[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 148 (Thursday, August 1, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49950-49951]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19245]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Oil and Gas Management Plan, Final Environmental Impact 
Statement, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates Flint 
Quarries National Monument, Texas

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of Final Environmental Impact Statement and Oil 
and Gas Management Plan for Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and 
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service announces the 
availability of a final Environmental Impact Statement and Oil and Gas 
Management Plan (FEIS/O&GMP) for Lake Meredith National Recreation Area 
and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, Texas.

DATES: The DEIS/O&GMP was on public review from June 15 through August 
14, 2001. Responses to public comment are addressed in the FEIS/O&GMP. 
A 30-day no-action period will follow the Environmental Protection 
Agency's Notice of Availability of the FEIS/O&GMP.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS/O&GMP are available from the 
Superintendent, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area and Alibates 
Flint Quarries National Monument, P.O. Box 1460, Fritch, Texas 79036-
1460. Public reading copies of the FEIS/O&GMP will be available for 
review at the following locations:

Office of the Superintendent, Lake Meredith National Recreation Area, 
Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, 419 E. Broadway, Fritch, TX 
79036, Telephone: 806-857-3151.
Planning and Environmental Quality, Intermountain Support Office--
Denver, National Park Service, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 
80228, Telephone: (303) 969-2851.

Office of Minerals/Oil and Gas Support, Intermountain Support Office--
Santa Fe, National Park Service, 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, NM 
87505, Telephone: 505-988-6095.

Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, DC 20240, Telephone: (202) 
208-6843.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: When the two units of the National Park 
System were created, surface ownership within the two areas was 
acquired by the U.S. Government. Private entities or the State of Texas 
retained the subsurface mineral interests on these lands. Thus, the 
federal government does not own any of the subsurface oil and gas 
rights in the units. The National Park Service is required by its laws, 
policies and regulations to protect these units from actions that may 
impair park resources and values. Oil and gas operations within all 
park units are subject to regulations promulgated at 36 CFR Part 9B 
under the general authority of the Park Service Organic Act.
    The FEIS/O&GMP analyzes three alternatives that could be 
implemented over the next 15-20 years for managing existing and 
anticipated oil and gas operations associated with the exercise of 
nonfederal oil and gas interests underlying the parks, and existing 
transpark oil and gas pipelines and activities in their associated 
rights-of-way. This planning effort will assist the park staff protect 
park resources, visitor use and experience, and human health and 
safety, and prevent impairment to park resources and values, while 
still recognizing property rights associated with outstanding 
nonfederal oil and gas interests.
    Alternative A, No Action/Current Management, is required by the 
National Environmental Policy Act and describes the continued 
management of oil and gas operations in the parks under current legal 
and policy requirements. Alternative B emphasizes the development of a 
programmatic oil and gas management plan that would guide nonfederal 
oil and gas operations in the parks. Special Management Areas (SMAs) 
would be formally designated in the parks where resources and values 
would be particularly susceptible to adverse impacts from oil and gas 
operations, and operating stipulations specific to each SMA would be 
applied. Alternative B is the preferred alternative. Alternative C 
emphasizes avoiding new surface disturbance and its associated impacts 
throughout the parks and is the environmentally preferred alternative. 
New drilling and production operations would be confined to the 
original footprint of 121 current production sites and could not be 
located in SMAs where the No Surface Use operating stipulation would 
apply.
    Impacts are analyzed on the following topics: nonfederal oil and 
gas development, adjacent landowners and uses, air quality, geologic 
resources, paleontological resources, floodplains and water resources, 
vegetation, wetlands, fish and wildlife, threatened and endangered 
species, cultural resources, and visitor use and experience.

[[Page 49951]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Lake Meredith National 
Recreation Area and Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument, at the 
above address and telephone number.

    Dated: May 15, 2002.
R. Everhart,
Director, Intermountain Region, National Park Service.
[FR Doc. 02-19245 Filed 7-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M