83 FR 29135 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) Natural Gas Development Project

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 121 (June 22, 2018)

Page Range		29135-29136
FR Document		2018-13273

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the NPL Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the NPL project in the BLM Pinedale and Rock Springs Field Offices.

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 121 (Friday, June 22, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 121 (Friday, June 22, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 29135-29136]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-13273]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[LLWYD0100000 L13140000.NB0000 18X]


Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact 
Statement for the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) Natural Gas 
Development Project

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 
1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has prepared the 
NPL Final Environmental Impact Statement (Final EIS) for the NPL 
project in the BLM Pinedale and Rock Springs Field Offices.

DATES: The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a 
minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection 
Agency publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal 
Register.

ADDRESSES: The NPL Final EIS is available for public review at the BLM 
Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine Street, Pinedale, Wyoming; the 
BLM High Desert District Office, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, 
Wyoming; and the BLM Wyoming State Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, 
Cheyenne, Wyoming. The document may also be reviewed online at http://tinyurl.com/hloulms.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kellie Roadifer, NPL EIS Project 
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, PO Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941, 
(307) 367-5309, [email protected]. Persons who use 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 NPL project is located immediately south 
and west of the existing Jonah Gas Field in Sublette County, Wyoming. 
The project area lies within the BLM Wyoming High Desert District (HDD) 
and spans the Pinedale Field Office (PFO) in the north and Rock Springs 
Field Office (RSFO) to the south.
    The project encompasses approximately 141,000 acres of public, 
State, and private lands. Approximately 96% of the project area is on 
BLM-administered public lands. Within the NPL project area, there are 
both unitized and non-unitized development areas.
    Jonah Energy LLC, the current operator after purchasing Encana Oil 
and Gas Inc.'s leasehold interest in the project, is proposing up to 
3,500 directionally drilled wells (depth range from 6,500 to 13,500 
feet) over a 10-year period. Under Jonah Energy's proposal, most wells 
would be co-located on multi-well pads, with no more than four well 
pads per 640 acres in areas outside of Greater Sage-grouse Priority 
Habitat Management Areas (PHMA). There would be only one disturbance 
per 640 acres inside PHMA. On average, each well pad would be 18 acres 
in size. Regional gathering facilities would be utilized instead of 
placing compressors at each well pad. Associated access roads, 
pipelines, and other ancillary facilities would be co-located where 
possible to further minimize surface disturbance.
    There are approximately 48,036 acres of PHMA, 27,292 acres of 
Greater Sage-grouse Winter Concentration Area (WCA), and 1,259 acres of 
Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) within the NPL project area. All of the 
SFA is within the Rock Springs Field Office.
    Cooperating agencies for this EIS include the State of Wyoming, 
with active participation from many state agencies including the 
Wyoming Game and Fish Department, State Historic Preservation Office, 
the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality and the Wyoming 
Department of Agriculture. Local cooperating agencies include 
Sweetwater, Lincoln and Sublette Counties, and the Sublette County 
Conservation District.
    The Notice of Intent to prepare the EIS was published on April 12, 
2011 (70 FR 20370), initiating a 30-day formal public scoping period. 
Public scoping meetings were held in Pinedale, Rock Springs, and 
Marbleton, WY. Public scoping comments were used to identify issues 
that informed the formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of 
analysis for the NPL EIS.
    A total of 1,238 scoping comments were received, with 29 resource 
issues identified. Key issues identified during scoping informed the 
formulation of alternatives and framed the scope of analysis for the 
NPL Final EIS. The issues include:
    [ssquf] Air Quality: Potential project and cumulative impacts on 
air quality, including air quality-related values.
    [ssquf] Regulatory Setting: Permits, authorization, conformance 
with other plans, laws, policies and guidance.

