[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 19079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9132]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[WY-040-05-1310-01]


Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill Drilling Projects, Sweetwater and 
Lincoln Counties, WY; Availability of Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior--Lead Agency; Bureau of 
Reclamation, Interior--Cooperating Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill Drilling Projects Draft EIS which 
analyzes the environmental consequences of a proposed natural gas 
development and production operation in the Fontenelle II Unit and 
Lincoln Road Development Area. The project areas are approximately 30 
miles northeast of Kemmerer, Wyoming, and 70 miles northwest of Rock 
Springs, Wyoming. The project areas encompass a 179,760-acre natural 
gas field, where 1,070 wells are presently active, within portions of 
Townships 23, 24, 25, and 26 North, Ranges 109, 110, 111, and 112 West.

DATES: Comments on the draft EIS will be accepted for 45 days following 
the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes their 
Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The EPA notice is 
expected to be published on April 21, 1995. There are presently no 
plans to hold a public hearing on the Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill 
Drilling Projects Draft EIS because of apparent lack of unresolved 
substantial environmental controversy concerning the proposed project. 
Reviewers are encouraged to visit the local BLM offices in Cheyenne and 
Rock Springs, Wyoming, and talk with the managers about any concerns. 
If enough people indicate a desire to testify by returning the tear-out 
sheet provided in the draft EIS, a public hearing(s) will be scheduled. 
Information on the hearing(s) will be published in State and local 
newspapers and other media sources, and direct mailing to the 
recipients of the draft EIS to give the public enough notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft EIS should be sent to Bureau of Land 
Management, Bill McMahan (Project Coordinator), P.O. Box 1869, Rock 
Springs, WY 82902-1869.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS analyzes a proposed action for 
each of two project areas, one development alternative for each of two 
project areas, and the no action alternative. DALEN Resources Oil & Gas 
Co., (DALEN) proposes to continue to infill drill their company's 
existing Fontenelle II Unit and adjacent leased acreage (approximately 
25,323 acres); and Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation Presidio Oil Co., and 
several other companies (collectively the Lincoln Road Operators) 
propose to infill drill their leased acreage within the Lincoln Road 
Development Area (approximately 154,437 acres). The Fontenelle II Unit 
and the Lincoln Road Development Area are immediately adjacent to each 
other. Both proposed actions would be implemented in northeastern 
Lincoln and northwestern Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming, in the vicinity 
of Fontenelle Reservoir and the Green River. Access to the project 
areas is from U.S. Highways 189 and 191, State Highways 372 and 28, and 
numerous County, BLM, and operator-maintained roads.
    Collectively, the companies' proposal would continue to infill 
drill a 179,760-acre natural gas field, where 1,070 wells are presently 
active, by drilling up to 1,317 additional wells over the next 10 
years. Because of the tight-gas formation, the wells would be drilled 
on 160- and 80-acre spacing. A portion of the project area is presently 
developed on a 160-acre spacing (four wells per 640 acres). In selected 
areas, drilling on 80-acre spacing would increase the well density up 
to eight wells per 640 acres. The companies' plans and drilling 
schedules would be contingent upon both an increased demand for natural 
gas supplies in response to the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and an 
adequate price for the gas at the wellhead. The draft EIS describes the 
physical, biological, cultural, historic, and socioeconomic resources 
in and surrounding the project area. The focus for impact analysis was 
based upon resource issues and concerns identified during public 
scoping. Potential impacts of concern from development were to 
recreation associated with the Green River and Fontenelle Reservoir; 
antelope migrations and crucial big game winter range; sage grouse and 
raptor breeding and nesting; special status plaint and wildlife 
species; soil erosion and sediment increases to the Green River; 
groundwater contamination; Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, Pony Express, and 
California Historic Trails condition and viewshed; changes in livestock 
and wild horse management; and cumulative effects.
    The draft EIS, in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered 
Species Act (as amended), includes the Biological Assessment for the 
purpose of identifying any endangered or threatened species which are 
likely to be affected by the proposed action.

    Dated: April 6, 1995.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 95-9132 Filed 4-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JA-M