[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 153 (Wednesday, August 9, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 40603]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-19626]
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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION
Finding of No Significant Impact
AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water
Commission, United States and Mexico.
ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.
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SUMMARY: Based on an environmental assessment prepared by Quisto Energy
Corporation (Quisto) to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well
located on the Main Floodway of the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control
Project (LRGFCP), the United States Section, International Boundary and
Water Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC) finds that the
proposed action to issue a license to Quisto for such works is not a
major federal action that would have a significant adverse effect on
the quality of the human environment. Therefore, pursuant to section
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council
on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through
1508); and the U.S. Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing
Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2,
1981 (46FR44083-44094); the USIBWC hereby gives notice that an
environmental impact statement will not be prepared for the proposed
action.
ADDRESS: Mr. Yusuf E. Farran, Division Engineer, Environmental
Management Division, United States Section, International Boundary and
Water Commission, United States and Mexico, 4171 North Mesa Street, C-
310, El Paso, Texas 79902-1441. Telephone: 915/534-6704.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action
The action proposed is for the USIBWC to issue a license to Quisto
to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well and install related
features within Meyerhoff No. 5. Drilling Unit, Lot 271, Kelly-Pharr
Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas. The gas well is proposed to be
located on privately owned land within the Main Floodway of the USIBWC
LRGFCP approximately 8 kilometers southeast of the town of Pharr.
Access to the drilling site is by way of existing county and private
roads.
Alternatives Considered
Three alternatives were considered in the Environmental Assessment
(EA):
The Proposed Action Alternative is for Quisto to construct,
operate, and maintain a gas well is a cultivated field within the Main
Floodway of the USIBWC LRGFCP. This proposed action will require the
USIBWC to issue a license to ensure that such works do not cause an
obstruction to flood flows within the floodway or interfere with the
operation and maintenance of the LRGFCP.
The No Action Alternative is for Quisto to not construct, operate,
and maintain a gas well within the Main Floodway of the LRGFCP. The no
action alternative will not require the USIBWC to issue a license since
no work will be done within the LRGFCP. The no action alternative will
result in the denial of access to the mineral owner to rightfully owned
minerals, loss of tax revenues to the State of Texas, and result in an
unrecoverable clean energy source.
The Directional Well Alternative is for Quisto to drill a well from
outside the Main Floodway to a depth below the proposed surface
location. The directional well alternative will not require the USIBWC
to issue a license since no work will be done within the LRGFCP. The
directional well alternative is considered not workable because of a
lack of an available surface drillsite outside the Main Floodway and
technical problems associated with a bottomhole location some 457
meters or more from the surface location.
Environmental Assessment
The USIBWC received from Quisto a completed Environmental
Assessment (EA) for the proposed gas well and related features. The EA
is currently available for review and comment.
Finding of the Environmental Assessment
The EA finds that the proposed action for Quisto to construct,
operate, and maintain a gas well within the Maine Floodway of the
USIBWC LRGFCP (and the USIBWC to issue a license for such work) does
not constitute a major federal action which would cause a significant
local, regional, or national adverse impact on the environment based on
the following facts:
1. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has determined that no
waters of the United States including wetlands will be impacted by the
proposed gas well and related features.
2. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that
federally listed endangered or threatened species are unlikely to be
adversely affected by the proposed gas well and related features.
3. The Texas Historical Commission has determined that no survey is
required and the project may proceed.
4. The USIBWC has determined that the proposed gas well and related
features will have no significant effect upon the flood carrying
capacity of the Main Floodway.
On the basis of the Quisto EA, the USIBWC has determined that an
environmental impact statement is not required for the issuance of
license to Quisto to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well and
install related features within the Main Floodway of the USIBWC LRGFCP
and hereby provides notice of a finding of no significant impact
(FONSI). An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless
additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our
attention within thirty (30) days of the date of this Notice. A limited
number of copies of the EA and FONSI are available to fill single copy
requests at the above address.
Dated: August 2, 1995.
Randall A. McMains,
Attorney.
[FR Doc. 95-19626 Filed 8-8-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4810-03-M
