81 FR 5994 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Nanushuk Project; Located 7.5 Miles Northeast of Nuiqsut, Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 23 (February 4, 2016)

Page Range		5994-5995
FR Document		2016-01973

The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and analyze the potential impacts associated with the development of the Alpine C and Nanushuk reservoirs, including construction and operation of the proposed project. The Corps will be evaluating a permit application for work under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act and section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The EIS will be used to support the permit decision in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5994-5995]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-01973]


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DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the 
Nanushuk Project; Located 7.5 Miles Northeast of Nuiqsut, Alaska

AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, DoD.

ACTION: Notice of intent.

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SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) 
intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to identify 
and analyze the potential impacts associated with the development of 
the Alpine C and Nanushuk reservoirs, including construction and 
operation of the proposed project. The Corps will be evaluating a 
permit application for work under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors 
Act and section 404 of the Clean Water Act. The EIS will be used to 
support the permit decision in compliance with the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Ms. Janet Post, U.S. Army 
Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division CEPOA-RD, P.O. Box 6898, JBER, 
AK 99506-0898; by email: janet.l.post@usace.army.mil, or by Web site 
www.NanushukEIS.com.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Questions about the proposed action 
and the EIS can be answered by: Ms. Janet Post, Regulatory Division, by 
telephone: (907) 753-2831 or toll free from within Alaska: (800) 478-
2712, by fax: (907) 753-5567, by email: janet.l.post@usace.army.mil, or 
by mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division CEPOA-RD, 
P.O. Box 6898, JBER, AK 99506-0898. To be added to the project mailing 
list and for additional information, please visit the following Web 
site: www.NanushukEIS.com.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Proposed Action: The permit applicant, Repsol E&P USA, Inc. 
(Repsol), is proposing to develop the Alpine C and Nanushuk reservoirs, 
located approximately 52 miles west of Deadhorse, 7.5 miles northeast 
of Nuiqsut, and 1 mile southeast of the East Channel of the Colville 
River, in the State of Alaska. Up to 76 production and injection wells 
would be drilled from three drill sites (Drill Sites (DS) 1-3). 
Construction would include the Nanushuk Pad, comprised of DS1 and a 
central processing facility (CPF); two additional drill sites (DS2 and 
DS3); and an operations center pad. A tie-in pad would be constructed 
adjacent to the existing Kuparuk CPF2 facility. The operations center 
pad would include infrastructure to support operations and drilling, 
such as camps, office, warehouse, maintenance building, cold storage, 
potable water tanks, wastewater and water treatment plant, temporary 
waste storage area, communication structures, diesel-fired back-up 
power generators, and a helicopter landing pad. Tie-in pad 
infrastructure would include a pig launcher and receiver, a metering 
skid, pipe rack, laydown area, and a communications tower. One time 
screeding would be required at Oliktok Point Dock to support sealift 
module delivery.
    The Project would include 11.1 miles of gravel infield roads, 
comprised of a 4.0-mile DS2 road and a 7.1 mile DS3 road, to provide 
all-season ground transport between the Nanushuk Pad and DS2 and DS3. 
And a 13.8-mile gravel access road to provide all-season ground 
transport between the Nanushuk Pad and the existing road network at 
Kuparuk DS2M.
    The applicant would produce multiphase product from the three drill 
sites and transport it to the Nanushuk Pad via multiphase pipelines for 
processing. Water separated from the oil would be transported back to 
the drill sites via water injection pipelines to be reinjected back 
into the subsurface formation to help maintain pressure and enhance oil 
production. Separated gas would be used for power generation at the 
CPF, and the remainder would be transported back to the drill sites via 
gas lift pipelines for gas lift. Excess gas, if any, would be injected 
into a dedicated injection well at DS2. Sales-quality oil processed at 
the Nanushuk Pad would be transported to the tie-in pad at the Kuparuk 
CPF2 via the Nanushuk Pipeline.
    Reasonable Alternatives: A reasonable range of alternatives will be 
identified and evaluated through scoping and the alternatives 
development process.
    Scoping: The scoping period is anticipated to begin in February and 
end in March 2016.
    (1) Public involvement: The Corps invites full public participation 
to promote open communication on the issues to be addressed in 
preparation of the EIS regarding the proposed action.

