[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 232 (Friday, December 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63737-63738]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28864]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) 
for the Proposed Point Thomson Project To Develop the Thomson Sand 
Reservoir by Extracting Gas Condensate and Oil for the Purpose of 
Commercial Production as Proposed by the Exxon Mobil Corporation 
(ExxonMobil)

AGENCY: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
intends to prepare a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) to 
identify and analyze the potential impacts associated with the 
development of the Thomson Sand Reservoir, including construction and 
operation of the proposed project. The Corps will be evaluating a 
permit application for work under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors 
Act and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) will be used as a basis for the permit decision and to 
ensure compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the DEIS can be answered by: Ms. Julie McKim, Regulatory Division, 
telephone: (907) 753-2773, toll free in AK: (800) 478-2712, Fax: (907) 
753-5567, e-mail: [email protected], mail: U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers, CEPOA-RD, Post Office Box 6898, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska 
99506-0898. Additional information may be obtained at http://www.pointthomsonprojecteis.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    1. Background Information: The Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) previously issued a notice of intent to prepare a DEIS on April 
19, 2002 for a similar proposal to develop oil and gas reserves in or 
near the Point Thomson Unit, potentially including designation of ocean 
dredged material disposal site(s). The EPA was the lead Federal Agency 
because the proposed project would have required authorization under 
Section 102 of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
(MPRSA), with the Corps as a Cooperating Agency. Per the applicant's 
request, the agreement to pursue the EIS was terminated between the EPA 
and the applicant, Exxon Mobil Corporation (ExxonMobil). In October 
2009, ExxonMobil submitted a new proposed project that would not be 
subject to Section 102 of the MPRSA but would require authorization 
from the Corps under Section 10 of the Rivers Harbors Act of 1899 and 
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Therefore, the Corps has been 
designated the lead Federal agency for the revised proposed project.
    2. The permit applicant, ExxonMobil, is proposing to develop the 
Thomson Sand Reservoir located approximately 60 miles east of Deadhorse 
on the Beaufort Sea coast, in the State of Alaska. A minimum of five 
wells would be drilled from three pads: a Central Pad, and East and 
West Pads located to access the eastern and western extent of the 
reservoir. The applicant would produce gas from the reservoir to 
recover liquid condensate from natural gas and re-inject the residual 
gas back into the reservoir, conserving it for future use. Hydrocarbon 
liquid condenses from the produced natural gas when pressure and 
temperature are lowered below original reservoir conditions during 
production at surface processing facilities. ExxonMobil proposes to 
develop offshore portions of the reservoir using long reach directional 
drilling techniques from the onshore pads. The produced hydrocarbon 
liquids (condensate and oil) would be shipped through a new 22-mile 
long, elevated pipeline from Point Thomson to the existing Badami 
Development. This pipeline would then tie into the existing Badami 
common carrier pipeline, which connects with the existing common 
carrier oil sales pipeline system to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System 
Pump Station No. 1. The Central Pad would also include infrastructure 
to support operations and drilling, such as temporary construction and 
permanent camps; offices, warehouses, and shops; electric power 
generating and distribution facilities; diesel fuel, water, and 
chemical storage; treatment systems for drinking water and wastewater; 
a grind and inject module; waste management facilities; and 
communications facilities. Other project facilities, in addition to the 
drilling pads, would include a gravel airstrip, a bulkhead and 
dolphins, in-field gravel roads, ice roads, in-field pipelines, and a 
gravel mine. Dredging may be required at the bulkhead.
    3. Alternatives: Reasonable alternatives will be identified and 
evaluated throughout the Scoping and EIS process.
    4. Scoping: The scoping period will begin on January 11, 2010 and 
end on February 25, 2010.
    a. The Corps invites full public participation to promote open 
communication on the issues surrounding the proposal. All Federal, 
State, Tribal, local agencies, and other persons or organizations that 
have an interest are urged to participate in the NEPA scoping process. 
Meetings will be held to receive public input on the proposed purpose 
and need of the project, to identify significant issues and to discuss 
proposed alternatives. The scoping process will help to further explain 
the purpose and need plus the alternatives to be reviewed in the DEIS.
    b. The DEIS will analyze the potential social, economic, physical, 
and biological impacts to the affected areas. The following major 
issues will be analyzed in depth in the DEIS: threatened and endangered 
species including critical habitat; hydrology and wetlands; fish and 
wildlife; the construction and operation of the facilities and their 
effect upon the surrounding communities; cultural resources; 
socioeconomics; alternatives; secondary and cumulative impacts.
    c. The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in the 
preparation of the DEIS. The Environmental Protection Agency, United 
States Fish and Wildlife Service, and State of Alaska Department of 
Natural Resources are participating as cooperating agencies.
    5. The Corps expects to hold scoping meetings in Anchorage, Barrow, 
Fairbanks, Kaktovik, and Nuiqsut. Further information about these 
meetings will be published locally, on the project Web site http://www.pointthomsonprojecteis.com, or can be obtained by contacting the 
Corps as described above. A description of the proposed project will be 
posted on the project Web site prior to these meetings to help the 
public focus their scoping comments.
    6. It is anticipated that the DEIS will be available November 2010 
for public review.

    Dated: November 23, 2009.


[[Page 63738]]


    Approved by:
Julie W. McKim,
Project Manager, Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
[FR Doc. E9-28864 Filed 12-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3720-58-P