81 FR 21376 - Supplemental Notice of Intent To Revise the Osage County Oil and Gas Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Osage County, Oklahoma
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Affairs Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 69 (April 11, 2016)
Bureau of Indian Affairs
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 69 (April 11, 2016)
| Page Range | 21376-21377 | |
| FR Document | 2016-08260 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 69 (Monday, April 11, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 21376-21377] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-08260] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Indian Affairs [167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900] Supplemental Notice of Intent To Revise the Osage County Oil and Gas Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Osage County, Oklahoma AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Supplemental Notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as Lead Agency will be revising the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Osage County Oil and Gas program. The BIA will work with cooperating agencies and others to gather additional information and work to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). This Supplemental Notice announces an additional public scoping meeting to identify potential issues and content for inclusion in the EIS. The BIA solicits written comments and oral comments at the public meeting on the range of reasonable alternatives for implementing the proposed action and issues to be addressed in the revised Draft EIS, such as information regarding the level of oil and gas development in Osage County or possible mitigation measures for environmental and socioeconomic impacts of that development. DATES: Written comments on the scope and implementation of the proposal must arrive by Friday, May 8, 2016. A public scoping meeting will be held at the Wah Zha Zhi Cultural Center from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 28, 2016. 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: Hominy News Progress, Pawhuska Journal Capital, Skiatook, and Tulsa World and will be posted on the following Internet location: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS/index.htm. 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, Oklahoma 74402-8002; fax (918) 781-4667; email: [email protected]. The April 28, 2016, public scoping meeting will be held at the Wah Zha Zhi Cultural Center, 1449 Main Street, Pawhuska, Oklahoma. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jeannine Hale, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources, BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402-8002, (918) 781-4660. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIA previously released a programmatic Osage County Oil and Gas DEIS in November 2015. After the public comment period, the BIA determined that the Osage DEIS should be revised in order to address comments received and take into consideration additional information. This Supplemental Notice advises interested parties that the proposed Federal action(s) is the BIA approval of leases and permits for oil and gas mining activities located in the Osage Mineral Estate. The Osage 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 under the authority of the 1906 Osage Allotment Act, as amended and 25 CFR 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 BIA may use the EIS to support a decision under the National Environmental Policy Act. Directions for Submitting Public Comments: Please include your name, return address, and the caption ``Osage County Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement'' on the first page of any written comments you submit. You may also submit comments at the public scoping meeting. 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 [[Page 21377]] 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, as amended (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: April 5, 2016. Michael S. Black, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs. [FR Doc. 2016-08260 Filed 4-8-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4337-15-P
![21376 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 69 / Monday, April 11, 2016 / Notices
title 43 of the Code of Federal Dated: April 4, 2016. Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002,
Regulations (43 CFR 46.205, 46.210, and Stephen P. Henry, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402–8002; fax
46.215). However, we may revise our Field Supervisor, Ventura Fish and Wildlife (918) 781–4667; email:
determination based upon review of Office, Ventura, California. osagecountyoilandgaseis@bia.gov.
public comments received in response [FR Doc. 2016–08238 Filed 4–8–16; 8:45 am] The April 28, 2016, public scoping
to this notice. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P meeting will be held at the Wah Zha Zhi
Cultural Center, 1449 Main Street,
Next Steps Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
We will evaluate the permit
application, including the draft HCP Jeannine Hale, Division of
Bureau of Indian Affairs Environmental and Cultural Resources,
and comments we receive, to determine
[167 A2100DD/AAKC001030/ BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office,
whether it meets the requirements of
A0A501010.999900] P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, Oklahoma
section 10(a)(1)(B) of the Act. We will
74402–8002, (918) 781–4660.
also evaluate whether issuance of the Supplemental Notice of Intent To SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BIA
ITP would comply with section 7of the Revise the Osage County Oil and Gas previously released a programmatic
Act by conducting an intra-Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Osage County Oil and Gas DEIS in
consultation pursuant to section 7(a)(2). Osage County, Oklahoma November 2015. After the public
Public Review AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, comment period, the BIA determined
Interior. that the Osage DEIS should be revised
We request comments from the public in order to address comments received
regarding our preliminary determination ACTION: Notice.
and take into consideration additional
that the applicant’s proposal will have SUMMARY: This Supplemental Notice information. This Supplemental Notice
a minor or negligible effect on the Morro advises the public that the Bureau of advises interested parties that the
shoulderband snail and that the HCP Indian Affairs (BIA) as Lead Agency will proposed Federal action(s) is the BIA
qualifies for processing as a low-effect. be revising the Draft Environmental approval of leases and permits for oil
We will evaluate comments received Impact Statement for the Osage County and gas mining activities located in the
and make a final determination Oil and Gas program. The BIA will work Osage Mineral Estate. The Osage
regarding whether the application meets with cooperating agencies and others to Mineral Estate is held in trust, and the
the requirements of section 10(a)(1)(B) gather additional information and work BIA approves oil and gas leases,
of the Act. We will incorporate the to prepare an Environmental Impact applications for permits to drill, and
results of our intra-Service consultation, Statement (EIS). This Supplemental other site-specific permit applications
in combination with the above findings, Notice announces an additional public under the authority of the 1906 Osage
in our final analysis to determine scoping meeting to identify potential Allotment Act, as amended and 25 CFR
whether to issue the ITP. If all of our issues and content for inclusion in the part 226.