[[Page 29136]]

    [ssquf] Social and Economic impacts: Jobs, housing, Federal mineral 
royalties, and quality of life.
    [ssquf] Mitigation (including Compensatory Mitigation): When and 
how it applies to individual resource protection measures.
    [ssquf] Reclamation and Monitoring: The effect of currently used 
practices including seed mixes, revegetation, use of reference sites 
including ecological site descriptions.
    [ssquf] Wildlife Habitat, particularly Greater sage-grouse and 
pronghorn antelope: The project's potential to further fragment 
wildlife habitats and diminish the value of those habitats for many 
species.
    In response to the scoping comments received, the BLM developed 
three alternatives to the Proposed Action: The No Action Alternative, 
utilizing existing standard stipulations and examining the project area 
under the historical rate of development of around three wells per 
year; Alternative A, utilizing a phased approach moving through 
existing leased oil and gas units and responding to identified wildlife 
issues; and Alternative B, which addressed a broad range of resource 
concerns in response to issues identified during scoping.
    Alternatives A and B each analyzed the same rate of development as 
the Proposed Action, as well as the use of regional gathering 
facilities. However, in addition to varying resource protection 
measures, each alternative analyzed differing densities of development 
between one to four well pads per 640 acres, depending on the resource 
considerations of the project area. Additionally, Alternative A 
analyzed the merits of developing the project area in three 
geographically defined phases, occurring sequentially, and taking into 
consideration existing oil and gas units.
    Interim and final reclamation activities would be implemented under 
all alternatives to return the landscape to its previous condition in 
conformance with the NPL Reclamation Plan and the relevant Resource 
Management Plans (RMP).
    All alternatives conform to the Pinedale Field Office Resource 
Management Plan Record of Decision (2008) and the Rock Springs Field 
Office Green River Resource Management Plan Record of Decision (1997), 
as amended by the Record of Decision and Approved Resource Management 
Plan Amendments for the Rocky Mountain Region, Including the Greater 
Sage-Grouse Sub-Region of Wyoming (2015).
    The Draft EIS Notice of Availability was published on July 7, 2017 
(129 FR 31628), opening a 45-day public comment period. Public meetings 
were held on July 25, 2017 in Pinedale, and July 26, 2017 in Rock 
Springs. Over 1,000 individual comment letters were received. Comments 
included identified issues associated with each alternative, including 
feasibility and sufficiency of the analysis and impacts to specific 
resources as a result of each alternative. Comments were considered and 
incorporated as appropriate into the Final EIS; however, the analysis 
of the alternatives and the identified impacts did not significantly 
change.
    The Final EIS is consistent with the BLM's obligations under the 
Federal Land Policy and Management Act.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1506.6 and 40 CFR 1506.10.

Mary Jo Rugwell,
BLM Wyoming State Director.
[FR Doc. 2018-13273 Filed 6-21-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-22-P

Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 121 / Friday, June 22, 2018 / Notices 29135

