[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 55 (Friday, March 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15723-15725]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05891]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest; Wyoming; Oil and Gas Leasing in
Portions of the Wyoming Range in the Bridger-Teton National Forest
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
ACTION: Corrected notice of intent to prepare a supplemental
environmental impact statement to analyze and disclose effects of oil
and gas leasing on portions of the Bridger-Teton National Forest
previously identified as suitable and available for oil and gas leasing
in the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.
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SUMMARY: This notice corrects notices of Intent (NOI) published in the
Federal Register on February 4, 2008 (73 FR, No. 23, pages 6453-6454)
and March 28, 2008 (73 FR, No. 61 pages 16621-16622), to prepare a
supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) to analyze and
disclose environmental effects relative to oil and gas leasing on
portions of the forest previously identified as suitable and available
for oil and gas leasing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and
Resource Management Plan. The Forest Service is providing this
corrected NOI because it intends to prepare a new draft and final SEIS
in place of the draft and final SEIS released in February 2010 and
January 2011, respectively. Extensive public involvement efforts were
conducted with the 2008 scoping period. Because extensive public
comments covering the range of relevant issues for the analysis were
received in the 2008 scoping period and in the comment period on the
2010 Draft SEIS, an additional scoping period is not being conducted.
Scoping comments and comments on the Draft SEIS previously submitted
will be considered in preparation of the new SEIS. Scoping for a
supplemental environmental impact statement is not required [40 CFR
1502.9(c)(4)]. The public will have another opportunity to comment on
this project when the new Draft SEIS is released. A draft Record of
Decision will be released with the new Final SEIS, and will be subject
to the pre-decisional (objection) administrative review process [36 CFR
218]. Individuals and entities who submitted timely, specific written
comments
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regarding this project during the 2008 scoping period and the 2010
Draft SEIS comment period and those who submit comments on the new 2014
Draft SEIS will be eligible to file objections.
DATES: The new Draft SEIS is expected to be published in October 2014.
The estimated completion date for the Final SEIS is May 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rob Hoelscher, Big Piney District
Ranger, Bridger-Teton National Forest, 10418 South Highway 189, P.O.
Box 218, Big Piney, WY 83113.
Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the deaf (TDD)
may call the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1-800-877-8339
between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A previous revised NOI was published in the
Federal Register on March 28, 2008 (73 FR, No. 61, pages 16621-16622)
with the title: Revised Notice of Intent To Prepare a Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement To Analyze and Disclose New Information
Relative to Oil and Gas Leasing of 44,720 Acres on the Big Piney Ranger
District; its purpose was to extend the scoping comment period. This
corrected notice updates the original February 2008 NOI and the revised
NOI of March 2008 to announce the intent to prepare a new draft and
final SEIS. In February 2010, a Draft SEIS was released for public
review and comment (75 FR, No. 24, page 6027). In January 2011, a Final
SEIS (76 FR, No. 29, page 7844) and Record of Decision were released.
In May 2011, the Record of Decision was withdrawn to allow for
additional analyses considering updated information. The Forest Service
is preparing a new SEIS and Record of Decision to replace previous
analysis efforts regarding these specific parcels with the most up-to-
date information and scientific analysis. Since the previous notices
were published, the Forest Service received notice from the Bureau of
Land Management that some parcels are no longer being considered for
leasing (updated project map available at http://www.fs.usda.gov/projects/btnf/landmanagement/projects). The title of this analysis is
revised to reflect this updated information. The purpose and need,
proposed action, and known possible alternatives are clarified as noted
below.
Purpose and Need for Action
The purpose for offering parcels and subsequent issuance of leases
is to meet the Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource
Management Plan Objective 1.1(d) to ``provide leasable, locatable, and
salable mineral exploration and development opportunities;'' and Goal
4.4 ``other resources are protected during exploration and development
of subsurface resources;'' the Bureau of Land Management Pinedale
Resource Management Plan mineral management goal to ``provide
opportunities for mineral extraction and energy exploration and
development to provide resources to meet national and local needs while
avoiding or otherwise mitigating significant impacts on other resource
objectives;'' and the Bureau of Land Management Kemmerer Resource
Management Plan Goal MR: 1 to ``provide opportunities for exploration
and developing mineral resources on available public lands.'' The
offering for sale and subsequent issuance of oil and gas leases is
needed to respond to interest in obtaining future opportunities for
exploration and development of mineral resources under specific
parcels. The Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended, requires the
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to respond to all leasing
interests.
