[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 176 (Tuesday, September 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55796-55798]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22234]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Forest Service


Sand Lick Fork Watershed Restoration Project; Daniel Boone 
National Forest, KY

AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Sand Lick Fork Watershed Restoration Project involves 
activities to improve water quality and reduce soil loss by plugging 
abandoned oil wells, removing abandoned flow lines, restoration of 
stream channels and associated floodplains, and managing/maintaining 
the many open roads in the Sand Lick Fork area. The project is located 
on National Forest System Lands in Powell County, Kentucky bounded on 
the east by Natural Bridge State Resort Park. Includes lands in Sand 
Lick Fork, Barker Branch, Pot Hollow, and Sand Cave Branch. Project 
Activities include: Plugging of up to 165 abandoned oil wells, removal 
of approximately 50 miles of abandoned flow lines used to service the 
oil wells, restoration of 2.5 miles of stream channel and associated 
floodplain, decommissioning of 1.1 mile of NFSR 212, conversion of 0.6 
miles of Powell County Road 212 to Forest Service maintenance, 
conversion of 3.1 miles of system roads open to highway legal vehicles 
to administrative use only (includes sections of NFSRs 212, 212A, 2045, 
2120 and the section of county road to be transferred to Forest Service 
maintenance), conversion of 0.9 miles of system road from 
administrative use only to closed (includes NFSR 2120B and 2120C), and 
obliteration of up to 22 miles of unauthorized roads when no longer 
needed for well-plugging or other proposed activities.

DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received 
by October 11, 2012. The draft environmental impact statement is 
expected December 2012 and the final environmental impact statement is 
expected February 2013.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to USDA--Forest Service, 2375 KY 801 
South, Morehead, KY 40351. Comments may also be sent via email to 
[email protected], or via facsimile to 
(606) 784-6435.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom Biebighauser at 606-784-6428 
extension 102 or via email at [email protected].
    Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339 
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose and Need for Action

    Well Plugging: The primary purpose of the well plugging activity is 
to reduce or eliminate current and future groundwater contamination 
with oil and brine leaching from the well casings or the rock strata 
containing oil deposits.

[[Page 55797]]

Open wells can contaminate groundwater with chlorides and affect 
drinking water. It is important to plug the wells since the iron well 
casings rust over time, allowing oil and brine to contaminate clean 
groundwater. The polluted groundwater can eventually appear in streams, 
rivers, and drinking wells far from the area, and can potentially 
affect humans, fish and wildlife, and Federally Endangered Species. The 
open wells will not heal themselves over time. The longer they are 
allowed to stay open, the greater the pollution they will cause. Homes 
are located less than one mile downstream from the oil wells, and the 
water these residents are using may be affected by these open oil 
wells. Goal 3 of the 2004 Forest Plan provides, in part, to manage and/
or restore watersheds to ensure water quality supports designated 
beneficial uses. Residential and community drinking water is one such 
use for this area. Objective 3.0.0 of the Forest Plan concentrates 
restoration efforts in watersheds with impairments, such as the TMDL 
limit for chlorides in Sand Lick Fork. Additionally, for riparian areas 
the Forest Plan seeks to maintain and restore the water quality 
(biological and chemical) necessary to support riparian ecosystems 
(1.E-Goal 3). The Commonwealth of Kentucky provides clear direction to 
plug oil wells that are no longer being used: ``Unless written 
permission shall be obtained from the department, no operator or owner 
shall permit any well drilled for oil, gas, salt water disposal or any 
other purpose in connection with the production of oil and gas, to 
remain unplugged after such well is no longer used for the purpose for 
which it was drilled or converted. However, nothing herein shall 
prevent the department, upon application and for good cause shown, from 
issuing a temporary permit, for a period not exceeding two (2) years, 
to an operator to leave a well unplugged, and nothing herein shall 
alter the provisions of KRS 353.170 relative to utilizing a well for 
the purpose of introducing air, gas, water or other liquid pressure 
into or upon the producing strata for the purpose of recovering oil and 
gas. The permission for temporary abandonment may be renewed at the end 
of the two (2) year period by reapplication. All wells on which a 
temporary abandonment permit has been issued shall be cased and capped 
in such a manner so as to protect all potential oil and/or gas zones 
and fresh water.''
    Flowline and other infrastrucure removal: The primary purpose of 
the pipe removal activity is to reduce or eliminate current and future 
surface water contamination caused by oil and brine leaching from the 
flow-lines. The polluted water can eventually appear in streams, 
rivers, and drinking wells far from the area. The flow-lines will not 
heal themselves over time. The longer they are allowed to stay open, 
the greater the pollution they will cause. Goal 3 of the 2004 Forest 
Plan provides, in part, to manage and/or restore watersheds to ensure 
water quality supports designated beneficial uses. Objective 3.0.0 of 
the Forest Plan concentrates restoration efforts in watersheds with 
impairments, such as the TMDL limit for chlorides in Sand Lick Fork. 
Additionally, for riparian areas the Forest Plan seeks to maintain and 
restore the water quality (biological and chemical) necessary to 
support riparian ecosystems (1.E-Goal 3).
    Stream Restoration: Sand Lick Fork and its tributaries were 
historically impacted by activities that involved channeling and 
straightening prior to acquisition by the Forest Service. In addition, 
portions of Sand Lick Fork are currently used by motor vehicles for 
travel. Stream bank erosion is evident along the altered streams, and 
the bottom of these streams is dominated by bedrock or sediment, which 
provides poor habitat for fish and the aquatic organisms they depend on 
for food. Goal 3.1 of the Forest Plan provides for the management of 
in-stream flows and water levels to protect stream processes and 
aquatic communities. The proposed restoration would move the area 
towards this goal. Additionally the Forest Plan provides for the 
maintenance of the physical integrity of aquatic ecosystems, including 
stream banks, substrate, coarse woody debris, riffles, and other 
habitat components in 1.E-Goal 4.
    Management of system and unauthorized roads: Field examination of 
existing roads (system and unauthorized) reveals that the lack of 
maintenance is impacting other resources in the watershed (Figure 18). 
The absence of grading, brushing, access control, and ditch cleaning, 
combined with uncontrolled use of the roads, has created areas of 
exposed soil and rutting, resulting in sedimentation of the streams and 
wetlands on NFS land. Additionally, the use of streams by motorized 
vehicles has impacted habitat and water quality in the streams. The 
Forest Plan provides direction related to the transportation system on 
the DBNF. Objective 12.0.A provides for the closure or obliteration of 
National Forest System roads and trails that do not meet their current 
management objectives. The Forest Service has completed a Travel 
Analysis for the watershed containing the Sand Lick Fork area, which 
identified the roads and trails that do not meet these objectives. Goal 
12.1 in the Forest Plan provides for the minimization of sediment from 
roads or trails that reach streams. The objectives within this goal 
identify six specific ways to address sediment from roads. One is to 
reduce the number of road/stream crossings and the actual amount of 
road within 100 feet of streams. The decommissioning of portions of 
NFSR 212 responds to this goal. Erosion from roads may also be 
controlled by closing the roads.