requirements are met, we will issue the EIS. The BIA solicits written comments The BIA, under delegation of the
ITP to the applicant. Permit issuance and oral comments at the public Secretary of the Interior, is responsible
meeting on the range of reasonable for administering the development of oil
would not occur less than 30 days from
alternatives for implementing the and gas resources in Osage County for
the date of this notice.
proposed action and issues to be the benefit of the Osage. The Federal
Public Comments addressed in the revised Draft EIS, such actions, including approvals of leases
as information regarding the level of oil and issuance of permits, are needed for
If you wish to comment on the permit the BIA to fulfill a portion of its trust
and gas development in Osage County
application, HCP, and associated responsibility to the Osage and to
or possible mitigation measures for
documents, you may submit comments facilitate the development of the
environmental and socioeconomic
by any one of the methods provided in impacts of that development. mineral estate. The BIA may use the EIS
ADDRESSES. to support a decision under the National
DATES: Written comments on the scope
Environmental Policy Act.
Public Availability of Comments and implementation of the proposal Directions for Submitting Public
must arrive by Friday, May 8, 2016. A Comments: Please include your name,
Before including your address, phone public scoping meeting will be held at
number, email address, or other return address, and the caption ‘‘Osage
the Wah Zha Zhi Cultural Center from County Oil and Gas Environmental
personal identifying information in your 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 28, 2016. The
comment, you should be aware that Impact Statement’’ on the first page of
date and location of the public meeting, any written comments you submit. You
your entire comment, including your including any changes, will be
personal identifying information, may may also submit comments at the public
announced at least 15 days in advance scoping meeting.
be made publicly available at any time. through notices in the following local Public Comment Availability: Written
While you can ask us in your comment newspapers: Hominy News Progress, comments, including names and
to withhold your personal identifying Pawhuska Journal Capital, Skiatook, and addresses of respondents, will be
information from public view, we Tulsa World and will be posted on the available for public review at the BIA,
cannot guarantee that we will be able to following Internet location: http://
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
813 Grandview, Pawhuska, Oklahoma,
do so. www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/ during regular business hours, 8 a.m. to
RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/ 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday,
Authority WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS/ except holidays. Before including your
We provide this notice under section index.htm. address, telephone number, email
10(c) of the Act and the NEPA public ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, hand address, or other personal identifying
involvement regulations (40 CFR deliver, or fax written comments to Ms. information in your comment, you
1500.1(b), 1500.2(d), and 1506.6). Jeannine Hale, BIA Eastern Oklahoma should be aware that your entire
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 69 / Monday, April 11, 2016 / Notices 21377
comment—including your personal DATES: In order to be fully considered, The Project would interconnect into
identifying information— may be made written comments on the scope of the the existing Mohave 500 kV Switchyard
publicly available at any time. While EIS or implementation of the proposal located near the town of Laughlin,
you can ask us in your comment to must arrive by May 11, 2016. The dates Nevada. As proposed, an approximately
withhold your personal identifying and locations of the public scoping 18-mile 230 kilovolt (kV) single or
information from public review, we meetings will be published in local multiple circuit line would be built to
cannot guarantee that we will be able to papers (Mohave Valley Daily News, a new 230/500 kV substation, which
do so. Needles Desert Star, and Laughlin would be located next to/near the
Authority: This notice is published in Nevada Times) 15 days before the Mohave 500 kV Switchyard. Here, the
accordance with Section 1503.1 of the scoping meetings and will also be voltage would be stepped up to 500 kV
Council on Environmental Quality available on the EIS Web site at and then a short single or multiple
regulations (40 CFR part 1500 et seq.) and the FortMojaveSolarProjectEIS.com. circuit 500 kV line would be built from
Department of the Interior Regulations (43 ADDRESSES: You may mail, email, or the 230/500 kV substation to connect to
CFR part 46) implementing the procedural
hand carry written comments to Mr. the Mohave 500 kV Switchyard.
requirements of the National Environmental The solar facility would be located on
Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
Chip Lewis, Regional Environmental
Compliance Officer, BIA Western Tribal lands in Township 18 North,
seq.), and in accordance with the authority Range 22 West, Sections 3, 4, 9, and 10
delegated to the Assistant Secretary—Indian Regional Office, 2600 North Central
Avenue, 4th Floor Mailroom, Phoenix, and Township 19 North, Range 22 West,
Affairs in Part 209 of the Department Manual.
Arizona 85004; telephone: (602) 379– Sections 15, 16, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 33,
Dated: April 5, 2016. and 34 in Arizona. Access to the solar
6782; email: chip.lewis@bia.gov.