[[Page 5995]]

All Federal, State, Tribal, and local agencies, and other interested 
persons or organizations, are urged to participate in the NEPA scoping 
process. Scoping meetings will be conducted to inform interested 
parties of the proposed project, receive public input on the 
development of proposed alternatives to be reviewed in the EIS, and to 
identify significant issues to be analyzed.
    (2) Scoping meetings: The Corps plans to hold scoping meetings in 
Barrow, Nuiqsut, Anchorage, and Fairbanks. Public notices will be 
placed in local newspapers and other public places, and will be 
communicated directly with the smaller communities, once dates are 
confirmed.
    (3) Information about these meetings and meeting dates will be 
published locally, posted at the project Web site, and available by 
contacting the Corps as previously described. A description of the 
proposed project will be posted on the project Web site prior to these 
meetings to help the public focus their scoping comments.
    (4) The Corps will serve as the lead Federal agency in the 
preparation of the EIS. Agencies that are being invited to act as 
Cooperating Agencies include the following:
a. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
b. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
c. State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources, Office of Project 
Management and Permitting
d. North Slope Borough
e. Native Village of Nuiqsut
    (5) The EIS will analyze the potential social, economic, physical, 
and biological impacts to the affected areas. Numerous issues will be 
analyzed in depth in the EIS. These issues include, but are not limited 
to, the following: The construction and operation of the facilities and 
their effect upon the community of Nuiqsut; subsistence; cultural 
resources; air quality; socioeconomics; alternatives; secondary and 
cumulative impacts; threatened and endangered species including 
critical habitat; hydrology and wetlands; and fish and wildlife.
    (6) Other Environmental Review and Consultation Requirements: Other 
environmental review and consultation requirements include Executive 
Order 13175 Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal 
Governments, Executive Order 12898 Federal Actions to Address 
Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income 
Populations, 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, and 
Endangered Species Act Section 7 consultation.
    (7) Land and Resource Ownership: Kuukpik Corporation owns the 
surface estate of lands at the drill sites and lands traversed by the 
infield roads and infield pipelines, and portions of the access road 
and Nanushuk Pipeline. The State of Alaska, through the Alaska 
Department of Natural Resources (ADNR), manages the majority of surface 
lands traversed by the Nanushuk Pipeline and access road. The Project 
will access subsurface mineral resources that are shared by the State 
of Alaska and the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC).
    Estimated Date Draft EIS Available to Public: It is anticipated 
that the Draft EIS will be available in spring 2017 for public review.

    Dated: January 26, 2016.
Michael Salyer,
Chief, North Branch, Regulatory Division, Department of the Army, Corps 
of Engineers.
[FR Doc. 2016-01973 Filed 2-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3720-58-P

5994 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 23 / Thursday, February 4, 2016 / Notices

