planning area for the life of this land use plan. • Alternative E emphasizes the production of natural resources and commodities while emphasizing public use opportunities. The results of this draft supplemental analysis analyzing the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, additive to those identified in the 2012 Final EIS, did not show notable increase in total impacts. No conflicts were found between the estimated impacts of hydraulic fracturing and the resource or program management goals and objectives stated in the RMP. The range of alternatives has not changed between the approved 2014 RMP and its 2012 Final EIS and the Draft Supplemental EIS. Therefore, no amendment to the 2014 RMP is necessary. You may submit comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS in writing to the BLM using one of the methods listed earlier in the ADDRESSES section. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the close of the 45-day comment period. The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The BLM will continue to consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-government basis, in PO 00000 Frm 00115 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and potential impacts to cultural resources, will continue to be given due consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate in the comment period. Please note that public comments and information submitted, including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who submit comments, will be available for public review and disclosure at the address listed earlier during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays. 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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10) Joe Stout, Acting State Director, California. [FR Doc. 2019–08282 Filed 4–25–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [LLCAD08000.L12200000.DT0000. 19XL1109AF.LXSSB0010000 (MO#4500135579)] Notice of Availability of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Proposed Land Use Plan Amendment to the California Desert Conservation Area Plan for the West Mojave Route Network Project, Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties, California Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Proposed SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\26APN1.SGM 26APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 81 (Friday, April 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17885-17886]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08282]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAC06000.L13100000.DS0000.LXSIAREV0000.19XL1109AF.MO#4500131458]


Notice of Availability of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic 
Fracturing Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

[[Page 17886]]

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a 
Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), analyzing the 
potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on oil and gas leases within 
the Bakersfield Field Office planning area, and by this notice the BLM 
is announcing the opening of the 45-day public comment period.

DATES: To ensure consideration, the BLM must receive written comments 
on the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental 
EIS within 45 days following the date the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. 
The BLM will announce future meetings or hearings and any other public 
involvement activities at least 15 days in advance through public 
notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

ADDRESSES: You may submit written comments related to the Bakersfield 
Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft Supplemental EIS by any of the 
following methods:
     Website: https://go.usa.gov/xE3Nw
     Mail: Bureau of Land Management, Bakersfield Field Office, 
Attn: Bakersfield Hydraulic Fracturing Analysis, 3801 Pegasus Drive, 
Bakersfield, CA 93308

    Copies of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Draft 
Supplemental EIS are available during regular business hours in the 
Bakersfield Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural 
Resources Specialist, telephone: 661-391-6000, email: [email protected]. 
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call 
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will receive 
a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bakersfield Field Office planning area 
includes Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, 
Tulare, and Ventura counties in California and encompasses 
approximately 400,000 acres of public land and 1.2 million acres of 
Federal mineral estate.
    The supplemental environmental analysis is being conducted in 
response to a May 2017, U.S. District Court Order.
    The BLM presented preliminary resource issues for public scoping 
review and comment in the August 8, 2018, Federal Register Notice of 
Intent (83 FR 39116). Issues identified by BLM personnel; Federal, 
State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders and analyzed in the 
Draft Supplemental EIS include: Air and atmospheric values; water 
quality and quantity; seismicity; special status species; and mineral 
resources (oil and gas). The U.S. District Court Order upheld the range 
of alternatives analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS. The five 
management alternatives as analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS were:
     The No Action alternative (Alternative A) would continue 
current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 
Hollister RMP, as amended.
     The Proposed Plan (Alternative B) strives to balance 
resource conservation and ecosystem health with the production of 
commodities and public use of the land.
     Alternative C emphasizes conserving cultural and natural 
resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring 
natural systems that are degraded.
     Alternative D follows Alternative C in all aspects except 
with regard to livestock grazing. Alternative D would eliminate 
livestock grazing from the BLM-managed lands in the planning area for 
the life of this land use plan.
     Alternative E emphasizes the production of natural 
resources and commodities while emphasizing public use opportunities.
    The results of this draft supplemental analysis analyzing the 
impacts of hydraulic fracturing, additive to those identified in the 
2012 Final EIS, did not show notable increase in total impacts. No 
conflicts were found between the estimated impacts of hydraulic 
fracturing and the resource or program management goals and objectives 
stated in the RMP. The range of alternatives has not changed between 
the approved 2014 RMP and its 2012 Final EIS and the Draft Supplemental 
EIS. Therefore, no amendment to the 2014 RMP is necessary.
    You may submit comments on the Draft Supplemental EIS in writing to 
the BLM using one of the methods listed earlier in the ADDRESSES 
section. To be most helpful, you should submit comments by the close of 
the 45-day comment period.
    The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA process to help 
fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The BLM will continue to consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis, in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will continue to be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed action that the BLM is evaluating, are invited to participate 
in the comment period.
    Please note that public comments and information submitted, 
including names, street addresses, and email addresses of persons who 
submit comments, will be available for public review and disclosure at 
the address listed earlier during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4 
p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays.
    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 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10)

Joe Stout,
Acting State Director, California.
[FR Doc. 2019-08282 Filed 4-25-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-40-P

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