82 FR 46280 - Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison County, CO

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 191 (October 4, 2017)

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared a Record of Decision (ROD) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan (MDP) and by this notice is announcing its availability.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 191 (Wednesday, October 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46280-46281]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20948]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLCOS05000 L13100000.DB0000-16X]


Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for the Bull 
Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, Gunnison County, CO

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA), as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act 
of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) prepared a 
Record of Decision (ROD) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development 
Plan (MDP) and by this notice is announcing its availability.

DATES: Requests for BLM Colorado State Director review of the Decision 
must be filed within 20 business days from the date of receipt of the 
Decision.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the Bull Mountain Unit MDP ROD are available for 
public inspection at the BLM Uncompahgre Field Office, 2465 South 
Townsend Ave., Montrose, CO 81401. Interested persons may also review 
the ROD and the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the 
project Web site at https://eplanning.blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplanning/legacyProjectSite.do?methodName=renderLegacyProjectSite&projectId=66641.

    Mail requests for BLM Colorado State Director review of the 
Decision to the BLM Colorado State Director, BLM Colorado State Office, 
2850 Youngfield Street, Lakewood, CO 80215.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gina Phillips, Southwest District NEPA 
Coordinator; telephone (970) 240-5300; email [email protected]. Persons 
who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the 
Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the above 
individual during normal business hours. The FRS is available 24 hours 
a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above 
individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM Uncompahgre Field Office received a 
proposed MDP for natural gas exploration and development from SG 
Interests I, Ltd. (SGI) for the Bull Mountain Unit. An MDP provides 
information common to multiple planned wells, including drilling plans, 
Surface Use Plans of Operations, and plans for future production.
    The Bull Mountain Unit MDP ROD identifies the Preferred Alternative 
(Alternative D from the Final EIS), with minor modifications, as the 
BLM's Selected Alternative. Approval of the Preferred Alternative as 
described in the Final EIS (2016) meets the BLM's purpose and need, 
provides for natural gas exploration and development, and approves the 
Federal 12-89-7-1 Application for Permit to Drill (APD). The Selected 
Alternative approves a plan for the exploration and development of up 
to 146 natural gas wells, four water disposal wells, and associated 
infrastructure on Federal and private mineral leases within a 
Federally-unitized area known as the Bull Mountain Unit. SGI requested 
and obtained the BLM's approval of the unit after exploration wells 
demonstrated the potential for economically viable reserves of natural 
gas.
    The Bull Mountain Unit is located within the Colorado River basin, 
approximately 30 miles northeast of the Town of Paonia, and is bisected 
by State Highway 133. The boundaries of the unit encompass 
approximately 19,670 acres of Federal and private oil and gas mineral 
estate in Gunnison County, Colorado. The unit consists of 440 acres of 
BLM Federal surface lands and subsurface mineral estate; 12,900 acres 
of split-estate lands consisting of private surface and Federal mineral 
estate administered by the BLM; and 6,330 acres of fee land consisting 
of private surface and private mineral estate. Work on the MDP began 
with a preliminary Environmental Assessment in 2008. In 2012, the BLM 
determined that an EIS was necessary due to potential significant 
impacts to air quality in nearby Class 1 air sheds, water, 
socioeconomics, and wildlife. The BLM released the Draft EIS on January 
16, 2015, for a 90-day public comment period (80 FR 2438). The BLM 
received 565 unique comment letters and 83 form letters. Based on these 
public comments, internal reviews, and cooperating agency input, the 
BLM revised the Draft EIS and published the Final EIS on July 8, 2016 
(81 FR 44652).
    The BLM also consulted with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
(FWS), which concurred with the BLM's finding that the project ``may 
affect, but is not likely to adversely affect'' the green lineage 
Colorado River cutthroat trout and Canada Lynx and designated habitat 
for both species, and that it ``may affect, is likely to adversely 
affect'' four endangered Colorado River fish, but that anticipated 
water depletions from the Colorado River basin are within the amounts 
addressed in the FWS's 2008 programmatic biological opinion. Finally, 
the BLM consulted with the Colorado State Historic Preservation Office, 
which raised no concerns as to the project's potential to affect 
historic properties.
    Based on public comments, internal BLM comments, and updated 
information provided by SGI, the BLM selected the BLM's Preferred 
Alternative (Alternative D), as modified, for approval in the ROD. The 
decision includes a suite of design features, mitigation measures and 
best management practices that specifically address impacts to air 
resources and air quality related values, water resources, and 
wildlife.
    The BLM's decision, which is based on Alternative D in the Final 
EIS, is the environmentally preferred action because it best meets the 
following criteria:
     Satisfies statutory requirements (true for all 
alternatives).
     Represents what the BLM considers to be the best 
combination of actions and best meets the purpose and need as described 
in Chapter 1 of the Final EIS.
     Provides the best approach to address key resource and 
planning issues.

[[Page 46281]]

     Provides resource protection and a viable strategy for 
development of the mineral resource.
     Responds to public comments.
     Includes input from cooperating agencies, stakeholders, 
the public, and BLM specialists.
    An adversely affected party may seek administrative review of the 
Decision by the Colorado State Director, as provided in 43 CFR 3165.3. 
A request for State Director review must be filed in the BLM Colorado 
State Office within 20 business days from the date of receipt of the 
Decision.

    Authority:  40 CFR 1506.6, 40 CFR 1506.10.

Gregory P. Shoop,
Acting BLM Colorado State Director.
[FR Doc. 2017-20948 Filed 10-3-17; 8:45 am]
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