Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 21, 2000 / Notices 38571

307–775–6329. Copies of the EIS and

ROD are available from the BLM at the

following locations: Rawlins Field

Office, P.O. Box 2407, 1300 North Third

Street, Rawlins, Wyoming, 82301; Rock

Springs Field Office, 280 Highway 191

North, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901;

the Wyoming State Office, P.O. Box

1828, 5353 Yellowstone Road,

Cheyenne, Wyoming, 82009; and on the

Wyoming NEPA documents Web Site at

www.wy.blm.gov./nepa/nfdocs.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In

accordance with Section 102 of the

National Environmental Policy Act

(NEPA), as amended, a Final EIS

addressing a natural gas development

project in Sweetwater and Carbon

Counties, Wyoming, was issued by the

BLM in December 1999. The Final EIS

addressed the potential impacts of

exploration and development of up to

3,000 natural gas wells and associated

facilities. The BLM decision is to

approve the Operators’ development

plan as described in the Proposed

Action of the CD/WII Final

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

with the following modifications.

Development will be reduced from the

proposed 3,000 wells at 3,000 well

locations to allow up to 2,130 wells at

2,130 well locations within the project

area along with associated access roads,

pipelines, a gas processing facility, and

associated ancillary facilities.

Allowance of the remaining 870 wells/

well locations (not more than 435 wells

or well locations on Federal lands, and/

or Federal mineral estate) with

associated facilities will be considered

pending completion of a planning

review of the Great Divide Resource

Area Resource Management Plan for the

Rawlins Field Office area.

This ROD will allow approximately

930 new wells/well locations within the

jurisdictional boundary of the Rock

Springs Field Office (RSFO) area (not

more than 465 wells or well locations

on Federal lands and/or Federal mineral

estate) and will allow 1,200 new wells/

well locations within the jurisdictional

boundary of the Rawlins Field Office

(RFO) area (not more than 600 wells or

well locations on Federal lands, and/or

Federal mineral estate) for a total of

2,130 well locations. This is assuming

50 percent of the wells will be drilled

on Federal lands and/or mineral estate.

Should private/State land development

trends exceed 50 percent of the wells,

the number of wells permitted on

Federal estate will be limited

accordingly. The total amount of new

roads and new pipelines, and the

number of ancillary facilities will be

reduced to accommodate the number of

wells drilled. This will include

approximately 1,100 miles of access

road, 1,100 miles of pipeline, 3–4

compressor stations, 3–4 water disposal

wells, 7 water evaporation facilities, 36

water wells, and 1 gas processing

facility.

Approval of the Proposed Action, as

modified, provides for managing the

CD/WII project area in accordance with

the Federal Land Policy and

Management Act (FLPMA) (Sec. 202(e)),

in a manner that allows for natural gas

development while continuing to

provide for the existing principal and

major uses recognized by the land use

plans (i.e. domestic livestock grazing,

wildlife development and utilization,

mineral exploration and production,

and outdoor recreation) for this area.

The Proposed Action, as modified,

sustains the long-term availability of

other resources while promoting

stability of local and regional

economies, environmental integrity, and

conservation of resources for future

generations. The approved action, as

modified, will also provide for complete

conformance with BLM RMPs for both

the RSFO and the RFO areas. Reducing

the number of wells and associated

facilities to be developed within the

jurisdictional boundary of the RFO area

will help ensure the project will comply

with the current reasonably foreseeable

oil and gas development scenarios

projected in the GDRA RMP and the

planning decisions these projections

may have influenced. Furthermore, the

reduction in the allowable wells and the

associated development for this project

provides an opportunity for other oil

and gas activity to occur outside the

project area while a review of the

existing GDRA RMP is being completed.

The decision is consistent with all

Federal, State, and county authorizing

actions required to implement the

project and with National policy. More

detailed rationale and justification for

the decision to select the Proposed

Action with modifications are outlined

in the ROD.

Dated: June 14, 2000.

Alan R. Pierson,

State Director.

[FR Doc. 00–15581 Filed 6–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY070–00–1310–EJ]

Notice of Intent To Prepare an

Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an

environmental impact statement for oil

and gas development in the Powder

River Basin, Wyoming, in Campbell,

Sheridan, Johnson and the northern

portion of Converse Counties.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land

Management (BLM) under the National

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must

analyze the impacts of actions we

permit on Federal lands and minerals.

As part of this analysis, the cumulative

affects of the proposed action and other

activities occurring in the area must be

considered. Two Environmental

Assessments (EAs) (Gillette North, and

Lower Prairie Dog Creek) and two

Environmental Impact Statements (EISs)

(Gillette South and WYODAK) to

address proposed coalbed methane

(CBM) development have been

completed in the area. A third EA, the

WYODAK drainage EA, is currently

underway. When the WYODAK EIS was

completed in November of 1999, it

became apparent there was a demand to

drill additional wells above the 5,890

analyzed.

Part of the new analysis will be to

determine if the Buffalo Resource

Management Plan needs to be updated

in order to support continued

development.

Our recent reasonable foreseeable

development scenario indicates we

could see an additional 30,000 CBM

wells and 3,000 oil wells or more in the

Powder River Basin between now and

the year 2010 if development success

continues as it has been. These numbers

include development on all ownerships.

DATES: Comments to be considered in

the draft EIS should be submitted by

June 30, 2000. The draft EIS should be

available for public review by April 15,

of 2001.

