United States Department of the Interior 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

Rawlins Field Office 

P.O. Box 2407 (1300 North Third Street)

Rawlins, Wyoming 82301-2407 In Reply Refer To: 

1790

 September 8, 2005 


Re: Scoping Notice – Creston/Blue 


Gap II Natural Gas Development 


Project Environmental Impact 


Statement 


Dear Reader: 


The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is planning to prepare an Environmental 


Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposed natural gas development project to be 


known as the Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Project. 


Devon Energy Corporation, et all., has indicated their intent to drill and 


develop oil and gas resources in the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), 


Rawlins and Rock Springs Field Offices, within Carbon and Sweetwater 


Counties, Wyoming. The proposed project is located within Townships 14 


through 19 North, Ranges 91 through 94 West, 6th Principal Meridian, Wyoming. 


A scoping notice has been prepared for your review and information, both as 


an introduction to the proposed project and as a review of the basic 


procedures we intend to follow in the preparation of the EA. The scoping 


process is an opportunity for you to participate in the earliest phase of 


environmental assessment for the Creston/Blue Gap II Project. We encourage 


your input and comments on the project. Information and comments you provide 


will enable us to assess alternatives for consideration in the environmental 


assessment. 


We are conducting scoping for 60 days. If you are interested in participating 


in the scoping process, we request that you respond by supplying your written 


or e-mailed comments or concerns about the proposed activity by 


November 7, 2005. Please submit your comments to: 


Eldon Allison, Project Manager 


Bureau of Land Management 


Rawlins Field Office 


P.0. Box 2407 


1300 North Third Street 


Rawlins, Wyoming 82301 


E-mail: rawlins_wymail@blm.gov 

2 

A link to the Scoping Notice will be posted on the Bureau of Land Management 


national homepage at: 


http://www.blm.gov/nhp/spotlight/state_info/planning.htm 


Your response is important and will be considered in the environmental 


analysis process. If you do respond, we will consider your comments in the 


analysis for the project. Please note that public comments submitted for 


this scoping review, including names, e-mail addresses, and street addresses 


of the respondents, will be available for public review and disclosure at the 


above address during regular business hours (7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday 


through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request 


confidentially. If you wish to withhold your name, e-mail address, or street 


address from public review or from disclosure under the Freedom of 


Information Act, you must state this plainly 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. 


Thank you again for your interest in this process. If you have any questions 


regarding the project, your role, or our responsibilities, please contact 


Eldon Allison, Project Manager, at the address shown above or phone 


(307) 328-4291. 


Sincerely, 


 Field Manager 

Enclosure 

Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

PUBLIC SCOPING NOTICE 

FOR 

CRESTON/BLUE GAP II NATURAL GAS DEVELOPMENT PROJECT 

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT 

RAWLINS FIELD OFFICE

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL 

Devon Energy Production Company, LP (Devon) has notified the United States Department of Interior 

(DOI) Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Rawlins Field Office (RFO), that Devon and other operators, 

including Anadarko, Anderson Oil Company, Cornerstone Natural Resources, Petrogulf, Questar, Yates, 

and BP America intend to drill additional exploration and development wells in the Creston/Blue Gap II 

Project Area (CBGIIPA). The proposed CBGIIPA is generally located in Townships 14 through 19 North 

and Ranges 91 through 94 West, in Carbon and Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming, as shown in the 

Exhibit 1. The project area is entirely within the Rawlins Field Office management area. 

The CBGIIPA presently contains several active fields which are predominantly spaced at eight wells per 

section for drilling in the Lance, Lewis, and Mesaverde Formations. In addition, this area contains several 

active Federal Units, some of which are subject to current drilling programs. The CBGIIPA has active 

producing wells, with accompanying production-related facilities, roads, and pipelines. The project area 

consists of approximately 184,000 acres, with surface ownership of 71% federal, 26% private, and 3% 

State of Wyoming. Devon and the other operators estimate surface disturbances of 4,606 acres (2.5% of 

project area) initially, and 2,606 acres (1.4% of project area) life-of-project. 

The BLM has advised Devon and the other operators that an environmental impact statement (EIS) of the 

proposed development project will be necessary. 

