## U

. S

. Department of the Interior

Bureau ot Land Management

Pinedale 

### cno Pock Sprngs 

### F ctd 

### O!fces

# ~fCORD 

# Of D[CISJON**~JONAH** 

# INrlll DRilliNG PROJtCT

SUBltTTt COUNTY, WYOMING

## RECORD OF DECISION

FOR

JONAH INFILL DRILLING PROJECT

ENVI RONMENTAL IMP ACT STATEMENT

APPROVING OFFICIAL:

R obe rt 

### A. Bennett

Wyoming State Director U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Land Management

Wyoming State Office

Cheyenne, VVyonlingi 

### T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

S U M M A R Y

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O f f

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P U B L I C I N V O L V E M E N T

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S U M M A R Y O F P R O P O S E D A C T I O N A N D A L T E R N A T I V E S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1

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N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e

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P r o p o s e d A c t i o n

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b a n c e

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B L M P r e f

e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

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A L T E R N A T I V E S C O N S I D E R E D A N D E L I M I N A T E D F R O M D E T A I L E D S T U D Y

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

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O t h e r A l t e r n a t i v e s C o n s i d e r e d a n d E l i m i n a t e d f r o m D e t a i l e d A n a l y s i s

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 5

E N V I R O N M E N T A L L Y P R E F E R R E D A L T E R N A T I V E

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 6

A P P E A L P R O C E S S

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 7

E R R A T A

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 9

A P P E N D I C E S

A

. J o n a h I n f

i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t A d m i n i s t r a t i v e R e q u i r e m e n t s

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. O p e r a t o r

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j e c t A r e a

D

. U

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. F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e C o n c u r r e n c e L e t t e r

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. S u m m a r y o f P u b l i c C o m m e n t s o n t h e J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t F E I S a n d B L M ’ s

R e s p o n s e si i 

### L i s t o f F i g u r e s

1

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2



### L i s t o f T a b l e s

1

. E n C a n a P r o p o s e d C M F u n d i n g

, J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91 

## R E C O R D O F D E C I S I O N

f o r t h e

J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o j e c t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t S t a t e m e n t

S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, W y o m i n g

S U M M A R Y

T h i s R e c o r d o f D e c i s i o n ( R O D ) d o c u m e n t s t h e W y o m i n g S t a t e D i r e c t o r ’ s d e c i s i o n t o a p p r o v e

, w i t

h m i n o r

m o d i f i c a t i o n s

, t h e p r e f

e r r e d a l t e r n a t i v e a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e F i n a l J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t ( J I D P ) 1 F i n a l

E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t S t a t e m e n t ( F E I S )

. T h e J I D P F E I S a n a l y z e s v a r i o u s o p t i o n s f

o r o i l a n d g a s r e c o v e r

y

a n d r e s o u r c e m i t i g a t i o n

. T h e d e c i s i o n e m p h a s i z e s l i m i t i n g a d d i t i o n a l s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d p e r f

o r m i n g

i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n a n d o f f

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q u a l i t y

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, a n d c o n t i n u e d r e s o u r c e m o n i t o r i n g

a n d c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h f

e d e r a l a n d s t a t e a g e n c i e s

. T h e R O D p r o v i d e s t h e p l a n f o r f u t u r e m a n a g e m e n t o f t

h e

f e d e r a l s u r f

a c e a n d m i n e r a l e s t a t e i n t h e J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t A r e a ( J I D P A )

. T h e J I D P A c o m p r i s e s

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 3 0

, 5 0 0 a c r e s

, o f w h i c h 2 8

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, 1

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i s s t a t e s u r f

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. F i g u r e 1 s h o w s t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e J I D P A

. T h e f i n d i n g s i n t h e J I D P F E I S a n d d e c i s i o n s o f t h i s R O D a r e

b a s e d u p o n a n o p e n a n d c o l l a b o r a t i v e p u b l i c p r o c e s s

. T h e S t a t e o f W y o m i n g

, S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, i n d i v i d u a l s

,

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d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h t h e B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t ( B L M )

. P u b l i c i n v o l v e m e n t w a s s o l i c i t e d

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i n c r e a s i n g d o m e s t i c e n e r g y s u p p l y a n d h e l p i n g t o r e d u c e t h e c o u n t r y ’ s d e p e n d e n c e o n f o r e i g n s o u r c e s o f

o i l a n d g a s

. T h e f

i n a l p r o j e c t p l a n a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e J I D P F E I S w a s r e c e n t l y c i t e d b y t h e U

. S

. E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y ( E P A ) a s a “ m o d e l o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n ” t h a t s u c c e s s f u l l y b a l a n c e s

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... w h i l e p r o t e c t i n g t h e e n v i r o n m e n t o f s o u t h w e s t e r n

W y o m i n g

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.



## D E C I S I O N

T h e B L M a d o p t s t h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r

n a t i v e ( w i t h m o d i f

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o r i n f i l l d r i l l i n g o f t h e J I D P A

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. T h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e i n v o l v e s y e a r

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l i m i t i n g t h e t o t a l s u r f

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b a n c e w i t h i n t h e J I D P A b o u n d a r i e s w i l l b e a l l o c a t e d t o O p e r a t o r s o n a n o p e r a t e d

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. T h e o b j e c t i v e s a d d r e s s k e y

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. T h e o b

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. T h e B L M w i l l u s e t h e s e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l a g e n c i e s t o

a d a p t m a n a g e m e n t d e c i s i o n s

.

