[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 19, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11218-11219]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6536]
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[[Page 11219]]
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[WY-060-1310-00]
Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas Development Project, WY
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) on the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas
Development Project in Natrona County, Wyoming.
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SUMMARY: In 1994, a major gas reservoir was discovered at Cave Gulch.
At present, seven companies (Chevron U.S.A. Production Company, Barrett
Resources Corporation, Prima Oil & Gas Company, Goldmark Engineering,
Inc., W. A. Moncrief, Jr., Marathon Oil Company, and John P. Lockridge,
Inc.,) operate oil and gas leases in the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman
area and have applied for permits to drill. In accordance with the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), a field development
Environmental Assessment (EA) and Raptor Mitigation Plan were completed
in May 1995, which assessed the potential impacts of 20 proposed wells
and further assessed cumulative impacts to raptor nesting of 49
proposed wells (Barrett Resource Corporation, Cave Gulch Area Natural
Gas Development Project, EA No. WY-062-95-034). During the preparation
of the Cave Gulch EA, 4 wells were drilled; after EA approval, 16 wells
were approved, and 14 of those were drilled as of January 16, 1996. In
December 1994, an EA was initiated for Chevron U.S.A. Production
Company on the Waltman area adjacent to Cave Gulch. The Waltman Area
Natural Gas Development Project EA was to provide a cumulative
assessment of proposals in and near both areas. Subsequent to the
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Cave Gulch EA and
during the preparation of the Waltman EA, 14 additional wells were
proposed. The need for pipeline system upgrades, a possible gas
processing plant, and well spacing to allow more wells per lease became
known. New well proposals, possible additional facilities, and
increased impacts above those previously predicted in either EA,
resulted in the decision by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) on January
16, 1996, to vacate the Cave Gulch EA Record of Decision (ROD), suspend
completion of Chevron's EA and to prepare an EIS. After the EIS
analysis, it may also be necessary to amend the Platte River Resource
Area and Resource Management Plan, approved in 1985 to change the
protection for raptor nests in field development situations from
seasonal to year-round.
DATES: As part of this process, an open house and a public scoping
meeting will be held April 17, 1996. The meeting will be located in the
Hilton Inn, 800 No. Poplar, Casper, Wyoming. An open house will be from
5:00 p.m., until 7:00 p.m., and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m. The
schedule for the EIS preparation will be finalized after the scoping
meeting.
ADDRESSES: Questions or concerns should be addressed to Ms. Kate
Padilla, Team Leader for the Cave Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman Natural Gas
Development Project EIS, Platte River Resource Area Office, P.O. Box
2420, Mills, Wyoming 82644.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Padilla, telephone: 307-261-7600
or Celia Skillman, Team Member, telephone: 307-261-7500.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Generally, the area is located about 50
miles west of Casper, Wyoming, and about 5 miles north of the town of
Waltman. The analysis area could cover about 25 to 30 square miles. The
area also contains a concentration of raptor nests, mainly golden
eagles and ferruginous hawks. In January 1996, the BLM's Wyoming
Reservoir Management Group was asked to complete a reservoir analysis
of the Cave Gulch area. On February 20, 1996, they completed the Cave
Gulch-Bullfrog-Waltman EIS Area Preliminary Reservoir Analysis report
for this area (available upon request). The report, based on geologic
and engineering data, indicated that the gas producing area may be more
extensive than the currently developed area. The optimum number of
wells may be as great as 200 wells. Well spacing may range between one
well per 20 acres to one well per 160 acres because of complex geology.
The preliminary reservoir analysis will be revised after public review.
The final reservoir analysis will be used in conjunction with other
data to define an area of analysis.
BLM may allow some specified development during preparation of the
EIS. Development would be guided by establishing screening criteria to
be used to evaluate proposals. BLM will collaborate with interested
publics to establish these criteria. In addition, BLM intends to
utilize as much as possible the data contained in the various
assessments which have previously been prepared for the area. The data
would be supplemented as needed or required to accommodate the area of
analysis and the scope of development.
Dated: March 12, 1996.
Alan R. Pierson,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 96-6536 Filed 3-18-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-84-P
