[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48124-48125]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23337]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Oil and Gas Leasing Analysis; Helena & Deerlodge National
Forests, MT
Counties: Lewis and Clark, Powell, Jefferson, Broadwater, and
Meagher.
State: Montana.
AGENCIES: Forest Service, USDA & Bureau of Land Management, USDI.
ACTION: Intent to prepare a supplement to the Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Helena National Forest and Elkhorn
Portion of the Deerlodge National Forest Oil and Gas Leasing Analysis.
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SUMMARY: USDA Forest Service and USDI Bureau of Land Management will
prepare a supplement to the FEIS to disclose the potential cumulative
impacts of oil and gas leasing and other reasonably foreseeable
projects that have arisen since the FEIS was completed in April, 1995.
A year elapsed between completion of the FEIS and publication of the
Record of Decision (ROD), and new project proposals had arisen in the
interim. The cumulative effects of these reasonably foreseeable
projects have not been fully disclosed. This information will be added
to previous information for the decision makers as they reconsider
their decisions. The area covered by this supplement includes National
Forest and split estate lands with Federal mineral ownership within the
Helena National Forest and the Elkhorn Mountains portion of the
Deerlodge National Forest.
The original Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Statement
was published in the Federal Register, December 1, 1992, Volume 57, No.
231 page 55900. An amendment to this Notice of Intent was published in
the Federal Register, August 19, 1993, volume 58, No. 159 page 44159.
The Record of Decision was signed on February 12, 1996 by Forest
Supervisor Thomas J. Clifford; and February 14, 1996 by BLM State
Director Larry E. Hamilton. The Notice of availability of the Oil & Gas
leasing decisions for the Helena Forest and Elkhorn Mountain portions
of the Deerlodge National Forest was filed March 5, 1996. This decision
was appealed through both the Forest Service and Bureau of Land
Management administrative appeals processes. The BLM filed a motion for
remand on June 27, 1996 and the BLM decisions were set aside by
Administrative Judge John H. Kelly on July 9, 1996. Acting Helena
Forest Supervisor Jim Guest withdrew the Forest Service decisions on
July 30, 1996. This will allow the potential cumulative impacts of oil
and gas leasing and other reasonably foreseeable projects that have
arisen since the FEIS was published to be analyzed and considered.
The purpose of the project remains the same as stated in the 1995
FEIS. The Forest Service will decide which lands are available for
lease and what mitigating stipulations apply for oil and gas
exploration and development. The Forest Service proposes to make minor
modifications from the preferred alternative displayed in the February
14, 1996 decision. The modifications include increasing the
administratively unavailable acres in the Tenmile area (Helena
municipal water supply) and increasing the No Surface Occupancy acres
within the Black Mountain area. These changes are proposed following
discussions with appellants as part of the administrative appeals
process. Other Than the above, issues and alternatives remain the same
as disclosed in the 1995 FEIS.
No additional scoping to identify issues and concerns is planned
prior to the release of the supplement to the
[[Page 48125]]
Environmental Impact Statement. However, the Forest Service and Bureau
of Land Management would like to receive information relating to
possible changed conditions that may affect leasing decisions and were
not considered during the analysis disclosed in the original document.
The agencies are aware of the following reasonably foreseeable
proposals and projects which may affect the area under consideration
for leasing.
Mining/Mine Reclamation
--Diamond Hill T7N, R1W
--Santa Fe Gold T6N, R2-3N
--Charter Oak Rehabilitation, T9N, R7W
--Vosberg Reclamation T7N, R1W
Vegetation Manipulation
--Poorman T13N, R7-8N
--North Elkhorns T8-9N, R2W
--Bull Sweats T11-12N, R1-2W
--Jericho Salvage T8N, R6W
Elkhorn Travel Plan T6-9N, R1E, R1-3W
Tizer/Park Lake Exchange T8N, R5W; T7N, R2W
DATE: Written comments and suggestions on new circumstances, or new
information relevant to environmental concerns with a bearing on this
proposed project, or its impacts, should be received by no later than
October 15, 1996. A Draft Supplement is scheduled for release in
November, 1996. A Final Supplement to the EIS is scheduled for release
in February, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments and suggestions to Forest
Supervisor, Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, Mt.
59601.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Tom Andersen, Helena National Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, Mt.
59601; phone (406) 449-5201 ext 277.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Forest Supervisor for the Helena
National Forest has been assigned the task of completing the
Supplement. The responsible officials who will make the leasing
decisions are: Thomas J. Clifford, Forest Supervisor, Helena National
Forest, 2880 Skyway Drive, Helena, Mt. 59601; and Larry E. Hamilton,
State Director, USDI-Bureau of Land Management, Montana State Office,
222 North 32nd Street, PO Box 36800, Billings, Mt 59107-6800.
They will decide on this proposal after considering comments,
responses, and environmental consequences discussed in the FEIS
(released March 4, 1996), information contained in this Supplement,
(scheduled for release January, 1997) and applicable laws, regulations,
and policies. The decision, rationale for the decision, and responses
to comments received, will be documented in the FEIS supplement, and in
a Record of Decision (ROD).
The comment period on the draft supplement will be 45 days from the
date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes the notice of
availability in the Federal Register.
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management believe, 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 supplements must structure their
participation on the environmental review of the proposal so that it is
meaningful and alerts an agency to the reviewer's position and
contentions. Vermont Yankee Power Corp. v. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519,553
(1978). Also, environmental objections that could be raised at the
draft supplement stage but that are not raised until after completion
of the final supplement may be waived or dismissed by the courts. City
of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wilson
Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Suppl 1334, 1338 (E.D.Wis. 1980).
Because of these court rulings, it is very important that those
interested in this proposed action participate by the close of the 45
day comment period so that substantive comments and objectives are made
available to the Forest Service at a time when it can meaningfully
consider them and respond to them in the final supplement.
To assist the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management in
identifying and considering concerns on the proposed action, comments
on the draft supplement should be as specific as possible. It is also
helpful if comments refer to specific pages of the draft supplement.
Comments may also address the adequacy of the draft supplement.
Reviewers may wish to refer to the Council of Environmental Quality
Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing these points.
Dated: August 21, 1996.
James E. Guest,
Acting Forest Supervisor, Helena National Forest.
[FR Doc. 96-23337 Filed 9-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-M