T h i s d e c i s i o n i s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h b o t h t h e P i n e d a l e R e s o u r c e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n ( R M P ) a n d G r e e n R i v e r

R M P

. T h i s d e c i s i o n i s n o t t h e f i n a l r e v i e w o r a p p r o v a l f o r a c t i o n s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e J I D P

. T h e

A u t h o r i z e d O f

f i c e r w i l l r e v i e w a n d a u t h o r i z e e a c h c o m p o n e n t o f t h e p r o j e c t t h a t i n v o l v e s d i s t u r

b a n c e o f

f e d e r a l l a n d s o n a s i t e

- s p e c i f i c b a s i s

. T h e m e t h o d s u s e d t o e v a l u a t e a n d a u t h o r i z e e a c h s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g

a c t i v i t y i n c l u d e

, b u t a r e n o t l i m i t e d t o

, a n A p p l i c a t i o n f o r P e r m i t t o D r i l l ( A P D )

, r i g h t

- o f

- w a y ( R O W )

g r a n t

, S u n d r y N o t i c e

, o r S p e c i a l U s e P e r m i t w i t h t h e s u p p o r t i n g e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w

.



## R E A S O N S F O R T H E D E C I S I O N

T h e J I D P E I S w a s p r e p a r e d i n r e s p o n s e t o l e a s e h o l d e r s ’ r e q u e s t s t o e x e r c i s e t h e t e r m s a n d c o n d i t i o n s o f

t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e o i l a n d g a s l e a s e s i n t h e p r o j e c t a r e a

. T h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s o f t h i s d e c i s i o n a r e f u l l y

d i s c l o s e d i n t h e D r a f

t a n d F i n a l E I S s f

o r t h e p r o j e c t

. T h e d e c i s i o n t o a p p r o v e t h e J I D P a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e

P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e i s i n c o n f o r m a n c e w i t h t h e B L M l a n d u s e p l a n s f o r t h e P i n e d a l e a n d R o c k S p r i n g s

F i e l d O f f i c e s c o v e r i n g t h e J I D P A

.

T h e d e c i s i o n s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s R O D e n s u r e t h e e f f e c t i v e r e c o v e r y o f t h e o i l a n d g a s r e s o u r c e w i t h i n t h e

J I D P A

. P e r f

o r m a n c e

- b a s e d m i t i g a t i o n a n d B M P s e n s u r e d e s i r e d f u t u r e r e s o u r c e c o n d i t i o n s w i l l b e

a c h i e v e d

. I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h i s d e c i s i o n w i l l r e s u l t i n p r o d u c t i o n o f n a t i o n a l l y s i g n i f i c a n t o i l a n d n a t

u r a l

g a s r e s o u r c e s c o n s i s t e n t w i t h T h e N a t i o n a l E n e r g y P o l i c y ( M a y 2 0 0 1 )

. A l t h o u g h t h e p r o p o s e d

d e v e l o p m e n t r e q u i r e s i n t e n s i v e s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s t h a t w i l l r e s u l t i n s i g n i f i c a n t i m p a c t s t o

r e s o u r c e v a l u e s

, i n c l u d i n g d i s p l a c e m e n t a n d / o r l o c a l e x t i r p a t i o n o f w i l d l i f e r e s o u r c e s

, l o n g

- t e r m

r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f h a b i t a t v a l u e a n d f u n c t i o n w i l l o c c u r t h r o u g h t h e p r o p o s e d r e c l a m a t i o n p r a c t i c e s a n d

m o n i t o r i n g e f

f o r t s

. W h i l e t h e i n t e n s i v e d e v e l o p m e n t w i l l l i m i t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r o t h e r u s e s f

o r m a n y

y e a r s

, t h e l o n g

- t e r m o u t c o m e w i l l b e f u l l r e c l a m a t i o n a n d t h e r e t u r n o f t h e s e l a n d s t o n e a r p r i o r e x i s t i n g

c o n d i t i o n s f

o r o t h e r u s e o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h e f u t u r e

. I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e o n s i t e m i t i g a t i o n

, t h e B L M w i l l

r e q u i r e o f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n a s p r o p o s e d b y t h e p r o j e c t p r o p o n e n t

, E n C a n a O i l & G a s ( U S A )

, I n c

.

I n r e a c h i n g t h i s d e c i s i o n

, t h e f o l l o w i n g k e y i s s u e s w e r e c o n s i d e r e d

. R a t i o n a l e f o r m i t i g a t i o n a n d a c t i o n s

t o a d d r e s s e a c h i s s u e a n d r e d u c e e f f e c t s a r e p r e s e n t e d

.4

S u r f a c e D i s t u r

b a n c e

. T h e t o t a l a r e a a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a s s o c i a t e d w i t h f

u r t h e r

d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e J I D P A a f f e c t s o t h e r r e s o u r c e s ( s o i l s

, v e g e t a t i o n

, w i l d l i f e a n d w i l d l i f

e h a b i t a t

, c u l t

u r a l

r e s o u r c e s )

. T h e e x t e n t a n d d u r a t i o n o f s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e c a n a d v e r s e l y a f

f e c t m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e s e

r e s o u r c e s

.

• T o m i n i m i z e s u r f

a c e d i s t u r b a n c e i m p a c t s

, t h e P r e f

e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e e m p l o y s o u t c o m e

- b a s e d

p e r f o r m a n c e o b

j e c t i v e s a n d e n c o u r a g e s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s t a t e

- o f

- t h e

- a r t

t e c h n o l o g i e s f

o r b o t h o p e r a t i o n a l a n d r e c l a m a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

.