For purposes of conducting an environmental analysis, Devon and the other operators have indicated that 

an additional 1,250 wells at 1,000 well locations may be drilled in the CBGIIPA. Some of these wells may 

be classified as exploration or delineation wells because natural gas production potential has not been 

fully defined due to geological complexities. Where production potential is better known, wells would be 

classified as in-fill or development wells. Drilling is expected to last for approximately 10 to 15 years, with 

a life-of-project (LOP) of 30-50 years. 

The Creston/Blue Gap II Area is currently accessed by an existing road network developed to service 

existing drilling and production activities. The drilling of any additional wells within the analysis area 

would require the construction of additional roads. The gas produced within the analysis area would be 

transported by existing pipelines and new pipelines, including new gathering lines with tie-ins to existing 

interstate pipelines. Additional new compression and produced water injection wells/evaporation pits are 

also proposed. 

RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING PLANS AND DOCUMENTS 

Great Divide Resource Management Plan - The Great Divide Resource Management Plan (GDRMP) 

(November 8, 1990) provides management direction for resources contained within the Rawlins Field 

Office area. The objective for management of oil and gas resources, as stated in the GDRMP, is to 

provide for leasing, exploration, and development of oil and gas while protecting other resource values. 

This RMP is currently being revised under the title of Rawlins Resource Management Plan. A Draft EIS 

for the Rawlins RMP was released in December 2004. The completion date of the Rawlins RMP Final EIS 
Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

is uncertain at this time. A decision for the Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Project (C/BG2 Project) will 

not be made nor implemented until after a Record of Decision is issued for the Rawlins RMP FEIS. 

Creston/Blue Gap Natural Gas Project Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision 

(USDI-BLM 1994a) was approved on October 4, 1994, and provides an analysis of the environmental 

consequences of a proposed natural gas development project in the same area as the proposed project. 

The BLM's decision allowed a maximum of 275 wells on 250 locations on a 160-acre spacing pattern. 

Continental Divide/Wamsutter II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement (USDIBLM 1999a) includes the Continental Divide area combined with the GWA II area. The combined project 

area is generally located in Townships 15 through 23 North, Ranges 91 through 99 West, in Sweetwater 

and Carbon Counties, Wyoming. The total combined area encompasses approximately 1,061,200 acres. 

This project is located west and north of the CBGIIPA. 

The CD/WII EIS provides an assessment of environmental impacts associated with development of 3,000 

natural gas wells. Based on that assessment, the BLM approved development of up to 2,130 wells, 50 

percent on federal lands within the project area, beginning in 1999 and continuing for approximately 20 

years, with a project life of 30 to 50 years. Various associated facilities (e.g., roads, pipelines, power 

lines, water wells, disposal wells evaporation ponds, compressor stations, etc.) would also be 

constructed. 

Desolation Flats Natural Gas Field Development Project Environmental Impact Statement (USDIBLM 2004 was approved on July 27, 2004. This natural gas development project area is generally 

located in Townships 13 through 16 North and Ranges 93 through 96 West in Carbon and Sweetwater 

counties. The total project area includes approximately 233,542 acres. 

This EIS provides analysis of environmental impacts in the Desolation Flats project area, with 

development activities beginning in 2004 and surface disturbing activities continuing for 20 years. Natural 

gas production is estimated to span 30 to 50 years. Approved project components include 385 wells 

located on 361 locations with associated roads, pipelines, and ancillary facilities. Total new project 

related short-term disturbance is estimated at 4,923 acres. 

Use Authorizations - Use authorizations (i.e., rights-of -way, permits, etc.) for roads, powerlines, 

pipelines, and well site facilities would be processed through the BLM Application for Permit to Drill (APD) 

and Sundry Notice permitting process. 

Lease Stipulations - Some leases within the proposed area include special stipulations on occupancy. 

These are in addition to the standard lease terms. These stipulations are designed to protect surface 

resources such as soils, water, and wildlife by restricting periods of activity and areas of disturbance. 

Application of these lease stipulations will be handled on a case-by- case basis for each APD submitted 

to the BLM. 

NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT COMPLIANCE 

On reviewing the Operator’s proposal, the BLM has determined that permitting this project would 

constitute a major federal action that could significantly affect the quality of the human environment. 

Pursuant to NEPA and Council on Environmental Quality regulations on implementing NEPA, the BLM is 

preparing an EIS that will describe and evaluate the probable impacts of the Creston/Blue Gap II 

Proposed Action and alternatives. The purpose of an EIS is to provide the public and decision-makers 

with sufficient information to understand the environmental consequences of the proposal and to identify 

and develop appropriate mitigation measures to minimize environmental impacts. 

One element of the NEPA process is scoping. Scoping activities are initiated early in the process to: 

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

• identify reasonable development alternatives to be evaluated in the EIS; 

• identify environmental/socio-economic issues of concern related to the proposed project; and 

• determine the depth of analysis for issues addressed in the EIS. 

Additionally, NEPA requires that a “no action” alternative be considered in all environmental documents. 

This will allow a comparison of the economic and environmental consequences of the proposed and 

alternative development levels versus current development levels and existing environmental conditions. 

The No Action Alternative would deny the proposal as submitted but would allow consideration of 

individual APDs and ROWs on federal lands on a case-by-case basis through individual project and sitespecific environmental analyses. “No Action” in the context of this analysis does not evaluate leasing nor 

the elimination or modification of existing leases. Operational activities relating to the existing oil and gas 

development would continue as authorized including transportation of natural gas products, maintenance 

activities and reclamation work. Additional gas development could occur on State and private lands 

within the project area under APDs approved by the WOGCC. 

This scoping statement has been prepared to enable government agencies, the general public, and other 

interested parties to participate in and contribute to the analysis process. Public input is important in 

establishing the scope of analysis for any NEPA document and the BLM encourages public participation. 

IDENTIFIED RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES, CONCERNS, AND OPPORTUNITIES 

The following issues and concerns have been identified by the BLM to date. It is not meant to be an allinclusive list, but rather a starting point for public input and a means of identifying the resource disciplines 

needed to conduct the analysis. 

● potential impacts to wildlife habitats within the analysis area, including big game crucial winter range, 

sage grouse, and raptors 

● road development, Increased traffic and associated impacts on existing County, State, and BLM 

roads 

● social and economic impacts 

● impacts to surface and groundwater resources, including sedimentation/salinity to the Colorado River 

system 

● potential impacts to steep slopes and sensitive soils within the project area 

● impacts from emissions resulting from additional drilling and production activities 

● reclamation of disturbed areas and control of noxious weed invasions 

● potential conflicts with livestock management operations in the analysis area, including possible 

impacts to range improvements 

● potential impacts to cultural and historical values within the analysis area 

● potential impacts to Native American sacred sites and Traditional Cultural Properties 

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

● potential impact to listed, or proposed for listing, plant and animal species, including potential 

Colorado River depletion and effects of downstream listed fish species 

● cumulative effects of drilling and development activities when combined with other ongoing and 

proposed developments on lands adjacent to the Creston/Blue Gap II project area 

● impacts to recreation 

● potential impacts to paleontological resources 

● impacts to wild horses in or near the project area 

● Visual Resource Management and potential impacts within or adjacent to the Creston/Blue Gap II 

project area 

INTERIM DRILLING ACTIVITIES 

While the Creston/Blue Gap II environmental analysis is being conducted, the BLM may allow limited 

drilling of directional wells within the proposed project area. Also, approved APDs may be “traded” for a 

new APD at a different location. Interim drilling will be monitored by the BLM to ensure activities do not 

adversely affect the environment or prejudice the completion of the Creston/Blue Gap II environmental 

analysis. 

TIMING NEEDS OR REQUIREMENTS 

Public input is important in establishing the level and scope of the analysis. The public is encouraged to 

participate during the scoping process to help identify the scope of the analysis needed, alternatives to 

the proposed action, other issues or concerns that should be analyzed, mitigative opportunities, and any 

other comments or ideas to help ensure the completeness of the analysis process. 

