[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 7795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4097]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-985-0222-66]


Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development Project in 
Natrona County, Wyoming; Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS)

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development Project 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which analyzes the 
environmental consequences of the oil and gas operators proposal to 
continue to drill wells on their leased acreages within the Cave Gulch-
Bullfrog-Waltman oil and gas project area. This development area is 
located in Natrona County and generally located within Townships 36 and 
37 North; Ranges 86 and 87 West, 6th Principal Meridian. The area is 
accessed by U.S. Highway 20/26 west of Casper, Wyoming; and, north of 
Waltman, Wyoming via county road 104. Access to the interior of the 
Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman project area is provided by a road system 
developed to service prior and on-going drilling and production 
activities.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS will be accepted for 45 days following the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. The EPA notice is expected on or 
about February 14, 1997. In addition, a public meeting will be held 
Tuesday, March 11, 1997. The meeting will be located at the University 
of Wyoming, Natrona County Cooperative Extension Building, 2011 
Fairgrounds Road, Casper, Wyoming. The meeting will be in two parts 
beginning with an open house from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. followed by a public 
meeting from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Comments on the DEIS will be entertained 
during the open house and the public meeting.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be sent to Ms. Kate Padilla, 
Team Leader for the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development 
Project EIS, Bureau of Land Management, Casper District Office, 1701 
East ``E'' Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS analyzes a proposed action, two (2) 
development alternatives, and the no action alternative. The proposal 
presented by the operators is to continue to drill additional wells on 
their leased acreage within this natural gas development area. The 
current oil and gas operators are Chevron U.S.A., Barrett Resources 
Corporation, Prima Oil & Gas Company, Goldmark Engineering, Inc., W.A. 
Moncrief, Jr., Marathon Oil Company, and John P. Lockridge, Inc. The 
land ownership pattern of the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman project area 
is 66 percent Private, 29 percent Federal (BLM), and 5 percent State of 
Wyoming. The mineral ownership is as follows, 20 percent Private, 77 
percent Federal (BLM), and 3 percent State of Wyoming.
    Over the next 10 years, the operators propose to drill up to 160 
additional wells where approximately 40 wells are currently active to 
obtain maximum recovery of natural gas from existing Federal, State, 
and private oil and gas leases. The area was divided into four segments 
by the operators to allow for better definition of the Proposed Action 
with regard to well spacing and density, based on BLM's February 1996, 
preliminary geologic report. The two development alternatives analyze 
wells based on areas defined in the BLM's June 1996, final geologic 
report.
    The DEIS describes the physical, biological, cultural, historic, 
and socio-economic resources in and surrounding the project area. The 
focus of the impact analysis was based upon resource issues and 
concerns identified during public scoping. Potential impacts of concern 
from development were primarily concerned with raptor breeding and 
nesting, sensitive soils, and economics.

    Dated: February 5, 1997.
Alan L. Kesterke,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-4097 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P