[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 34 (Thursday, February 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 7795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4097]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[WY-985-0222-66]
Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development Project in
Natrona County, Wyoming; Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact
Statement (DEIS)
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability
of the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development Project
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which analyzes the
environmental consequences of the oil and gas operators proposal to
continue to drill wells on their leased acreages within the Cave Gulch-
Bullfrog-Waltman oil and gas project area. This development area is
located in Natrona County and generally located within Townships 36 and
37 North; Ranges 86 and 87 West, 6th Principal Meridian. The area is
accessed by U.S. Highway 20/26 west of Casper, Wyoming; and, north of
Waltman, Wyoming via county road 104. Access to the interior of the
Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman project area is provided by a road system
developed to service prior and on-going drilling and production
activities.
DATES: Comments on the DEIS will be accepted for 45 days following the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes their Notice of
Availability in the Federal Register. The EPA notice is expected on or
about February 14, 1997. In addition, a public meeting will be held
Tuesday, March 11, 1997. The meeting will be located at the University
of Wyoming, Natrona County Cooperative Extension Building, 2011
Fairgrounds Road, Casper, Wyoming. The meeting will be in two parts
beginning with an open house from 3 p.m.-5 p.m. followed by a public
meeting from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Comments on the DEIS will be entertained
during the open house and the public meeting.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS should be sent to Ms. Kate Padilla,
Team Leader for the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development
Project EIS, Bureau of Land Management, Casper District Office, 1701
East ``E'' Street, Casper, Wyoming 82601.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DEIS analyzes a proposed action, two (2)
development alternatives, and the no action alternative. The proposal
presented by the operators is to continue to drill additional wells on
their leased acreage within this natural gas development area. The
current oil and gas operators are Chevron U.S.A., Barrett Resources
Corporation, Prima Oil & Gas Company, Goldmark Engineering, Inc., W.A.
Moncrief, Jr., Marathon Oil Company, and John P. Lockridge, Inc. The
land ownership pattern of the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman project area
is 66 percent Private, 29 percent Federal (BLM), and 5 percent State of
Wyoming. The mineral ownership is as follows, 20 percent Private, 77
percent Federal (BLM), and 3 percent State of Wyoming.
Over the next 10 years, the operators propose to drill up to 160
additional wells where approximately 40 wells are currently active to
obtain maximum recovery of natural gas from existing Federal, State,
and private oil and gas leases. The area was divided into four segments
by the operators to allow for better definition of the Proposed Action
with regard to well spacing and density, based on BLM's February 1996,
preliminary geologic report. The two development alternatives analyze
wells based on areas defined in the BLM's June 1996, final geologic
report.
The DEIS describes the physical, biological, cultural, historic,
and socio-economic resources in and surrounding the project area. The
focus of the impact analysis was based upon resource issues and
concerns identified during public scoping. Potential impacts of concern
from development were primarily concerned with raptor breeding and
nesting, sensitive soils, and economics.
Dated: February 5, 1997.
Alan L. Kesterke,
Associate State Director.
[FR Doc. 97-4097 Filed 2-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-22-P
