83 FR 38725 - Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Willow Master Development Plan Oil and Gas Prospect, Alaska
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 152 (August 7, 2018)
Bureau of Land Management
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 152 (August 7, 2018)
| Page Range | 38725-38726 | |
| FR Document | 2018-16783 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 38725-38726] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-16783] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [18X.LLAK930100.L51010000.000000.LVRWL18L1090] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Willow Master Development Plan Oil and Gas Prospect, Alaska AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior ACTION: Notice of Intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office, Anchorage, Alaska, intends to prepare a Master Development Plan Environmental Impact Statement (MDP/EIS) for the Willow oil and gas prospect within the Bear Tooth Unit of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska (NPR-A). DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the Willow oil and gas prospect MDP/EIS. Comments on issues, impacts, and potential alternatives to be analyzed may be submitted in writing until September 6, 2018. The BLM will hold public scoping meetings in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Nuiqsut, and Utqiagvik. The dates, times, and locations of scoping meetings will be announced through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM Alaska website. Any Federal, state, local [[Page 38726]] agency, or Tribe that is interested in serving as a cooperating agency for the development of the MDP/EIS is asked to submit such requests to the BLM by September 6, 2018. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on issues related to the scope of the proposed Willow MDP/EIS by any of the following methods:Email: [email protected]. Mail: Willow MDP/EIS Scoping Comments, Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue, Stop #13, Anchorage, AK 99513. Requests for information regarding the Willow MDP/EIS and cooperating agency requests may be mailed to: Attn: Willow MDP/EIS, 222 West 7th Avenue, Stop #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99517. You may also request to be added to the mailing list for the MDP/EIS. Documents and other information pertaining to the MDP/EIS are available on the BLM Alaska website at http://www.blm.gov/alaska. You may examine documents pertinent to this proposal at the BLM Alaska Public Room, Arctic District Office, 222 University Avenue, Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, and at the BLM Alaska Public Information Center, Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Ave., Anchorage, Alaska 99513. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ferris Couture, BLM Alaska State Office, 907-271-1306. People 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, seven days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. (ConocoPhillips) initiated discussions with the BLM regarding potential development of its recently announced Willow oil and gas prospect, which is located on Federal oil and gas leases ConocoPhillips holds within the Bear Tooth Unit of the NPR-A approximately 30 air miles west of the Native Village of Nuiqsut. The BLM manages approximately 23 million acres comprising the NPR-A, located on Alaska's North Slope. On May 10, 2018, ConocoPhillips submitted a letter requesting the development of the Willow prospect through a MDP/EIS. The letter, available on the BLM Alaska website, includes a description of the foreseeable infrastructure and activity associated with the proposed Willow prospect development and a map of the proposed area of development. Analyzing the entire proposed Willow development in a single MDP/EIS will allow the BLM to make determinations of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) adequacy when individual applications for permits to drill are submitted. This is expected to result in a quicker and more efficient process for the approval of applications for permits to drill. The MDP/EIS will analyze the environmental impacts and appropriate mitigation measures to reduce adverse effects to surface resources of the proposed Willow prospect which would involve the construction, operation, and maintenance of an oil and gas development project which may include: One central processing facility, an infrastructure pad, up to five drill pads with up to fifty wells on each pad, access and infield roads, an airstrip, pipelines, a gravel mine, and a temporary island to support module delivery via sealift barges. The MDP/EIS will be prepared in accordance with recently issued Executive Orders and Secretarial guidance on streamlining and improving the NEPA and other regulatory processes. At present, the BLM has identified the following preliminary issues for evaluation in the MDP/ EIS, impacts to: Subsistence use and access; biological resources, including caribou, polar bears, spectacled and Stellar eiders, yellow billed loons, and fisheries; social and cultural resources; air quality and climate; and aquatic resources. The BLM will use NEPA public participation guidelines to assist the agency in satisfying the public involvement requirements under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). The information about historic and cultural resources within the area potentially affected by the Willow development project will assist the BLM in identifying and evaluating impacts to cultural