• S o i l e r o s i o n a n d s a l i n i t y t r a n s p o r t m o d e l i n g p r e d i c t e d n o s e d i m e n t a t i o n o r s a l i n i t y r e a c h i n g t h e

G r e e n o r N e w F o r k R i v e r s

, t h o u g h m u l t i p l e r e p e a t e d r u n o f f e v e n t s c o u l d a f

f e c t t h e s e w a t e r w a y s

. A c c e l e r a t e d r e c l a m a t i o n

, i n t e n s i v e m o n i t o r i n g

, a n d u s e o f s e d i m e n t c o n t r o l s t r u c t u r e s w i l l f u r t h e r

m i n i m i z e i m p a c t s

. M a n a g i n g s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e o n a f

i e l d

- w i d e b a s i s a n d r e q u i r i n g s u c c e s s f u l

i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n i n e x c h a n g e f o r a l l o w i n g a d d i t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e p r o v i d e s a s t r o n g i n c e n t i v e

f o r O p e r a t o r s t o e m p l o y n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s t o r e d u c e t h e i r o p e r a t i o n a l f o o t p r i n t a n d a c c e l e r a t e t h e

r e c l a m a t i o n p r o c e s s t o r e a c h t h e i r t o t a l o i l a n d g a s r e s o u r c e r e c o v e r y o b j e c t i v e s

. R e d u c i n g t h e

o p e r a t i o n a l f

o o t p r i n t w i l l c r e a t e l e s s o v e r a l l d i s t u r b a n c e

, w h i l e a c c e l e r a t e d r e c l a m a t i o n w i l l e n s u r e

v e g e t a t i o n i s r e e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h e s h o r t e s t t i m e p o s s i b l e

. T h e s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e m a n a g e m e n t

p h i l o s o p h y o f s m a l l e r o p e r a t i o n a l f o o t p r i n t s a n d a c c e l e r a t e d r e c l a m a t i o n e f f o r t s a l s o b e n e f

i t

w i l d l i f e b y l i m i t i n g h a b i t a t f

r a g m e n t a t i o n a n d r e t u r n i n g h a b i t a t f u n c t i o n i n t h e s h o r t e s t p o s s i b l e

t i m e

.

• S u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e i m p a c t s o n c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e a r e m i t i g a t e d t h r o u g h a v o i d a n c e a n d

, w h e r e

a v o i d a n c e i s n o t p o s s i b l e

, b y r e c o v e r y a c t i o n s o n a s i t e

- s p e c i f i c b a s i s

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, a

p r o g r a m m a t i c a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e B L M

, S t a t e H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n O f f i c e

, a n d O p e r a t o r s i s

b e i n g p u r s u e d t o f

u r t h e r r e d u c e t h e o v e r a l l p o t e n t i a l f o r i m p a c t s t o c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s

.

S o c i o e c o n o m i c E f

f e c t s

. A n o t h e r i s s u e o f c o n c e r n i s t h e i n f l u x o f t r a n s i e n t w o r k e r s ( t h o s e w o r k e r s n o t

m a i n t a i n i n g p e r m a n e n t r e s i d e n c e ) a n d t h e a b i l i t y o f g o v e r n m e n t a l a g e n c i e s t o a d d r e s s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

s h o r t f a l l s s u c h a s c o m m u n i t y s u p p o r t f a c i l i t i e s

, h o s p i t a l s a n d m e d i c a l c l i n i c s

, e m e r g e n c y s e r v i c e s

, h o u s i n g

,

a n d r o a d s

. G a s f

i e l d e m p l o y e e s e x p r e s s t h e d e s i r e t o m a i n t a i n p e r m a n e n t r e s i d e n c e i n t h e a r e a

, b u t a r e

c o n c e r n e d a b o u t c o n t i n u e d e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n t h e J I D P A

. B o t

h t h e p r o j e c t p r o p o n e n t s a n d l o c a l

g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s i d e n t i f y p o t e n t i a l r e v e n u e s f

r o m t a x d o l l a r s

, r o y a l t i e s

, a n d j o b s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e

p r o p o s e d p r o

j e c t a s b e n e f

i t s t o t h e s t a t e

, c o u n t y

, a n d l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s

.

• T h e F E I S a n d S o c i o e c o n o m i c A n a l y s i s T e c h n i c a l S u p p o r t D o c u m e n t c o n t a i n e x t e n s i v e a n a l y s i s o f

p o t e n t i a l s o c i o e c o n o m i c i m p a c t s

. T o a s s i s t l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s i n p l a n n i n g

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l

a n n u a l l y p r o v i d e 3

- y e a r f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t f

o r e c a s t s t o t h e B L M

. T h e s e f o r e c a s t s w i l l b e m a d e

a v a i l a b l e t o l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s t o a s s i s t i n l o c a l c o m m u n i t y / c o u n t y / s t a t e p l a n n i n g e f

f o r t s

.

A i r Q u a l i t y

. O g o i n g a n d f u t u r e n a t u r a l g a s d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s i n t h e r e g i o n a

r e c o n t r i b u t i n g t o o b s e r v e d

c h a n g e s i n a i r q u a l i t y a n d n e g a t i v e l y i m p a c t i n g t h e n e a r b y C l a s s I w i l d e r n e s s a i r s h e d s

. A l s o o f c o n c e r n

a r e t h e p o t e n t i a l h e a l t h e f

f e c t s o n w o r k e r a n d a r e a r e s i d e n t s

, t h e p o t e n t i a l f

o r e x c e s s i v e a c i d d e p o s i t i o n

, t h e

p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s t o n i g h t t i m e s t a r g a z i n g

, a n d B L M ’ s a u t h o r i t y f o r r e q u i r i n g a i r q u a l i t y m i t i g a t i o n

.

• T h e s e c o n c e r n s h a v e b e e n e x t e n s i v e l y a n a l y z e d t h r o u g h a i r q u a l i t y m o d e l i n g i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h

t h e U

. S

. E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y ( E P A )

, W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l

Q u a l i t y

– A i r Q u a l i t y D i v i s i o n ( W D E Q

– A Q D ) a n d U S D A F o r e s t S e r v i c e ( U S F S )

.5 • M o d e l i n g p r e d i c t s n o s i g n i f i c a n t i m p a c t s t o p u b l i c h e a l t h f o r t h e a i r q u a l i t y p o l l u t a n t s m o d e l e d

. W o r k e r h e a l t h f

a l l s w i t h i n t h e p u r v i e w o f t h e O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h A d m i n i s t r a t i o n

.