Your comments are due by November 7, 2005. Please submit your comments to: 

Eldon Allison, Project Coordinator 

Bureau of Land Management 

Rawlins Field Office 

1300 North Third Street 

Rawlins, Wyoming 82301-4376 

Email: rawlins_wymail@blm.gov 

(Please refer to Creston/Blue Gap II in your email response) 

A Public Meeting to discuss the proposed project has been scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on the following 

date and location. 

October 13, 2005 

Jeffrey Memorial Community Center 

315 West Pine Street 

Rawlins, Wyoming 82301

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 

The following individuals and organizations will receive a copy of this scoping statement: 

FEDERAL OFFICES 

Department of the Interior` 

Bureau of Land Management 

Bureau of Reclamation 

Representative Barbara Cubin 

Senator Mike Enzi 

Geological Survey 

Army of Corps of Engineers 

Environmental Protection Agency 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

Forest Service 

Senator Craig Thomas 

Natural Resource Conservation Service 

Department of Energy 

DOI Office of the Solicitor 

Minerals Management Service 

Bureau of Indian Affairs 

National Park Service 

Federal Highway Administration 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance 

Office of Surface Mining 

STATE AGENCIES 

Governor 

State Engineer’s Office

Wyoming State Planning Coordinator

Wyoming Game and Fish Department 

 Water Development Commission 

 State Representatives 

Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality Wyoming Department of Transportation 

Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Wyoming State Historic Preservation Office 

Office of State Lands and Investments Wyoming Department of Agriculture 

Wyoming State Geological Survey Department of Revenue, Ad Valorem Tax 

Little Snake Conservation District Wyoming Business Council 

Wyoming Board of Outfitters and Professional Guides Wyoming Recreation Commission 

Wyoming State Forestry Wyoming State Trails Program 

Wyoming Travel and Tourism Wyoming Public Service Commission 

Wyoming Water Development Commission Wyoming Livestock Board 

Wyoming State Engineer’s Office Wyoming State Grazing Board 

Wyoming Department of Employment Sweetwater County Conservation District 

Wyoming Pipeline Authority 

COUNTY GOVERNMENT 

Carbon County Commissioners Carbon County Planning Commission 

Sweetwater County Commissioners Sweetwater County Planning Commission 

Carbon County School District #1 Carbon County Cooperative Extension Service 

Sweetwater County School District #1 Sweetwater County Solid Waste #2 

Carbon County Library System Sweetwater County Library System 

MUNICIPALITIES 

Town of Baggs Town of Wamsutter 

City of Rawlins City of Rock Springs 

Town of Dixon Baggs Solid Waste District 

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBES 

Eastern Shoshone Tribe 

Northern Arapaho Tribe 

Ute Tribe 

Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe 

Crow Tribe 

Northern Cheyenne Tribe 

Oglala Lakota Nation 

Rosebud Sioux Tribe 

Shoshone-Bannock Tribes 

GRAZING PERMITTEES 

4-Mile Sheep 

Adams and Adams 

Andy and Argie Peroulis 

Three Forks Ranch Corp. 

Purple Sage, LLC 

Sheehan Ranches 

Mike and Doug Sheehan 

Three Mill Iron Ranch 

Robert Orchard

Ladder Livestock Co., LLC 

James L. Jr., and Patricia Ann Chant 

Fill-more Beef, LLC 

Matt and Sherry Weber 

H. Lee 

Montgomery Livestock Co. 

Sam Morgan 

Lee and Donna Jons 

 John and Sons Peroulis 

Stratton Sheep Company 

Rock Springs Grazing Association 

 Ray and Kathleen Weber 

Rodewald Grazing Assoc., LLC 

Salisbury Livestock Co. 

LEASE AND ROW HOLDERS 

Anadarko E & P Company LP Anderson Oil Company 

Cornerstone Natural Resources, LLC Questar Exploration and Production Co. 

BP America Production Co. Williams Gas Processing Company 

Colorado Interstate Gas Company Westport Oil and Gas Company, Inc. 

Questar Pipeline Company Cabot Oil and Gas Corporation 

CNG Producing Company Devon Energy Corporation 

Double Eagle Petroleum & Mining Company H.B. Hillman Trust 

D. B. Hillman HLR, Trust 

Carol Ann Hoffman William E. Jeffers 

Lario Oil and Gas Company J.H. Marshall II Trust 

William Moss Northern Geophysical 

Don Parsons Phillips Petroleum Company 

Petrogulf Corporation Plains Petroleum Operating Company 

Quantum Geophysical John B. Roden Jr. 

