[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19127-19128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10022]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-060-07-1310-00]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the Gillette South Coalbed Methane Project, 
Campbell County, Wyoming

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability 
of the Gillette South Coalbed Methane Project Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) which analyzes the environmental consequences 
of coalbed methane development within the Gillette South Project area. 
This development area is located in Campbell County and generally 
located within Townships 42 through 49 North; Ranges 70 through 73 
West, 6th Principal Meridian. The area is accessed by U.S. Highway 59 
south of Gillette, Wyoming. Access to the interior of the project area 
is provided by a road system developed to service prior and ongoing 
drilling and production activities.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS will be accepted through May 12, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft EIS should be sent to Mr. Richard 
Zander, Bureau of Land Management, Buffalo Resource Area, 1425 Fort 
Street, Buffalo, Wyoming 82834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS analyzes a proposed action and 
the no action alternative. It also considers four other alternatives: 
restrict timing of approval of Federal wells, reduce number of Federal 
wells approved, change the method of surface water disposal, and inject 
produced water underground. The proposal presented by the project 
operators is to continue to drill additional wells on their leased 
acreage within this natural gas development area.
    Over the next 3 to 5 years, the project operators propose to drill 
up to 400

[[Page 19128]]

additional wells (210 private or State, and 190 Federal) to obtain 
maximum recovery of natural gas from existing Federal (41 percent), 
State, and private oil and gas leases. The draft EIS describes the 
physical, biological, cultural, historic, and socioeconomic resources 
in and surrounding the project area. The focus of the impact analysis 
was based upon resource issues and concerns identified during public 
scoping.

    Dated: April 4, 1997.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-10022 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P