• W D E Q i s t h e r e g u l a t o r y a u t h o r i t y t o m a i n t a i n a n d m o n i t o r c o m p l i a n c e w i t h s t a t e a n d f e d e r a l a i r

q u a l i t y p u b l i c h e a l t h s t a n d a r d s

. B L M w i l l c o n t i n u e t o w o r k i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h W D E Q

, E P A

,

a n d t h e U S F S t o m o n i t o r a i r q u a l i t y f o r p u b l i c h e a l t h

, i n c l u d i n g o z o n e m o n i t o r i n g

.

• B o t h m o d e l e d a n d m o n i t o r e d a t m o s p h e r i c d e p o s i t i o n i s w i t h i n l e v e l s o f a c c e p t a b l e c h a n g e

, a n d

n o s i g n i f i c a n t i m p a c t s t o l a k e c h e m i s t r y f r o m t h e J I D P a r e a n t i c i p a t e d

. M i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s

d e s i g n e d t o r e d u c e p o t e n t i a l v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t s a r e a n t i c i p a t e d t o a l s o r e d u c e i m p a c t s t o l a k e

c h e m i s t r y a n d a t m o s p h e r i c d e p o s i t i o n

.

• T h e m o d e l i n g i n d i c a t e d p o t e n t i a l s i g n i f i c a n t a d v e r s e v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t s i n v a r i o u s C l a s s 1 a r e a s

u s i n g a r e a s o n a b l e

- b u t

- c o n s e r v a t i v e s c e n a r i o

. T o a d d r e s s t h i s i s s u e

, t h e B L M

, W D E Q

, E P A

, a n d

U S F S j o i n t l y d e v e l o p e d p e r f o r m a n c e

- b a s e d m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s ( s e e A p p e n d i x A )

.

• M i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s d e s i g n e d t o r e d u c e p o t e n t i a l v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t s a r e a n t i c i p a t e d t o a l s o r e d u c e

i m p a c t s t o s t a r g a z i n g

.

W i l d l i f e

. W i l d l i f

e i s s u e s f o c u s o n t h r e e a r e a s : s a g e

- g r o u s e i m p a c t s

, p r o n g h o r n m i g r a t i o n c o r r i d o r s

, a n d

h a b i t a t i m p a c t s

. O v e r a l l w i l d l i f e i m p a c t s t r a t e g y i s d i s c u s s e d b e l o w

, f o l l o w e d b y a s p e c i f

i c d i s c u s s i o n o f

e a c h o f t h e t h r e e i s s u e s

.

• A f t e r f e d e r a l d e c i s i o n s a u t h o r i z i n g t h e c u r r e n t l e v e l o f J o n a h F i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t ( 1 6 w e l l p a d s p e r

s e c t i o n

, o r 4 0

- a c r e s p a c i n g )

, t h e W y o m i n g G a m e a n d F i s h D e p a r t m e n t ( W G F D ) i s s u e d a g u i d a n c e

d o c u m e n t f

o r o i l a n d g a s d e v e l o p m e n t i m p a c t s t o w i l d l i f e ( R e c o m m e n d

a t i o n s f o r D e v e l o p m e n t o f

O i l a n d G a s R e s o u r c e s w i t h i n C r u c i a l a n d I

m p o r t a n t W i l d l i f e H a b i t a t s

, D e c e m b e r 6

, 2 0 0 4 )

. U s i n g t h e d e f

i n i t i o n s i n t h i s g u i d a n c e

, t h e c u r r e n t s t a t e o f d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e J o n a h F i e l d h a d

a l r e a d y r e a c h e d a t h r e s h o l d ( o i l a n d g a s d e v e l o p m e n t a t l e v e l s g r e a t e r t h a n f o u r w e l l p a d s p e r 6 4 0

-

a c r e s e c t i o n [ 1 6 0

- a c r e s p a c i n g ] )

. T h e W G F D r e p o r t r e c o m m e n d s o f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n t o a d d r e s s

i m p a c t s w h e n t h i s t h r e s h o l d i s e x c e e d e d

.

• T o a d d r e s s t h e c u m u l a t i v e i m p a c t s w i t h i n t h e J I D P A

, t h i s d e c i s i o n i m p l e m e n t s t h r e e s t r a t e g i e s ; 1 )

r e t u r n f i e l d h a b i t a t f

u n c t i o n i n t h e s h o r t e s t t i m e p o s s i b l e

, 2 ) p e r f o r m o n

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n t o t h e

e x t e n t p r a c t i c a b l e a n d e m p l o y c o m p e n s a t o r y ( o f f

- s i t e ) m i t i g a t i o n ( C M ) w h e n c o m p l e t e o n

- s i t e

m i t i g a t i o n i s n o t e f

f e c t i v e i n t h e s h o r t

- t e r m

, a n d 3 ) i n s t i t u t e a n a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s t o

e n s u r e m o n i t o r i n g a n d b o t h o n

- a n d o f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n a r e e f

f e c t i v e

.