Samson Resources Company T.H. McElvain Oil and Gas, Ltd. 

Texaco Exploration and Production, Inc. True Oil Company 

Union Pacific Wyoming Gathering, Inc. Union Pacific Resources Company 

Veritas DGC Land, Inc. Arthur W. Winter Trust 

WYGAP Wyoming Exploration, Ltd. 

Yates Petroleum Company Estate of Lillie M. Yates 

Forest Oil Corporation John P. Strang 

W.A.. Moncrief Jr. Costilla Energy, Inc. 

Corbin J. Robertson Lamar B. Roemer 

Irwin Rubenstein 

LANDOWNERS 

All private landowners are included under one of the above categories. 

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

 LOCAL MEDIA 

Casper Star-Tribune Rawlins Daily Times 

Rocket Miner - Rock Springs Wyoming State Tribune/Eagle 

Green River Star KRAI - Craig, Colorado 

KRAL/KIQZ - Rawlins Moffat County Morning News 

KQSW/KRKK/KSIT - Rock Springs KTWO TV/KTWO Radio - Casper 

KUWR - University of Wyoming Northwest Colorado Daily Press 

Meeker Herald Times/Rangely Times Craig Daily Press 

KMKX - Rock Springs KUGR - Green River 

KYCS - Rock Springs KFNB TV - Casper 

KGWC CBS 14 - Casper KCWY TV - Casper 

OTHER AGENCIES, INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES, INDIVIDUALS, AND ORGANIZATIONS 

Audubon Society National Wildlife Federation 

Wilderness Society Carbon County Stockgrowers 

The Nature Conservancy Field Museum of Natural History 

Wyoming Association of Professional Archeologists Wind River Multiple Use Advocates 

Rock Springs Grazing Association Wildlife Management Institute 

Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States University of Wyoming, Geology Museum 

Environmental Defense Petroleum Association of Wyoming 

Public Lands Advocacy Sierra Club 

Wyoming Farm Bureau Federation Wyoming Outdoor Council 

Wyoming Stockgrowers Association Wyoming Woolgrowers Association 

Wyoming Wildlife Federation Dolar Oil Properties 

Carbon County Coalition Wyoming Business Alliance 

Biodiversity Conservation Alliance Sinapu 

Defenders of Wildlife Wyoming Advocates for Animals 

ISPM & B Animal Protection Institute 

Predator Project Wildlife Habitat Council 

International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Public Lands Foundation 

Natural Resources Defense Council The Fund for Animals/Animal Welfare Institute 

American Horse Protection Association Hooved Animal Humane Society 

Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, Inc. Wildlife Management Institute 

Oil and Gas Accountability Project Wyoming Conservation Alliance 

Western Ecosystems Wyoming Association of Municipalities 

Alliance for Historic Wyoming Land and Water Fund of the Rockies 

Wyoming Natural Diversity Database Izaak Walton League 

Rawlins Downtown Development Authority North American Pronghorn Foundation 

Three-Shot Sage Grouse Foundation Motorized Recreation Council of Wyoming 

Friends of the Red Desert Wyoming Sportsman’s Association 

Wyoming Outfitters Guide Association Wyoming Wilderness Association 

Sweetwater Wildlife Association Western Wyoming Mule Deer Foundation 

OCTA Western Wyoming Archeological Services 

Southwest Wyoming Mineral Association Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce 

Southwest Wyoming Industrial Association Sweetwater County Historical Society 

Western Watersheds Project Wyoming People for the USA 

People for the West Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum 

Grouse Inc. National Wild Horse Association 

Wild Horse Organized Assistance American Mustang Association 

Natural Resources Defense Fund Whole Horse Institute 

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

Approximately 20 additional “Other Agencies, Industry Representatives, Individuals, and Organizations” 

received a copy of the Scoping Notice. 

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Scoping Statement - Creston/Blue Gap II Natural Gas Development Environmental Impact Statement 

9