80 FR 69247 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Management of Osage Nation Oil and Gas Resources, Osage County, Oklahoma
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 216 (November 9, 2015)
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 216 (November 9, 2015)
| Page Range | 69247-69248 | |
| FR Document | 2015-28507 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 69247-69248] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-28507] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [156A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G] Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Management of Osage Nation Oil and Gas Resources, Osage County, Oklahoma AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as the lead Federal agency, with the Osage Nation and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as cooperating agencies, has prepared a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS). This document is for the management of oil and gas resources owned by the United States in trust for the Osage in Osage County, Oklahoma. This notice announces that the DEIS is now available for public review and that the BIA will hold a public meeting to solicit comments on it. DATES: A public meeting has been scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on November 30, 2015, at the Wah Zha Zhi Cultural Center, 1449 Main St., Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The date and location of the public meeting, including any changes, will be announced at least 15 days in advance through notices in the following local newspapers: Fairfax Chief, Hominy News Progress, Pawhuska Journal Capital, Shidler Review, Skiatook, and Tulsa World and will be posted on the following Internet Web site: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS. In order to be fully considered, written comments on the DEIS must arrive no later than 45 days after the EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand deliver, or fax written comments to Ms. Jeannine Hale, BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, OK 74402-8002; fax (918) 781-4667; email: osagecountyoilgaseis@bia.gov. The DEIS will be available for review at 813 Grandview, Pawhuska, OK 74820. It is also available online at http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jeannine Hale, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources, BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, OK 74402-8002, (918) 781-4660. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed action for this EIS is to update and provide additional analysis on the impacts of the BIA lease and permit approval program to facilitate the development of oil and gas in Osage County in an efficient manner that prevents pollution. Under the Osage Allotment Act of 1906, the United States reserved all rights to the mineral estate in Osage County for the benefit of the Osage. The mineral estate is held in trust, and the BIA approves oil and gas leases, applications for permits to drill, and other site- specific permit applications in Osage County under the authority of the Osage Allotment Act, as amended and 25 Code of Federal Regulations Part 226. The BIA, under delegation of the Secretary of the Interior, is responsible for administering the development of oil and gas resources in Osage County for the benefit of the Osage. The Federal actions, including approvals of leases and issuance of permits, are needed for the BIA to fulfill a portion of its trust responsibility to the Osage and to facilitate the development of the mineral estate. The EIS will replace the 1979 Environmental Assessment for the Oil and Gas Leasing Program of the Osage Indian Tribe. The DEIS analyzes three alternatives for managing oil and gas development in Osage County, one of which is the No Action Alternative. The alternatives represent the range of reasonable actions that could be taken to satisfy the purpose of and need for the BIA's action. The objective of the alternatives is, to the extent possible, to minimize potential adverse impacts on landowners, wildlife, and natural and cultural resources from noise, traffic, excavations, dust, and other disturbances associated with construction and operations under oil and gas leases. The alternatives for the Osage County Oil and Gas EIS were developed through public scoping, an alternatives development workshop with cooperating agencies, and a draft alternatives concepts public listening session. [[Page 69248]] Under the alternatives, the BIA would apply varying levels of resource conservation measures to oil and gas activities in Osage County, ranging from (1) the existing situation, to (2) an expanded list of measures to provide certainty to lessees and to streamline the permitting process, to (3) a further expanded list of measures to add protection for specific areas where sensitive resources are located. The BIA is considering applying resource conservation measures to three types of activities under oil and gas leases: (1) Non-permitted lease activities, (2) activities within the scope of the 2015 Workover Programmatic Environmental Assessment, and (3) Applications for Permit to Drill and other permitted activities. The BIA has provided extensive opportunities for meaningful and substantive input and comments during the preparation of this DEIS. Those invited to participate in the process were the public, various groups, other Federal agencies, Tribal members, and State and local governments. Public involvement for the Osage County Oil and Gas EIS has consisted of the following:Public scoping comment period from July 26, 2013, to January 31, 2014; Public outreach via bulletins, newspaper announcements, public meetings, and a project Web site; A public listening session held in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, on March 9, 2015; Collaboration with Federal, State, local, and Tribal governments and cooperating agencies and entities; and Public review of and comment on this DEIS. Directions for Submitting Comments: Please include your name, return address, and the caption ``DEIS Comments, Osage County Oil and Gas EIS'' on the first page of your written comments. Public Comment Availability: Written comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the BIA, 813 Grandview, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Before including your address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personal identifying information-- may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: This notice is published in accordance with Section 1503.1 of the Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.) and the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 CFR part 46) implementing the procedural requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in accordance with the authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary-- Indian Affairs in Part 209 of the Department Manual. Dated: November 3, 2015. Michael S. Black, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2015-28507 Filed 11-6-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 216 / Monday, November 9, 2015 / Notices 69247
Frequency of Collection: Monthly, information from public view, we bia.gov. The DEIS will be available for
Quarterly, Semiannually, or Annually. cannot guarantee that it will be done. review at 813 Grandview, Pawhuska,
Estimated Number of Annual OK 74820. It is also available online at
Michael J. Magyar,
Responses: 20,053. http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/
Associate Director, National Minerals RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/
Estimated Time per Response: For Information Center, U.S. Geological Survey.
WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS.
each form, we will include an average [FR Doc. 2015–28406 Filed 11–6–15; 8:45 am]
burden time ranging from 10 minutes to BILLING CODE 4338–11–P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Jeannine Hale, Division of
5 hours.
Environmental and Cultural Resources,
Annual Burden Hours: 14,006 hours. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office,
Estimated Reporting and P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, OK 74402–
Recordkeeping ``Non-Hour Cost'' Bureau of Indian Affairs 8002, (918) 781–4660.
Burden: There are no ‘‘non-hour cost’’ [156A2100DD/AAKC001030/ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
burdens associated with this collection A0A501010.999900 253G] proposed action for this EIS is to update
of information. and provide additional analysis on the
Draft Environmental Impact Statement impacts of the BIA lease and permit
Public Disclosure Statement: The PRA
for Management of Osage Nation Oil approval program to facilitate the
(44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.) provides that an
and Gas Resources, Osage County, development of oil and gas in Osage
agency may not conduct or sponsor a Oklahoma
collection of information unless it County in an efficient manner that
displays a currently valid OMB control AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, prevents pollution.
number and current expiration date. Interior. Under the Osage Allotment Act of
ACTION: Notice of availability. 1906, the United States reserved all
III. Request for Comments rights to the mineral estate in Osage
SUMMARY: In accordance with the County for the benefit of the Osage. The
On July 1, 2015, a 60-day Federal National Environmental Policy Act, the mineral estate is held in trust, and the
Register notice (80 FR 37650) was Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), as the BIA approves oil and gas leases,
published announcing this information lead Federal agency, with the Osage applications for permits to drill, and
collection. Public comments were Nation and the Environmental other site-specific permit applications in
solicited for 60 days ending August 31, Protection Agency (EPA) as cooperating Osage County under the authority of the
2015. We received one public comment agencies, has prepared a draft Osage Allotment Act, as amended and
in response to that notice from the environmental impact statement (DEIS). 25 Code of Federal Regulations Part 226.
Department of Commerce Bureau of This document is for the management of The BIA, under delegation of the
Economic Analysis (BEA) supporting oil and gas resources owned by the Secretary of the Interior, is responsible
the continued collection of these data United States in trust for the Osage in for administering the development of oil
which are an important data source for Osage County, Oklahoma. This notice and gas resources in Osage County for
key components of BEA’s economic announces that the DEIS is now the benefit of the Osage. The Federal
statistics. We again invite comments as available for public review and that the actions, including approvals of leases
to: (a) Whether the proposed collection BIA will hold a public meeting to solicit and issuance of permits, are needed for
of information is necessary for the comments on it. the BIA to fulfill a portion of its trust
agency to perform its duties, including DATES: A public meeting has been responsibility to the Osage and to
whether the information is useful; (b) scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on facilitate the development of the
the accuracy of the agency’s estimate of November 30, 2015, at the Wah Zha Zhi mineral estate. The EIS will replace the
the burden time to the proposed Cultural Center, 1449 Main St., 1979 Environmental Assessment for the
collection of information; (c) how to Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The date and Oil and Gas Leasing Program of the
enhance the quality, usefulness, and location of the public meeting, Osage Indian Tribe.
