[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39313-39314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15679]



[[Page 39313]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLUTG01100-13-L51010000-ER0000 LVRWJ13J8060 13X]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor Project, UT

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, as amended (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, 
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Vernal Field Office, Vernal, Utah, 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for right-
of-way (ROW) applications for the Enefit American Oil Utility Corridor 
Project (Utility Corridor Project), and by this notice is 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 must be submitted by July 31, 2013. The date(s) and 
location(s) of any public scoping meetings will be announced at least 
15 days in advance through local news media, a project newsletter, and 
the BLM Web site at: http://www.blm.gov/ut/st/en/info/newsroom.2.html. 
Additional opportunities for public participation will be provided upon 
publication of the Draft EIS.

ADDRESSES: Comments on issues related to the Enefit Utility Corridor 
Project may be submitted by any of the following methods:
     Email: [email protected]
     Fax: (435) 781-4410
     Mail: 170 South 500 East, Vernal, Utah 84078
    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the BLM 
Vernal Field Office.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information and/or to have 
your name added to the Utility Corridor Project mailing list, contact 
Stephanie Howard, BLM Project Manager; telephone 435-781-4469; 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 applicant, Enefit American Oil, has 
filed ROW applications seeking authorization to construct and operate 
natural gas, electricity, and water utilities on Federal lands. As 
proposed, 19 miles of water supply pipeline, 8 miles of natural gas 
supply pipeline, 10 miles of oil product line, 29 miles of single or 
dual overhead 138-kilovolt H-frame powerlines, and 5 miles of Dragon 
Road upgrade and pavement would be constructed and operated in 5 
separate utility corridors crossing BLM-administered lands within the 
Project area.
    The Utility Corridor Project would provide natural gas, 
electricity, and water to, and move processed oil from, Enefit American 
Oil's ``South Project,'' which is planned on private land and minerals 
owned by Enefit. The Enefit American Oil's planned South Project will 
include development of a commercial oil shale mining, retorting, and 
upgrading operation located in Uintah County, Utah. Approval or 
disapproval of Enefit American Oil's South Project is outside of the 
BLM's authority because it is located on private lands and minerals; 
however, since it is a connected and cumulative action to the Utility 
Corridor Project, the potential indirect and cumulative effects 
associated with the South Project will be analyzed and disclosed in the 
Utility Corridor Project EIS.
    The Utility Corridor Project area is located within the southern 
portion of Townships 8-10 South, Ranges 24-25 East, Salt Lake Meridian, 
in Uintah County, Utah, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bonanza, 
Utah. Vernal, Utah, is the nearest major municipality, located 
approximately 40 miles north of the Utility Corridor Project area. The 
community of Rangely, Colorado, is located approximately 25 miles 
northeast of the Enefit American Oil's planned South Project site. The 
requested ROW widths for the Utility Corridor Project range from 50 
feet, where a single pipeline would be located, to over 350 feet, where 
gas, water, and product lines would be located adjacent to overhead 
transmission lines.
    Alternatives identified at this time include the proposed action 
and the no action alternatives. Additional alternatives will be 
developed as a result of issues and concerns identified through the 
scoping process.
    The BLM Vernal Field Office Record of Decision and Approved 
Resource Management Plan (RMP) (October 2008) directs management of the 
BLM-administered public lands within the Utility Corridor Project area. 
The RMP provides for issuance of new ROWs (RMP, pp. 96 and 97). An 
amendment of the RMP is not required.
    Pursuant to Section 368 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (42 U.S.C. 
15926), a Programmatic EIS was prepared by the Department of Energy for 
energy corridors in the 11 western states (Washington, Oregon, Idaho, 
Montana, Wyoming, California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New 
Mexico), and notice of its availability was published on November 28, 
2008 (73 FR 72521). Records of Decision (ROD) signed January 14, 2009, 
designated energy corridors and provided guidance, best management 
practices, and mitigation measures to be used where linear facilities 
are proposed crossing Federal lands. Designation of corridors does not 
require their use, nor does such designation exempt the Federal 
agencies from conducting an environmental review on each project 
therein. The Final RODs are available at the following Web site: http://corridoreis.anl.gov/eis/guide/index.cfm. The Project EIS will take 
into consideration the use of guidance, best management practices, and 
mitigation measures described in the RODs.
    The BLM is the designated lead Federal agency for preparation of 
the EIS as defined in 40 CFR 1501.5. Agencies with legal jurisdiction 
or special expertise have been invited to participate as cooperating 
agencies in preparation of the EIS including: U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Utah Public Lands Policy and Coordination Office, and the Ute 
Indian Tribe. 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 resources as 
potentially being impacted by the project: local and regional air 
quality and air quality related values; surface water and groundwater 
resources; floodplains; cultural and paleontological resources; soils; 
special status plant and animal species; range management; recreation; 
the White River; regional social programs; and regional economics.
    The BLM will use and coordinate the NEPA commenting process to 
assist in satisfying the public involvement

[[Page 39314]]

process for 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 and Tribal concerns will be 
given due consideration, including impacts on Indian trust assets. 
Federal, State, and local agencies, along with other stakeholders that 
may be interested 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.
    Comments may be submitted in writing to the BLM at any public 
scoping meeting, or you may submit them to the BLM using one of the 
methods listed in the ADDRESSES section above. To be considered, 
comments must be submitted by July 31, 2013.
    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.

Jenna Whitlock,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 2013-15679 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
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