[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 40 (Monday, March 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10237-10238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5196]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[Docket No. WY-040-08-1310-00]


Notice of Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement

SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Jonah Field II Natural 
Gas Project. McMurry Oil Company, Snyder Oil Corporation, Amoco 
Production Company, Western Gas Resources, et al., propose to develop 
the Jonah II natural gas field in Sublette County by drilling up to 450 
wells and constructing roads, pipelines, compressor stations, and other 
necessary facilities for producing and transporting natural gas. The 
FEIS analyzes the anticipated impacts of the proposed natural gas 
project.
    The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the lead agency for the EIS. 
The FEIS was prepared for BLM by TRC Mariah Associates, Inc., a third-
party contractor, under the provisions of Section 102(2)(C) of the 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA).
    The FEIS has been prepared in an abbreviated format. Alternatives 
considered in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and the 
environmental effects of those alternatives have not been reprinted in 
the FEIS. However, sections dealing with air quality have been revised 
and are included in their entirety in the FEIS. You will therefore need 
both the DEIS and the FEIS for reviewing the complete document. Copies 
of the DEIS and the FEIS can be obtained from the BLM's Rock Springs 
District Office.

DATES: Written comments on the FEIS will be accepted for 30 days 
following the date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes 
a notice of filing of the FEIS in the Federal Register. We expect that 
notice will be published February 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send all written comments to the Bureau of Land Management, 
Rock Springs District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, 
Wyoming 82901 (Phone 307-352-0256).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Arlan Hiner, Team Leader, BLM Rock Springs District Office, Telephone 
No. 307-352-0206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Jonah Field encompasses about 59,600 
acres of land between Pinedale and Farson, Wyoming, within Townships 28 
and 29 North, Ranges 107, 108, and 109 West, Sixth Principal Meridian. 
The Jonah Field has 49 producing natural gas wells. The Operators 
propose to explore, define, and develop the Jonah natural gas field by 
drilling up to 450 additional wells over the next 15 years contingent 
upon natural gas prices and markets.
    The Jonah Field II EIS analyzes the impacts of the Proposed Action, 
a Sensitive Resource Protection Alternative, a Maximum Well Location 
Density of 4 per Section, and the No Action Alternative. Key issues 
include socioeconomic effects to people and communities near the 
project area and in the State as a whole; effects to antelope and 
antelope habitat, sage grouse, and raptor breeding and nesting; 
potential reductions in air quality and visibility; potential 
reductions in water quality; surface disturbance; and transportation 
planning.
    The FEIS is a supplement to the DEIS published on July 25, 1997. It 
incorporates by reference most of the material presented in the DEIS 
and identifies the changes to the DEIS, and contains:
     The corrections and additions to the DEIS.
     Comments received on the DEIS and responses to the 
comments.
     The complete Air Quality Section in Chapter 4 and a 
revised Air Quality Technical Support Document.
    EPA assigned the DEIS an EU-2 rating (Environmentally 
Unsatisfactory, Insufficient Information) contending that implementing 
the proposed action would cause adverse environmental impacts of 
sufficient magnitude to be unsatisfactory to environmental quality and 
represent a serious conflict with the national goals of the Clean Air 
Act. EPA believes that there are reasonably available alternatives to 
the proposed action which could reduce the predicted environmental 
impacts of the proposed action. Based upon EPA's comments, BLM made 
several changes in the Air Quality Section in Chapter 4 and in the Air 
Quality Technical Support Document. These sections are included in 
their entirety in the FEIS. No substantive changes were made to the 
proposed action.
    This FEIS is not a decision document. A Record of Decision will be 
prepared and made available to the public following the 30-day comment 
period provided for the FEIS.


[[Page 10238]]


    Dated: February 23, 1998.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-5196 Filed 2-27-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-M