Pinedale Anticline Natural Gas Exploration and Development Project, Sublette County, Wyoming

The DEIS analyzes a proposal by the PAPA Operators to drill new exploration and development wells in their leased acreage within the 197,345 acre PAPA. The PAPA is located within Townships 29 through 33 North, Ranges 107 through 110 West, 6th Principal Meridian. The area is accessed by U.S. Highway 191 and Wyoming Highway 351. Access to the interior of the PAPA is provided by an existing county and BLM road network developed to service homes and ranches located along the Green and New Fork Rivers, livestock operations, recreation use, and past and current drilling and production activities. Collectively, the Pinedale Anticline Operators' proposal would provide for the continued exploration for natural gas and, where discoveries occur, the development of the gas resource by drilling up to 900 new wells to achieve 700 producing locations over the next 10 to 15 years. Drilling estimates were based on the operators', BLM's, and State of Wyoming's reasonable expectations that the ``tight-gas''

formation in this area could be developed at a spacing of one well every 40 acres or 16 wells per square mile. The DEIS analysis addresses three critical criteria bearing on how and to what extent development in the PAPA could proceed. The criteria include: three exploration/ development scenarios which define over what portion of the PAPA (none, all, or just a portion) development could occur; two levels of development which define the number of well pads which could be developed in the next 10 to 15 years; and two mitigation alternatives which define options for reducing impacts to the environment from future development activities. Mitigation alternatives are evaluated based on their application on just Federal lands and minerals, as well as on all lands and minerals in the PAPA (Federal, State and private). The PAPA surface ownership is approximately 80 percent Federal, 15 percent private, and 5 percent State. A small infrastructure of roads and pipelines for natural gas production are already in place within the PAPA. Additional roads and pipelines would be necessary to link the new wells with the existing transportation systems. The PAPA Operators' plans and drilling schedules would be contingent upon an adequate price for the gas at the wellhead and anticipated increases in gas consumption in the United States. The American Gas Association estimates a 40 percent increase by the year 2015. Potential impacts of concern from the proposed development (not in priority order) are: sensitive view sheds; economic, social, health, and safety effects to Pinedale and surrounding communities; livestock operations; recreation use associated with the Mesa; crucial big game winter range and antelope migrations; sage grouse and raptor breeding and nesting; special status plant and wildlife species; soil erosion and sediment increases to the New Fork and Green Rivers; groundwater draw down and contamination; Historic Lander Trail condition and view shed; and cumulative effects. This DEIS, in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species Act (as amended), includes the Biological Assessment for the purpose of identifying any endangered, threatened, or proposed species which are likely to be affected by the proposed action. A Technical Report Document has also been prepared in conjunction with the DEIS. It contains detailed technical information regarding air quality modeling, wildlife habitat modeling, cultural resources, and potential well pad location adjustments due to surface resource restrictions. A limited number of the technical report documents are available upon request or they may be reviewed at the BLM offices listed above. Comments, including the names and street addresses of respondents, will be made available for review by the public at the addresses listed above during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays, and will be published as part of the Final EIS. However, individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your name and/or street address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, you must state this prominently at the beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

Dated: November 18, 1999. Alan R. Pierson, State Director. [FR Doc. 99-30589 Filed 11-23-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-22-P