[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 57122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27630]



[[Page 57122]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[UT-080-1310-00]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) on the Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas 
Project, Uintah County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an EIS on the Resource Development 
Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas Project, Uinta County, Utah and notice of 
scoping.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vernal, Utah 
Field Office, will be writing an EIS on proposed natural gas 
development in 79,800 acres in the Atchees Wash oil and gas production 
region. The project is located primarily on BLM administered lands 
(69,560 acres). The project area also includes 9,080 acres administered 
by the State of Utah, and 1,160 acres of patented land. Sixty-four 
wells and 139 miles of primary and secondary roads exist within the 
project area. The proponent anticipates the drilling of up to 423 
additional wells at a rate of 15 to 40 a year, accessed by 
approximately 126 miles of new roads. Unpainted steel sales-gas 
gathering lines would be laid on the surface and integrated into the 
existing gas pipeline gathering and transmission network. New 
compressor stations would not be required in the project area.
    The number of proposed wells has been adjusted by the proponent 
from 970 wells in the original Environmental Assessment (EA No. UT-080-
1997-50) based on further review of the following factors: topography; 
slopes with a grade of 40 percent or greater; mitigation of potential 
impacts on critical mule deer winter range; maximizing use of existing 
roads; drilling of deeper wells to drain larger reservoirs; and 
avoidance of the 100-year flood plain along Bitter Creek.
    Major issues include potential impacts on critical mule deer winter 
range, recreational and visual resources near the White River Canyon 
and wilderness values. Alternatives identified at this time include the 
proposed action and the no action alternatives.

DATES: Public scoping comments will be accepted on or before November 
22, 1999. A public scoping open house and information meeting will be 
held on November 18, 1999 from 4-7 p.m. at the Western Park, 302 East 
200 South, Vernal, Utah. If you have any information, data or concerns 
related to potential impacts of the proposed action including the 
issues identified above, or have suggestions for additional 
alternatives, please submit them to the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to: Field Manager, 
Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East, 
Vernal, Utah 84078, ATTN: Resource Development Group Uinta Basin 
Natural Gas Project.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will 
be available for public review at the BLM Vernal Field Office and will 
be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). 
They may be published as part of the EIS and other related documents. 
Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to 
withhold your name or street address from public review and disclosure 
under the FOIA, you must state this prominently at the beginning of 
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent 
allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, will 
be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Duane De Paepe (435) 781-4403 or e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April, 1997, the Vernal Field Office 
initiated an EA (UT-080-1997-50) for this proposed project, located in 
the Book Cliffs Resource Area, Uintah County, Utah. In June, 1998, the 
EA was made available to the public and governmental agencies for a 30-
day review and comment period. Forty-nine comment letters were 
subsequently received. Based on these comments, the EA was amended and 
published in final form in February, 1999. A Decision Record (DR)/ 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on January 29, 
1999, and was published with the EA and Conditions of Approval.
    As a result of this decision, 12 requests for a State Director 
Review were received. In addition, a request for a stay of the DR/FONSI 
was received. A stay was issued until April 16, 1999, pending thorough 
review of the requests received. The stay was subsequently extended 
until the review could be completed and a decision issued. On May 21, 
1999 the DR/FONSI was vacated and the proposal was remanded to the 
Vernal Field Office for the preparation of an EIS. A proposed action 
for this EIS was received by the BLM on September 10, 1999.
Sally Wisely,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-27630 Filed 10-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1310-DQ-P