agencies, along with tribes and other DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR administered public lands. Within the
stakeholders that may be interested in or NPL project area, there are both unitized
affected by the proposed action that the Bureau of Land Management and non-unitized development areas.
BLM is evaluating, are invited to [LLWYD0100000 L13140000.NB0000 18X] Jonah Energy LLC, the current
participate in the scoping process and, operator after purchasing Encana Oil
if eligible, may request or be requested Notice of Availability of the Final and Gas Inc.’s leasehold interest in the
by the BLM to participate in the Environmental Impact Statement for project, is proposing up to 3,500
development of the environmental the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) directionally drilled wells (depth range
analysis as a cooperating agency. Natural Gas Development Project from 6,500 to 13,500 feet) over a 10-year
Before including your address, phone period. Under Jonah Energy’s proposal,
AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
number, email address, or other most wells would be co-located on
Interior.
personal identifying information in your multi-well pads, with no more than four
ACTION: Notice of availability. well pads per 640 acres in areas outside
comment, you should be aware that
your entire comment—including your SUMMARY: In accordance with the of Greater Sage-grouse Priority Habitat
personally identifying information— National Environmental Policy Act of Management Areas (PHMA). There
may be made publicly available at any 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land would be only one disturbance per 640
time. While you can ask the BLM in Policy and Management Act of 1976, as acres inside PHMA. On average, each
your comment to withhold your amended, the Bureau of Land well pad would be 18 acres in size.
personally-identifying information from Management (BLM) has prepared the Regional gathering facilities would be
public review, we cannot guarantee that NPL Final Environmental Impact utilized instead of placing compressors
we will be able to do so. Statement (Final EIS) for the NPL at each well pad. Associated access
project in the BLM Pinedale and Rock roads, pipelines, and other ancillary
The minutes and list of attendees for
Springs Field Offices. facilities would be co-located where
each scoping meeting will be available
possible to further minimize surface
to the public and open for 30 days after DATES: The BLM will not issue a final
disturbance.
the meeting to any participant who decision on the proposal for a minimum
wishes to clarify the views he or she of 30 days after the date that the There are approximately 48,036 acres
expressed. The BLM will evaluate all Environmental Protection Agency of PHMA, 27,292 acres of Greater Sage-
identified issues, and will place them publishes its Notice of Availability grouse Winter Concentration Area
into one of three categories: (NOA) in the Federal Register. (WCA), and 1,259 acres of Sagebrush
Focal Areas (SFAs) within the NPL
1. Issues to be resolved in the RMP ADDRESSES: The NPL Final EIS is
project area. All of the SFA is within the
amendment; available for public review at the BLM
Rock Springs Field Office.
2. Issues to be resolved through policy Pinedale Field Office, 1625 West Pine
Street, Pinedale, Wyoming; the BLM Cooperating agencies for this EIS
or administrative action; or include the State of Wyoming, with
High Desert District Office, 280
3. Issues beyond the scope of this Highway 191 North, Rock Springs, active participation from many state
RMP amendment. Wyoming; and the BLM Wyoming State agencies including the Wyoming Game
An explanation will be provided in Office, 5353 Yellowstone Road, and Fish Department, State Historic
FERC’s Draft EIS as to why an issue was Cheyenne, Wyoming. The document Preservation Office, the Wyoming
placed in category two or three. The may also be reviewed online at http:// Department of Environmental Quality
public is also encouraged to help tinyurl.com/hloulms. and the Wyoming Department of
identify any issues that should be Agriculture. Local cooperating agencies
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
addressed in the RMP. The BLM will include Sweetwater, Lincoln and
Kellie Roadifer, NPL EIS Project
work collaboratively with interested Sublette Counties, and the Sublette
Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, PO
parties to identify the management County Conservation District.
Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941, (307)
decisions that are best suited to local, 367–5309, kroadife@blm.gov. Persons The Notice of Intent to prepare the
regional, and national needs and who use telecommunications device for EIS was published on April 12, 2011 (70
concerns. the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal FR 20370), initiating a 30-day formal
Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 public scoping period. Public scoping
The BLM will use an interdisciplinary
to contact the above individual during meetings were held in Pinedale, Rock
approach to develop the RMP
normal business hours. The FRS is Springs, and Marbleton, WY. Public
amendment in order to consider the
available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week scoping comments were used to identify
variety of resource issues and concerns
to leave a message or question with the issues that informed the formulation of
identified, as well as to develop
above individual. You will receive a alternatives and framed the scope of
alternatives to the proposed RMP
reply during normal business hours. analysis for the NPL EIS.
amendment. Specialists with expertise
in the following disciplines will be SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The NPL
A total of 1,238 scoping comments
involved in the planning process: project is located immediately south were received, with 29 resource issues
Archaeology and cultural resources, and west of the existing Jonah Gas Field identified. Key issues identified during
tribal issues, wildlife, visual resources, in Sublette County, Wyoming. The scoping informed the formulation of
lands, realty, and special area project area lies within the BLM alternatives and framed the scope of
designations. Wyoming High Desert District (HDD) analysis for the NPL Final EIS. The
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

and spans the Pinedale Field Office issues include:
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 43 CFR
1610.2. (PFO) in the north and Rock Springs D Air Quality: Potential project and
Field Office (RSFO) to the south. cumulative impacts on air quality,
Lorraine M. Christian, The project encompasses including air quality-related values.
Arizona Strip Field Manager. approximately 141,000 acres of public, D Regulatory Setting: Permits,
[FR Doc. 2018–13432 Filed 6–21–18; 8:45 am] State, and private lands. Approximately authorization, conformance with other
BILLING CODE 4310–32–P 96% of the project area is on BLM- plans, laws, policies and guidance.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:16 Jun 21, 2018 Jkt 244001 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\22JNN1.SGM 22JNN1

Document Created: 2018-11-06 09:50:31
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 09:50:31

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		The BLM will not issue a final decision on the proposal for a minimum of 30 days after the date that the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability (NOA) in the Federal Register.
Contact		Kellie Roadifer, NPL EIS Project Manager, BLM Pinedale Field Office, PO Box 768, Pinedale, WY 82941, (307) 367-5309, [email protected] Persons who use 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.
FR Citation		83 FR 29135

83 FR 29135 - Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) Natural Gas Development Project

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Land Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 121 (June 22, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management