[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 212 (Friday, November 1, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58739-58740]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23827]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCAC06000.L13100000.DS0000.LXSIAREV0000.19XL1109AF; MO#4500131458]


Notice of Availability of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic 
Fracturing Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, 
California

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, as amended (NEPA), the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has 
prepared a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
analyzing the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on new oil and 
gas leases within the Bakersfield Field Office planning area, and by 
this notice the BLM is announcing its availability.

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

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bakersfield Field Office Hydraulic Fracturing 
Final Supplemental EIS are available for public inspection during 
regular business hours at 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308. 
Interested persons may also review the Final Supplemental EIS online at 
https://go.usa.gov/xE3Nw.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carly Summers, Supervisory Natural 
Resources Specialist; telephone: 661-391-6000; email: [email protected]; 
address Bureau of Land Management, 3801 Pegasus Drive, Bakersfield, CA 
93308. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) 
may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact 
Carly Summers during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question. You will 
receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Bakersfield Field Office planning area 
is located in eastern Fresno, western Kern, Kings, Madera, San Luis 
Obispo, Santa Barbara, Tulare, and Ventura counties in California and 
encompasses approximately 1.2 million acres of Federal minerals and 
roughly 400,000 surface acres of BLM-managed public land.
    The supplemental environmental analysis is being conducted in 
response to a May 2017, U.S. District Court Order. The U.S. District 
Court upheld the range of alternatives analyzed in the 2012 Proposed 
Resource Management Plan (RMP)/Final EIS. The five management 
alternatives analyzed in the Proposed RMP/Final EIS were:
     The No Action alternative (Alternative A)--continue 
current management under the existing 1997 Caliente RMP and 1984 
Hollister RMP, as amended;
     The Proposed Plan (Alternative B)--balance resource 
conservation and ecosystem health with the production of commodities 
and public use of the land;
     Alternative C--emphasize conserving cultural and natural 
resources, maintaining functioning natural systems, and restoring 
degraded natural systems;
     Alternative D--same as Alternative C, except that 
Alternative D would eliminate livestock grazing from BLM-managed lands 
in the planning area; and
     Alternative E--emphasize the production of natural 
resources, commodities and public use opportunities.
    The 2012 Proposed RMP/Final EIS identified public lands available 
to fluid-mineral leasing and no changes to those designations are 
proposed through the Final Supplemental EIS.
    Preliminary resource issues were presented for public scoping 
review and comment in the August 8, 2018, Federal Register Notice of 
Intent (83 FR 39116). Issues identified by BLM personnel; Federal, 
State, and local agencies; and other stakeholders and analyzed in the 
Final Supplemental EIS include: Air and atmospheric values; water 
quality and quantity; seismicity; special status species; and mineral 
resources (oil and gas.)
    The Draft Supplemental EIS was available for a 45-day public 
comment period initiated on April 26, 2019, Federal Register Notice of 
Availability (84 FR 17885). The BLM held public meetings on May 21, 22, 
and 23, 2019, in Bakersfield, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara, 
respectively. Approximately 600 individuals attended the three meetings 
and approximately 16,000 written comments were received through 
ePlanning and standard mail.
    Responses to substantive comments are presented in Appendix B: 
Public Comment Summary Report of the Final Supplemental EIS.
    The results of this final supplemental analysis regarding the 
impacts of hydraulic fracturing, additive to those identified in the 
2012 Final EIS, did not show a notable increase in total impacts. No 
conflicts were found between the estimated impacts of hydraulic 
fracturing and the resource or program management goals and objectives 
stated in the 2014 RMP. The range of alternatives has not changed 
between the approved 2014 RMP and its 2012 Final EIS and the Final 
Supplemental EIS. Therefore, no amendment to the 2014 RMP is necessary. 
In addition, no protest period is required because no changes are 
proposed to the 2014 RMP planning decisions. The BLM has fully analyzed 
the effects of hydraulic fracturing in accordance with the order of the 
court, and although the 2012 EIS has been supplemented, no changes are 
proposed to the 2014 RMP planning decisions. Because there are no 
changes to the RMP, no protest period is required and none is given.
    The BLM has utilized and coordinated the NEPA process to help 
fulfill the public involvement process under the National Historic 
Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
The BLM will continue to 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 continue to be given due 
consideration.
    BLM review were considered and incorporated, as appropriate, into 
the Final Supplemental EIS. Public

[[Page 58740]]

comments resulted in the addition of clarifying text and incorporation 
of new information, but did not require or suggest further 
supplementation or change proposed decisions.

    Authority: Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Danielle Chi,
Deputy State Director, Natural Resources.
[FR Doc. 2019-23827 Filed 10-31-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-40-P