[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 53932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26500]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[ES-020-1310-00]
Notice of Intent To Prepare a Planning Analyses/Environmental
Assessment
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Interior.
SUMMARY: The Jackson District Office, Eastern States, through a third
party contractor (John Chance & Associates), will prepare a Planning
Analyses/Environmental Assessment (PA/EA) for consideration of leasing
Federal mineral estate for oil and gas exploration and development. The
mineral estate is located on the Louisiana Army Ammunition Plant
(LAAP). Consent to lease has been obtained from the Department of
Defense, the Surface Managing Agency.
This notice is issued pursuant to Title 40 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) 1501.7 and Title 43 CFR 1610.2(c). The planning
effort will follow the procedures set forth in 43 CFR Part 1600.
The public is invited to participate in this PA/EA process by
assisting with the identification of issues and criteria to be
addressed in the PA/EA.
DATES: Comments relating to the identification of issues and criteria
for the PA/EA will be accepted for 30 days from the date of publication
of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to John E. Chance & Associates, Inc.,
Attention Steve Ellsworth, 200 Dulles Drive, Lafayette, Louisiana.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Clay W. Moore, National Environmental Policy Act Coordinator, BLM,
Jackson District, 411 Briarwood Drive, Suite 404, Jackson, MS 39206,
(601) 977-5400.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15,341 acre LAAP is located
approximately 15 miles east of Shreveport, Louisiana and five miles
west of Minden, Louisiana in Webster Parish. The entire facility is
under non-competitive oil and gas lease application. The BLM has
responsibility to consider applications to lease Federal mineral estate
for oil and gas exploration and development.
Preliminary examination of the LAAP has identified the following
issues: (1) The installation mission prohibits drilling within all
fenced-in areas around various military facilities and drilling is not
allowed in contaminated areas, (2) Wetland, floodplain and riparian
areas are present on the LAAP; (3) Suitable habitat for the endangered
Red Cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) is present, however, active RCW colonies
were not located. A cultural resources survey and a threatened and
endangered (T&E) species survey has been completed on the LAAP; (4)
Federally designated Wild and Scenic Rivers or Wilderness areas are not
located on the LAAP; (5) Lands classified as Farm Lands (prime or
unique) are not present on the LAAP, (6) Areas of Critical
Environmental Concern (this classification is reserved for lands
administered by the BLM) are not located on the LAAP.
The issues noted above could change as a result of input from the
public or State and Federal agencies.
Bruce E. Dawson,
District Manager, Jackson.
[FR Doc. 96-26500 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-M