comments or statements to the Board, in the order in which their requests were East Channel of the Colville River, in
response to the stated agenda of the received by the DFO. the State of Alaska. Up to 76 production
open meeting or in regard to the Board’s and injection wells would be drilled
Brenda S. Bowen,
mission in general. Written comments from three drill sites (Drill Sites (DS) 1–
Army Federal Register Liaison Officer. 3). Construction would include the
or statements should be submitted to
[FR Doc. 2016–01974 Filed 2–3–16; 8:45 am] Nanushuk Pad, comprised of DS1 and a
Colonel Bryan S. Green, DFO, via
electronic mail, the preferred mode of BILLING CODE 3720–58–P central processing facility (CPF); two
submission, is the address listed in the additional drill sites (DS2 and DS3); and
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
an operations center pad. A tie-in pad
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE would be constructed adjacent to the
section. Each page of the comment or
existing Kuparuk CPF2 facility. The
statement must include the author’s Department of the Army, Corps of
operations center pad would include
name, title or affiliation, address, and Engineers infrastructure to support operations and
daytime phone number. The DFO will drilling, such as camps, office,
review all submitted written comments Intent To Prepare an Environmental
Impact Statement for the Nanushuk warehouse, maintenance building, cold
or statements and provide them to storage, potable water tanks, wastewater
members of the Board for their Project; Located 7.5 Miles Northeast of
Nuiqsut, Alaska and water treatment plant, temporary
consideration. Written comments or waste storage area, communication
statements being submitted in response AGENCY: Department of the Army, U.S. structures, diesel-fired back-up power
to the agenda set forth in this notice Army Corps of Engineers, DoD. generators, and a helicopter landing
must be received by the DFO at least ACTION: Notice of intent. pad. Tie-in pad infrastructure would
five business days prior to the meeting include a pig launcher and receiver, a
to be considered by the Board. The DFO SUMMARY: The Alaska District, U.S. metering skid, pipe rack, laydown area,
will review all timely submitted written Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and a communications tower. One time
comments or statements with the Board intends to prepare an Environmental screeding would be required at Oliktok
Chairperson and ensure the comments Impact Statement (EIS) to identify and Point Dock to support sealift module
analyze the potential impacts associated delivery.
are provided to all members of the
with the development of the Alpine C The Project would include 11.1 miles
Board before the meeting. Written
and Nanushuk reservoirs, including of gravel infield roads, comprised of a
comments or statements received after construction and operation of the 4.0-mile DS2 road and a 7.1 mile DS3
this date may not be provided to the proposed project. The Corps will be road, to provide all-season ground
Board until its next meeting. evaluating a permit application for work transport between the Nanushuk Pad
Verbal Comments: Pursuant to 41 CFR under Section 10 of the Rivers and and DS2 and DS3. And a 13.8-mile
102–3.140d, the Board is not obligated Harbors Act and section 404 of the gravel access road to provide all-season
to allow a member of the public to speak Clean Water Act. The EIS will be used ground transport between the Nanushuk
or otherwise address the Board during to support the permit decision in Pad and the existing road network at
the meeting. Members of the public will compliance with the National Kuparuk DS2M.
be permitted to make verbal comments Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The applicant would produce
during the Board meeting only at the ADDRESSES: Please send written multiphase product from the three drill
time and in the manner described comments to Ms. Janet Post, U.S. Army sites and transport it to the Nanushuk
below. If a member of the public is Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division Pad via multiphase pipelines for
interested in making a verbal comment CEPOA–RD, P.O. Box 6898, JBER, AK processing. Water separated from the oil
99506–0898; by email: janet.l.post@ would be transported back to the drill
at the open meeting, that individual
usace.army.mil, or by Web site sites via water injection pipelines to be
must submit a request, with a brief
www.NanushukEIS.com. reinjected back into the subsurface
statement of the subject matter to be
formation to help maintain pressure and
addressed by the comment, at least five FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
enhance oil production. Separated gas
business days in advance to the Board’s Questions about the proposed action
would be used for power generation at
DFO, via electronic mail, the preferred and the EIS can be answered by: Ms.
the CPF, and the remainder would be
mode of submission, at the address Janet Post, Regulatory Division, by
transported back to the drill sites via gas
listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION telephone: (907) 753–2831 or toll free
lift pipelines for gas lift. Excess gas, if
CONTACT section. The DFO will log each from within Alaska: (800) 478–2712, by
any, would be injected into a dedicated
request, in the order received, and in fax: (907) 753–5567, by email:
injection well at DS2. Sales-quality oil
consultation with the Board Chair, janet.l.post@usace.army.mil, or by mail:
processed at the Nanushuk Pad would
determine whether the subject matter of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
be transported to the tie-in pad at the
each comment is relevant to the Board’s Regulatory Division CEPOA–RD, P.O.
Kuparuk CPF2 via the Nanushuk
mission and/or the topics to be Box 6898, JBER, AK 99506–0898. To be
Pipeline.
added to the project mailing list and for Reasonable Alternatives: A reasonable
addressed in this public meeting. A 30-
additional information, please visit the range of alternatives will be identified
minute period near the end of the
following Web site: and evaluated through scoping and the
meeting will be available for verbal www.NanushukEIS.com.
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

public comments. Members of the alternatives development process.
public who have requested to make a SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scoping: The scoping period is
verbal comment, and whose comments Proposed Action: The permit anticipated to begin in February and
applicant, Repsol E&P USA, Inc. end in March 2016.
have been deemed relevant under the
(Repsol), is proposing to develop the (1) Public involvement: The Corps
process described above, will be allotted
Alpine C and Nanushuk reservoirs, invites full public participation to
no more than five minutes during this located approximately 52 miles west of promote open communication on the
period, and will be invited to speak in Deadhorse, 7.5 miles northeast of issues to be addressed in preparation of
Nuiqsut, and 1 mile southeast of the the EIS regarding the proposed action.

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Document Created: 2016-02-04 00:31:41
Document Modified: 2016-02-04 00:31:41

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 intent.
Contact		Questions about the proposed action and the EIS can be answered by: Ms. Janet Post, Regulatory Division, by telephone: (907) 753-2831 or toll free from within Alaska: (800) 478- 2712, by fax: (907) 753-5567, by email: [email protected], or by mail: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Division CEPOA-RD, P.O. Box 6898, JBER, AK 99506-0898. To be added to the project mailing list and for additional information, please visit the following Web site: www.NanushukEIS.com.
FR Citation		81 FR 5994

81 FR 5994 - Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Nanushuk Project; Located 7.5 Miles Northeast of Nuiqsut, Alaska

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSEDepartment of the Army, Corps of Engineers

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 23 (February 4, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Department of the Army, Corps of Engineers