[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35009-35010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-14752]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

[5130-0400-NZM]


Draft Oil and Gas Management Plan/Environmental Impact Statement 
for Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area and Obed Wild and 
Scenic River

AGENCY: National Park Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Draft Oil and Gas Management Plan/
Environmental Impact Statement for Big South Fork National River and 
Recreation Area and Obed Wild and Scenic River.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 42 
U.S.C. 4332(2)(C), and the Council on Environmental Quality regulations 
(40 CFR part 1500-1508), the National Park Service (NPS), Department of 
the Interior, announces the availability of the draft oil and gas 
management plan/environmental impact statement (OGMP/DEIS) for the 
proposed Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO) and 
Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI). This OGMP/DEIS will guide the 
various actions that could be implemented for current and

[[Page 35010]]

future management of oil and gas operations in BISO and OBRI. It 
analyzes alternative approaches, defines a strategy, and provides 
guidance for activities taken by owners and operators of private oil 
and gas rights to ensure these activities are conducted in a manner 
that protects park resources and values, visitor use and experience, 
and human health and safety.

DATES: In the summer of 2006, the NPS conducted public scoping meetings 
in Tennessee and Kentucky to determine the scope of issues to be 
addressed in the plan and EIS and to identify significant issues 
related to the management of oil and gas operations at BISO and OBRI. 
The NPS notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement 
for an oil and gas management plan for BISO and OBRI was published in 
the Federal Register on May 31, 2006 (71 FR 30955). The NPS will accept 
comments from the public on the draft OGMP/EIS for 60 days following 
the publishing of the notice of availability in the Federal Register by 
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Public meetings will be held 
during the 60-day review period, with the specific dates and locations 
to be announced in local and regional media sources of record and on 
the Park's Web site, http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BISO. 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 can 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. We will 
always make submissions from organizations or businesses, and from 
individuals identifying themselves as representatives of or officials 
of organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in 
their entirety.

ADDRESSES: Electronic copies of the draft OGMP/DEIS will be available 
online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/BISO. To request a copy, contact 
Superintendent, BISO at 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841 
or by telephone at (423) 569-9778 or Unit Manager, Obed Wild and Scenic 
River, 208 North Maiden St., Wartburg, Tennessee 37887 or by telephone 
at (423) 346-6294. While supplies last, the document can also be picked 
up in person at the above addresses.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Three alternatives are identified and 
potential impacts are analyzed in the OGMP/DEIS which include the no-
action alternative, alternative A, and two action alternatives, 
including the NPS preferred alternative. Alternative A reflects current 
management. Alternative B would comprehensively pursue enforcement of 
the 9B regulations and plans of operations from current operators, 
based on priorities set by certain site-specific conditions. The NPS 
preferred alternative, alternative C, would implement the same type of 
comprehensive management as described in alternative B, but there would 
be an additional designation of ``Special Management Areas'' to provide 
protection for areas where park resources and values are particularly 
susceptible to adverse impacts from oil and gas development.

    Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is contained 
in 40 CFR 1506.6.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Edwards, Project Manager, 
Environmental Quality Division, National Park Service, Academy Place, 
P.O. Box 25287, Denver, Colorado 80225, 303-969-2694.
    The responsible official for this draft EIS is the Regional 
Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama Street, 
SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.

    Dated: June 8, 2011.
Gordon Wissinger,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 2011-14752 Filed 6-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JD-P