[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 1996)] [Notices] [Pages 17909-17910] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-9908] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR [ES-030-06-1310-01] Notice of Intent To Prepare a Planning Analysis/Environmental Assessment for the Leasing of Federal Minerals AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Milwaukee District Office, Eastern States, in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE), Pittsburgh District, will prepare a Planning Analysis/Environmental Assessment (PA/EA) to assist in the decision-making process related to the leasing of Federal oil and gas resources administered by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) at the COE Mosquito Creek Lake (MCL) Project, Trumbull County, Ohio. In addition to those Federal oil and gas resources found within the COE administrative boundary, 32.46 acres of Federal oil and gas rights are located under one non-COE tract located in the southwestern corner adjacent to the MCL Project. This tract is owned by the Lakeview Local School District. This notice is issued pursuant to Title 43 CFR 1610.8(b) and 1610.2(c). The PA/EA will follow the procedures set forth in 43 CFR 1610.5-5. The public is invited to review and provide comments on issues, concerns and related agency resource objectives as outlined in this notice, or identify additional issues or concerns, if appropriate. DATES: Comments relating to issues, concerns, and agency resource objectives will be accepted through May 23, 1996. ADDRESSES: Comments and requests to be included on the mailing list for this project should be sent to: Bureau of Land Management, Milwaukee District, P.O. Box 631, Milwaukee, WI 53201-0631. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Terry Saarela, PA/EA Team Leader, Milwaukee District, (414) 297-4437. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Mosquito Creek Lake is located on Mosquito Creek in Trumbull County, northeastern Ohio about 4.5 miles north- northeast of the City of Warren and 14 miles north-northwest of the City of Youngstown. The majority of the COE administered property is either leased or licensed to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and managed for parks/recreation and wildlife purposes (of the 11,180.62 acres owned in fee, 5,635 acres are leased to the ODNR Division of Parks and Recreation and 5,370 acres are licensed to the ODNR Division of Wildife). There are public-use sites scattered around the lake. The PA/EA will aid in making decisions related to the leasing of the Federal oil and gas resources in the vicinity of the MCL Project. Decisions relating to Federal oil and gas leasing will be made within the context of existing land use planning documents developed by the COE and the ODNR. Existing management decisions will not be changed or modified by the PA/EA. The leasing of the Federal oil and gas resources and subsequent development will be carried out in accordance with Federal and State laws, regulations, and orders. The PA/EA will assess the impacts of foreseeable Federal oil and gas development on these lands. Most oil and gas drilling would occur on the southern two-thirds of the MCL Project and vicinity, because this area has the highest development potential. BLM's preliminary estimate indicates that approximately 84 wells could be drilled to develop the Federal oil and gas resources. Drilling would occur over a 9 to 12 year period with 7 to 9 wells drilled per year. The primary drilling target would be the Clinton sandstone. Natural gas with some oil and brine would be produced. Mosquito Creek Lake, developed areas, sensitive biological habitats, and other special uses greatly reduce the available surface for locating oil and gas operations within the MCL Project and school district property boundaries. This would require the use of directional drilling technology to develop Federal oil and gas beneath areas where the surface cannot be occupied. Therefore, most of the surface disturbance associated with drilling wells to develop the Federal leases would be shifted to private land adjacent to the MCL Project and school district property. However, surface locations for some vertical and directional wells would be on the MCL Project, and one surface location might be on the school district property. The BLM, COE and ODNR have identified the following preliminary issues in relation to oil and gas development: (1) Potential impacts to the aesthetic qualities for residents and users; (2) Potential impacts to surface and ground water quality in the watersheds of Mosquito Creek Lake; (3) Potential impacts to wetlands and associated resources; (4) Potential impacts to historic, archaeological and traditional cultural properties; (5) Potential impacts to Special Status Species and habitat; (6) Potential impacts to cooperative (ODNR and local farmers) farming leasees; (7) Potential impacts to outdoor recreation opportunities; (8) Effect of fluctuating pool elevation of Mosquito Creek Lake on location of oil and gas operations; (9) Safety concerns for recreational users and residents; and (10) Potential impact to current and future uses of Lakeview Local School District property. Two issues were identified as being beyond the scope of the document. These included: (1) Oil and gas leasing and subsequent operations may affect property values in the Mosquito Creek [[Page 17910]] Lake area; and (2) traffic associated with oil and gas operations may impact road conditions in the Mosquito Creek Lake vicinity. These issues will be addressed in the analysis process, but no decisions resulting from the PA/EA will be specific to these two issues. Resource objectives were developed to address specific issues or concerns. Management actions developed through the planning process will strive to meet the outlined resource objectives. The specific objectives, as they relate to oil and gas leasing and development, are: --Maintain or minimize the impacts to the aesthetic values present at the Mosquito Creek Lake area. --Sustain and/or improve current safety levels for recreational users and residents. --Maintain or enhance wetland values in the Mosquito Creek Lake watersheds. --Maintain existing surface and ground water quality in the Mosquito Creek Lake watersheds. --Maintain or enhance the historical, archaeological, and traditional cultural resource values. --Maintain and enhance special status species populations and suitable habitat. --Minimize impact to farm cooperative leasees and associated forage area. --Maintain current outdoor recreational opportunities and facilities and minimize impacts to future opportunities and facilities. --Maintain the assigned visual resource management class as determined through the planning process. --Maintain the integrity of the reservoir pool zones. --Maintain and/or enhance current and future uses of the Lakeview Local School District property. Additional issues and resource objectives may be identified as a result of public input. The PA/EA will be developed by an interdisciplinary team (IDT) composed of specialists in air quality, archaeology, forestry, geographic information systems, hazardous and solid waste, minerals, paleontology, recreation, socio-economics, soils, visual resources, water resources, and wildlife and special status species. Additional technical support will be provided by other specialists as needed. Public participation will be an important part of the PA/EA process. It is intended that all interested or affected parties be involved. The IDT will seek input by direct mailings, media coverage, person to person contacts, and coordination with local, State, and other Federal agencies throughout the process. Written and oral comments will be accepted at an open house and public meeting to be held in the multi purpose room of the Cortland Elementary School, 264 Park Avenue in Cortland, Ohio on May 8, 1996. An informal open house will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Resource specialists will be available to discuss specific areas of interest with the public. A formal meeting will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with registration beginning at 6:30 p.m. Agency personnel will accept oral or written comments on the preliminary issues and resource objectives. Complete records of all phases of the planning process will be available for public review at the Milwaukee District Office. The draft, proposed, and the final PA/EA will be available upon request. Dated: April 17, 1996. James W. Dryden, District Manager. [FR Doc. 96-9908 Filed 4-22-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-GJ-P