[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 28 (Friday, February 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7059-7060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1868]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[UT-080-05-1310-EJ]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Gasco Production Company Natural Gas Field Development, Duchesne 
and Uintah Counties, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to conduct public scoping and to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Gasco Natural Gas Field 
Development, Duchesne and Uintah Counties, Utah.

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

SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vernal Field 
Office, Vernal, Utah, will prepare an EIS on the proposed expansion of 
existing natural gas field development operations. The EIS area 
encompasses approximately 236,165 acres predominately in the West 
Tavaputs Exploration and Development Area with some overlap into the 
Monument Butte-Red Wash, and East Tavaputs Exploration and Development 
Areas. The project is located primarily on BLM administered lands 
(203,357 acres). The project area also includes lands administered by 
the State of Utah (27,765 acres), and several private landowners (5,043 
acres). Gasco has mineral lease rights underlying both the public and 
private lands. The Vernal Field Office Manager will be the authorized 
officer for this project.

DATES: This notice announces the public scoping process. A public 
scoping period of at least 30 days will commence on the date this 
notice is published in the Federal Register. Comments on issues, 
potential impacts, or suggestions for additional alternatives can be 
submitted in writing to the address listed below within 30 days of the 
date this Notice is published, or within 15 days after the last public 
meeting is held. Public open meetings will be conducted during the 
scoping period in Vernal, Duchesne, and Price, Utah. All public 
meetings will be announced through the local news media at least 15 
days prior to the event.

[[Page 7060]]

In addition, formal opportunities for public participation will be 
provided through comment on the alternatives and upon publication of 
the BLM Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to the Environmental 
Coordinator, Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South 
500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078, ATTN: Gasco Field Development EIS; Fax 
435-781-4410. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at 
the Vernal Field Office located in Vernal, Utah. Comments, including 
names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public 
review at the Vernal Field Office located in Vernal, Utah during 
regular business hours 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except holidays, and will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA). They may be published as part of the EIS and 
other related documents. Individual respondents may request 
confidentially. If you wish to withhold your name or street address 
from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information 
Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written 
comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. 
All submissions from organizations and businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, will be available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Stephanie Howard, 435-781-
4469.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Gasco Production Company proposes to expand 
its operations by drilling 1,538 wells within the Monument Butte-Red 
Wash, West Tavaputs, and East Tavaputs Exploration and Development 
Areas (as delineated in the Draft Vernal RMP) through the year 2020 
based on a 40, 80, and 160 acre spacing pattern. This EIS is directly 
north of, but not related to, the West Tavaputs EIS that is ongoing in 
the Price Field Office BLM. Estimated new surface disturbance 
associated with the construction of well pads, new access roads, and 
pipelines would be approximately 10,302 acres. Existing roads within 
the project area and approximately 400 miles of newly constructed roads 
would provide the primary access routes to the new well sites. 
Approximately 525 miles of pipelines would be constructed and buried 
where conditions allow. Additional compression and processing 
facilities will be required to accommodate the new wells.
    Major issues include potential impacts to special status plants and 
animals, vegetation, socio-economics, cultural resources, air quality, 
and soils. The EIS will consider and analyze potential impacts of 
natural gas development at the levels projected by Gasco, or as refined 
during the scoping process. This analysis will include a site-specific 
evaluation of Gasco's proposal and an appropriate range of 
alternatives. Alternatives identified at this time include the proposed 
action and the no action alternatives. Additional alternatives such as 
application of additional mitigation measures based on best management 
practices and/or higher well density may be developed if necessary 
based on issues and concerns identified through the scoping process.
    The management of BLM public lands and resources encompassed by the 
project area is directed and guided by the BLM's Record of Decision for 
the Diamond Mountain Resource Management Plan. The majority of the 
proposed project lies within an area that was previously partially 
developed for oil and gas production and is designated as Category 2 
for oil and gas leasing by the BLM. Category 2 areas are those that are 
open to oil and gas leasing with stipulations to protect sensitive 
surface resources.

    Dated: October 26, 2005.
William Stringer,
Field Manager, Vernal Field Office.
[FR Doc. E6-1868 Filed 2-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P