[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 152 (Monday, August 7, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48249-48250]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19808]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-100-1310-ES]


Availability of the Pinedale Anticline Record of Decision

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
implementing regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces 
the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Pinedale 
Anticline Natural Gas Exploration and Development Project Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS). The ROD specifies the decision of the BLM 
Wyoming State Director regarding natural gas exploration and 
development allowed, including restrictions and limitations, on Federal 
lands and minerals within the project area in Sublette County, Wyoming. 
Implementation of this decision will commence immediately (i.e., it is 
issued full force and effect).

DATES: This decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land 
Appeals, Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations 
contained in 43 CFR 3165.4(c) within 30 days of the date on which this 
Notice appears in the Federal Register. That date is anticipated to be 
on or about August 8, 2000.

ADDRESSES: If an appeal is filed, the notice of appeal must be filed in 
the office of the Bureau of Land Management, State Director, P.O. Box 
1828, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003 within 30 days of the date BLM publishes 
their notice of the decision in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bill McMahan, telephone: (307) 352-
0224. Copies of the ROD may be obtained from the following BLM offices:

Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941 
(telephone 307-367-5300);
Rock Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 
82901 (telephone 307-352-0224); or
Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Pinedale Anticline ROD records the 
decision made by the BLM Wyoming State Director, in consultation with 
the USDA--Forest Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the State 
of Wyoming (cooperating agencies in the preparation of the EIS), for 
managing the Federal surface and mineral estate in the Pinedale 
Anticline Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Project Area (PAPA). 
The PAPA comprises approximately 197,345 acres of Federal, State, and 
private land. Of this total, approximately 157,719 surface acres (79.9 
percent) are Federal managed by the BLM; 9,766 surface acres (5.0 
percent) are administered by the State of Wyoming; and 29,860 acres 
(15.1 percent) are privately controlled.
    The BLM approves the Pinedale Anticline Operators proposal for 700 
producing well pads over the next 10 to 15 years within the PAPA. The 
approved development will be

[[Page 48250]]

implemented under the ``Resource Protection (RP) Alternative on Federal 
Lands and Minerals,'' as modified. The ROD recognizes the PAPA as one 
which has been relatively undisturbed by development for natural gas 
and that there are important and highly sensitive natural resources and 
human values within or adjacent to the area which require consideration 
and protection from unnecessary or undue degradation (Federal Land 
Policy and Management Act [FLPMA]--section 302). The ROD recognizes 
that in order to develop 700 productive well pads in the PAPA, as many 
as 900 well pads may need to be constructed and drilled and that as 
many as 200 of these well pads may be plugged, abandoned and reclaimed 
because the wells would be dry holes or uneconomical to produce. The 
ROD also recognizes that not all of the well pads will be located on 
Federal lands/minerals. Some will be located on State and private 
lands/minerals. Therefore, monitoring for project consistency with the 
scope of EIS analysis will be based on a total of 700 producing well 
pads.
    BLM believes that implementation of the ``Resource Protection 
Alternative on Federal Lands and Minerals,'' as modified, will provide 
the best balance of multiple uses within the PAPA, and will sustain the 
long-term yield of resources while promoting stability of local and 
regional economies, environmental integrity, and conservation of 
resources for future generations (NEPA section 101 and FLPMA, section 
302). The RP Alternative on Federal Lands and Minerals will provide for 
the management of the PAPA in a manner that allows for natural gas 
exploration and development while continuing to provide for the 
existing principal and major uses recognized by the land use plan for 
this area (e.g., domestic livestock grazing; fish and wildlife habitat 
protection, utilization, and development; mineral exploration and 
production; utility and road rights-of-way; visual resource protection; 
outdoor recreation).
    The ROD, to the extent allowed by law, incorporates restrictions 
and mitigative measures in consideration of the need to prevent 
unnecessary or undue degradation of important and sensitive resources 
and human values, and in consideration of Federal, State, local agency, 
public, and affected Indian tribe concerns raised during scoping and in 
comments received on the draft and final EIS. The ROD incorporates a 
process recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 
called Adaptive Environmental Management (AEM), which will provide for 
project implementation oversight to ensure maximum consideration for 
the reasonable protection of identified concerns through its 
development and implementation. The AEM Process will be designed to 
ensure that the implementation of the Pinedale Anticline Project is 
managed and monitored in a manner that will guide midcourse corrections 
in adapting to inevitable problems or changes associated with and 
inherent in each authorization for the implementation, operation, and 
abandonment of activities to develop the mineral resource.
    The ROD authorizes the BLM Pinedale Field Manager or Authorized 
Officer to begin processing Applications for Permit to Drill (APDs), 
Sundry Notices (SNs), Rights-of-Way (ROWs), and Temporary Use Permits 
(TUPs) on public lands administered by the BLM for the Pinedale 
Anticline Project Operators and for companies contracted by the 
Operators. Approval of individual applications will authorize the 
implementation of the various components of the Pinedale Anticline 
Project (e.g., access road and well pad construction, gas gathering 
pipeline and production facilities installation, etc.). The ROD 
provides the BLM Pinedale Field Manager approval to permit the 
following project components on BLM-administered Federal lands and 
minerals within the PAPA, subject to the constraints specified. 
Proposed development beyond the specified levels will require the 
preparation of a supplemental environmental impact analysis to the EIS.

900  Initial well pad locations on all lands and minerals within the 
PAPA.
700  Producing wells and/or well pads on all lands and minerals within 
the PAPA.
700  Production facilities at individual well locations.
  Central production facilities.
4  Compressor facility sites.
  Water wells for drilling/completion water.
1  BP Amoco Field Office.
121.5 Miles of sales pipeline corridor for multiple 
pipelines.
276.0  Miles of access road (including collector, local and 
resource roads).
280.0  Miles of gathering pipeline system.

    The decision may be appealed to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, 
Office of the Secretary, in accordance with the regulations contained 
in 43 CFR 3165.4(c). If an appeal is filed, your notice of appeal must 
be filed in this office (Bureau of Land Management, State Director, 
P.O. Box 1828, Cheyenne, Wyoming 82003) within 30 days of the date BLM 
publishes their notice of the decision in the Federal Register. The 
appellant has the burden of showing that the decision appealed from is 
in error.
    If you wish to file a petition (pursuant to 43 CFR 3165.4(c)) for a 
stay (suspension) of the effectiveness of this decision during the time 
that your appeal is being reviewed by the Board, the petition for a 
stay must accompany your notice of appeal. A petition for a stay is 
required to show sufficient justification based on the standards listed 
in 43 CFR 3165.4(c). Copies of the notice of appeal and petition for a 
stay must also be submitted to the Interior Board of Land Appeals and 
to the appropriate office of the Solicitor at the same time the 
original documents are filed with this office. If you request a stay, 
you have the burden of proof to demonstrate that a stay should be 
granted.

    Dated: July 27, 2000.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 00-19808 Filed 8-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P