Michael S. Black, facility site would be provided by
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs. existing roads crossing through and next
proposed Federal action, taken under 25 to the proposed solar facility site.
[FR Doc. 2016–08260 Filed 4–8–16; 8:45 am]
U.S.C. 415, is BIA’s approval of a solar Construction of the Project is expected
BILLING CODE 4337–15–P energy ground lease and associated to take approximately 18 to 32 months.
agreements entered into by the Tribe Tribal Solar is expected to operate the
with Tribal Solar, LLC (Tribal Solar), a energy facility for up to 35 years
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR wholly-owned subsidiary of First Solar. subsequent to the Project’s Commercial
Bureau of Indian Affairs If approved, these documents would Operations Date. No water would be
allow the construction and operation of used to generate electricity during
[167A2100DD/AAKC001030/ an up-to 332 megawatt (MW) alternating
A0A501010.999900] operations. Water would be needed
current solar PV electricity generation during construction for dust control and
facility located entirely on the Fort other construction activities and a
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Mojave Indian Reservation and minimal amount would be needed
Environmental Impact Statement for
specifically on lands held in trust by the during operations. The water supply
the Fort Mojave Solar Project on the
United States for the Tribe. The required for portions of the Project on
Fort Mojave Indian Reservation,
proposed generation-tie transmission the Reservation would be obtained from
Mohave County, Arizona, and Clark
lines and substations required for the Tribe.
County, Nevada
interconnection would be located on The purposes of the proposed actions
AGENCY: Bureau of Indian Affairs, Tribal trust lands, Federal lands and the Project are, among other things,
Interior. administered and managed by BLM and to: use the Tribe’s solar energy
ACTION: Notice. BOR, State-administered lands, and resources; provide a long-term, diverse,
county and private lands in Clark and viable economic revenue base, job
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Indian Affairs County, Nevada. The BIA and BLM opportunities and other benefits for the
(BIA), as lead agency in cooperation would additionally approve right-of- Tribe; generate clean, renewable
with the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe ways (ROWs) authorizing the electricity to help Southwestern states
(Tribe), the Bureau of Land Management construction and operation of the to meet their State renewable energy
(BLM), and other agencies, intends to transmission line and other supporting needs and reduce demand for
prepare an Environmental Impact facilities, as needed. Together, the generation facilities that might result in
Statement (EIS) that will evaluate a proposed solar energy facility, cross-border air pollution; and allow the
photovoltaic (PV) solar energy transmission lines, and other associated Tribe, in partnership with Tribal Solar,
generation project on the Fort Mojave facilities will make up the proposed to optimize the use of the lease site
Indian Reservation in Mohave County, solar project (Project). while maximizing the potential
Arizona. Associated transmission lines The proposed solar energy facility economic benefit to the Tribe.
and substations located on Tribal trust would be located on approximately BIA will prepare the EIS in
lands, Federal lands administered and 2,800 acres of Tribal trust lands leased cooperation with the Tribe, BLM, and
managed by BLM and Bureau of from the Tribe out of a total of possibly BOR, Army Corps of Engineers,
Reclamation (BOR), State-administered approximately 3,600 acres available Environmental Protection Agency
lands, and county and private lands in under an option for lease. These lands (EPA), State of Nevada, and Clark
Clark County, Nevada, will also be are currently used for agriculture. The County, Nevada. In addition, the U.S.
evaluated. solar energy facility would include PV Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) will
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
This notice announces the beginning panels, power inverters and provide input on the analysis and may
of the scoping process to solicit public transformers, a 34.5 kV collection also serve as a cooperating agency. The
comment and identify potential issues system either overhead or underground, resulting EIS will aim to: (1) Provide
related to the EIS. It also announces that a substation, an operations and agency decision makers, the Tribe, and
two public scoping meetings will be maintenance building with parking, the general public with a
held to identify potential issues, meteorology towers, security fencing comprehensive understanding of the
alternatives, and mitigation to be and lighting, and other on-site facilities impacts of the proposed Project and
considered in the EIS. as required. alternatives on and off the Reservation;
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Document Created: 2016-04-09 00:11:07
Document Modified: 2016-04-09 00:11:07
| 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. | |
| Dates | Written comments on the scope and implementation of the proposal must arrive by Friday, May 8, 2016. A public scoping meeting will be held at the Wah Zha Zhi Cultural Center from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 28, 2016. 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: Hominy News Progress, Pawhuska Journal Capital, Skiatook, and Tulsa World and will be posted on the following Internet location: http://www.bia.gov/WhoWeAre/ RegionalOffices/EasternOklahoma/WeAre/Osage/OSAGEOilGasEIS/index.htm. | |
| Contact | Ms. Jeannine Hale, Division of Environmental and Cultural Resources, BIA Eastern Oklahoma Regional Office, P.O. Box 8002, Muskogee, Oklahoma 74402-8002, (918) 781-4660. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 21376 |
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