resources in the context of both NEPA and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personally identifiable information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment--including your personally identifiable information--may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask the BLM in your comment to withhold your personally identifiable information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. The BLM will consult with federally recognized Tribes on a government-to-government basis in accordance with Executive Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal concerns will be given appropriate consideration. Federal, state, local agencies, and Tribes that may be interested in or substantially affected by the proposal that the BLM is evaluating are invited to request participation in the development of the MDP/EIS as cooperating agencies. Appropriate cooperating agencies are those with jurisdiction by law and/or those that can offer special expertise in the development of the MDP/EIS. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. Karen E. Mouritsen, Acting State Director, Alaska. [FR Doc. 2018-16783 Filed 8-6-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2018 / Notices 38725
and Outlet in Alaska’’ (Draft Summary high water lines of Becharof Lake identifiable information in your
Report). To file comments by mail, send upstream from its outlet within section comment, you should be aware that
to: RDI Program Manager (AK–942), 5, township 25 south, range 46 west, your entire comment—including your
Division of Lands and Cadastral, BLM Seward Meridian, Alaska; Egegik River: personally identifiable information—
Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th All submerged lands and bed of the may be made publicly available at any
Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513. Egegik River lying between the ordinary time. While you can ask the BLM in
To submit comments by email, send to high water lines of the left and right your comment to withhold your
anichols@blm.gov. banks of the Egegik River, beginning at personally identifiable information from
Copies of the State’s application, the outlet of Becharof Lake, downstream public review, we cannot guarantee that
supporting evidence, the Draft Summary to the limit of tidal influence; Unnamed we will be able to do so.
Report, and comments, including names outlet Ruth Lake: All submerged lands If the BLM determines the State’s
and street addresses of commenters, will up to and including the ordinary high evidence and any additional
be available for public review at the water lines of Unnamed outlet of Ruth information the agency receives
BLM Alaska Public Information Center Lake upstream from its outlet at concerning the State’s application is
(Public Room), 222 West 8th Avenue, Becharof Lake within section 5, sufficient to reach a favorable
Anchorage, Alaska, during regular township 30 south, range 42 west, determination, and neither the records
business hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday Seward Meridian, Alaska, upstream to nor a valid objection discloses a reason
through Friday, except holidays. Ruth Lake; and Ruth Lake: All not to disclaim, the BLM may decide to
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: submerged lands and bed up to and approve the application for the RDI.
Angie Nichols, RDI Program Manager, including the ordinary high water lines Authority: 43 CFR 1864.2.
222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, of Ruth Lake upstream from its outlet
Alaska 99513; 907–271–3359; anichols@ within section 9, township 30 south, Erika L. Reed,
blm.gov; or visit the BLM RDI website range 42 west, Seward Meridian, Deputy State Director, Division of Lands and
at https://www.blm.gov/programs/lands- Alaska. Cadastral, Alaska.
and-realty/regional-information/alaska/ The State listed the coverage area on [FR Doc. 2018–16858 Filed 8–6–18; 8:45 am]
RDI/bristol-bay. the USGS 1:63,360 series topographic BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
People who use a telecommunications maps as follows: Naknek A–1 through
device for the deaf (TDD) may call the A–3, Karluk C–6, D–6 and Ugashik C–
Federal Relay System (FRS) at 1–800– 1 and D–1, D–2, D–3. Over time, the DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
877–8339 to contact the above precise location of the submerged lands
described above may vary between Bureau of Land Management
individual during normal business
townships due to the ambulatory nature
hours. The FRS is available 24 hours a [18X.LLAK930100.L51010000.000000
of these water bodies. .LVRWL18L1090]
day, 7 days a week, to leave a message An RDI is a legal document through
or a question with the above individual. which the BLM disclaims the United
You will receive a reply during normal Notice of Intent To Prepare an
States’ interest in, or ownership of, Environmental Impact Statement for
business hours. specified lands, but the disclaimer does the Willow Master Development Plan
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On Sept. not grant, convey, transfer, or renounce Oil and Gas Prospect, Alaska
7, 2016, the State filed an application any title or interest in the lands, nor
(AA–94269) for an RDI pursuant to does it release any tax, judgment, or AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,
Section 315 of the Federal Land Policy lien. This Notice of Application is to Interior
and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA) inform the public of the pending ACTION: Notice of Intent.
