[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 64 (Wednesday, April 3, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20133-20134]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07751]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOSO50000 L13100000.DB0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison 
County, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre 
Field Office, Montrose, Colorado, intends to prepare an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze a Master Development Plan (MDP) that 
proposes to drill up to 150 wells within the Bull Mountain Unit (146 
natural gas wells and 4 water disposal wells) and to construct 
associated access roads, pipelines and infrastructure.

DATES: The BLM held a public scoping period while preparing an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) for the 150-well Bull Mountain Unit MDP 
from September 21 to November 13, 2009. The preliminary EA was 
available for a 30-day public comment period from March 23 to April 23, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments related to the proposed Bull 
Mountain Unit MDP by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected],
     Fax: 970-240-5368,and
     Mail: 2465 South Townsend Ave. Montrose, CO 81401.
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
Uncompahgre Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to our mailing list, contact Jerry Jones, Bull Mountain 
EIS Project Manager, telephone 970-240-5300; address 2465 South 
Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401; 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 proponent, SG Interests, Ltd., submitted

[[Page 20134]]

an MDP to the BLM for the Bull Mountain Unit. The Unit is located on 
approximately 19,645 acres of Federal and private subsurface mineral 
estate approximately 30 miles northeast of the Town of Paonia and 
bisected by State Highway 133. The proposal is to drill up to 146 
natural gas wells and 4 water disposal wells, and develop associated 
pads, access roads, gas and water pipelines, screw compressors and 
overhead electric lines. This project was analyzed in a preliminary EA; 
the BLM determined it is necessary to prepare an EIS due to projected 
air quality impacts.
    The project was initially scoped from October 29 to December 12, 
2008, for 55 natural gas wells and 5 water disposal wells. The MDP 
proposal changed in September 2009 to include up to 146 natural gas 
wells and 4 water disposal wells. The BLM held a new public scoping 
period for the revised MDP from September 21 to November 13, 2009. The 
BLM released the preliminary EA for a 30-day public review and comment 
period on March 23, 2012.
    While there will not be another formal scoping period, all previous 
comments from the public will be considered in the EIS. The BLM will 
continue to accept and consider public comments to guide the 
development of this EIS and the resulting decision. Written comments on 
the scope of alternatives and issues will be particularly helpful for 
the BLM. The BLM will provide additional opportunities for public 
participation upon publication of the Draft EIS
    At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary 
issues: Air quality; water quality and supply; threatened, endangered, 
and sensitive wildlife species; wildlife and wildlife habitat; 
recreation and visual resources; socio-economics; and transportation. 
The BLM will use NEPA public participation requirements to assist in 
satisfying the public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470(f)) pursuant 
to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural 
resources within the area potentially affected by the proposed Bull 
Mountain Unit MDP will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating 
impacts to such resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 
of the NHPA.
    The BLM will consult with Indian tribes on a government-to-
government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other 
policies. Tribal concerns, including impacts on Indian trust assets and 
potential impacts to cultural resources, will be given due 
consideration. Federal, State, and local agencies, along with tribes 
and other stakeholders that may be interested in or affected by the 
proposed Bull Mountain Unit MDP may request or be requested by the BLM 
to participate in the development of the EIS as a cooperating agency.
    Before including your address, phone number, email 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.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1501.7.

Helen M. Hankins,
BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-07751 Filed 4-2-13; 8:45 am]
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