[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11218-11219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6536]



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[[Page 11219]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[WY-060-1310-00]


Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development Project, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas 
Development Project in Natrona County, Wyoming.

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SUMMARY: In 1994, a major gas reservoir was discovered at Cave Gulch. 
At present, seven companies (Chevron U.S.A. Production Company, Barrett 
Resources Corporation, Prima Oil & Gas Company, Goldmark Engineering, 
Inc., W. A. Moncrief, Jr., Marathon Oil Company, and John P. Lockridge, 
Inc.,) operate oil and gas leases in the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman 
area and have applied for permits to drill. In accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a field development 
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Raptor Mitigation Plan were completed 
in May 1995, which assessed the potential impacts of 20 proposed wells 
and further assessed cumulative impacts to raptor nesting of 49 
proposed wells (Barrett Resource Corporation, Cave Gulch Area Natural 
Gas Development Project, EA No. WY-062-95-034). During the preparation 
of the Cave Gulch EA, 4 wells were drilled; after EA approval, 16 wells 
were approved, and 14 of those were drilled as of January 16, 1996. In 
December 1994, an EA was initiated for Chevron U.S.A. Production 
Company on the Waltman area adjacent to Cave Gulch. The Waltman Area 
Natural Gas Development Project EA was to provide a cumulative 
assessment of proposals in and near both areas. Subsequent to the 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Cave Gulch EA and 
during the preparation of the Waltman EA, 14 additional wells were 
proposed. The need for pipeline system upgrades, a possible gas 
processing plant, and well spacing to allow more wells per lease became 
known. New well proposals, possible additional facilities, and 
increased impacts above those previously predicted in either EA, 
resulted in the decision by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on January 
16, 1996, to vacate the Cave Gulch EA Record of Decision (ROD), suspend 
completion of Chevron's EA and to prepare an EIS. After the EIS 
analysis, it may also be necessary to amend the Platte River Resource 
Area and Resource Management Plan, approved in 1985 to change the 
protection for raptor nests in field development situations from 
seasonal to year-round.

DATES: As part of this process, an open house and a public scoping 
meeting will be held April 17, 1996. The meeting will be located in the 
Hilton Inn, 800 No. Poplar, Casper, Wyoming. An open house will be from 
5:00 p.m., until 7:00 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. The 
schedule for the EIS preparation will be finalized after the scoping 
meeting.

ADDRESSES: Questions or concerns should be addressed to Ms. Kate 
Padilla, Team Leader for the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas 
Development Project EIS, Platte River Resource Area Office, P.O. Box 
2420, Mills, Wyoming 82644.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Padilla, telephone: 307-261-7600 
or Celia Skillman, Team Member, telephone: 307-261-7500.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Generally, the area is located about 50 
miles west of Casper, Wyoming, and about 5 miles north of the town of 
Waltman. The analysis area could cover about 25 to 30 square miles. The 
area also contains a concentration of raptor nests, mainly golden 
eagles and ferruginous hawks. In January 1996, the BLM's Wyoming 
Reservoir Management Group was asked to complete a reservoir analysis 
of the Cave Gulch area. On February 20, 1996, they completed the Cave 
Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman EIS Area Preliminary Reservoir Analysis report 
for this area (available upon request). The report, based on geologic 
and engineering data, indicated that the gas producing area may be more 
extensive than the currently developed area. The optimum number of 
wells may be as great as 200 wells. Well spacing may range between one 
well per 20 acres to one well per 160 acres because of complex geology. 
The preliminary reservoir analysis will be revised after public review. 
The final reservoir analysis will be used in conjunction with other 
data to define an area of analysis.
    BLM may allow some specified development during preparation of the 
EIS. Development would be guided by establishing screening criteria to 
be used to evaluate proposals. BLM will collaborate with interested 
publics to establish these criteria. In addition, BLM intends to 
utilize as much as possible the data contained in the various 
assessments which have previously been prepared for the area. The data 
would be supplemented as needed or required to accommodate the area of 
analysis and the scope of development.

    Dated: March 12, 1996.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 96-6536 Filed 3-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P