[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 240 (Friday, December 14, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64354-64355]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-27154]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYD04000-L51010000-ER0000-LVRWK16K1600 16X]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Riley Ridge to Natrona Project, Wyoming

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as 
amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 
(FLPMA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Rock Springs Field Office 
has prepared a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Riley 
Ridge to Natrona Project (RRNP or Project) and by this notice announces 
a 30-day availability period before making any final decisions.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date on which the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) of the final 
EIS in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the final EIS have been sent to affected Federal, 
State, and local governments; public libraries in the Project area; and 
interested parties that previously requested a copy. The final EIS and 
other supporting documents will be available electronically on the 
following BLM website: https://go.usa.gov/xPfkk.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Mackiewicz, BLM Senior National 
Project Manager, telephone 435-636-3616; address 280 Highway 191 North, 
Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901; email [email protected].
    Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to speak with 
Mr. Mackiewicz during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question for the 
above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM is responding to four applications 
for right-of-way grants submitted by Denbury Green Pipeline-Riley 
Ridge, LLC (Denbury) and PacifiCorp, doing business as Rocky Mountain 
Power (collectively referred to as the Applicant), to the BLM for the 
Project. Denbury submitted an ``Application for Transportation and 
Utility Systems and Facilities on Federal Lands'' (Standard Form 299) 
to the BLM for two underground pipeline projects: (1) The Riley Ridge 
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Pipeline Project (WYW-167867) and (2) 
the Bairoil to Natrona CO2 Pipeline Project (WYW-168290). In 
addition, Denbury has proposed two hydrogen sulfide (H2S) 
injection wells (WYW-181373) to be sited near the proposed Riley Ridge 
Sweetening Plant, which is included in the Riley Ridge CO2 
Pipeline Project application. PacifiCorp submitted an application for a 
right-of-way for a 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line (WYW-185369) to 
supply energy to the Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant. The applications for 
right-of-way grants for Denbury's Proposed Action were submitted to the 
BLM on February 19, 2013 (Denbury), and January 25, 2016 (PacifiCorp); 
the proposal for the injection wells was submitted to the BLM on 
September 12, 2013. Collectively, the Project consists of the following 
components (as proposed):
     An underground non-gaseous H2S/CO2 
pipeline from the existing Riley Ridge Treating Plant (a methane and 
helium recovery facility) to the proposed Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant, 
consisting of 31 miles of 16-inch-diameter pipe within Sublette County;

[[Page 64355]]

     A CO2 underground pipeline from the proposed 
Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant to the Bairoil Interconnect, consisting of 
129 miles of 24-inch-diameter pipe, and continuing from the 
interconnect another 84 miles to the terminus at the Natrona Hub within 
Natrona County;
     The 4.3-acre proposed Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant, 
located on BLM-administered lands, constructed and operated to separate 
the CO2 from the H2S; the H2S would be 
reinjected into deep geologic formations via two proposed injection 
wells;
     An approximately 1-mile-long 230 kV overhead transmission 
line that would bring power to the Riley Ridge Sweetening Plant from an 
existing 230 kV transmission line; and
     Ancillary facilities, such as roads, valves, flowlines, 
etc.
    The purpose of this Federal action is to respond to the Applicant's 
right-of-way applications for construction, operation, and maintenance 
of the Project infrastructure across Federal land. Section 28 of the 
Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 provides authority for BLM to issue right-
of-way grants for pipeline purposes, and FLPMA provides the BLM with 
discretionary authority to grant use of public lands, including rights-
of-way, taking into consideration impacts on natural, cultural, and 
historical resources.
    The BLM is the lead Federal agency for this EIS as defined at 40 
CFR part 1501.5. Cooperating agencies include U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, National Park Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; the State 
of Wyoming; Freemont, Lincoln, Sublette, Sweetwater, and Natrona 
counties in Wyoming; and the Natrona County, Popo Agie, Sublette 
County, and Sweetwater County conservation districts in Wyoming.
    In accordance with NEPA, the BLM prepared an EIS analyzing the 
right-of-way applications using an interdisciplinary approach to 
consider a variety of resource issues and concerns identified during 
internal, interagency, and public scoping. The BLM published a NOA of 
the Draft EIS for public review and comment in the Federal Register on 
March 23, 2018 (83 FR 12810). The EPA published a NOA of the Draft EIS 
for public review and comment in the Federal Register on the same day, 
which initiated a 45-day public review period.
    To allow the public an opportunity to review information associated 
with the Project and comment on the Draft EIS, the BLM hosted four 
public meetings in April 2018. The public meetings on the Draft EIS 
were held from 4 to 7 p.m. at the following locations:

[ssquf] April 9--Ramada Plaza Riverside, 300 West F Street, Casper, 
Wyoming
[ssquf] April 10--Rodeway Inn/Pronghorn Lodge, 150 East Main Street, 
Lander, Wyoming
[ssquf] April 11--Marbleton Town Hall, 10700 Highway 189, Marbleton, 
Wyoming
[ssquf] April 12--BLM High Desert District Office, 280 Highway 191 
North, Rock Springs, Wyoming

    During the 45-day comment period, 19 submittals offering comments 
on the Draft EIS were received from various federal, State, and local 
agencies; various special interest groups; corporations; and public 
citizens. This included 14 letters, 3 comment forms, and 2 emails with 
comments submitted at the public open house meetings and mailed to the 
BLM. In compliance with the requirements of the Council on 
Environmental Quality regulations for implementing NEPA, all 
substantive comments received were assessed and a response provided. Of 
the 19 comment submittals received, 70 comments were identified as 
substantive according to BLM guidelines.
    The BLM responded to comments received on the draft EIS in the 
final EIS. After the final waiting period, and based on the 
environmental analysis in the final EIS, the BLM will prepare a Record 
of Decision documenting the BLM Authorized Officer's decision.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR 1610.2.

Tim Wakefield,
High Desert District Manager.
[FR Doc. 2018-27154 Filed 12-13-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-22-P