Department of the Interior November 26, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), we, the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), advise the public that we intend to gather information necessary to prepare, in coordination with the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), and Kern County, a joint Environmental Impact Statement/Environmental Impact Report (EIS/ EIR) on the Chevron Lokern Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The HCP is being prepared under Section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended, (Act). Chevron intends to apply for a 50-year incidental take permit from the Service. The permit is needed to authorize the incidental take of threatened and endangered species that could result from oil and gas development and operation activities covered under the HCP. We provide this notice to: (1) Describe the proposed action and possible alternatives; (2) advise other Federal and State agencies, affected Tribes, and the public of our intent to prepare an EIS/EIR; (3) announce the initiation of a public scoping period; and (4) obtain suggestions and information on the scope of issues and alternatives to be included in the EIS/EIR.

Under the Class II provisions of Title IV, Public Law 97-451, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) received a petition for reinstatement of oil and gas lease NMNM 97871 from the lessee, Energen Resources Corp, for lands in Eddy County, New Mexico. The petition was filed on time and was accompanied by all the rentals due since the date the lease terminated under the law.