[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 204 (Friday, October 22, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Page 57122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-27630]
[[Page 57122]]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UT-080-1310-00]
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) on the Resource Development Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas
Project, Uintah County, UT
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an EIS on the Resource Development
Group Uinta Basin Natural Gas Project, Uinta County, Utah and notice of
scoping.
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SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental
Policy Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Vernal, Utah
Field Office, will be writing an EIS on proposed natural gas
development in 79,800 acres in the Atchees Wash oil and gas production
region. The project is located primarily on BLM administered lands
(69,560 acres). The project area also includes 9,080 acres administered
by the State of Utah, and 1,160 acres of patented land. Sixty-four
wells and 139 miles of primary and secondary roads exist within the
project area. The proponent anticipates the drilling of up to 423
additional wells at a rate of 15 to 40 a year, accessed by
approximately 126 miles of new roads. Unpainted steel sales-gas
gathering lines would be laid on the surface and integrated into the
existing gas pipeline gathering and transmission network. New
compressor stations would not be required in the project area.
The number of proposed wells has been adjusted by the proponent
from 970 wells in the original Environmental Assessment (EA No. UT-080-
1997-50) based on further review of the following factors: topography;
slopes with a grade of 40 percent or greater; mitigation of potential
impacts on critical mule deer winter range; maximizing use of existing
roads; drilling of deeper wells to drain larger reservoirs; and
avoidance of the 100-year flood plain along Bitter Creek.
Major issues include potential impacts on critical mule deer winter
range, recreational and visual resources near the White River Canyon
and wilderness values. Alternatives identified at this time include the
proposed action and the no action alternatives.
DATES: Public scoping comments will be accepted on or before November
22, 1999. A public scoping open house and information meeting will be
held on November 18, 1999 from 4-7 p.m. at the Western Park, 302 East
200 South, Vernal, Utah. If you have any information, data or concerns
related to potential impacts of the proposed action including the
issues identified above, or have suggestions for additional
alternatives, please submit them to the address listed below.
ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments should be sent to: Field Manager,
Bureau of Land Management, Vernal Field Office, 170 South 500 East,
Vernal, Utah 84078, ATTN: Resource Development Group Uinta Basin
Natural Gas Project.
Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents will
be available for public review at the BLM Vernal Field Office and will
be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
They may be published as part of the EIS and other related documents.
Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to
withhold your name or street address from public review and disclosure
under the FOIA, you must state this prominently at the beginning of
your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent
allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, will
be made available for public inspection in their entirety.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Duane De Paepe (435) 781-4403 or e-
mail: ddepaepe@ut.blm.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April, 1997, the Vernal Field Office
initiated an EA (UT-080-1997-50) for this proposed project, located in
the Book Cliffs Resource Area, Uintah County, Utah. In June, 1998, the
EA was made available to the public and governmental agencies for a 30-
day review and comment period. Forty-nine comment letters were
subsequently received. Based on these comments, the EA was amended and
published in final form in February, 1999. A Decision Record (DR)/
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was signed on January 29,
1999, and was published with the EA and Conditions of Approval.
As a result of this decision, 12 requests for a State Director
Review were received. In addition, a request for a stay of the DR/FONSI
was received. A stay was issued until April 16, 1999, pending thorough
review of the requests received. The stay was subsequently extended
until the review could be completed and a decision issued. On May 21,
1999 the DR/FONSI was vacated and the proposal was remanded to the
Vernal Field Office for the preparation of an EIS. A proposed action
for this EIS was received by the BLM on September 10, 1999.
Sally Wisely,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-27630 Filed 10-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1310-DQ-P