ADDRESSES: Questions or concerns

should be addressed to Paul Beels in the

BLM Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort

Street, Buffalo, WY 82834.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Beels, phone 307–684–1100.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The

following are some of the major issues

raised during the preparation of the

WYODAK CBM EIS and in addition,

comments received for the WYODAK

38572 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 120 / Wednesday, June 21, 2000 / Notices

drainage EA. These issues are provided

to help you understand what has

occurred in past environmental

documents and perhaps stimulate

additional thoughts, questions, and

issues.

• People were concerned with the

loss of hydraulic head related to

groundwater associated with the coal

seam. Concerns related to lowering of

water levels and increased pumping

costs because water would have to be

pumped from greater depths.

• Questions were posed on what

effects the coalbed methane

development would have on air quality.

Of concern were possible hazardous

emissions and pollutants released as a

result of compressor emissions.

• Disposing water on the surface

raised concerns about water quality due

to possible increased erosion and effects

on irrigated lands.

• There were concerns about

potential for increased weed

infestations.

• There were concerns about longterm affects resulting from depletion of

groundwater.

• Concerns were raised regarding

impacts to threatened and endangered

species, grouse, and raptors.

• Gas venting from recently drilled

wells was a concern.

• Noise from operation of

compressors was a concern.

• Concern was expressed about the

effects of surface disposal of water and

operating a ranch with ongoing methane

development operations.

Public scoping meetings will be held

on June 6, 2000, at 7 p.m. at the Holiday

Inn in Sheridan, Wyoming; June 7,

2000, at 7 p.m. at Colonel Bozeman’s in

Buffalo, Wyoming; June 8, 2000, at 7

p.m. at the Thunder Basin Hotel in

Gillette, Wyoming; and June 12, 2000, at

7 p.m. at the Best Western in Douglas,

Wyoming. The purpose of the meetings

is to solicit comments regarding the

proposal and answer questions about

issues or concerns you may have. We

will use the feedback in the preparation

of the EIS.

Dated: June 14, 2000.

Alan R. Pierson,

State Director.

[FR Doc. 00–15582 Filed 6–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–22–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NV–930–1430–01; N–56474]

Notice of Realty Action; Nevada

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management,

Interior.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The following described land

in Elko County, Nevada has been

examined and found suitable for

classification for lease/purchase under

the Recreation and Public Purposes Act

(R&PP) of June 14, 1926, as amended (43

U.S.C. 869 et seq.). The lands will not

be offered for lease/purchase until at

least 60 days after the date of

publication of this Notice in the Federal

Register.

Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada

T. 34 N., R. 55 E.

Section 2, Lots 1–2, S1⁄2, S1⁄2NE1⁄4.

Containing 164.09 acres, more or less.

DATES: The land will become segregated

on June 21, 2000. Comments are due in

this office by August 7, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Detailed information concerning this

action is available for review at the

Bureau of Land Management, Elko Field

Office, 3900 Idaho Street, Elko, Nevada.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Elko

County School District intends to use

the land for a transportation facility and

school complex. The lease/patent, when

issued, will be subject to the provisions

of the Recreation and Public Purposes

Act, applicable regulations of the

Secretary of the Interior, and will

contain the following reservations to the

United States.

1. A right-of-way thereof for ditches

and canals constructed by the authority

of the United States; Act of August 30,

1890 (43 U.S.C. 945).

2. All mineral deposits in the lands so

patented, and to it, or persons

authorized by it, the right to prospect

for, mine and remove such deposits

from the same under applicable laws

and regulations to be established by the

Secretary of the Interior.

The lease/patent will be subject to all

prior and existing rights.

The land is not required for any

Federal purpose. The classification and

subsequent lease/conveyance are

consistent with the Bureau’s planning

for the area and would be in the public

interest.

Upon publication of this Notice of

Realty Action in the Federal Register,

the subject lands will be segregated from

all forms of appropriation under the

public land laws, including locations

under the mining laws, except for

recreation and public purposes and

leasing under the mineral leasing laws.

The segregative effect shall terminate

upon issuance of a patent or as specified

in an opening order to be published in

the Federal Register, whichever occurs

first.

For a period of 45 days from the date

of publication of this notice in the

Federal Register, interested parties may

submit comments to the Field Manager,

Elko Field Office, 3900 Idaho Street,

Elko, NV 89801. Any objections will be

evaluated by the State Director, who

may sustain, vacate or modify this realty

action. In the absence of timely filed

objections, the classification of the lands

described in this Notice will become

effect 60 days from the date of

publication in the Federal Register.

Classification Comments: Interested

parties may submit comments involving

the suitability of the land for lease/

conveyance under the Recreation and

Public Purposed Act. Comments on the

classification are restricted to whether

the land is physically suited for the

proposal, whether the use will

maximize the future use or uses of the

land, whether the use is consistent with

local planning and zoning, or if the use

is consistent with State and Federal

programs.

Application Comments: Interested

parties may submit comments regarding

the specific use proposed in the

application and plan of development,

whether the BLM followed proper

administrative procedures in reaching

the decision, or any other factor not

directly related to the suitability of the

land for a county transportation facility

and school complex.

Dated: June 7, 2000.

David L. Stout,

Associate Field Manager.

[FR Doc. 00–15610 Filed 6–20–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310–HC–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY–030–2000–1060–JJ]

Notice of Intent to Remove Stray Wild

Horses

SUMMARY: The Wild, Free Roaming

Horse and Burro Act (Pub. L. 92–95)

requires that, among other things, horses

that exceed the Appropriate

Management Levels (AMLs) established

for them or stray from designated Herd

Management Areas (HMAs) be removed.

In order to accomplish that, the Rawlins

and Lander Field Offices of the Bureau