Proposed Action
The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management propose to offer
specific parcels for oil and gas leasing on the eastern slope of the
Wyoming Range, along the western portion of Sublette County in areas
identified as suitable and available for oil and gas leasing within the
Bridger-Teton National Forest and not prohibited by the Wyoming Range
Legacy Act. Issuance of leases would follow, incorporating the
appropriate standard stipulations for forest management areas 12, 23,
24, 25, 26, and 32, and the applicable Bureau of Land Management
resource management plan.
Preliminary Issues
Following are the preliminary issues developed from previous public
involvement efforts and considered during alternative development:
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could have cumulative effects on the social and economic well-being of
the local communities and quality of life for residents.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could change the backcountry recreation setting, detracting from the
quality of recreation opportunities in the area.
Not issuing leases for these specific parcels or applying
additional constraints to leases could prevent effective recovery of
energy resources in the area.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could affect groundwater quality and quantity in the area.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could occur to terrestrial wildlife including threatened, endangered,
sensitive, management indicator species' habitats and populations;
large game; and trophy game species.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could occur to water quality and could affect habitat for fish and
other special status aquatic species.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could occur to rare plant species habitats including sensitive and
management indicator species' habitats and populations.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could impact air quality and air quality-related values, with emphasis
on cumulative effects because of extensive development in the Pinedale
area and previously monitored exceedances of National Ambient Air
Quality Standards for ozone in Sublette County.
Potential impacts from post-leasing exploration and/or development
could affect permitted livestock grazing, cultural resources, and
visual resources.
Possible Alternatives
Alternative 1: No action/No leasing. The Forest Service would
object to the Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within
these specific parcels.
Alternative 2: Proposed Action, Implement Forest Plan Leasing
Availability Decision. The Forest Service would not object to the
Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within these
specific parcels. The Bureau of Land Management would offer for sale
leases with existing standard lease stipulations as required by the
Bridger-Teton National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. The
Bureau of Land Management may add additional stipulations in accordance
with the applicable resource management plan. Future oil and gas
exploration and development would occur in accordance with procedures
established under an approved Federal oil and gas unit agreement.
Alternative 3: Implement Forest Plan Leasing Availability Decision,
Meet Site-Specific Management Goals. The Forest Service would not
object to the Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within
these specific parcels, with site-specific and management area
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standard lease stipulations required by the Bridger-Teton National
Forest Land and Resource Management Plan. For example, a combination of
No Surface Occupancy, Timing Limitation, Controlled Surface Use,
Conditional No Surface Occupancy, and the Jackson Hole Area Oil and Gas
Lease stipulations may be used depending upon resource issues. The
Bureau of Land Management may add additional stipulations in accordance
with the applicable resource management plan. Future oil and gas
exploration and development would occur in accordance with procedures
established under an approved Federal oil and gas unit agreement.
Alternative 4: Implement Forest Plan Leasing Availability Decision
with No Surface Occupancy. The Forest Service would not object to the
Bureau of Land Management offering for sale leases within these
specific parcels with a No Surface Occupancy stipulation. Future oil
and gas exploration and development would occur in accordance with
procedures established under an approved Federal oil and gas unit
agreement.
Lead and Cooperating Agencies
The Forest Service is the lead agency. The Bureau of Land
Management, the State of Wyoming, and Sublette County are cooperating
agencies.
Responsible Official
This corrected NOI updates the responsible officials for this
project. The Forest Service responsible official for this decision [36
CFR 228.102(d)] is Clinton D. Kyhl, Bridger-Teton National Forest
Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest, 340 N. Cache (P.O. Box
1888), Jackson, Wyoming 83001. The Bureau of Land Management
responsible official for final decision (43 CFR 3101.7) relative to the
issuance or disposition of the leases and lease parcels is Donald A.
Simpson, State Director, Bureau of Land Management--Wyoming State
Office, 5353 Yellowstone (P.O. Box 1828), Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009.
Nature of Decision To Be Made
The decision to be made is whether the Forest Service objects or
does not object to the Bureau of Land Management offering for sale oil
and gas leases on these specific parcels, and under what terms and
conditions. This decision will supersede prior Forest Service decisions
regarding oil and gas leasing on these specific parcels. Based upon the
Forest Service's decision, the Bureau of Land Management will decide
which parcels would be offered for lease with appropriate stipulations,
which parcels will be deferred, which parcels are not available for
leasing, and which parcels are canceled.
Dated: March 12, 2014.
Clinton D. Kyhl,
Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National Forest.
[FR Doc. 2014-05891 Filed 3-20-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-11-P