clarity of the information to be including any changes, will be The DEIS analyzes three alternatives
collected; and (d) how to minimize the announced at least 15 days in advance for managing oil and gas development
burden on the respondents, including through notices in the following local in Osage County, one of which is the No
the use of automated collection newspapers: Fairfax Chief, Hominy Action Alternative. The alternatives
techniques or other forms of information News Progress, Pawhuska Journal represent the range of reasonable actions
Capital, Shidler Review, Skiatook, and that could be taken to satisfy the
technology.
Tulsa World and will be posted on the purpose of and need for the BIA’s
Please note that the comments following Internet Web site: http:// action. The objective of the alternatives
submitted in response to this notice are www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/ is, to the extent possible, to minimize
a matter of public record. Before RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/ potential adverse impacts on
including your personal mailing WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS. In landowners, wildlife, and natural and
address, phone number, email address, order to be fully considered, written cultural resources from noise, traffic,
or other personally identifiable comments on the DEIS must arrive no excavations, dust, and other
information in your comment, you later than 45 days after the EPA disturbances associated with
should be aware that your entire publishes its Notice of Availability in construction and operations under oil
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
comment, including your personally the Federal Register. and gas leases. The alternatives for the
identifiable information, may be made ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand Osage County Oil and Gas EIS were
publicly available at any time. While deliver, or fax written comments to Ms. developed through public scoping, an
you can ask us in your comment to Jeannine Hale, BIA Eastern Oklahoma alternatives development workshop
withhold your personally identifiable Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002, with cooperating agencies, and a draft
Muskogee, OK 74402–8002; fax (918) alternatives concepts public listening
781–4667; email: osagecountyoilgaseis@ session.
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![69248 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 216 / Monday, November 9, 2015 / Notices
Under the alternatives, the BIA would cannot guarantee that we will be able to (emergency stabilization and
apply varying levels of resource do so. rehabilitation) plan and recent
conservation measures to oil and gas Authority: This notice is published in prescribed burns. Agenda items and
activities in Osage County, ranging from accordance with Section 1503.1 of the location may be modified due to
(1) the existing situation, to (2) an Council on Environmental Quality changing circumstances. The public
expanded list of measures to provide regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.) and the may present written or oral comments to
certainty to lessees and to streamline the Department of the Interior Regulations (43 members of the Council. At each full
permitting process, to (3) a further CFR part 46) implementing the procedural RAC meeting, time is provided in the
expanded list of measures to add requirements of the National Environmental agenda for hearing public comments.
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and in
protection for specific areas where accordance with the authority delegated to Depending on the number of persons
sensitive resources are located. The BIA the Assistant Secretary—Indian Affairs in wishing to comment and time available,
is considering applying resource Part 209 of the Department Manual. the time for individual oral comments
conservation measures to three types of may be limited. Individuals who plan to
Dated: November 3, 2015.
activities under oil and gas leases: (1) attend and need special assistance
Michael S. Black,
Non-permitted lease activities, (2) should contact the BLM Coordinator as
activities within the scope of the 2015 Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs. provided above. Persons who use a
Workover Programmatic Environmental [FR Doc. 2015–28507 Filed 11–6–15; 8:45 am] telecommunications device for the deaf
Assessment, and (3) Applications for BILLING CODE 4337–15–P (TDD) may call the Federal Information
Permit to Drill and other permitted Relay Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339
activities. to contact Ms. Byrne. The FIRS is
The BIA has provided extensive DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
opportunities for meaningful and Bureau of Land Management to leave a message or question with Ms.
substantive input and comments during Byrne. You will receive a reply during
the preparation of this DEIS. Those [16XL LLIDB00100 LF1000000.HT0000 normal business hours.
invited to participate in the process LXSS024D0000 241A 4500087758]
Jenifer L. Arnold,
were the public, various groups, other
Notice of Public Meeting: Resource Acting District Manager.