and the regulations contained in 43 CFR application and the State’s supporting
subpart 1864 for the lands underlying evidence, as well as to provide the SUMMARY: In accordance with the
the Egegik River, Becharof Lake, and opportunity to comment or provide National Environmental Policy Act
Ruth Lake and Outlet. The State asserts additional information to the BLM. (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the
that these waterbodies were navigable at The BLM will not make a final Naval Petroleum Reserves Production
the time of Alaska Statehood. As such, decision on the merits of the State’s Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of
the State contends that ownership of the application before November 5, 2018. Land Management (BLM) Alaska State
lands underlying this river system During this 90-day period, interested Office, Anchorage, Alaska, intends to
automatically passed from the United parties may comment on the State’s prepare a Master Development Plan
States to the State in 1959 at the time application, AA–94269, and supporting Environmental Impact Statement (MDP/
of Statehood under the Equal Footing evidence. Interested parties may also EIS) for the Willow oil and gas prospect
Doctrine; the Submerged Lands Act of comment on the BLM’s Draft Summary within the Bear Tooth Unit of the
1953; the Alaska Statehood Act; and Report, which is available on the BLM’s National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska
other title navigability law. Section 315 RDI website (see FOR FURTHER (NPR–A).
of FLPMA authorizes the BLM to issue INFORMATION CONTACT above). DATES: This Notice initiates the public
an RDI when it determines that a record Copies of the State’s application, scoping process for the Willow oil and
interest of the United States in lands has supporting evidence, the Draft Summary gas prospect MDP/EIS. Comments on
terminated by law or is otherwise Report, and comments, including names issues, impacts, and potential
invalid, and a disclaimer will help and street addresses of commenters, will alternatives to be analyzed may be
remove a cloud on title to such lands. be available for public review at the submitted in writing until September 6,
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
The State’s application is for an RDI BLM Alaska Public Information Center 2018. The BLM will hold public scoping
for all submerged lands underlying the (Public Room), 222 West 8th Avenue, meetings in Anchorage, Fairbanks,
portions described below of the Egegik Anchorage, Alaska, during regular Nuiqsut, and Utqiagvik. The dates,
River, Becharof Lake, and Ruth Lake business hours 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday times, and locations of scoping meetings
and Outlet. Specifically, these are through Friday, except holidays. Before will be announced through local news
Becharof Lake: All submerged lands and including your address, phone number, media, newspapers, and the BLM
bed up to and including the ordinary email address, or other personally Alaska website. Any Federal, state, local
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![38726 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 152 / Tuesday, August 7, 2018 / Notices
agency, or Tribe that is interested in with the proposed Willow prospect The BLM will consult with federally
serving as a cooperating agency for the development and a map of the proposed recognized Tribes on a government-to-
development of the MDP/EIS is asked to area of development. Analyzing the government basis in accordance with
submit such requests to the BLM by entire proposed Willow development in Executive Order 13175 and other
September 6, 2018. a single MDP/EIS will allow the BLM to policies. Tribal concerns will be given
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments make determinations of National appropriate consideration.
on issues related to the scope of the Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Federal, state, local agencies, and
proposed Willow MDP/EIS by any of the adequacy when individual applications Tribes that may be interested in or
following methods: for permits to drill are submitted. This substantially affected by the proposal
• Email: BLM_AK_Willow_ is expected to result in a quicker and that the BLM is evaluating are invited to
Comments@blm.gov. more efficient process for the approval request participation in the
• Mail: Willow MDP/EIS Scoping of applications for permits to drill. development of the MDP/EIS as
Comments, Bureau of Land The MDP/EIS will analyze the cooperating agencies. Appropriate
Management, 222 West 7th Avenue, environmental impacts and appropriate cooperating agencies are those with
Stop #13, Anchorage, AK 99513. mitigation measures to reduce adverse jurisdiction by law and/or those that can
Requests for information regarding the effects to surface resources of the offer special expertise in the
Willow MDP/EIS and cooperating proposed Willow prospect which would development of the MDP/EIS.
agency requests may be mailed to: Attn: involve the construction, operation, and
Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.
