[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 105 (Thursday, June 2, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-13378]
[[Page Unknown]]
[Federal Register: June 2, 1994]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Rocky Mountain Region; AA Production, Inc.; Twin-Creeks-Unit;
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests; Gunnison County,
Colorado; Notice
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.
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SUMMARY: The Forest Service will prepare an environmental impact
statement (EIS) on an AA Production, Inc., proposal to drill 4 coal bed
methane wells on existing leases and construct a transportation system
to these wells within the Clear Creek Roadless Area on the Gunnison
National Forest, Paonia Ranger District, approximately 23 miles north,
northwest of the town of Paonia, Colorado.
DATES: An open house is scheduled for June 9, 1994, at the Panonia Town
Hall from 2-5 p.m. and from 6-9 p.m. to display and discuss the Twin-
Creeks-Unit proposal. Comments concerning the scope and issues of the
analysis should be received by July 15, 1994; Publication of Draft EIS:
December, 1994; final EIS: July, 1995.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Twin-Creeks-Unit, Paonia Ranger
District, PO Box 1030, North Rio Grande Ave., Paonia, CO 81428.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mike Ward, Paonia Ranger District, PO Box 1030, North Rio Grande Ave.,
Paoni, CO 81428, (303) 527-4260.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: AA Production, Inc. has submitted a proposal
to drill 4 coal bed methane wells with foreseeable development of
additional wells if the first 4 are successful. Drilling would occur on
existing leases granted before 1980 in the Clear Creek Roadless area
between Deadhorse Creek and Jones Park. The wells would be located
within one mile of an existing road (FDR 844) and a pipeline which
parallels the road. The 4 proposed wells are more precisely located in
the Southwest Quarter of Section 21--Township 10 South--Range 90 West
of the 6th Principal Meridian.
It is important to remain clear about the decisions to be made on
the Twin-Creeks-Unit proposal. Decisions on whether or not this area of
the Forest will or will not be available for oil and gas leasing have
already been made. AA Production, Inc., holds valid oil & gas leases
and have a legal right to drill on their leases. The 1993 Forest Oil &
Gas Leasing EIS has allocated the Clear Creek Roadless area to oil &
gas development. These decisions will not be revisited, unless an
unavoidable effect on some very significant resource is discovered
through this analysis. At this point, we do not anticipate any effects
such as this. We do have an obligation to consider all environmental
factors, analyzed to the latest standards, before we allow the proposed
oil and gas development to occur so appropriate protection or
mitigation measures can be developed and implemented. This EIS will
accomplish this.
The Forest Service will decide how, when, and exactly where, oil &
gas development will occur while minimizing effects on the human
environment to the extent practical. The Forest Service has
responsibility for managing surface resources. Specifically, Forest
Service decisions to be made are:
1. Determine specifically where, how, when, and under what conditions
the transportation system and well pads will be developed for the 4
wells proposed for drilling.
2. Determine general locations for the foreseeable wells, and any other
mitigation needed in addition to those for the first 4 proposed wells.
3. Determine if there are site specific unavoidable effects on very
significant resources in the area which would preclude drilling or
surface occupancy.
Any well development other than the current proposal to drill 4
wells will require additional site specific environmental analysis.
The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for deciding how
actual down-hole drilling activities will occur and has the authority
to approve the Application For Permit To Drill (APD).
Preliminary scoping has identified nine issues. These issued are:
(1) Visual Quality, (2) The proposed wells are within a roadless area
identified during the 1979 RARE II process, (3) Transportation System,
Development, (4) Wildlife Management and Protection including
Threatened, Endangered, & Sensitive Wildlife & Plants, (5) Retention of
Water Quality, Wetlands, and Riparian areas, (6) Soils & Geologic
Hazards, (7) Effects on Recreation Opportunities & Outfitter Guides,
(8) Social & Economic Effects, (9) Cultural & Historic Resources.
Scoping will consist of public meetings, news releases, and a
scoping letter sent to people, organizations, and public agencies who
may be interested in this project. An open house is scheduled for June
9, 1994. A new release to local media and interested parties is being
made in conjunction with the June 9 meeting.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be consulted on possible
effects on threatened and endangered plant and animal species and may
be asked to provide expertise for the environmental analysis. The
Forest Service may consult with other local, State, or Federal agencies
as needed. The Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Geological Survey
will be asked to serve as Cooperating Agencies. The U.S. Geological
Survey will serve as a coal-bed-methane well expert. The Bureau of Land
Management will serve as a drilling expert and is responsible for
approving actual down-hole drilling techniques. The U.S. Forest Service
will be the Lead Agency.
The comment period on the draft environmental impact statement will
be 45 days from the date the Environmental Protection Agency's notice
of availability appears in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service believes, at this early stage, it is important
to give reviewers notice of several court rulings related to public
participation in the environmental review process. First, reviewers of
draft environmental impact statements must structure their
participation in the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,
553 (1978). Also, environmental objections that could have been raised
at the draft environmental impact statement stage but that are not
raised until after completion of the final environmental impact
statement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City of Angoon v.
Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Circuit, 1986) and Wisconsin Heritages,
Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of
these rulings, it is very important that those interested in this
proposed action participate by the close of the 45 day draft
environmental impact statement comment period so that substantive
comments and objections are made available to the Forest Service at a
time when it can meaningfully consider them and respond to them in the
final environmental impact statement.
To assist the Forest Service in identifying and considering issues
and concerns on the proposed action, comments on the draft
environmental impact statement should be as specific as possible. It is
also helpful if comments refer to specific pages or chapters of the
draft statement. Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft
environmental impact statement or the merits of the alternatives
formulated and discussed in the statement. Reviewers may wish to refer
to the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing
the procedural provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act at
40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points. Please note that comments on
the draft environmental impact statement will be regarded as public
information.
The responsible Bureau of Land Management official is Sally Wisley,
Area Manager, San Juan Resource Area, Federal Building, 701 Camino Del
Rio, Durango, Colorado 81301.
The responsible Forest Service official is Ray L. Kingston, Paonia
District Ranger, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests,
P.O. Box 1030, North Rio Grande Avenue, Paonia, Colorado 81428.
Dated: May 26, 1994.
Ray L. Kingston,
District Ranger.
[FR Doc. 94-13378 Filed 6-1-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