• T o r e t u r n h a b i t a t f

u n c t i o n a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e

, t h i s d e c i s i o n i m p l e m e n t s a m a n a g e m e n t a p p r o a c h

t h a t p r o v i d e s a n i n c e n t i v e f o r r a p i d o n

- s i t e i n t e r i m a n d f i n a l r e c l a m a t i o n w h i l e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y

a l l o w i n g m a x i m u m f

l e x i b i l i t y i n f

i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t

. T h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l e s t a b l i s h a f u n d f o r C M

a s p a r t o f t h e i r o p e r a t i o n

. T h i s f u n d w i l l b e a d m i n i s t e r e d b y t h e J o n a h I n t e r a g e n c y M o n i t o r i n g a n d

M i t i g a t i o n O f

f i c e ( J I O ) e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h i s R O D ( s e e A p p e n d i x C )

. T h e J I O w i l l e v a l u a t e

m o n i t o r i n g a n d m i t i g a t i o n e f f e c t i v e n e s s a n d p r o v i d e a n n u a l a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s a s a p p r o p r i a t e t o t h e B L M f o r c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. W G F D a n d t h e G o v e r n o r o f

W y o m i n g h a v e c o o r d i n a t e d o n t h e s e s t r a t e g i e s

.

• S a g e

- G r o u s e I m p a c t s

. E f f e c t s t o t h i s s p e c i e s a n d i t s h a b i t a t s a r e a n i s s u e b e c a u s e o f t h e d e c l i n e

f r o m h i s t o r i c p o p u l a t i o n l e v e l s o f s a g e

- g r o u s e i n t h e J I D P A a n d t h e d e c l i n e i n o v e r a l l p o p u l a t i o n s6

a c r o s s t h e i r r a n g e

. P o t e n t i a l p r o j e c t e f f e c t s t o b r e e d i n g

, n e s t i n g

, b r o o d

- r e a r i n g

, a n d w i n t e r i n g

h a b i t a t a n d h a b i t a t f

u n c t i o n w e r e i d e n t i f

i e d a s p o t e n t i a l l y c o n t r i b u t i n g t o c o n t i n u e d p o p u l a t i o n

d e c l i n e s

. I t w a s a l s o n o t e d t h a t e x i s t i n g s a g e

- g r o u s e p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s a p p e a r t o b e i n a d e q u a t e

w i t h i n t h e J I D P A a n d w i t h t h e p r o p o s e d i n c r e a s e i n d e v e l o p m e n t

, e x i s t i n g p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s

w o u l d b e e v e n l e s s e f

f e c t i v e

.

o T h e F E I S a n a l y s i s d i s c l o s e d t h e i m p a c t s f r o m t h e c u r r e n t a n d a l t e r n a t i v e l e v e l s o f d i s t u r b a n c e

,

a n d r e c o g n i z e d t h a t t h e l o c a l p o p u l a t i o n w i l l l i k e l y b e c o m p l e t e l y d i s p l a c e d a n d / o r l o c a l l y

e x t i r p a t e d d u e t o f

u l l f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t

. H o w e v e r

, t h i s i s n o t a n t i c i p a t e d t o a f f e c t l o n g

- t e r m

s p e c i e s s u s t a i n a b i l i t y d u e t o t h e r e l a t i v e l y s m a l l s i z e o f t h e J I D P A i n r e l a t i o n t o o v e r a l l h a b i t a t

a v a i l a b i l i t y i n t h e a r e a

. F o r e x a m p l e

, t h e Y e l l o w p o i n t l e k c o m p l e x ( w h i c h i n c l u d e s t h e

J I D P A ) h a s s e e n a 2 5 % r e d u c t i o n i n m a l e l e k a t t e n d a n c e c o m p a r e d t o l o n g

- t e r m a v e r a g e s

,

w h i l e t h e n e a r

b y S p e e d w a y l e k c o m p l e x ( o u t s i d e t h e J I D P A ) h a s o b s e r v e d a 4 8 % i n c r e a s e i n

m a l e l e k a t t e n d a n c e

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, s u b s t a n t i a l o f f

- s i t e C M d i r e c t e d a t s a g e

- g r o u s e h a b i t a t

i m p r o v e m e n t s w i l l b e e m p l o y e d t o f u r t h e r m i t i g a t e i m p a c t s

.

• P r o n g h o r n M i g r a t i o n C o r r i d o r

. S u b l e t t e p r o n g h o r n h e r d m i g r a t i o n s a r e a f f e c t e d b y c u r

r e n t o i l a n d

g a s d e v e l o p m e n t

. C o n t i n u e d d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h i n t h e J I D P A a n d a t o t h e r l o c a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e

S u b l e t t e H e r d U n i t a r e a w i l l c u m u l a t i v e l y a f f e c t p r o n g h o r n s e a s o n a l m i g r a t i o n s

. H u n t e r s

, w i l d l i f e

e n t h u s i a s t s

, a n d w i l d l i f

e m a n a g e m e n t a g e n c i e s a l l c o n s i d e r t h e m a i n t e n a n c e o f e x i s t i n g m i g r a t o r y

c o r r i d o r s e x t r e m e l y i m p o r t a n t t o p r o n g h o r n p o p u l a t i o n m a i n t e n a n c e

.

o T h e F E I S a n a l y s i s d i s c l o s e d t h a t t h e s e i m p a c t s w i l l l i k e l y a f f e c t t r a d i t i o n a l p r o n g h o r n

u t i l i z a t i o n o f t h e J I D P A o n a l o n g

- t e r m b a s i s

. A s w i t h s a g e

- g r o u s e

, t h e s e l e c t e d a c t i o n i s n o t

a n t i c i p a t e d t o a f

f e c t o v e r a l l s p e c i e s s u s t a i n a b i l i t y d u e t o t h e p r o j e c t ’ s s m a l l f

o o t p r i n t a n d

a v a i l a b i l i t y o f s u i t a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e h a b i t a t s u r r o u n d i n g t h e J I D P A t h a t p r o v i d e s a d e q u a t e

o p p o r t u n i t y f

o r a n i m a l d i s p l a c e m e n t

. A l s o

, C M w i l l b e e m p l o y e d t o i m p l e m e n t a p p r o p r i a t e

p r o j e c t s

, s u c h a s h a b i t a t i m p r o v e m e n t

, t o f u r t h e r m i t i g a t e i m p a c t s

.