Willow MDP/EIS, 222 West 7th Avenue, maintenance of an oil and gas
Stop #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99517. development project which may Karen E. Mouritsen,
You may also request to be added to the include: One central processing facility, Acting State Director, Alaska.
mailing list for the MDP/EIS. an infrastructure pad, up to five drill [FR Doc. 2018–16783 Filed 8–6–18; 8:45 am]
Documents and other information pads with up to fifty wells on each pad, BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P
pertaining to the MDP/EIS are available access and infield roads, an airstrip,
on the BLM Alaska website at http:// pipelines, a gravel mine, and a
www.blm.gov/alaska. temporary island to support module
MISSISSIPPI RIVER COMMISSION
You may examine documents delivery via sealift barges.
pertinent to this proposal at the BLM The MDP/EIS will be prepared in Sunshine Act Meetings
Alaska Public Room, Arctic District accordance with recently issued
Office, 222 University Avenue, Executive Orders and Secretarial TIME AND DATE: 9:00 a.m., August 20,
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709, and at the guidance on streamlining and 2018.
BLM Alaska Public Information Center, improving the NEPA and other
PLACE: On board MISSISSIPPI V at City
Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Ave., regulatory processes. At present, the
Front, Caruthersville, Missouri.
Anchorage, Alaska 99513. BLM has identified the following
preliminary issues for evaluation in the STATUS: Open to the public.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: (1)
MDP/EIS, impacts to: Subsistence use
Ferris Couture, BLM Alaska State Office, and access; biological resources, Summary report by President of the
907–271–1306. People who use a including caribou, polar bears, Commission on national and regional
telecommunications device for the deaf spectacled and Stellar eiders, yellow issues affecting the U.S. Army Corps of
(TDD) may call the Federal Relay billed loons, and fisheries; social and Engineers and Commission programs
Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to cultural resources; air quality and and projects on the Mississippi River
contact the above individual during climate; and aquatic resources. and its tributaries; (2) District
normal business hours. The FRS is The BLM will use NEPA public Commander’s overview of current
available 24 hours a day, seven days a participation guidelines to assist the project issues within the St. Louis and
week, to leave a message or question agency in satisfying the public Memphis Districts; and (3) Presentations
with the above individual. You will involvement requirements under by local organizations and members of
receive a reply during normal business Section 106 of the National Historic the public giving views or comments on
hours. Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 306108), any issue affecting the programs or
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: pursuant to 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). projects of the Commission and the
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc. The information about historic and Corps of Engineers.
(ConocoPhillips) initiated discussions cultural resources within the area TIME AND DATE: 9:00 a.m., August 21,
with the BLM regarding potential potentially affected by the Willow 2018.
development of its recently announced development project will assist the BLM
PLACE: On board MISSISSIPPI V at
Willow oil and gas prospect, which is in identifying and evaluating impacts to
located on Federal oil and gas leases Beale Street Landing, Memphis,
cultural resources in the context of both
ConocoPhillips holds within the Bear Tennessee.
NEPA and Section 106 of the National
Tooth Unit of the NPR–A approximately Historic Preservation Act. STATUS: Open to the public.
30 air miles west of the Native Village Before including your address, phone MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: (1)
of Nuiqsut. The BLM manages number, email address, or other Summary report by President of the
approximately 23 million acres personally identifiable information in Commission on national and regional
comprising the NPR–A, located on your comment, you should be aware issues affecting the U.S. Army Corps of
Alaska’s North Slope. that your entire comment—including Engineers and Commission programs
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
On May 10, 2018, ConocoPhillips your personally identifiable and projects on the Mississippi River
submitted a letter requesting the information—may be made publicly and its tributaries; (2) District
development of the Willow prospect available at any time. While you can ask Commander’s overview of current
through a MDP/EIS. The letter, available the BLM in your comment to withhold project issues within the Memphis
on the BLM Alaska website, includes a your personally identifiable information District; and (3) Presentations by local
description of the foreseeable from public review, we cannot organizations and members of the
infrastructure and activity associated guarantee that we will be able to do so. public giving views or comments on any
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Document Created: 2018-11-06 10:38:59
Document Modified: 2018-11-06 10:38:59
| 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. | |
| Dates | This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the Willow oil and gas prospect MDP/EIS. Comments on issues, impacts, and potential alternatives to be analyzed may be submitted in writing until September 6, 2018. The BLM will hold public scoping meetings in Anchorage, Fairbanks, Nuiqsut, and Utqiagvik. The dates, times, and locations of scoping meetings will be announced through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM Alaska website. Any Federal, state, local agency, or Tribe that is interested in serving as a cooperating agency for the development of the MDP/EIS is asked to submit such requests to the BLM by September 6, 2018. | |
| Contact | Ferris Couture, BLM Alaska State Office, 907-271-1306. People 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, seven 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 38725 |
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