[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 19 (Thursday, January 29, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4467-4468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-2156]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WY-985-0777-66]


Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for Coalbed 
Methane Development Projects South of Gillette, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
for Coalbed Methane Development Projects South of Gillette, Wyoming, in 
Campbell County.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must analyze the impacts of actions we 
permit on Federal lands and minerals. As part of this analysis, the 
cumulative affects of the proposed action and other activities 
occurring in the area must be considered. Three Environmental 
Assessments (EA) (Pistol Point, Marquiss, and Lighthouse) and one 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (Gillette South) to address 
proposed coalbed methane (CBM) development have been completed for the 
area south of Gillette. When we completed the EIS in October of 1997, 
the apparent success of the coalbed methane play was drawing additional 
operators into the basin.
    Feedback we received from industry indicated we could see an 
additional 2,600 to 3,000 CBM wells south of Gillette by the year 2007 
if development success continues as it has been. With this information, 
BLM decided another EIS would be necessary to address this additional 
interest.

DATES: Comments to be considered in the draft EIS should be submitted 
by March 2, 1998. The draft EIS should be available for public review 
by October of 1998.

ADDRESSES: Questions or concerns should be addressed to Richard Zander 
in the BLM Buffalo Resource Area Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 
82834.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Zander, phone 307-684-1100.


[[Page 4468]]


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When we began preparation of the Gillette 
South CBM EIS in June of 1996, we had developed a proposed action to 
analyze a total of 640 CBM wells. This proposed action was based on the 
best available information we had from industry at that time. It took 
into account potential development based on depth to coal and what 
industry knew at that time about the potential to produce methane from 
the coal. The proposed action also included the prior Marquiss and 
Lighthouse CBM projects to address developmental changes which had 
occurred since these two projects had been analyzed by EAs. When we 
completed the EIS in October of 1997, the apparent success of the 
coalbed methane play was drawing additional operators into the basin. 
The following are some of the major issues raised during the 
preparation of the Gillette South CBM EIS. These issues are provided to 
help you understand what has occurred in past environmental documents 
and perhaps stimulate addition thoughts, questions, and issues.
     People were concerned with the loss of hydraulic head 
related to groundwater associated with the coal seam. Concerns related 
to lowering of water levels and increased pumping costs because water 
would have to be pumped from greater depths.
     Concerns were voiced on how the differentiation would be 
made between coal mine-caused and coalbed methane-caused impacts to the 
lowering of the water in the coal seam. How would the responsible 
entity be identified?
     Questions were posed on what effects the coalbed methane 
development would have on air quality. Of concern were possible 
hazardous emissions and pollutants released as a result of compressor 
emissions.
     Disposing water on the surface raised concerns about water 
quality due to possible increased erosion and possible weed 
infestations because of water flow fluctuations.
     Questions were raised about the use of produced water for 
dust control, stock watering, and the creation of wetlands. What were 
the ramifications of using this water in this manner?
     Concern was voiced that the mines had been venting methane 
for years and now we had companies working to recover the methane and 
pay royalty on production. Were we going to make the mines pay back 
royalty and future royalty for the methane they vent?
     There were concerns that we had not done further 
groundwater modeling to predict possible drawdowns and impacts.
     Concern was voiced about the use of the 1988 CHIA 
(Cumulative Potential Hydrologic Impacts of Surface Coal Mining in the 
Eastern Powder River Structural Basin, Northeastern Wyoming) and how 
this affected cumulative impacts.
     Concerns were voiced that previous documents had 
underestimated the magnitude of impacts when in actuality we had 
underestimated rate of impact occurrence.
     Concerns were raised that we had not addressed impacts to 
threatened and endangered species, raptors, and fisheries.
     Concern was expressed about the effects of surface 
disposal of water and operating a ranch with ongoing methane 
development operations.
    BLM held a meeting with companies on November 19, 1997, to discuss 
the implications of the recently signed Record of Decision for the 
Gillette South EIS. This meeting covered the mitigation steps that 
would be required of those operators developing Federal minerals. 
Specifically covered were monitoring requirements, use of the Water 
Well Agreement, and the formation of a groundwater monitoring group 
similar to the coal industry's Gillette Area Groundwater Monitoring 
Organization (GAGMO) Group. Another topic of discussion was the 
question of where the CBM operators thought development was headed. No 
specifics were voiced at this meeting, but the general consensus was 
that development over and above that analyzed in the Gillette South EIS 
was a certainty. BLM asked the operators to provide us feedback on 
their development plans so we could plan for future environmental 
analysis needs.
    Feedback we received from industry indicated we could see an 
additional 2,600 to 3,000 CBM wells south of Gillette by the year 2007 
if development success continues as it has been. With this information, 
BLM decided another EIS would be necessary to address this additional 
interest.
    A public scoping meeting will be held on February 5, 1998, at 7 
p.m., at the Holiday Inn in Gillette, Wyoming, to discuss this 
increased industry interest and solicit comments, questions, issues, or 
concerns you may have. We will use the feedback in the preparation of 
the EIS.

    Dated: January 22, 1998.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-2156 Filed 1-28-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P