[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 151 (Wednesday, August 6, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 42239]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20670]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

(DOE/SEIS/PEIR-0158S)


Public Hearings on Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement/Program Environmental Impact Report; Naval Petroleum Reserves

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of Public Hearings on the Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement/Program Environmental Impact Report 
(SEIS/PEIR).

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) and the California Environmental Quality Act of 1970 (CEQA), the 
Department of Energy (DOE) and Kern County, California, have prepared a 
draft SEIS/PEIR to assess the environmental effects of the sale of all 
rights, title, and interest of the Federal government in Naval 
Petroleum Reserve Numbered 1 (NPR-1) pursuant to the National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Pub. L. 104-106).

INVITATION TO COMMENT: To ensure that the full range of issues related 
to these actions is addressed, comments on the content of the draft 
SEIS/PEIR are invited from all interested parties. Agencies, 
organizations, and the general public are also invited to present 
comments at the public hearing as indicated below. Written comments 
will be addressed in the final SEIS/PEIR.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or questions concerning the aforementioned 
actions should be directed to: Mr. Anthony J. Como, NEPA Document 
Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Fossil Energy, (FE-27), Room 3H-
087, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-
5935.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information on the EIS 
process, please contact: Carol Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA 
Policy and Assistance, (EH-42) U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-4600 or 1-800-
472-2756.
    The scheduled public hearing is: August 26, 1997 at 2 p.m.-4 p.m. 
and 7 p.m.-9 p.m., Double Tree Inn, 3100 Camino del Rio Court, 
Bakersfield, CA 93308.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DOE prepared an EIS in 1979 (DOE/EIS-
0012) which analyzed operation of NPR-1, including construction, 
drilling, pumping and maintenance activities to achieve a maximum 
efficient rate of production. In 1993, DOE prepared a supplemental EIS 
(DOE/SEIS-0158) that updated the analysis of the impacts of oil and gas 
production at NPR-1 under continued Federal ownership and operation.
    The DOE has determined that the sale of NPR-1, as required by P.L. 
104-106, constitutes a major Federal action which may have a 
significant impact upon the environment within the meaning of NEPA. As 
a result of this determination, the DOE is preparing a second 
supplemental EIS in compliance with NEPA. Further, after consultation 
with Kern County, California, both agencies determined that the 
proposed action could have a significant effect on the environment 
within the meaning of CEQA. Significant impacts may occur because 
private-sector operation of NPR-1 could result in accelerated levels of 
development and different types of activities than under continued 
government ownership. The sale of NPR-1 was not analyzed until the 1993 
SEIS. In addition, action to be undertaken by California state 
government and local agencies in conjunction with the proposed action 
fall under the requirements of CEQA. Kern County is serving as the lead 
agency for the CEQA process. For these reasons, and others spelled out 
in the document, DOE and Kern County are preparing this joint 
Supplement to the 1993 SEIS under NEPA and a PEIR under CEQA to cover 
foreseeable impacts from the proposed sale as well as reasonable 
alternatives.

Comments and Hearing

    The purpose of the public hearing is to obtain information from 
interested parties for the final SEIS/PEIR. This meeting will be 
conducted informally; however, a transcript of the meeting will be 
prepared. The presiding officer will establish the order of speakers 
and provide any additional procedures necessary for the conduct of the 
hearing.
    Speakers will be allotted approximately 20 minutes for their oral 
statement. Written comments will be incorporated into the final SEIS/
PEIR. The meeting will commence at the time specified above and will 
continue until those present who wish to speak have had an opportunity 
to do so.
    A transcript of the hearing will be retained by the DOE and, upon 
request, made available for inspection and copying at the Freedom of 
Information Library, room 1E-090, Forrestal Bldg., 1000 Independence 
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 
p.m., Monday through Friday. A copy of the hearing transcript also will 
be retained by Kern County and, upon request, made available for 
inspection and copying at the office of the Special Projects Division 
Chief, County of Kern Planning Department, 2700 ``M'' Street, Suite 
100, Bakersfield, CA 93301, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday.

Draft SEIS/PEIR Availability

    Those individuals who would like to receive a copy of the draft 
SEIS/PEIR should notify Mr. Anthony Como at the address given above.
    Members of Congress, State and local officials, and interested and 
affected persons, organizations, and agencies have been sent copies of 
the draft SEIS/PEIR. Copies also have been placed in Kern County Public 
Libraries.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on July , 1997.
Anthony J. Como,
NEPA Document Manager.
[FR Doc. 97-20670 Filed 8-5-97; 8:45 am]
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