[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 28 (Friday, February 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7296-7298]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-2636]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-100-04-1310-DB]


Notice of Availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Jonah Infill Drilling Project, Sublette County, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Jonah Infill Drilling Project and 
notice of public involvement meeting for the purposes of providing 
comment on the DEIS.

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SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the

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Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) and associated 
regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in cooperation with 
the State of Wyoming, announces the availability of a DEIS that 
evaluates, analyzes, and discloses to the public direct, indirect, and 
cumulative environmental impacts of a proposal to continue to develop a 
natural gas field by increasing the density of well locations by 
drilling additional wells. This practice is known as ``infill'' 
drilling.
    The Jonah Infill Drilling Project (JIDP) area is located 
approximately 32 miles southeast of Pinedale and 28 miles northwest of 
Farson, Sublette County, Wyoming. The JIDP area is approximately 30,200 
acres in Townships 29 and 30 North, Range 114 West, 6th Principal 
Meridian. The DEIS analyzes a proposal made by EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) 
Inc., (EnCana) and BP America Production Company (BP), referred to 
collectively as ``the Companies,'' to increase development of Federal 
natural gas resources in an area known as the Jonah Field. The 
Companies' proposal includes drilling up to 3,100 natural gas wells 
from existing and new well pads, at a minimum well pad density of 64 
well pads per aliquot section (1 wellpad/10 acres), and at a rate of 
250 wells per year. The infill drilling is expected to be concentrated 
in a 21,000 acre portion of the Jonah Field. The proposed life of 
project (LOP) is 70 to 80 years with the majority of drilling and 
development activities to occur within the first 8 to 12 years 
following approval. The proposal also includes constructing or 
upgrading associated ancillary transportation and transmission 
facilities within the 30,200 acres project area. The total project area 
is comprised of: Approximately 28,280 acres of Federal surface and 
mineral estate administered by the BLM; 1,280 acres of State of Wyoming 
surface and minerals; and 640 acres of private surface ownership with 
Federal mineral (split estate).
    Under the provisions of NEPA, the State of Wyoming assisted in the 
preparation of the DEIS as a cooperating agency.

DATES: The DEIS will be available for review for 60 calendar days 
following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) 
publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register. The 
BLM can best use your comments and resource information within the 60 
day review period provided above.
    The BLM will announce public meetings and other opportunities to 
submit comments on this project at least 15 days prior to the event. 
Announcements will be made through local news media and the Pinedale 
Field Office's Web site; http://www.wy.blm.gov/pfo/info.htm. These 
meetings will provide the public with the opportunity to submit oral or 
written comments on the DEIS to the BLM.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the DEIS has been sent to affected Federal, State 
and local government agencies and to interested parties.
    An electronic copy of the DEIS may be viewed or downloaded from the 
BLM Web site at http://www.wy.blm.gov/pfo. Copies of the DEIS are 
available for public inspection at the following BLM office locations:
     Bureau of Land Management, Wyoming State Office, 5353 
Yellowstone Road, Cheyenne, Wyoming.
     Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432 East 
Mill Street, Pinedale, Wyoming.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Ms. Carol Kruse, Project 
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, Pinedale, 
Wyoming 82941. Ms. Kruse may also be reached at (307) 367-5352.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In response to a proposal submitted by the 
Companies, the BLM published in the March 13, 2003, Federal Register a 
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and notice of the potential for amendment of the Pinedale 
Resource Management Plan (RMP).
    As described in the NOI, the Companies' original proposal to drill 
450 wells in addition to 47 existing wells at the same number of well 
locations was approved by the BLM in the Environmental Assessment (EA), 
Finding of No Significant Impact and Decision Record for the Modified 
Jonah Field II Natural Gas Project, March 2000 (Modified Jonah Field II 
EA). In September 2002, the Companies submitted a proposal to drill and 
develop an additional 1,250 wells from 850 well pad locations within 
the same area analyzed in the Modified Jonah Field II EA. This proposal 
was based on a well pad spacing of one well pad per 20 to 10 acres. (32 
to 64 wells per aliquot section). In November 2003, the Companies 
submitted a revision to their proposal; this revised proposal is 
described and analyzed as the ``Proposed Action'' alternative. The 
Companies revised their proposal from drilling and development of an 
additional 1,250 wells to drilling and development of an additional 
3,100 wells. Well location spacing would be dictated by the geologic 
conditions, such as geologic formations and the location of gas 
resources. Well pad spacing would vary from one well pad per 5 acres to 
one well pad per 20 acres.
    The DEIS describes in detail and analyzes the impacts of eight 
alternatives, in addition to the No Action Alternative and the 
Companies' Proposed Action. The following is a summary of the 
alternatives:
    1. No Action Alternative--No additional development would be 
authorized beyond what is currently authorized as recorded in the March 
2000 decision made for Modified Jonah II Project.
    2. Proposed Action--Up to 3,100 new wells would be drilled and 
developed. Well pad location spacing would depend on geologic 
conditions. Drilling rate would be up to 250 wells per year. Operator-
committed mitigation measures would be applied.
    3. Alternative A--This alternative proposes to maximize economic 
recovery of gas resources. Up to 3,100 new wells would be drilled and 
developed. Well pad location would depend on geologic conditions. 
Drilling and well development rates would vary between 75 and 250 wells 
per year. No ``operator-committed'' mitigation measures would apply, 
but some BLM-standard mitigation measures would be applied.
    4. Alternative B--This alternative proposes activities that would 
minimize surface disturbance within the project area. No new well pads 
would be constructed and existing well pads would be expanded to 
accommodate additional directionally drilled wells as appropriate. 
Drilling and well development rates would vary between 75 and 250 wells 
per year. The Companies would agree to some ``operator committed'' 
mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required in addition 
to standard mitigation measures.
    5. Alternative C--This alternative proposes activities that would 
allow a moderate level of surface disturbance. Up to 1,250 new wells 
would be drilled and developed. Drilling and development rates would 
vary between 75 and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to 
some ``operator committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures 
would be required in addition to standard mitigation measures.
    6. Alternative D--This alternative proposes activities that would 
allow an

