[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 76 (Friday, April 19, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19435-19436]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9657]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[ER-FRL-6628-3]


North Slope, Alaska: Preparation of an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) on a Proposal To Develop Oil and Gas Reserves in or 
Near the Point Thomson Unit, Potentially Including Designation of Ocean 
Dredged Material Disposal Site(s)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 10.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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[[Page 19436]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND TO BE PLACED ON THE PROJECT MAILING LIST 
CONTACT: John Malek, Sediment Management and Aquatic Resources 
Specialist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 10, 1200 Sixth 
Avenue, ECO-083, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Phone (206) 553-1286, E-
mail [email protected] or Theodore L. Rockwell, Jr., Environmental 
Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Alaska Operations 
Office, 222 W Seventh Avenue, Box 19, Anchorage, AK 99513-7588, Phone 
(907) 271-3689, E-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The ExxonMobil Production Company, a 
division of Exxon Mobil Corporation (ExxonMobil) and its partners, the 
Point Thomson Unit Owners, are proposing to develop oil and gas 
reserves in or near the Point Thomson Unit located approximately 46 
miles east of Prudhoe Bay on the Beaufort Sea coast, in the State of 
Alaska, with the goal of production and transport of sales-quality gas 
condensate to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS). The Point 
Thomson Gas Cycling Project involves the cycling of gas in the high 
pressure Thomson Sands reservoir to recover liquid gas condensate. The 
axis of the Thomson Sands reservoir is roughly aligned with the lagoon 
system located immediately south of Flaxman Island and extends offshore 
to the northwest. ExxonMobil and its partners intend to develop this 
reservoir from onshore locations using extended reach drilling 
technology.
    The proposed development may involve:

--Construction of ice roads;
--Development of gravel mine;
--Construction of gravel roads, pads, airstrip;
--Construction of a gravel fill dock extending into the Beaufort Sea;
--Dredging a channel to the dock from the open sea;
--Disposal, offshore, of the dredged material (ocean dumping);
--Construction of a pipeline system and connection to existing 
pipelines in other units;
--Construction of production facilities;
--Drilling production wells;
--Drilling underground waste injection wells;
--Operation of production facilities; and
--Abandonment following extraction of recoverable reserves.

    Alternatives will be identified and evaluated throughout the 
Scoping and EIS process with a preferred alternative identified in the 
Draft EIS.
    EPA has determined that the proposed project will or may require 
review, concurrence, permits or authorizations from EPA which has 
regulatory responsibility pursuant to a number of laws including the 
Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA), National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Clean Water Act (CWA), Safe Drinking 
Water Act (SDWA), and Clean Air Act (CAA). Other permits and/or 
authorizations may be required from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 
(Corps), the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), the Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS), State agencies, and the North Slope Borough.
    Based upon our review of the proposed project and our understanding 
of both the regulatory needs for this and associated projects, EPA has 
determined that to most efficiently meet our NEPA compliance 
responsibilities, it is prudent to now begin an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS). EPA will be the lead agency for this effort and will 
invite all interested Federal agencies, tribal governments, State 
agencies, and the North Slope Borough to participate in the preparation 
of the EIS as they deem necessary for their needs. Letters to that 
effect already have been sent to the Federal agencies and the following 
have stated their intent to participate as a cooperating agency: U.S 
Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District; U. S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service. State agencies, the North Slope Borough, Borough residents, 
and the general public will be contacted during the scoping process.
    EPA anticipates the preparation of this EIS will be carried forward 
via a third-party contract process in which ExxonMobil works with EPA 
to acquire an independent third-party contractor to collect 
information, prepare the documents for Agency review, revision and 
acceptance.
    Scoping: EPA expects to hold scoping meetings in Anchorage, Barrow, 
Nuiqsut, Kaktovik, Arctic Village, and Fairbanks. Further information 
about these meetings will be published locally or can be obtained by 
contacting the EPA as described above. A description of the project 
will be circulated prior to these meetings to help the public focus 
their scoping comments.
    The draft EIS is tentatively scheduled for release to the public 
and agencies for review in mid-2003. The EPA plans to conduct a series 
of public meetings hearings after release of the draft EIS. Actual 
times and locations for the public hearings will be announced by 
advance public notice and local publications following release of the 
draft EIS.

L. John Iani,
Regional Administrator, Region 10.
    Dated: April 15, 2002.
Anne Norton Miller,
Director, Office of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 02-9657 Filed 4-18-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P