Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 190 / Friday, October 1, 2004 / Notices 58945

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Recovery of endangered or threatened 

animals and plants is a primary goal of 

the ESA and our endangered species 

program. Recovery means improvement 

of the status of listed species to the 

point at which listing is no longer 

required under the criteria set out in 

section 4(a)(1) of the Act. Recovery 

plans describe actions considered 

necessary for the conservation of the 

species, establish criteria for 

downlisting or delisting listed species, 

and estimate time and cost for 

implementing the measures needed for 

recovery. 

The ESA requires the development of 

a recovery plan for endangered or 

threatened species unless such a plan 

would not promote the conservation of 

the species. Section 4(f) of the Act 

requires that public notice, and an 

opportunity for public review and 

comment, be provided during recovery 

plan development. The draft recovery 

plan for Sidalcea oregana var. calva was 

available for public comment from 

October 15, 2003, to December 15, 2003 

(68 FR 59414). Information presented 

during the public comment period has 

been considered in the preparation of 

this final recovery plan and is 

summarized in the appendix to the 

recovery plan. We will forward 

substantive comments regarding 

recovery plan implementation to the 

appropriate Federal agencies or other 

entities so they can take these comments 

into account in the course of 

implementing recovery actions. 

Sidalcea oregana var. calva was listed 

as an endangered species on December 

22, 1999 (64 FR 71680). This rare, 

attractive member of the mallow family 

(Malvaceae) is endemic to Chelan 

County, Washington, where it is found 

in wetlands and moist meadows of the 

Wenatchee Mountains. Just five 

populations are known, and four of 

these five number from only eight to a 

few hundred individuals. Populations 

occur on a mixture of private, State, and 

Federal lands. Critical habitat was 

designated for this species on 

September 6, 2001 (66 FR 46536). 

The primary threats to Sidalcea 

oregana var. calva include habitat 

fragmentation, degradation, or loss due 

to conversion of native wetlands to 

orchards and other agricultural uses; 

rural residential development and 

associated impacts; altered hydrology; 

competition from native and nonnative 

plants; recreational impacts; woody 

plant encroachment; and activities 

associated with fire suppression. To a 

lesser extent the species is threatened by 

livestock grazing, road construction, and 

timber harvesting and associated 

impacts including changes in surface 

runoff. The species is highly vulnerable 

to extirpation from demographic factors 

or random, naturally occurring events 

due to the very small size of most of the 

remaining populations. 

The primary objective of this recovery 

plan is to recover the plant to the point 

that it can be delisted under the ESA. 

Actions necessary to achieve this 

objective include: (1) Maintaining the 

current geographical distribution of the 

species through effective management 

and coordination with private 

landowners and other agencies; (2) 

identifying potential habitat and 

developing a sound protocol for 

reintroducing the species within its 

historical range; (3) conducting research 

and monitoring essential to the 

conservation of the species; (4) 

collecting seed representing the genetic 

diversity of the species across its range 

and storing it in a secure facility; (5) 

surveying to identify potential 

additional populations; and (6) 

developing outreach materials to 

provide information about the species, 

its habitat, and management 

recommendations to local landowners.

Authority: The authority for this action is 

section 4(f) of the Endangered Species Act, 

16 U.S.C. 1533(f).

Dated: July 22, 2004. 

David J. Wesley, 

Acting Regional Director, Region 1, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service.

[FR Doc. 04–22188 Filed 9–30–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management 

[WO–310–1310–01–PB–241A and OMB 

Control Number 1004–0034] 

Information Collection Submitted to 

the Office of Management and Budget 

Under the Paperwork Reduction Act 

The Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) has submitted the proposed 

collection of information listed below to 

the Office of Management and Budget 

for approval under the provisions of the 

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 

3501 et seq.). On February 7, 2003, BLM 

published a notice in the Federal 

Register (68 FR 6505) requesting 

comments on the collection. The 

comment period closed on April 8, 

2003. BLM received one comment. You 

may obtain copies of the proposed 

collection of information and related 

explanatory material by contacting the 

BLM Information Collection Clearance 

Officer at the telephone number listed 

below. 