Federal agencies, Tribal members, and
Advisory Council (RAC) to the Boise [FR Doc. 2015–28470 Filed 11–6–15; 8:45 am]
State and local governments.
District BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P
Public involvement for the Osage
County Oil and Gas EIS has consisted of AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
the following: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Public scoping comment period ACTION: Notice of public meeting. INTERNATIONAL TRADE
from July 26, 2013, to January 31, 2014; COMMISSION
• Public outreach via bulletins, SUMMARY: In accordance with the
newspaper announcements, public Federal Land Policy and Management [Investigation No. 1210–006]
meetings, and a project Web site; Act (FLPMA) and the Federal Advisory
• A public listening session held in Committee Act of 1972 (FACA), the U.S. WCO Sixth Review Cycle: Request for
Pawhuska, Oklahoma, on March 9, Department of the Interior, Bureau of Proposals To Amend the International
2015; Land Management (BLM) Boise District Harmonized System for
Resource Advisory Council (RAC), will Implementation in 2022
• Collaboration with Federal, State,
local, and Tribal governments and hold a meeting as indicated below. AGENCY: United States International
cooperating agencies and entities; and DATES: The meeting will be held Trade Commission.
• Public review of and comment on December 9, 2015, at the Boise District
ACTION: Institution of an investigation
this DEIS. Office, 3948 Development Avenue,
for the purpose of soliciting and
Directions for Submitting Comments: Boise, Idaho 83705 beginning at 9:00
considering proposals to amend the
Please include your name, return a.m. and adjourning at 3:00 p.m.
international Harmonized System tariff
address, and the caption ‘‘DEIS Members of the public are invited to
nomenclature for possible
Comments, Osage County Oil and Gas attend. A public comment period will
implementation in 2022.
EIS’’ on the first page of your written be held from 11:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
comments. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MJ SUMMARY: The Commission, pursuant to
Public Comment Availability: Written Byrne, Public Affairs Officer and RAC section 1210(b) of the Omnibus Trade
comments, including names and Coordinator, BLM Boise District, 3948 and Competitiveness Act of 1988 (19
addresses of respondents, will be Development Ave., Boise, Idaho 83705, U.S.C. 3010(b), is requesting proposals
available for public review at the BIA, telephone (208) 384–3393. from interested persons and agencies to
813 Grandview, Pawhuska, Oklahoma, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 15- amend the International Harmonized
during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to member Council advises the Secretary Commodity Description and Coding
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, of the Interior, through the BLM, on a System (Harmonized System or HS) in
except holidays. Before including your variety of planning and management connection with the Sixth Review Cycle
address, telephone number, email issues associated with public land of the World Customs Organization
address, or other personal identifying management in southwestern Idaho. (WCO). The Commission will review the
information in your comment, you During the December meeting the Boise proposals in consultation with U.S.
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
should be aware that your entire District RAC will receive updates on the Customs and Border Protection
comment—including your personal Bruneau Owyhee Sage-grouse Habitat (Customs) and the U.S. Department of
identifying information— may be made Project (BOSH) and Tri-State planning Commerce (Commerce). Subject to the
publicly available at any time. While process. BLM staff will update RAC policy direction of the Office of the
you can ask us in your comment to members on the travel plan process and United States Trade Representative
withhold your personal identifying upcoming landscape projects. BLM staff (USTR), the Commission will formulate
information from public review, we will discuss the Soda fire ESR technical proposals for possible
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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:05:39
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:05:39
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability. | |
| Dates | A public meeting has been scheduled from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on November 30, 2015, at the Wah Zha Zhi Cultural Center, 1449 Main St., Pawhuska, Oklahoma. The date and location of the public meeting, including any changes, will be announced at least 15 days in advance through notices in the following local newspapers: Fairfax Chief, Hominy News Progress, Pawhuska Journal Capital, Shidler Review, Skiatook, and Tulsa World and will be posted on the following Internet Web site: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/ WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS. In order to be fully considered, written comments on the DEIS must arrive no later than 45 days after the EPA publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. | |
| Contact | Ms. Jeannine Hale, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources, BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, OK 74402-8002, (918) 781-4660. | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 69247 |
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