Notice of Availability of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, California, 58739-58740 [2019-23827]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2019 / Notices 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 in the ADDRESSES section during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 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, 43 CFR 1610.2. Danielle Chi, Deputy State Director, Resources. [FR Doc. 2019–23825 Filed 10–31–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–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 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, California Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analyzing the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on new oil and gas leases within the Bakersfield Field Office planning area, and by this notice the BLM 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 that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing Final Supplemental EIS are available for public inspection during regular business hours at 3801 Pegasus Drive, SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Oct 31, 2019 Jkt 250001 Bakersfield, CA 93308. Interested persons may also review the Final Supplemental EIS online at https:// go.usa.gov/xE3Nw. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural Resources Specialist; telephone: 661– 391–6000; email: csummers@blm.gov; address Bureau of Land Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact Carly Summers 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 is located in eastern Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties in California and encompasses approximately 1.2 million acres of Federal minerals and roughly 400,000 surface acres of BLM-managed public land. The supplemental environmental analysis is being conducted in response to a May 2017, U.S. District Court Order. The U.S. District Court upheld the range of alternatives analyzed in the 2012 Proposed Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Final EIS. The five management alternatives analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS were: • The No Action alternative (Alternative A)—continue current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 Hollister RMP, as amended; • The Proposed Plan (Alternative B)—balance resource conservation and ecosystem health with the production of commodities and public use of the land; • Alternative C—emphasize conserving cultural and natural resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring degraded natural systems; • Alternative D—same as Alternative C, except that Alternative D would eliminate livestock grazing from BLMmanaged lands in the planning area; and • Alternative E—emphasize the production of natural resources, commodities and public use opportunities. The 2012 Proposed RMP/Final EIS identified public lands available to fluid-mineral leasing and no changes to those designations are proposed through the Final Supplemental EIS. Preliminary resource issues were presented for public scoping review and comment in the August 8, 2018, Federal PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 58739 Register Notice of Intent (83 FR 39116). Issues identified by BLM personnel; Federal, State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders and analyzed in the Final Supplemental EIS include: Air and atmospheric values; water quality and quantity; seismicity; special status species; and mineral resources (oil and gas.) The Draft Supplemental EIS was available for a 45-day public comment period initiated on April 26, 2019, Federal Register Notice of Availability (84 FR 17885). The BLM held public meetings on May 21, 22, and 23, 2019, in Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara, respectively. Approximately 600 individuals attended the three meetings and approximately 16,000 written comments were received through ePlanning and standard mail. Responses to substantive comments are presented in Appendix B: Public Comment Summary Report of the Final Supplemental EIS. The results of this final supplemental analysis regarding the impacts of hydraulic fracturing, additive to those identified in the 2012 Final EIS, did not show a 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 2014 RMP. The range of alternatives has not changed between the approved 2014 RMP and its 2012 Final EIS and the Final Supplemental EIS. Therefore, no amendment to the 2014 RMP is necessary. In addition, no protest period is required because no changes are proposed to the 2014 RMP planning decisions. The BLM has fully analyzed the effects of hydraulic fracturing in accordance with the order of the court, and although the 2012 EIS has been supplemented, no changes are proposed to the 2014 RMP planning decisions. Because there are no changes to the RMP, no protest period is required and none is given. The BLM has utilized and coordinated 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. BLM review were considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into the Final Supplemental EIS. Public E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1 58740 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 212 / Friday, November 1, 2019 / Notices comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and incorporation of new information, but did not require or suggest further supplementation or change proposed decisions. Authority: Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10. Danielle Chi, Deputy State Director, Natural Resources. [FR Doc. 2019–23827 Filed 10–31–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs Bureau of Land Management [LLNM004400. L16100000.DO0000.LXSSG0690000 19XL1109AF] Notice of Availability of the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement, Bureau of Land Management Proposed Resource Management Plan and Bureau of Indian Affairs Proposed Integrated Resource Management Plan Bureau of Land Management, Interior; and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) have