OMB is required to respond to this 

request within 60 days but may respond 

after 30 days. For maximum 

consideration, your comments and 

suggestions on the requirements should 

be directed within 30 days to the Office 

of Management and Budget, Interior 

Department Desk Officer (1004–0034), at 

OMB–OIRA via facsimile to (202) 395–

6566 or e-mail to 

OIRA_DOCKET@omb.eop.gov. Please 

provide a copy of your comments to the 

BLM Information Collection Clearance 

Officer (WO–630) Bureau of Land 

Management, Eastern States Office 7450 

Boston Blvd., Springfield, Virginia 

22153. 

Nature of Comments: We specifically 

request your comments on the 

following: 

1. Whether the collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

functioning of the agency, including 

whether the information will have 

practical utility; 

2. The accuracy of our estimates of the 

information collection burden, 

including the validity of the 

methodology and assumptions we use; 

3. Ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information 

collected; and 

4. Ways to minimize the information 

collection burden on those who are to 

respond, including the use of 

appropriate automated, electronic, 

mechanical, or other technological 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology. 

Title: Oil and Gas Lease Transfers by 

Assignment of Record Title or Operating 

Rights (Sublease) (43 CFR 3106, 3135, 

3216). 

OMB Approval Number: 1004–0034. 

Abstract: Respondents supply 

information on these forms (3000–3 and 

3000–3a) to assign/transfer an interest in 

an oil and gas or geothermal lease. 

Form Numbers: 3000–3 and 3000–3a. 

Frequency: On occasion. 

Description of Respondents:

Individuals, small businesses, large 

corporations. 

Estimated Completion Time: 30 

minutes each form. 

Annual Responses: 60,000. 

Filing Fee Per Response: $25 for oil 

and gas and $50 for geothermal. 

Annual Burden Hours: 30,000. 

Bureau Clearance Officer: Ian Senio, 

(202) 452–5033.

58946 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 190 / Friday, October 1, 2004 / Notices 

Dated: September 24, 2004. 

Ian Senio, 

Bureau of Land Management, Information 

Collection Clearance Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–22094 Filed 9–30–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–84–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management 

[UT–080–1310–00] 

Notice of Intent To Prepare an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

on the Chapita Wells-Stagecoach Area 

Gas Development Project, Uintah 

County, UT

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent and notice of 

scoping. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) 

of the National Environmental Policy 

Act of 1969, the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), Vernal Field Office, 

Vernal, Utah, will be preparing an EIS 

on EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) proposed 

gas development on about 31,872 acres 

in the Chapita Wells-Stagecoach Area 

gas producing region. The Vernal Field 

Office Manager will be the authorized 

officer for this project.

DATES: A 30-day public scoping period 

will begin on the date this notice is 

published in the Federal Register. A 

public scoping open house and 

information meeting will be conducted 

during the scoping period. Details on 

this meeting will be released to the 

public at least 15 days from the 

scheduled date. If you have any 

information, data or concerns related to 

potential impacts of the proposed 

action, including the issues identified 

above, or have suggestions for 

additional alternatives, please submit 

them to the address listed below.

ADDRESSES: Written scoping comments 

should be sent to: Field Manager, 

Bureau of Land Management, Vernal 

Field Office, 170 South 500 East. Vernal, 

Utah 84078, ATTN: QEP Field 

Development Project. 

