[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 40603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19626]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION


Finding of No Significant Impact

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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

SUMMARY: Based on an environmental assessment prepared by Quisto Energy 
Corporation (Quisto) to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well 
located on the Main Floodway of the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control 
Project (LRGFCP), the United States Section, International Boundary and 
Water Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC) finds that the 
proposed action to issue a license to Quisto for such works is not a 
major federal action that would have a significant adverse effect on 
the quality of the human environment. Therefore, pursuant to section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council 
on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through 
1508); and the U.S. Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing 
Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 
1981 (46FR44083-44094); the USIBWC hereby gives notice that an 
environmental impact statement will not be prepared for the proposed 
action.

ADDRESS: Mr. Yusuf E. Farran, Division Engineer, Environmental 
Management Division, United States Section, International Boundary and 
Water Commission, United States and Mexico, 4171 North Mesa Street, C-
310, El Paso, Texas 79902-1441. Telephone: 915/534-6704.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Action

    The action proposed is for the USIBWC to issue a license to Quisto 
to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well and install related 
features within Meyerhoff No. 5. Drilling Unit, Lot 271, Kelly-Pharr 
Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas. The gas well is proposed to be 
located on privately owned land within the Main Floodway of the USIBWC 
LRGFCP approximately 8 kilometers southeast of the town of Pharr. 
Access to the drilling site is by way of existing county and private 
roads.

Alternatives Considered

    Three alternatives were considered in the Environmental Assessment 
(EA):
    The Proposed Action Alternative is for Quisto to construct, 
operate, and maintain a gas well is a cultivated field within the Main 
Floodway of the USIBWC LRGFCP. This proposed action will require the 
USIBWC to issue a license to ensure that such works do not cause an 
obstruction to flood flows within the floodway or interfere with the 
operation and maintenance of the LRGFCP.
    The No Action Alternative is for Quisto to not construct, operate, 
and maintain a gas well within the Main Floodway of the LRGFCP. The no 
action alternative will not require the USIBWC to issue a license since 
no work will be done within the LRGFCP. The no action alternative will 
result in the denial of access to the mineral owner to rightfully owned 
minerals, loss of tax revenues to the State of Texas, and result in an 
unrecoverable clean energy source.
    The Directional Well Alternative is for Quisto to drill a well from 
outside the Main Floodway to a depth below the proposed surface 
location. The directional well alternative will not require the USIBWC 
to issue a license since no work will be done within the LRGFCP. The 
directional well alternative is considered not workable because of a 
lack of an available surface drillsite outside the Main Floodway and 
technical problems associated with a bottomhole location some 457 
meters or more from the surface location.
Environmental Assessment

    The USIBWC received from Quisto a completed Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the proposed gas well and related features. The EA 
is currently available for review and comment.

Finding of the Environmental Assessment

    The EA finds that the proposed action for Quisto to construct, 
operate, and maintain a gas well within the Maine Floodway of the 
USIBWC LRGFCP (and the USIBWC to issue a license for such work) does 
not constitute a major federal action which would cause a significant 
local, regional, or national adverse impact on the environment based on 
the following facts:
    1. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has determined that no 
waters of the United States including wetlands will be impacted by the 
proposed gas well and related features.
    2. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that 
federally listed endangered or threatened species are unlikely to be 
adversely affected by the proposed gas well and related features.
    3. The Texas Historical Commission has determined that no survey is 
required and the project may proceed.
    4. The USIBWC has determined that the proposed gas well and related 
features will have no significant effect upon the flood carrying 
capacity of the Main Floodway.
    On the basis of the Quisto EA, the USIBWC has determined that an 
environmental impact statement is not required for the issuance of 
license to Quisto to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well and 
install related features within the Main Floodway of the USIBWC LRGFCP 
and hereby provides notice of a finding of no significant impact 
(FONSI). An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless 
additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our 
attention within thirty (30) days of the date of this Notice. A limited 
number of copies of the EA and FONSI are available to fill single copy 
requests at the above address.

    Dated: August 2, 1995.
Randall A. McMains,
Attorney.
[FR Doc. 95-19626 Filed 8-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-03-M