prepared a Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement (FJEIS) for the BLM Proposed Resource Management Plan (P–RMP), the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Proposed Integrated Resource Management Plan (P–IRMP) for the BLM Oklahoma Field Office, the BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, and the BIA Southern Plains Regional Office, and by this Notice is announcing the opening of the protest period. DATES: Pursuant to the BLM planning regulations at 43 CFR 1610.5–2, any person who participated in the land use planning process associated with the development of these proposed land use plans and has an interest that could be adversely impacted by these management decisions can protest the management decisions within 30 days of the date the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency publishes the Notice of Availability of the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas FJEIS/BLM P–RMP/BIA P– IRMP. SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:23 Oct 31, 2019 Jkt 250001 The Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas FJEIS/BLM P–RMP/BIA P–IRMP is available online in the Documents and Reports section of the BLM ePlanning project website at: https:// go.usa.gov/xVPk3. Protests must be made in writing (43 CFR 1610.5–2(a)(1)) and filed with the BLM Director, either as a hard copy or electronically via the BLM’s e-Planning website listed above. To submit an electronic protest, go to the project website and select the ‘‘Documents & Reports’’ link at the left, then select ‘‘Submit Protest’’ next to the Final Joint Environmental Impact Statement (FJEIS). Upon selection of the ‘‘Submit Protest’’ button, a new window will open that will guide you through the submission process. Printed ‘‘hard copy’’ protest submissions must be mailed to one of the following addresses, and postmarked by the end of the protest period. Via mail: Director (210), Attn: Protest Coordinator, P.O. Box 71383, Washington, DC 20024– 1383; Via Overnight Delivery: Director (210), Attn: Protest Coordinator, 20 M Street SE, Room 2134LM, Washington, DC 20003. Copies of the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas FJEIS/BLM P–RMP/BIA P–IRMP are available upon request from: • The Bureau of Land Management, Oklahoma Field Office, Attn.: Patrick Rich, RMP Team Lead, 201 Stephenson Parkway, Suite 1200, Norman, OK 73072. • BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, Attn.: Mosby Halterman, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402– 8002. • BIA Southern Plains Regional Office, Attn.: David Anderson, P.O. Box 368, Anadarko, Oklahoma 73005–0368. • The Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508. • Copies of the Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas FJEIS/BLM P–RMP/BIA P– IRMP are also available for public inspection at the BLM New Mexico State Office, 301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508 and at the BLM Oklahoma Field Office, 201 Stephenson Parkway, Suite 1200, Norman, OK 73072. ADDRESSES: FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Patrick Rich, RMP Team Lead, telephone (405) 579–7154; address 201 Stephenson Parkway, Suite 1200, Norman, OK 73072; email BLM_NM_ OKT_RMP@blm.gov. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at (800) 877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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: In the Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas FJEIS/ BLM P–RMP/BIA P–IRMP, the BLM and BIA analyze the environmental consequences of four alternatives under consideration for managing Federal lands and minerals within the Oklahoma-Kansas-Texas planning area. The BLM Oklahoma Field Office administers approximately 15,100 acres of public surface estate, including approximately 11,833 acres at the Cross Bar Management Area near Amarillo, Texas; about 3,300 acres of small tracts scattered across the planning area; and Federal lands along the 116-mile stretch of the Red River between the North Fork of the Red River and the 98th Meridian. No exact acreages of Federal lands along the Red River are available at this time because the full 116-mile stretch of land has not been surveyed. The Oklahoma Field Office also administers approximately 4,810,900 acres of subsurface Federal mineral estate across the 269,650,000-acre planning area, to include approximately 4,012,400 acres underlying surface estate managed by other Federal surface management agencies, such as U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service, and approximately 785,300 acres of splitestate, where Federal minerals underlie private surface estate. The BIA decision area includes approximately 394,200 surface acres and 2,033,500 mineral estate acres for the BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office. Approximately 1,474,500 acres of the BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office jurisdictional area is limited to coal or other minerals in Osage County. The BIA decision area also includes approximately 457,500 surface acres and 632,000 mineral estate acres for the BIA Southern Plains Regional Office. This includes lands and mineral estate in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, and Richardson County, Nebraska. The BLM is the lead agency for development of the land use plan, while the BIA Regional Offices are co-lead planning partners on this joint, integrated land use planning effort. The Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas FJEIS/ BLM P–RMP/BIA P–IRMP provides a comprehensive, integrated land use plan that will replace the BLM’s current 1994 Oklahoma RMP, as amended; the 1991 Kansas RMP; and the 1996 Texas RMP, as amended. Land use plan revision and consolidation is necessary due to numerous changes, including renewable E:\FR\FM\01NON1.SGM 01NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58739-58740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23827]


