[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 31, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30955-30956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4951]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for an Oil and Gas Management Plan (O&GMP) Big South Fork 
National River and Recreation Area (BISO), and Obed Wild and Science 
River (OBRI)

AGENCY: National Park Service.

SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332 and Council on 
Environmental Quality regulation 40 CFR 1506.6, that the U.S. 
Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), is preparing 
an EIS for an O&GMP for BISO and OBRI.
    The BISO/OBRI O&GMP/EIS will:
     Identify resources impacted by oil and gas operations, and 
provide a comprehensive framework to remedy the resulting environmental 
problems.
     Allow for exploration and development of the private 
mineral estate.
     Facilitate operator planning by setting park-specific 
operating standards.
     Provide educational outreach to operators, including 
guidance on the regulatory process for bringing operations into 
compliance with applicable legal requirements.
     Enhance coordination with State natural resource agencies 
to better manage and enforce oil and gas operations according to State 
standards.
     Evaluate the potential for NEPA streamlining for plugging 
and reclaiming orphaned or exhausted oil and gas operations.
     Evaluate public use of oil and gas access roads.
     Address visitor safety issues related to oil and gas 
operations.
     Provide for a range of reasonable alternatives for 
managing oil and gas operations, and assess potential impacts on park 
resoures such as threatened and endangered species, soils, wetlands, 
wildlife, cultural resources, and public safety, while allowing for the 
exercise of oil and gas rights.
     Provide the framework to achieve sound decision-making and 
resource protection at BISO and OBRI for the next 15 to 20 years.
    A scoping brochure will be available summarizing the purpose, need 
and objectives of the O&GMP/EIS. Copies of that information may be 
obtained by visiting the NPS public comment and planning Web site at 
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/biso, or from the Office of the 
Superintendent, Big South

[[Page 30956]]

Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, telephone 
number 423-569-9778.

DATES: To determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the O&GMP 
and EIS and to identify significant issues related to the management of 
oil and gas operations at BISO and OBRI, the NPS will conduct public 
scoping meetings in mid-summer/early fall in both Tennessee and 
Kentucky. Representatives of the NPS will be available to discuss 
issues, resource concerns, and the planning process at each of the 
public meetings. When public scoping meetings have been scheduled, 
their locations, dates, and times will be published in local newspapers 
and posted on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) 
Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/biso. To be most helpful to the 
scoping process, comments should be received within 30 days of the 
beginning of the public comment period.

ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the scoping brochure or on any 
other issues associated with the BISO/OBRI O&GMP/EIS, you may submit 
your comments by any one of several methods. Comments may be entered 
on-line in the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System 
(PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/biso. To comment using 
PEPC, select the Big South Fork O&GMP/EIS project, select documents, 
select this Notice of Intent, and then select Comment and enter your 
comments (enter comments related to the OBRI here as well). You may 
also mail comments to Superintendent, Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 
Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, (BISO O&GMP Public Scoping) 
and your name and return address. Finally, you may hand-deliver 
comments to Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, 
Tennessee 37841.
    It is the practice of the NPS to make all comments, including names 
and addresses of respondents who provide that information, available 
for public review following the conclusion of the NEPA process. 
Individuals may request that the NPS withhold their name and/or address 
from public disclosure. If you wish to do this, you must state this 
prominently at the beginning of your comment. Commentators using the 
Web site can make such a request by checking the box ``keep my contact 
information private.'' NPS will honor such requests to the extent 
allowable by law, but you should be aware that NPS may still be 
required to disclose your name and address pursuant to the Freedom of 
Information Act.
    Information will also be available for public review and comment in 
the Office of the Superintendent, Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood 
Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, telephone: 423-569-9778; and in the 
Office of the Unit Manager, Obed Wild and Scenic River, 208 North 
Maiden St., Wartburg, Tennessee 37887, telephone: 423-346-6294.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following purpose and need statements 
related to the management of non-Federal oil and gas operations at BISO 
and OBRI were developed at an internal scoping meeting of NPS staff.
    The purpose of the Draft O&GMP/EIS for BISO and OBRI is to analyze 
alternative approaches, clearly define a strategy, and provide guidance 
for the next 15 to 20 years to ensure that activities undertaken by 
owners and operators of private oil and gas rights are conducted in a 
manner that protects park resources and values, visitor use and 
experience, and human health and safety. The plan is strategic in 
nature and will not establish any rights or obligations; NPS authorizes 
actual operations on a site-specific basis.
    There are over 300 private oil and gas operations within the BISO 
and OBRI. Many of the past and existing oil and gas operations in these 
NPS units are adversely impacting resources and values, human health 
and safety, and visitor use and experience; most are not in compliance 
with Federal and State regulations, most notably, the NPS regulations 
governing non-Federal oil and gas rights, 36 CFR part 9, subpart B. In 
addition, future oil and gas operations have the potential to damage 
park resources and values. The plan is needed to provide an efficient 
and effective strategy for park managers to ensure the units are 
protected for the enjoyment of future generations. There is also a need 
for park-specific guidance to help oil and gas operators in their 
planning efforts.
    The following objectives are proposed for the management of non-
Federal oil and gas operations at BISO and OBRI:

General

     Provide owners and operators of private oil and gas rights 
reasonable access for exploration, production, maintenance, and surface 
reclamation.
     Bring existing operations into compliance with Federal and 
State requirements.
     Identify and protect resources that could be adversely 
affected by impacts from oil and gas operations.

Water Resources

     Protect and enhance water resources.

Threatened and Endangered Species

     Protect species of management concern from unacceptable 
adverse impacts resulting from oil and gas operations.
     Protect critical habitat from adverse modification 
resulting from oil and gas operations.

Visitor Experience, Conflicts, and Safety

     Prevent, minimize, or mitigate conflicts between oil and 
gas operations and visitor use.
     Protect human health and safety from oil and gas 
operations.

Cultural Resources

     Protect cultural resources, including those on or eligible 
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.

Park Management and Operations

     Provide pertinent guidance to operators to facilitate 
planning and compliance with NPS regulations.
     Establish an efficient process under NEPA for plugging and 
reclaiming orphaned or exhausted oil and gas operations.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reed E. Detring, Superintendent, Big 
South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, 
telephone: 423-569-9778.

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR 
1506.6.
    The responsible official for this O&GMP/EIS is Patricia A. Hooks, 
Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama 
Street, SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: March 28, 2006.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 06-4951 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M