[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 52 (Friday, March 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15795-15796]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-6324]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTG01100-12-L13110000-EJ0000]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Impact Statement 
for the Gasco Energy Inc. Uinta Basin Natural Gas Development Project, 
Uintah County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: Under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, and associated 
regulations, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared a Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that evaluates, analyzes, and 
discloses to the public anticipated impacts of the Gasco Energy Inc. 
proposal to develop natural gas leases in Uintah and Duchesne Counties, 
Utah. This notice announces a 30-day availability period prior to 
preparation of a Record of Decision (ROD).

DATES: A ROD may be issued 30 calendar days following the date on which 
the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of 
Availability of the Final EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, 
state, and local government agencies and other stakeholders. Copies of 
the Final EIS are available for public inspection at the BLM Vernal 
Field Office, 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, and at the following 
Web site: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/fo/vernal/planning/nepa_.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Howard, Environmental 
Coordinator; 435-781-4400; 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah, 84078; 
email: [email protected]. Persons who use a 
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FIRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM prepared the Final EIS in response 
to Gasco's proposal to explore and develop their Federal oil and gas 
leases. The Final EIS analysis allows the BLM to choose a course of 
action that fulfills its responsibilities under Federal laws when 
future plans and applications related to this proposal or in the 
project area are received. The Gasco Project Area encompasses 206,826 
acres in Uintah and Duchesne Counties within the following townships.

Salt Lake Meridian, Utah

T. 9 S., R. 15-19 E.
T. 10 S., R. 14-19 E.
T. 11 S., R. 15-18 E.

    Under the Proposed Action (Alternative A), Gasco Energy Inc. would 
develop their existing oil and gas leases by drilling 1,491 wells from 
the same number of well pads over a period of 15 years, and by 
constructing 143 acres of evaporative ponds to dispose of produced 
water. The Proposed Action would result in approximately 7,584 acres of 
surface disturbance (about 4 percent of the total project area).
    In response to the Proposed Action (Alternative A), the BLM 
published a Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the Federal Register 
on February 10, 2006 [71 FR 7059]. The BLM used the resulting scoping 
comments to help identify impacts expected as a result of the proposed 
action, and to develop Alternatives B through E.
    The BLM held a 90-day public comment period for the Draft EIS from 
October 1, 2010 through December 30, 2010, as announced through the 
Federal Register.Public comments focused on impacts to cultural 
resources within Nine Mile Canyon, the Green River and associated 
recreation activities, 100-year floodplains and endangered fish 
critical habitat, water quality (surface and ground), air quality, 
lands with wilderness characteristics, and valid existing lease rights. 
No single alternative in the Draft EIS (Alternatives A through E) 
adequately addressed the concerns raised, so the BLM, in close 
coordination with the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and Environmental 
Protection Agency (EPA), used attributes of all five alternatives to 
create a new alternative, Alternative F. All aspects of Alternative F 
are contained entirely within the range of alternatives analyzed in the 
Draft EIS, so a determination was made that preparation of a Supplement 
to the Draft EIS was not necessary.
    Under Alternative F, the Agency Preferred Alternative, up to 1,298 
new gas wells would be drilled from 575 well pads over a period of 15 
years, resulting in approximately 3,604 acres of disturbance (about 2 
percent of the total project area). Water evaporation facilities were 
reduced to 78 acres. This is adequate for the first 5 years of the 
project while other disposal options are developed and implemented. The 
BLM also incorporated the measures to minimize impacts to resources, 
while allowing for the development of valid existing rights. No surface 
disturbance would occur below the rim of Nine Mile Canyon, within one-
half mile of the Green River, in 100-year floodplains, or endangered 
fish critical habitat. A Programmatic Agreement (PA) was prepared in 
accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
to address potential cultural resource impacts. A water monitoring plan 
was developed to address water quality impacts. Extensive applicant-
committed measures, including an adaptive management strategy, were 
developed or refined to minimize air quality impacts. Directional 
drilling was also incorporated to the maximum extent possible.
    The BLM prepared the Final EIS in coordination with the FWS and EPA 
as described above, and in coordination with the Bureau of Indian 
Affairs and Uintah and Duchesne Counties, who participated as 
cooperating agencies

[[Page 15796]]

during the EIS process. The Final EIS tracks the changes made between 
the Draft EIS and Final EIS, and includes responses to all substantive 
comments received during the Draft EIS public comment period.
    This Final EIS is not a decision document. Following conclusion of 
the 30-day availability period, a ROD will be signed to disclose the 
BLM's final decision and any project Conditions of Approval. 
Availability of the ROD will be announced through local media, the 
Vernal BLM Web site, and Utah BLM's Environmental Notification Bulletin 
Board.

Juan Palma,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 2012-6324 Filed 3-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-DQ-P