95-22917. Notice of Public Comment Period for the Southern Ute Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement

[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 179 (Friday, September 15, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Page 47959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-22917]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
[CO-934-03-1310-04]


Notice of Public Comment Period for the Southern Ute Oil and Gas 
Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCIES: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is proposing to prepare an 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for oil and gas leasing and 
operations on Southern Ute Indian Tribal lands and to hold a public 
scoping meeting and comment period in accordance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Title 40 CFR Part 1500.

ADDRESSES: Mail all comments to the Area Manager, San Juan Resource 
Area, 701 Camino del Rio, Durango, Colorado 81301.
    A mailing list for interested public and agencies is being 
maintained in the San Juan Resource Area office. The list will be used 
to provide information about opportunities for public input and for 
distribution of the draft and final EIS.

DATES: The scoping period opens September 26, 1995, and comments must 
be received by the close of business, October 26, 1995.

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 102 of NEPA, an EIS for oil and gas 
leasing and operations on lands of the Southern Ute Indian Tribe will 
be prepared by the Southern Ute Indian Tribe (SUIT) Energy and Minerals 
Division (project lead), the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (lead 
federal agency), and the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In accordance with Title 40, CFR, Part 
1506.3(c), the SUIT, the BLM and the BIA are preparing the EIS for the 
purposes of evaluating impacts associated with federal approval of 
tribally issued oil and gas leases and approving exploration and 
production operations on lands subject to federal jurisdiction within 
the boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Tribal lands.
    Comments and concerns of the Southern Ute people, the public and 
interested federal, state, and local agencies will be solicited as part 
of the EIS scoping process. The 30-day scoping period will begin 
September 26, 1995, with a public meeting in Ignacio, Colorado, from 7 
to 9 p.m. in Rolling Thunder Hall at the Southern Ute Casino. The 
comment period will be open for 30 days thereafter, through October 26, 
1995.
    Comments may be presented verbally at the meeting or by telephone 
to the contacts provided below. Comments may also be submitted in 
written form at the scoping meeting, to the contacts shown below, and 
by telefax.

 Preliminary Issues

    How best can oil and gas development revenues continue to be 
received and maximized for benefiting the Southern Ute Indian Tribe 
while at the same time protecting Tribal lands and the environment from 
injurious impacts.

Preliminary Alternatives

    At least two alternatives present themselves before scoping takes 
place.
    No-Action Alternative--Continuation of current oil and gas 
management actions and conditions of approval in line with the existing 
BIA Environmental Analysis (EA), BLM field and site development EAs, 
and existing policies and practices. This alternative would maintain 
the status quo and is used as the baseline for comparison of impacts 
from additional proposed actions,.
    Enhanced Development--This alternative would modify existing 
development to allow for new injection technologies and down-spacing 
based on reasonably foreseeable development.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jim Rhett, Colorado State Office, 2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, 
Colorado 80215, Telephone: [phone]; Telefax: [phone]; 
TDD*: [phone]
Don Englishman, San Juan Resource Area, 701 Camino del Rio, Durango, 
Colorado 81301, Telephone: [phone]; Telefax: [phone]; 
TDD*: [phone]. *(Telephone Device for the Deaf)

    Documents pertinent to this proposal may be examined at the San 
Juan Resource Area Office during the business hours from 7:45 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m. MST, Monday through Friday.

    Dated: September 5, 1995.
Donald R. Glaser,
State Director, Colorado.
[FR Doc. 95-22917 Filed 9-14-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-JB-M