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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 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 
California

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
analyzing the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on new oil and 
gas leases within the Bakersfield Field Office planning area, and by 
this notice the BLM 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 that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing 
Final Supplemental EIS are available for public inspection during 
regular business hours at 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308. 
Interested persons may also review the Final Supplemental EIS online at 
https://go.usa.gov/xE3Nw.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural 
Resources Specialist; telephone: 661-391-6000; email: [email protected]; 
address Bureau of Land Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 
93308. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact 
Carly Summers 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 
is located in eastern Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis 
Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties in California and 
encompasses approximately 1.2 million acres of Federal minerals and 
roughly 400,000 surface acres of BLM-managed public land.
    The supplemental environmental analysis is being conducted in 
response to a May 2017, U.S. District Court Order. The U.S. District 
Court upheld the range of alternatives analyzed in the 2012 Proposed 
Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Final EIS. The five management 
alternatives analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS were:
     The No Action alternative (Alternative A)--continue 
current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 
Hollister RMP, as amended;
     The Proposed Plan (Alternative B)--balance resource 
conservation and ecosystem health with the production of commodities 
and public use of the land;
     Alternative C--emphasize conserving cultural and natural 
resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring 
degraded natural systems;
     Alternative D--same as Alternative C, except that 
Alternative D would eliminate livestock grazing from BLM-managed lands 
in the planning area; and
     Alternative E--emphasize the production of natural 
resources, commodities and public use opportunities.
    The 2012 Proposed RMP/Final EIS identified public lands available 
to fluid-mineral leasing and no changes to those designations are 
proposed through the Final Supplemental EIS.
    Preliminary resource issues were presented 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 
Final Supplemental EIS include: Air and atmospheric values; water 
quality and quantity; seismicity; special status species; and mineral 
resources (oil and gas.)
    The Draft Supplemental EIS was available for a 45-day public 
comment period initiated on April 26, 2019, Federal Register Notice of 
Availability (84 FR 17885). The BLM held public meetings on May 21, 22, 
and 23, 2019, in Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara, 
respectively. Approximately 600 individuals attended the three meetings 
and approximately 16,000 written comments were received through 
ePlanning and standard mail.
    Responses to substantive comments are presented in Appendix B: 
Public Comment Summary Report of the Final Supplemental EIS.
    The results of this final supplemental analysis regarding the 
impacts of hydraulic fracturing, additive to those identified in the 
2012 Final EIS, did not show a 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 2014 RMP. The range of alternatives has not changed 
between the approved 2014 RMP and its 2012 Final EIS and the Final 
Supplemental EIS. Therefore, no amendment to the 2014 RMP is necessary. 
In addition, no protest period is required because no changes are 
proposed to the 2014 RMP planning decisions. The BLM has fully analyzed 
the effects of hydraulic fracturing in accordance with the order of the 
court, and although the 2012 EIS has been supplemented, no changes are 
proposed to the 2014 RMP planning decisions. Because there are no 
changes to the RMP, no protest period is required and none is given.
    The BLM has utilized and coordinated 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.
    BLM review were considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into 
the Final Supplemental EIS. Public

[[Page 58740]]

comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and incorporation 
of new information, but did not require or suggest further 
supplementation or change proposed decisions.

    Authority: Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Danielle Chi,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2019-23827 Filed 10-31-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P


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