W i l d l i f e H a b i t a t

. R e s p o n d e n t s i n d i c a t e d t h a t

, w i t h i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e p r o p o s e d p r o j e c t

, t h e J I D P A

w o u l d n o l o n g e r b e s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t f o r m a n y w i l d l i f

e s p e c i e s ( e

. g

. , t h r e a t e n e d a n d e n d a n g e r e d s p e c i e s

, B L M

- s e n s i t i v e s p e c i e s

, a n d r a p t o r s )

. H a b i t a t l o s s w a s a t t r i b u t e d t o d i r e c t l o s s t h r o u g h s u r f

a c e d i s t u r b a n c e

, i n d i r e c t l o s s t h r o u g h a n i m a l a v o i d a n c e o f a r e a s p r o x i m a l t o d e v e l o p m e n t s

, a n d h a b i t a t f r a g m e n t a t i o n

( h a b i t a t i s n o l o n g e r s u i t a b l e f o r s p e c i e s r e q u i r i n g i n t a c t h a b i t a t p a t c h e s l a r g e r t h a n w h a t w o u l d b e

a v a i l a b l e i f t h e p r o

j e c t w e r e c o n s t r u c t e d )

.

o T h e F E I S a c k n o w l e d g e d t h a t h a b i t a t i m p a c t s w o u l d b e s u b s t a n t i a l d u e t o f u l l f i e l d

d e v e l o p m e n t

. T h e m i t i g a t i o n s t r a t e g y f o r l i m i t i n g t h e a l l o w a b l e s u r f a c e d i s t u r

b a n c e i s

d e s i g n e d t o e n s u r e a c c e l e r a t e d r e c l a m a t i o n b y t h e O p e r a t o r s a n d t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e l o n g

- t e r m

r e t u r n o f h a b i t a t f

u n c t i o n

. C o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n

, c o m m i t t e d t o b y t h e O p e r a t o r s a n d

a c c e p t e d b y t h e B L M a s a c o n d i t i o n o f a p p r o v a l

, s h o u l d r e s u l t i n s i g n i f i c a n t i m p r o v e m e n t s t o

e x i s t i n g h a b i t a t s a n d / o r d e v e l o p m e n t o f a d d i t i o n a l s u i t a b l e h a b i t a t s u s e d b y t h e a f f e c t e d

s p e c i e s

. T h e o f

f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n w i l l r e m a i n i n p l a c e a n d o f f s e t s o m e o f t h e o n

- s i t e i m p a c t s

u n t i l s u c h t i m e a s f

i n a l r e c l a m a t i o n o f t h e f

u l l f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t i m p a c t s o c c u r s

.

M a x i m i z e N a t u r a l G a s R e c o v e r y

. T h e B L M w a s p e r c e i v e d a s n o t r e s p o n d i n g t o i t s m a n d a t e u n d e r t h e

M i n e r a l L e a s i n g A c t t o m a x i m i z e r e c o v e r y o f a v a i l a b l e o i l a n d g a s r e s o u r c e s

. E x i s t i n g a n d p r o p o s e d

d e v e l o p m e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s ( l e a s e s t i p u l a t i o n s

, R M P r e q u i r e m e n t s

, a n d O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s ) l i m i t

t h e e c o n o m i c f

e a s i b i l i t y o f m a x i m i z i n g r e c o v e r y o f t h e J I D P A ’ s n a t u r a l g a s r e s o u r c e s

.7 • U n d e r t h e P r e f

e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l b e a b l e t o a c h i e v e t h e i r p r o p o s e d l e v e l o f

d e v e l o p m e n t o v e r t i m e

, b u t m u s t m e e t i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n g o a l s t o r e a c h t h e s e o b j e c t i v e s

. T h e B L M b e l i e v e s t h i s a p p r o a c h p r o v i d e s a g o o d b a l a n c e b e t w e e n o i l a n d g a s r e c o v e r y a n d

r e s o u r c e p r o t e c t i o n a n d p r o v i d e s f o r l o n g

- t e r m r e c l a m a t i o n a n d r e

- e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f n a t i v e

v e g e t a t i o n a n d w i l d l i f

e c o m m u n i t i e s

.

R a n g e / G r a z i n g

. C o n c e r n s f o r l i v e s t o c k o p e r a t i o n s i n t h e J I D P A i n c l u d e d i r e c t l o s s o f l i v e s t o c k f o r a g e ;

t h e p o t e n t i a l f

o r a r e d u c t i o n i n p e r m i t t e d l i v e s t o c k n u m b e r s ; w a t e r q u a l i t

y i m p a i r m e n t a t e x i s t i n g l i v e s t o c k

w a t e r i n g s o u r c e s ; l i v e s t o c k m o v e m e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s / a l t e r a t i o n s d u e t o p i p e l i n e t r e n c h e s

, r o a d s

, a n d f e n c e s ;

l i v e s t o c k m a n a g e m e n t p r o b l e m s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e i n a b i l i t y t o a c c e s s r e q u i r e d a r e a t w o

- t r a c k r o u t e s f

r o m

p r o j e c t

- d e v e l o p e d c r o w n e d

- a n d

- d i t c h e d r o a d s ; v e h i c l e c o l l i s i o n s ; d r i n k i n g c o n t a m i n a t e d w a t e r s f r o m

p r o j e c t p i t s ; e n t r a p m e n t i n p i p e l i n e t r e n c h e s ; a n d t h e i n c r e a s e i n f u g i t i v e d u s t e m i s s i o n s p o t e n t i a l l y

c a u s i n g d u s t

- i n d u c e d p n e u m o n i a

.

