[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20370-20371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8687]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYD010000-L13110000-EJ0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Normally Pressured Lance Natural Gas Development Project, 
Sublette County, WY

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management 
Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 
Pinedale Field Office (PFO), Pinedale, Wyoming, and the BLM Rock 
Springs Field Office (RSFO), Rock Springs, Wyoming, intend to prepare 
an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Normally Pressured 
Lance (NPL) Natural Gas Development Project and by this notice are 
announcing the beginning of the scoping process to solicit public 
comments and identify issues.

DATES: This notice initiates the public scoping process for the EIS. 
Comments on issues may be submitted in writing until May 12, 2011. The 
dates and locations of any scoping meetings will be announced at least 
15 days in advance through local news media outlets and through the BLM 
Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/pfodocs/npl.html. In 
order to be included in the Draft EIS, all comments must be received 
prior to the close of the scoping period or 15 days after the last 
public meeting, whichever is later. Additional opportunities for public 
participation will be provided on publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the NPL Natural Gas 
Development Project by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected];
     Mail: P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941; or
     Hand delivery: 1625 W. Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming.

Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment--including your personal identifying 
information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you may 
ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kellie Roadifer, Planning and 
Environmental Coordinator, Pinedale Field Office, 1625 W. Pine Street, 
P.O. Box 768, Pinedale, Wyoming 82941; 307-367-5309;  [email protected]. Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined 
at the Pinedale Field Office and will be posted online at http://www.blm.gov/wy/st/en/info/NEPA/pfodocs/npl.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPL encompasses an area of 141,080 acres 
located immediately south and west of the existing Jonah Infill Natural 
Gas Field. It is located within the BLM PFO and RSFO, High Desert 
District, in Sublette County, Wyoming. EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. 
(EnCana) currently owns leasehold interests on more than 70 percent of 
this area and proposes to develop up to 3,500 wells ranging from a 
depth of 6,500 to 13,500 feet and

[[Page 20371]]

based on a maximum of 64 wells per 640-acre section of land. These 
wells are projected to be drilled over a 10-year period to produce gas 
from the NPL pool. To minimize surface disturbance, wells would be 
directionally drilled from up to four 18-acre multi-well pad locations 
per 640-acre section of land. Approximately 10 natural gas drilling 
rigs would be used. Only drilling muds and cement mixed with fresh 
water would be used to drill and case through surface water aquifers. 
About 25,000 barrels of recycled water would be used to drill the 
majority of each well. Well completion operations would be conducted 
using EnCana's flare-less flow-back technology to eliminate or reduce 
emissions and flow-back water would be recycled for a ``net-zero'' 
water balance.
    In order to minimize air emissions and surface disturbance, a 
three-phase pipeline gathering system would transport gas, condensate 
and produced-water to a minimal number of central collection 
facilities. Pipelines for the gathering system would parallel roads 
whenever possible and be buried deep enough to avoid freezing 
conditions. Electric compression would be used to minimize air impacts. 
Access roads and production infrastructure would be co-located wherever 
possible. Only a minimum number of access roads and equipment areas 
needed for on-going production, operation and maintenance activities 
would be maintained. Remote telemetry technology would reduce truck 
traffic associated with well servicing. Well pad locations would be 
constructed so that disturbed areas and haul road distances would be 
minimized. Topsoil would be conserved for subsequent reclamation. 
Reclamation efforts would commence as soon as each well pad location is 
completed and production equipment is operational in accordance with 
Onshore Order Number 1. Initial surface disturbance is estimated to be 
5,429 acres or 3.85 percent of the total NPL area. After reclamation, 
an estimated 1,411 acres or 1.0 percent of the NPL area would remain in 
use for production purposes for the life of the gas field.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine relevant 
issues that will influence the scope of the environmental analysis, 
including alternatives, and guide the process for developing the EIS. 
At present, the BLM has identified the following potential issues:
     Increased traffic and associated impacts on existing 
county, state, and BLM roads;
     Socioeconomic impacts to local communities;
     Impacts to surface water and groundwater resources, 
including floodplains;
     Air quality impacts from emissions resulting from drilling 
and production activities;
     Impacts related to reclamation of disturbed areas and 
control of invasive plants;
     Conflicts with livestock management operations in the 
Project Area;
     Impacts to cultural, historical, and paleontological 
resources within the Project Area;
     Impacts to wildlife habitats and populations within the 
Project Area, including big game, raptors, and sage-grouse;
     Impacts to threatened, endangered, or candidate plant and 
animal species, including potential Green River water depletions and 
effects on downstream listed fish species;
     Impacts to lands with wilderness characteristics;
     Cumulative effects of drilling and development activities 
when combined with other ongoing and proposed developments; and
     Conflicts between mineral development activities and 
recreational opportunities.

The BLM will utilize and coordinate the NEPA public comment process to 
comply with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 
U.S.C. 470f) as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Native American 
tribal consultations will be conducted in accordance with BLM policy 
and sites of religious or cultural significance or other tribal 
concerns will be given due consideration. An updated inventory of lands 
with wilderness characteristics will be utilized to comply with 
Secretarial Order 3310. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with 
other stakeholders interested in or affected by the BLM's decision on 
this project are invited to participate in the scoping process and, if 
eligible, may request or be requested by the BLM to participate as a 
cooperating agency.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7

Donald A. Simpson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2011-8687 Filed 4-11-11; 8:45 am]
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