[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39466-39467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19148]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[WY-040-96-1310-01]


Notice of Intent To Conduct Public Scoping and To Prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will conduct public 
scoping and prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for McMurry 
Oil Company's and Snyder Oil Corporation's (Companies) proposal to 
drill approximately 300 natural gas wells within and north of the 
existing Jonah Prospect Natural Gas Field in Sublette County, Wyoming. 
The Jonah Field II Natural Gas Development Project (Project) area 
encompasses 63,000 acres in Townships 28 and 29 North, Ranges 107, 108, 
and 109 West, 6th Principal Meridian. The Companies propose to drill 
between 150 and 450 wells on an 80-acre spacing over a 10 year period 
beginning in 1997.
    Lands within the project area are primarily public lands 
administered by BLM. Four sections of land owned by the State of 
Wyoming (two split-estate sections with state minerals and Federal 
surface) and one section of private surface and Federal minerals are 
within the project area. These lands are used primarily for livestock 
grazing, wildlife habitat, watershed, and natural gas production.

DATES: A public scoping notice was distributed July 12, 1996. Responses 
and comments will be accepted through August 23, 1996. A public tour of 
the project area is scheduled for the afternoon of July 29, 1996. A 
public scoping meeting will be held at 7:00 p.m., July 29, 1996, at the 
Best Western Motel, 864 West Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming.

ADDRESSES: Send all scoping comments to: Leslie Theiss, Area Manager, 
Pinedale Resource Area, P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, Wyoming 82041.
    Additional information about attending the tour, the public 
meeting, or to receive a copy of the scoping notice for the Project may 
be obtained from the following offices:

BLM, Pinedale Resource Area, 132 Mill Street, P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, 
Wyoming 82041. Phone number 307-367-4358.
BLM, Rock Springs District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, 
Wyoming 82901. Phone number 307-382-5350.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Curry, Pinedale Resource Area or 
Teri Deakins, Rock Springs District Office.

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION: The purpose of the project is to expand 
natural gas recovery from the Jonah

[[Page 39467]]

Field area, allowing the Companies to provide natural gas to pipeline 
companies distributing and supplying natural gas to consumers. The 
Jonah Field currently has 17 producing wells. The existing wells, plus 
the additional wells, could result in development of between 150 and 
450 natural gas wells within the Jonah Field II area with 300 wells the 
most likely development scenario. However, the level and rate of 
additional drilling and development will be contingent upon natural gas 
prices and delineation of the producing formation. Facilities at each 
new well site will include an individual separator, a dehydrator, and 
production units. Associated facilities will include access roads, a 3 
to 4 inch diameter buried natural gas gathering system, replacement of 
existing 8 inch natural gas transmission pipeline with a 12 inch 
pipeline, and expansion of the natural gas powered compressor station.
    An environmental assessment was prepared on natural gas development 
within the Jonah Prospect Field in 1994. The decision concluded that a 
certain level of development could be authorized without resulting in 
significant impact to the human environment. Additional delineation 
wells may be approved during preparation of the EIS so long as it 
remains within the scope of the existing environmental analysis and BLM 
policy on drilling exploration and delineation wells. Land and resource 
management issues and concerns associated with the construction of 
roads, well pads, and pipelines; the drilling and completion of wells, 
and the operation and maintenance of a producing natural gas field that 
will be analyzed in the EIS include:
     No surface occupancy within 1/2 mile of a ferruginous hawk 
nest.
     Potential impacts to nesting raptors.
     Threatened/Endangered/Candidate species (plant and 
animal).
     Potential impacts of sage grouse breeding, nesting, and 
winter range habitat.
     Potential impacts to Sublette antelope herd migration.
     Revegetation and restoration of short-term disturbances 
and long-term stabilization, and control of noxious weeds.
     Potential conflicts with livestock and range improvements.
     Potential impacts on cultural resources (prehistoric and 
historic resources).
     Increase drilling related traffic on Federal and State 
highways and increased public access to the area.
     Social and economic affects to the local communities 
(increased Federal, State, and local revenues).
     Potential impacts to surface and groundwater resources.
     Air quality and potential impacts to nearby Wilderness 
Areas.
     Potential impacts on wetlands and/or riparian areas.
     Potential impacts on paleontology.
     Hazardous substances.
     Potential impacts to wildlife habitat and fish habitat 
(Colorado River water depletions, if applicable).
     Human and domestic animal safety.
     Potential impacts to State Priority One bird and mammals.
     Cumulative impacts--from the company's proposal added to 
other energy-related activities that are on-going or planned in the 
vicinity of the Jonah Field II.
     Split-estate concerns.

    Dated: July 23, 1996.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 96-19148 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P