[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 153 (Friday, August 8, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 47362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-19691]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[UT080-1310-00]


Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement on the Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas 
Project, Uintah County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with section 202 of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the 
availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the 
proposed Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas Project. 
The DEIS analyzes and discloses to the public direct, indirect, and 
cumulative environmental impacts of a proposed natural gas development 
on 79,800 acres in the Atchees Wash oil and gas production region. The 
proponent proposes to drill up to 423 gas production wells, accessed by 
approximately 126 miles of new roads. Three additional alternatives to 
the proposed action are also analyzed.

DATES: Written comments on the Resource Development Group Uinta Basin 
Natural Gas Project DEIS will be accepted for 45 days following the 
date the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes this Notice of 
Availability in the Federal Register. Future public meetings and any 
other public involvement activities will be announced at least 15 days 
in advance through public notices, media news releases, the BLM Vernal 
Field Office Web site at http://www.blm.gov/utah/vernal and/or 
mailings.
    The BLM asks that those submitting comments on the DEIS make them 
as specific as possible with references to page numbers and chapters of 
the document. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences will 
not receive a formal response, but will be considered and included as 
part of the BLM decision-making process.

ADDRESSES: Please address questions, comments or concerns to the Vernal 
Field Office, Bureau of Land Management, Attn: Jean Nitschke-Sinclear 
170 South, 500 East, Vernal, UT 84078, fax them to 435-781-4410, or 
send e-mail comments to the attention of Jean Nitschke-Sinclear at 
[email protected]. A copy of the DEIS has been sent to 
affected Federal, State, and local government agencies; and persons and 
entities who indicated to the BLM that they wished to receive a copy of 
the DEIS.
    Copies of the Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas 
Project DEIS are available at the BLM Vernal Field Office at the 
address above. The DEIS may also be viewed and downloaded in PDF format 
at the BLM Vernal Field Office Web site at http://www.blm.gov/utah/vernal.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Nitschke-Sinclear at BLM's Vernal 
Field Office listed above or telephone (435-781-4400).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments, including names and 
addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the 
BLM Vernal Field Office during normal business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 
p.m.). Responses to the comments will be published as part of the Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS). Individuals may request 
confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or address from 
public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, 
you must state this prominently at the beginning of your 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.
    The DEIS analyzes proposed natural gas development in 79,800 acres 
in the Atchees Wash oil and gas production region, approximately 50 
miles south of Vernal in Townships 11 and 12 South; Ranges 23 and 24 
E., SLBM. The proposed project is located primarily on BLM-administered 
lands (69,560 acres) and includes 9,080 acres of State administered 
lands and 1,160 acres of private lands. Sixty-four wells and 139 miles 
of roads exist within the project area. The proponent anticipates 
drilling up to 423 additional wells at a rate of 14 to 40 a year, 
accessed by approximately 126 miles of new roads. The wells would be 
drilled on a spacing pattern based on geology and reservoir qualities. 
Some areas could be developed on a 40-acre pattern while others could 
be drilled on patterns of 160 acres or larger. The Wasatch Formation 
(average depth of 2,000-4,000 feet) and Mesa Verde Formation (average 
depth of 4,000-6,000 feet) are the primary producing horizons in this 
region. Unpainted steel gas gathering lines would be laid on the 
surface and integrated into the existing gas pipeline gathering and 
transmission network. One new compressor station is anticipated.
    The Notice of Intent for preparation of the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement on the Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural 
Gas Project was published in the Federal Register on October 22, 1999. 
Public participation was sought through scoping, public meetings and 
stakeholder meetings conducted with interested agencies and 
organizations. Specifically, BLM conducted a public scoping and 
informational open house in Vernal, Utah on November 18, 1999; and 
stakeholders meetings on February 14-17, 2000. Through the scoping 
process several issues were identified and are addressed in the DEIS. 
The BLM has developed three alternatives in addition to the proposed 
action for analysis in the DEIS. The alternatives range from 
continuation of current management (No Action) to different 
combinations of environmental protection and development.

    Dated: June 6, 2003.
Sally Wisely,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 03-19691 Filed 8-7-03; 8:45 am]
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