Proposed Action

    Plugging of up to 165 abandoned oil wells: Plugging oil wells would 
involve cleaning the well of debris, using a pump truck to remove oil 
and brine, and then filling portions of the well with concrete. 
Priority would be given to wells that are most likely to have either a 
groundwater and/or a surface water connection. State approved well 
plugging techniques would be used and may be similar to the method 
described below. The DBNF would work closely with the Kentucky Division 
of Oil and Gas to implement the plugging of the oil wells. An inspector 
from the Kentucky Division of Oil and Gas would normally be onsite 
during the plugging operation.
    None of the wells in the project area would be used as a domestic 
water source. Each well would need to be accessed by large trucks to 
accomplish the well plugging operation.
    Because it would be necessary to drive both National Forest System 
and abandoned roads with large trucks to plug the wells, these roads 
would need to be improved (clearing and grading with heavy equipment 
such as a dozer), drained, and hardened with gravel. Small diameter 
trees and shrubs growing on the roads would be removed. These improved 
roads would not be maintained for public motor vehicle use after the 
wells are plugged.
    The use of the abandoned roads to access the wells would be 
temporary, and these roads would be closed following use. Road closure 
can include the removal of culverts, installation of berms, re-
contouring, loosening of compacted soils, placement of woody debris 
from surrounding woodland, and planting with native trees, shrubs, 
grasses, and wildflowers. Where culverts are removed, large rocks or 
logs would be buried in the ground to provide vertical grade control, 
preventing erosional head-cuts, or waterfalls from forming and 
advancing upstream.

[[Page 55798]]

