[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37903-37904]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18671]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[WY-040-05-1310-01]


Pinedale Anticline Natural Gas Field Development Project EIS and 
Notice of Field Tour and Public Meeting, Sublette County, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to conduct public scoping and prepare an 
environmental impact statement.

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

SUMMARY: The action is to conduct scoping and to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Ultra Resources, Inc., McMurry 
Oil Company, Alpine Gas Company, Amoco Production Company, and other 
companies potential natural gas development in the area referred to as 
the Pinedale Anticline. Those interested in participating in the 
process and who have concerns, issues, or alternatives they would like 
to see addressed in the EIS, should respond with written comments 
within 30 days of the date of this Notice.

DATES: A Scoping Notice will be distributed by mail on or about the 
date of this notice. Responses and comments will be accepted for 30 
days following the date of this notice. The proponents of this action 
and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) cordially invite those 
interested to attend a public tour of the project area on July 23, 
1998. Attendees will leave from the BLM Office, 432 E. Mill Street, 
Pinedale, Wyoming, at 1 p.m. (parking is available), and the tour will 
end by 5 p.m. Transportation and refreshments will be provided as long 
as you RSVP by 4:30 p.m., July 17, 1998, by calling 307-367-5300.
    BLM will also hold a public meeting at the Pinedale Public School 
Auditorium, Pinedale, Wyoming, starting at 7 p.m., July 23, 1998. BLM 
will be soliciting representatives from affected interests and 
stakeholders to participate in the environmental analysis process. All 
comments received at the public meeting or through written comments 
submitted by mail will aid the BLM in identifying alternatives and 
assuring all issues are analyzed in the environmental impact analysis.

ADDRESSES: Information and a copy of the Scoping Notice for the 
Pinedale Anticline Natural Gas Field Development Project EIS can be 
obtained by writing or visiting the following offices:

BLM, Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, P.O. Box 1828, 
Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003.
BLM, Rock Springs District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, 
Wyoming 82902-1869.
BLM, Pinedale Resource Area Office, 432 East Mill Street, P.O. Box 768, 
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.
Scoping comments should be sent to: Bureau of Land Management, Rock 
Springs District Office, ATTN: Bill McMahan, Project Manager, 280 
Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Bill McMahan, Project Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Rock Springs 
District Office, phone 307-352-0224.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The total project area includes 
approximately 197,170 acres. This acreage includes approximately 
157,330 acres Federal surface, 30,130 acres private surface, and 9,710 
acres State surface. The subsurface mineral estate is comprised of 
approximately 164,200 acres Federal minerals, 21,980 acres of private 
minerals, and 10,990 acres State minerals.
    The Pinedale Anticline Project area is located in the central part 
of Sublette County, Wyoming, bordered by Pinedale on the north, Highway 
191 on the east, the northern border of the Jonah II Project area on 
the south, and the Green River on the west. Access to the project area 
is from U.S. Highway 191, Wyoming Highway 351, County roads and other 
roads via existing rights-of-way.
    The companies would like to proceed with implementing the potential 
field development within the area beginning in the summer of 1999. They 
do not know at this time the number of wells reasonably expected to 
adequately extract the natural gas. Currently, the companies are 
drilling exploratory wells, the results of which will give the 
companies the necessary information upon which to project the potential 
number of wells reasonably possible. The information from the 
exploratory drilling should be available by fall of this year. Once 
this information is available, the companies will develop a drilling 
program, based on the level of exploratory drilling success, including 
estimated miles of access road, pipelines, and compressors that will be 
needed to develop the resource. The area currently has 23 wells located 
along 27 miles of the Pinedale Anticline. Also, two pipelines currently 
serve the Pinedale Anticline area. This field development project will 
address additional pipeline needs for transporting natural gas. The 
potential development would include the following associated 
facilities:
     At each surface well location: separator, dehydrator, 
production tanks, and tinhorns (for holding produced water).
     To each surface well location: access road and a 3 to 4 
inch gas gathering pipeline.
     Water supply wells.
     Natural gas transmission pipeline extending southwest to 
tie in to an existing pipeline transportation system.
     Compressor facilities to transport the natural gas through 
pipelines to a gas processing facility.
    The Companies will be allowed to drill a limited number of 
exploratory wells while the EIS document is being prepared in 
accordance with the May 7, 1998, decision by the Pinedale Resource Area 
Manager. The exploratory drilling will include evaluating the 
feasibility of pad drilling (multiple wells from a single pad) by some 
companies. The exploratory drilling will be allowed so long as there is 
no significant impact, no irreversible or irretrievable commitment of a 
resource, and/or no compromising the selection of an alternative 
identified through the environmental analysis process. Results from the 
exploratory wells will assist the BLM and the companies in determining 
the likely level of development necessary to achieve the Federal 
mandate of maximum ultimate recovery of Federal mineral resources.

[[Page 37904]]

    The intent of the natural gas development is to extract and recover 
natural gas from the Pinedale Anticline lease area, allowing the 
companies to provide more natural gas to companies distributing and 
supplying natural gas to consumers. This would benefit consumers by 
making additional supplies of clean-burning natural gas available.
    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 
well field that will be analyzed in the EIS will include;
    * Potential impacts to nesting raptors.
    * Potential impacts to Threatened/Endangered/Candidate species 
(plant and animal).
    * Potential impacts to Threatened/Endangered Colorado River fish 
from water depletions.
    * Potential impacts to sage grouse breeding, nesting, and winter 
range habitat.
    * Potential impacts to Sublette antelope herd migration.
    * Potential impacts to Sublette mule deer herd migration.
    * Potential impacts to wildlife habitat and fish habitat.
    * Potential impacts to State Priority One birds and mammals.
    * Potential conflicts with livestock and range improvements.
    * Potential impacts on cultural resources (prehistoric and historic 
resources).
    * Potential impacts from increased drilling related traffic on 
Federal and State highways and increased public access to the area.
    * Potential social and economic affects to the local communities 
(increased Federal, State, and local revenues).
    * Potential impacts to surface and groundwater resources.
    * Potential impacts to air quality and air quality related values 
of the Bridger-Teton and Fitzpatrick Wilderness Areas.
    * Potential impacts on wetlands, floodplains, and/or riparian 
areas.
    * Potential impacts on paleontology.
    * Potential impacts from hazardous substances.
    * Potential impacts to visual resources (e.g., conformance with 
visual resource management classifications; potential impacts from 
development on the natural landscape).
    * Potential impacts to current land use (industrialization).
    * Revegetation and restoration of short-term disturbances and long-
term stabilization, and control of noxious weeds.
    * Potential impacts to human health and safety.
    * Potential impacts to domestic animal health and safety.
    * Potential cumulative impacts from the development when added to 
other energy-related activities ongoing or planned in the vicinity of 
the project.
    * Split-estate concerns.
    * Potential impacts to the National Historic Trail System.
    * Potential impacts to sites sensitive to American Indians.
    Opportunities that may be derived from the natural gas development 
include: increased royalties and tax revenues to local, State and 
Federal Governments; added employment and economic benefits to 
communities near the natural gas field; increase in Wyoming's share of 
new and existing markets; and development of natural gas to assist in 
the attainment of clean air in conformance with Presidential and 
Congressional direction.

    Dated: July 8, 1998.
Alan L. Kesterke,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 98-18671 Filed 7-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-M