• T h o u g h t h e p r o

j e c t r e s u l t s i n t h e t e m p o r a r y a n d p o t e n t i a l l y l o n g

- t e r m l o s s o f a v a i l a b l e l i v e s t o c k

f o r a g e ( d e p e n d i n g o n t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e ’ s r e c l a m a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s )

, a n y

l o s s o f a n i m a l u n i t m o n t h s w i l l b e d e t e r m i n e d t h r o u g h r a n g e l a n d m o n i t o r i n g a n d

, i f n e c e s s a r y

,

a d d r e s s e d t h r o u g h t h e a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s

. A s d i s c u s s e d i n t h e F E I S

, t h e e f f e c t ( s ) o f

o t h e r p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s ( e

. g

. , t r a f f i c

, r o a d s

, o p e n t r e n c h e s

, e t c

. ) o n g r a z i n g o p e r a t i o n s c a n n o t b e

a c c u r a t e l y p r e d i c t e d a t t h i s t i m e

, b u t i t i s r e a s o n a b l e t o a s s u m e s o m e c o n f l i c t s m a y o c c u r

. M i t i g a t i o n a n d / o r s o l u t i o n s t o s u c h c o n f l i c t s w i l l a l s o b e a d d r e s s e d a s t h e y a r i s e

.

B L M M o n i t o r i n g / E n f

o r c e m e n t C a p a b i l i t y

. C o n c e r n w a s e x p r e s s e d t h a t B L M w o u l d f o c u s o n d r i l l i n g

a p p r o v a l s a n d n e g l e c t m o n i t o r i n g

, c o m p l i a n c e

, a n d r e s o u r c e p r o t e c t i o n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

. I t w a s s u g g e s t e d

t h i s m a y l e a d t o u n d e t e c t e d v i o l a t i o n s o f n u m e r o u s l a w s

, r u l e s

, a n d r e g u l a t i o n s ( e

. g

. , E n d a n g e r e d S p e c i e s

A c t

, C l e a n W a t e r A c t

, l e a s e s t i p u l a t i o n s

, R M P r e q u i r e m e n t s

, O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s r e q u i r e d u n d e r

p a s t p r o j e c t a u t h o r i z a t i o n s )

.

• B L M ’ s m o n i t o r i n g a n d e n f o r c e m e n t p r o c e d u r e s f

o r o i l a n d g a s e x p l o r a t i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t

o c c u r i n t h r e e s e p a r a t e p h a s e s : 1 ) a p p l i c a t i o n r e v i e w a n d p r o c e s s i n g

, 2 ) c o m p l i a n c e

, a n d 3 ) l o n g

t e r m m o n i t o r i n g o f m i t i g a t i o n e f f e c t i v e n e s s

.

A P D p r o c e s s i n g i n c l u d e s r e v i e w o f t h e s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t y a p p l i c a t i o n a n d o n

- s i t e

i n s p e c t i o n o f p r o p o s e d l o c a t i o n s

. R e s o u r c e s p e c i a l i s t s m a n a g e t h e v a r i o u s a s p e c t s o f t h i s p r o c e s s

a n d e n s u r e N E P A a n a l y s e s

, o n

- s i t e v i s i t s

, s i t e

- s p e c i f i c c o n d i t i o n s o f a p p r o v a l ( C O A s )

, a n d

m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e a p p r o p r i a t e

. S u f f i c i e n t p e r s o n n e l a r e a v a i l a b l e t o m e e t r e q u i r e m e n t s

.

A P D c o m p l i a n c e i n c l u d e s i n s p e c t i o n o f r o a d

, w e l l p a d

, a n d p i p e l i n e c o n s t r u c t i o n b y B L M

N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e S p e c i a l i s t s ( N R S s ) a n d / o r S u r f a c e C o m p l i a n c e S p e c i a l i s t s ( S C S s ) t o e n s u r e t h e

c o n s t r u c t i o n c o m p l i e s w i t h r e q u i r e m e n t s o f t h e s u r f a c e u s e p l a n i n t h e A P D

, s i t e

- s p e c i f i c a n d

p r o g r a m m a t i c N E P A d o c u m e n t a t i o n

, a n d t h e g u i d i n g l a n d u s e p l a n

. N R S s a n d S C S s a l s o m o n i t o r

p o s t

- d r i l l i n g ( i n t e r i m ) r e c l a m a t i o n p r o c e s s e s t o e n s u r e t h e s i t e i s a d e q u a t e l y s t a b i l i z e d a n d h a

b i t a t

r e s t o r a t i o n i s i n i t i a t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h i s R O D

. A P D c o m p l i a n c e a l s o i n c l u d e s r i g g i n g

- u p

, d r i l l i n g

, a n d c a s e

- s e t t i n g o p e r a t i o n s

, w h i c h a r e r a n d o m l y m o n i t o r e d b y B L M P e t r o l e u m

E n g i n e e r i n g T e c h n i c i a n s t o e n s u r e r e q u i r e d s a f e t y f e a t u r e s s u c h a s b l o w

- o u t p r e v e n t e r s o p e r a t e

p r o p e r l y a n d t h e s u r f

a c e c a s i n g i s p r o p e r l y c e m e n t e d t o p r o t e c t f r e s h g r o u n d w a t e r z o n e s

.

L o n g

- t e r m r e s o u r c e m o n i t o r i n g i n c l u d e s e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f b o t

h o n

- s i t e a n d o f

f

- s i t e

m i t i g a t i o n /

r e c l a m a t i o n t o e n s u r e t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f t h i s R O D a r e m e t

. T h e J o n a h I n t e r a g e n c y8

M o n i t o r i n g a n d M i t i g a t i o n O f f i c e ( J I O ) w a s e s t a b l i s h e d t o a d d r e s s t h e s e i s s u e s ( s e e A p p e n d i x C )

. A s a n i n t e r a g e n c y o f

f i c e

, t h e J I O s t a f

f ( W G F D

, W D E Q

, W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e

,

a n d B L M ) w i l l h a v e t h e a u t h o r i t y t o a d d r e s s a w i d e r a n g e o f p e r t i n e n t m o n i t o r i n g

, m i t i g a t i o n

,

a n d / o r c o m p l i a n c e i s s u e s

. T h i s o f f i c e w i l l a l s o p r o v i d e t h e B L M w i t h a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t o e s t a b l i s h e d p r o c e d u r e s w h e n e x i s t i n g d a t a i n d i c a t e s c h a n g e s a r e r e q u i r e d

.

