Department of the Interior December 28, 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Pursuant to Executive Order 13112, the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) is announcing the availability of the draft of the 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan for a 45-day public comment period. The Order established NISC as an inter-agency council to prevent and control invasive species in order to minimize their economic, ecological and human health impacts. The Council, which is co-chaired by the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce and the Interior also includes the Departments of State, Defense, Transportation, Homeland Security, Treasury, Health and Human Services, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Aeronautics and Atmospheric Administration. The Plan is intended to address invasive species in the areas of prevention, early detection and rapid response, control, restoration and organizational collaboration. Text of the 2008-2012 National Invasive Species Management Plan is available in PDF format at www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of a Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for long-term development of natural gas resources in the Pinedale Anticline Project Area (PAPA). The BLM released a Draft Supplemental Impact Statement (DSEIS) on December 15, 2006. The comment period for the DSEIS closed on April 6, 2007. Based upon public comments, BLM is reissuing a Revised Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (RDSEIS) to include the analysis of two additional alternatives. The RDSEIS includes the three alternatives that were analyzed in the original draft: the no action, proposed action, and the BLM preferred alternative. It also includes two additional alternatives: One based upon the comments BLM received from oil and gas proponents and the State of Wyoming Game and Fish; and an additional alternative which analyzes full field development with current wildlife timing stipulations in place. The first added alternative analyzes the effects of continued development activities during winter under relaxed wildlife timing stipulations within a core area of the PAPA. In addition, leases on the East and West flanks of the PAPA are proposed to be placed in suspense to offset affected winter habitat in the core development areas. A wildlife matrix and mitigation fund has been incorporated into this alternative to address on and off-site mitigation. The second added alternative analyzes the effects of full field development with wildlife timing stipulations carried forward from the 2000 PAPA ROD and subsequent PAPA decision documents. This alternative would allow for the development of 4399 wells, the level of development currently considered necessary to effectively recover the oil and gas resources. In addition to the two new alternatives, the RDSEIS will analyze pace of development. This analysis will show levels of impact associated with the number of rigs operating at any one time in the PAPA.