Comments, including names and 

street addresses of respondents will be 

available for public review at the BLM 

Vernal Field Office and will be subject 

to disclosure under the Freedom of 

Information Act (FOIA). They may be 

published as part of the EIS and other 

related documents. Individual 

respondents may request 

confidentiality. If you wish to withhold 

your name or street address from public 

review and disclosure under the FOIA, 

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 will be 

made available for public inspection in 

their entirely.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean 

Nitschke-Sinclear, 435–781–4437 or email: jean_nitschke-sinclear@blm.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

project area is located about 30 miles 

southeast of Vernal, Utah. It involves 

about 71% BLM-administered lands 

(22,693 acres); 6% (1,914 acres) State of 

Utah-administered lands; 21% Northern 

Ute Tribal and/or allotted lands 

administered by the BIA (6,577 acres); 

and, 2% (688 acres) patented land. 

Currently 325 producing gas wells, with 

their attendant service roads, exist 

within the project area, and about 100 

additional wells have been approved for 

drilling under a Decision Record, dated 

April 11, 2000, entitled Chapita Wells 

Unit Infill Development, Uintah County, 

Utah (EA No. UT–080–1999–032). There 

are currently no oil wells or produced 

water disposal wells in the project area. 

EOG’s long term development plan 

includes drilling additional wells at the 

rate of about 90 wells per year, over a 

period of 7 years, or until the resource 

base is fully developed. A total of up to 

627 new wells would be drilled. Of 

these, 473 would be new locations and 

154 would be twins drilled from 

existing locations (representing 25% of 

the total new wells that would be 

drilled). About 3% of the total wells 

drilled may result in dry holes. The total 

number of wells drilled would depend 

largely on factors outside of EOG’s 

control, such as production success, 

engineering technology, economic 

factors, availability of commodity 

markets, and lease stipulations and 

restrictions. 

Required infrastructure includes 

electric power lines, roads, gas flowlines 

and pipelines, well pads, water 

injection facilities, and gas treatment 

facilities. Gas would be transported via 

pipeline to existing centralized 

compression and treatment facilities. 

Produced water would be trucked to 

approved evaporation pits or EOG water 

injection wells where it would be reinjected into the oil reservoir or disposal 

zone via an injection well system. Major 

issues at this time include potential 

impacts on desert and semi-desert 

ecosystems and their dependent wildlife 

species (including antelope, sage grouse, 

white-tailed prairie dog colonies and 

their associated species), vegetation 

(including noxious weeds and 

reclamation), and riparian habitat 

associated with the Green River 

corridor. Alternatives identified at this 

time include the proposed action, the no 

action alternatives and in accordance 

with national policy, an alternative 

incorporating Best Management 

Practices designed to reduce the 

environmental effects of production 

operations. Best Management Practices 

considered could include burial of 

flowlines in the roadbeds for transport 

of condensate, water and gas to 

centralized facilities, more extensive 

interim reclamation of production areas, 

and other techniques designed to 

substantially reduce the footprint of 

new and existing oil and gas production 

facilities and infrastructure.’’

Dated: September 20, 2004. 

William Stringer, 

Vernal Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 04–22056 Filed 9–30–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–$$–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management 

[WO 850–1820–XA–241A] 

Acceptance of Electronic Forms and 

Digital Signatures

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM) will accept the 

electronic submission of forms, 

including the use of digital signatures 

where practicable.

DATES: October 1, 2004.

ADDRESSES: 1849 C St., NW., Mail Stop 

LS 1000, Washington, DC 20240.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on BLM’s online forms, 

Karen Wrenn, BLM Forms Manager, 

303–236–0233. For information on 

BLM’s e-Government initiative, Peter G. 

D. Ertman, BLM e-Government Program 

Manager, 202–452–7706.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Effective 

October 1, 2004, the BLM will accept as 

‘‘properly filed’’ any form in electronic 

format that was previously available 

only in paper format. If you choose to 

file on-line, you must use the forms 

available from http://www.nc.blm.gov/

blmforms. BLM will not accept as 

‘‘properly filed’’ the use of electronic 

forms in other formats or from other 

sources. In addition to using the form 

from the BLM forms Web site, you must 

also have a Federal Bridge Trusted 

credential. This credential provides a 

secure means of identifying you across 

the Internet. At the present time, you 

may obtain these credentials from two