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intermediate level of surface disturbance. Up to 2,200 new well pads 
would be drilled and developed. Drilling and development rates would 
vary between 75 and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to 
some ``operator committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures 
would be required in addition to standard mitigation measures.
    7. Alternative E--This alternative proposes to restrict well pad 
spacing to 16 well pads per aliquot section or 1 well pad per 40 acres. 
Up to 3,100 new wells and up to 266 new well pads would be drilled and 
developed. Drilling and well development rates would vary between 75 
and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to some ``operator 
committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required 
in addition to standard mitigation measures.
    8. Alternative F--This alternative proposes to restrict well pad 
spacing to 32 well pads per aliquot section, or 1 well pad per 20 
acres. Up to 3,100 new wells and up to 1,208 well pads would be drilled 
and developed. Drilling and well development rates would vary between 
75 and 250 wells per year. The Companies would agree to some ``operator 
committed'' mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required 
in addition to standard mitigation measures.
    9. Alternative G--This alternative proposes to restrict well pad 
spacing to 64 well pads per aliquot section, or 1 well pad per 10 
acres. The Companies would agree to some ``operator committed'' 
mitigation and some mitigation measures would be required in addition 
to standard mitigation measures.
    10. Agency Preferred Alternative--This alternative would allow up 
to 3,100 new wells from a variable number of well pads to be drilled 
and developed. Three drilling density zones in the project area would 
govern surface well pad location. The drilling rate is 250 well per 
year. In addition to ``operator committed'' mitigation on-site, the 
Companies would agree to conduct off-site mitigation and an accelerated 
reclamation schedule.
    Features common to all action alternatives: Exploration of 
unexplored formations; inclusion of the north half of Section 23, T. 28 
N., R. 109 W. as a similar action for analysis purposes; development of 
ancillary facilities, including but not limited to a new ware-yard, 
expansion of existing compressor stations, and new/expanded water 
disposal facilities; some degree of upgrade of the Burma Road; and an 
average Life of Field (LOF) of 70 to 80 years beginning with project 
authorization through reclamation.
    Disposition of Potential for Amendment of the Pinedale RMP: Based 
on a review of information and comments received in response to the NOI 
and during the preparation of the DEIS, the Pinedale Field Manager has 
determined that this proposal is in conformance with the Pinedale RMP 
(1988). Postponing this DEIS until the Pinedale RMP revisions, that are 
currently underway, are completed, would not be in the public interest 
nor a timely agency response to the Companies' proposal made in 2001. 
Therefore, no amendment to the Pinedale RMP will be made as a result of 
analyses conducted for this DEIS.

How To Submit Comments

    The BLM welcomes your comments on the JIDP DEIS. The BLM asks that 
those submitting comments make them as specific as possible with 
reference to chapters, page numbers, and paragraphs in the DEIS 
document. Comments that contain only opinions or preferences will not 
receive a formal response; however, they will be considered, and 
included, as part of the BLM decision-making process. The most useful 
comments will contain new technical or scientific information, identify 
data gaps in the impact analysis, or provide technical or scientific 
rationale for opinions or preferences.
    Written comments may be mailed directly or delivered to the BLM at: 
Jonah Infill Drilling Project DEIS, Project Manager, Bureau of Land 
Management, Pinedale Field Office, 432 East Mill Street, P.O. Box 768, 
Pinedale, Wyoming 82941.
    You may send comments electronically to WYMail--Jonah--
I[email protected]. Please put ``Attention: Carol Kruse'' in the subject 
line. Comments submitted by facsimile will not be accepted or 
considered.
    To receive full consideration by the BLM all DEIS comment 
submittals must include the commenter's name and street address.
    Comments, including the names and street addresses of each 
respondent, will be available for public review at the BLM office 
listed above during regular business hours (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), 
Monday through Friday, except for Federal holidays. Your comments may 
be published as part of the EIS process. Individual respondents may 
request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name or street 
address, or both, from public review or from disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your written comments. Such requests will be honored to 
the extent allowed by law. We will not consider anonymous comments. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses will be made available for 
public inspection in their entirety.

Robert A. Bennett,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 05-2636 Filed 2-10-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P