    Removal of approximately 50-miles of oil pipe and other oil-related 
infrastructure: A large network of small diameter iron and plastic 
flow-lines were buried or laid on top of the ground to move oil from 
the wells to storage or processing facilities. Many of these flow-lines 
are exposed and are rusting. Because these flow-lines can contain oil, 
they have the potential to negatively affect water, soil, and fish and 
wildlife. The flow-lines that have the highest potential to affect the 
surface water would be drained and the oil and brine would be 
transported to an approved disposal facility. Flow-lines, residual oil, 
and brine would be removed and disposed of in an environmentally sound 
and state-approved manner. Priority would be given to flow-lines that 
are closest to streams and those that are showing the greatest level of 
deterioration. The flow-lines and storage tanks, along with their 
contents, would be disposed of according to existing laws and 
regulations.
    Restoration of approximately 2.5 miles of creek and floodplain: 
Restoration of sections of Sand Lick Fork and its tributaries would 
involve the use of heavy equipment, such as excavators and dozers, to 
relocate and reshape the floodplain and stream channel to a more 
natural condition. Native wildflowers, trees, and shrubs would be 
planted by hand. Erosion from head-cuts advancing up tributaries would 
be stopped. Where roads cross streams, the crossings would be designed 
to accommodate the passage of aquatic organisms.
    An electric transmission line managed by East Kentucky Power 
Cooperative, Inc. follows Sand Lick Fork where the stream restoration 
is proposed. Trees would not be planted in the sections of right-of-way 
for the transmission line that overlap the floodplain for Sand Lick 
Fork to reduce the potential for outages. The utility company would 
continue to maintain the right-of-way and structures needed for the 
electric transmission line, as outlined in their special use 
authorization issued by the Forest Service for such activities.
    A mixture of different types of wetlands would be established by 
using heavy equipment, such as an excavator. This mixture would provide 
for a variety of hydrologic conditions, which would increase the types 
of habitat for plants and animals.
    Management of National Forest System roads and unauthorized roads: 
Proposed activities include decommissioning of 1.1 mile of NFSR 212, 
conversion of 0.6 miles of Powell County Road 212 to Forest Service 
maintenance, conversion of 3.1 miles of system roads open to highway 
legal vehicles to administrative use only (includes sections of NFSRs 
212, 212A, 2045, 2120 and the section of county road to be transferred 
to Forest Service maintenance), conversion of 0.9 miles of system road 
from administrative use only to closed (includes NFSR 2120B and 2120C). 
Some of these system roads are severely eroded and in poor condition 
from intense use. The proposed status changes would occur following the 
completion of other restoration activities that are part of this 
proposed project.
    For those roads where the proposed status is ``Administrative 
Use,'' the change would be accomplished by the installation of gates 
that would close the system road to public use. System roads to be 
managed for administrative use would be subject to periodic grading, 
addition of gravel, ditching, culvert cleaning, and replacement. For 
the system roads where the proposed status is ``Closed'', the change 
would be accomplished by the installation of earthen berms and other 
barriers, such as guard rails. Erosion occurring on these roads would 
be controlled by installing culverts, dips, and spreading of gravel.
    For system roads where the proposed status is ``Decommissioned'', 
the change would be accomplished during stream and wetland restoration 
activities. Decommissioning may include culvert removal, addition of 
buried vertical grade control to stop head-cutting, loosening compacted 
soil, contouring, adding dips and large woody debris, restoring small 
wetlands, restoring ephemeral and intermittent stream sections affected 
by the road, and planting native trees, shrubs, grasses, and 
wildflowers. Heavy equipment, such as dozers and excavators, would be 
used to complete this work.
    The unauthorized roads would be closed to public vehicle use during 
the implementation of this project with physical barriers such as 
gates, rocks, and berms, and by law enforcement action. These roads are 
temporarily needed for plugging oil wells, and they would be improved 
with grading and the addition of gravel prior to work commencing.
    Unauthorized roads would be obliterated following the 
accomplishment of the other actions in this proposal. Obliteration may 
include culvert removal, addition of buried vertical grade control to 
stop head-cutting, loosening compacted soil, contouring, adding dips 
and large woody debris, restoring small wetlands, restoring ephemeral 
and intermittent stream sections affected by the road, and planting 
native trees, shrubs, grasses, and wildflowers. Heavy equipment, such 
as dozers and excavators, would be used to complete this work. Rock, 
soil, and trees from onsite and off-site may be used for these 
purposes.

Responsible Official

James D. Manner, Cumberland District Ranger

Nature of Decision To Be Made
    The Responsible Official will be deciding to implement or not 
implement the proposed action or some modification of it that best 
meets the purpose and need for the project.

Permits or Licenses Required

    To implement the project the Forest Service will have to acquire a 
Section 401 Permit and a Floodplain Permit from the Kentucky Division 
of Water. Floodplain permit.

Scoping Process

    This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides 
thedevelopment of the environmental impact statement. In addition, 
members of the public who have in the past requested to be notified of 
projects of this type or who participated in the Natural Bridge 
Integrated Resource Management Strategy (IRMS) will be mailed (hardcopy 
or electronic depending upon their expressed preference) a project 
description of this proposed action. Also, documents related to this 
proposed action, including this NOT, will be published on the Forest 
Web page.
    It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times 
and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of 
the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be 
provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly 
articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions.
    Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names 
and addresses of those who comment, will be part of the public record 
for this proposed action. Comments submitted anonymously will be 
accepted and considered, however.

    Dated: August 29, 2012.
James D. Manner,
 District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 2012-22234 Filed 9-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M