O n e o f t h e m a

j o r c o n c e r n s e x p r e s s e d d u r i n g t h i s a n a l y s i s p r o c e s s b y b o t h t h e p u b l i c a n d v a r i o u s a g e n c i e s

w a s t h e i n a b i l i t y t o m i t i g a t e a l l p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s i n t h e J I D P A o n

- s i t e ( w i t h i n t h e J I D P A b o u n d a r i e s )

. I n r e s p o n s e t o t h i s c o n c e r n

, t h e O p e r a t o r s v o l u n t a r i l y p r o f f e r e d v a r y i n g l e v e l s o f C M t o p r o v i d e a m e a n s

t o c o m p l e t e o f

f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n t h a t m a y b e n e c e s s a r y d u e t o t h e l e v e l o f d e v e l o p m e n t a u t h o r i z e d

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, a p o r t i o n o f t h e s e f u n d s w i l l b e u s e d t o e s t a b l i s h a n d o p e r a t e t h e J I O t o p r o v i d e p r o j e c t

s p e c i f i c m o n i t o r i n g a n d m i t i g a t i o n ( b o t h o n

- a n d o f f

- s i t e )

. T h e J I O a l s o p r o v i d e s a m e a n s t o e n s u r e p r o j e c t

m o n i t o r i n g a n d m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e f u l f i l l e d a n d B L M r e c e i v e s r e l e v a n t a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t

r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s p e r i o d i c a l l y

.

T h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e m e e t s o n e o f t h e p r i m a r y g o a l s o f t h e P r e s i d e n t ’ s N a t i o n a l E n e r g y P o l i c y a n d

t h e E n e r g y P o l i c y A c t o f 2 0 0 5

, t o i n c r e a s e d o m e s t i c e n e r g y s u p p l i e s a n d r e d u c e t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ’

d e p e n d e n c e o n f

o r e i g n s o u r c e s o f e n e r g y

. D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s e f e d e r a l r e s o u r c e s s a t i s f

i e s r e q u i r e m e n t s o f

F L P M A a n d t h e M i n e r a l L e a s i n g A c t

. T h e l e a s i n g a n d s u b s e q u e n t p r o d u c t i o n o f f e d e r a l o i l a n d g a s

r e s o u r c e s p r o v i d e s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s

, t h e S t a t e o f W y o m i n g

, a n d a f f e c t e d l o c a l c o u n t i e s w i t h i n c o m e i n

t h e f o r m o f l e a s e r o y a l t y p a y m e n t s

. T h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e m e e t s t h e g o a l s o f t h e N a t i o n a l E n e r g y

P o l i c y a n d a c h i e v e s t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f t h e f

e d e r a l o i l a n d g a s l e a s i n g p r o g r a m s m a n a g e d b y t h e B L M

.

T h i s d e c i s i o n i s m a d e i n f u l l c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f t h e p u b l i c

, l o c a l

, s t a t e

, a n d o t h e r f e d e r a l a g e n c y i n p u t

. N o

s u b s t a n t i a l i s s u e s r e m a i n u n r e s o l v e d w i t h i n t h e s c o p e o f t h i s p r o p o s a l

, a s r a i s e d b y g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s

, i n d u s t r y

, g r o u p s

, o r i n d i v i d u a l s

.



## M I T I G A T I O N M E A S U R E S

I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t w i l l b e s u b

j e c t t o n u m e r o u s m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s

a p p l i c a b l e t o b o t h o n

- s i t e a n d o f f

- s i t e a c t i o n s

. T h e s e m e a s u r e s a r e a d d r e s s e d i n t w o s e c t i o n s

, o n

- s i t e

r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d o f

f

- s i t e r e q u i r e m e n t s

, e a c h o f w h i c h i s d e s c r i b e d b e l o w

.



## O n

- S i t e R e q u i r e m e n t s

O n

- s i t e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s

, C O A s

, a n d m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e u s e d t o g u i d e f i e l d

d e v e l o p m e n t a c t i v i t i e s t o c o m p e n s a t e f o r

, r e s o l v e

, m i n i m i z e

, o r a v o i d i m p a c t s t o r e s o u r c e s

. A p p e n d i x A

p r e s e n t s a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s

, p e r f o r m a n c e

- b a s e d o b

j e c t i v e s

, a n d p o t e n t i a l m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s

t o b e a p p l i e d w h e n s u p p o r t e d b y s i t e

- s p e c i f i c e n v i r o n m e n t a l r e v i e w

. O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s

, w h i c h

b e c o m e m a n d a t o r y r e q u i r e m e n t s w i t h p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h i s d e c i s i o n

, a r e i n c l u d e d i n A p p e n d i x B

.

F i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s c o n t a i n e d i n A p p e n d i x B o f t h e F E I S a r e a l s o i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t h i s d e c i s i o n

, a s

m o d i f i e d i n t h e E r r a t a s e c t i o n o f t h i s R O D

. T h e s e d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s i n c l u d e a T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n

, R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n

, a n d a H a z a r d o u s M a t e r i a l s M a n a g e m e n t S u m m a r y

.9



## O f f

- S i t e M i t i g a t i o n

O f f

- s i t e o r c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n ( C M ) i s n e c e s s a r y t o m i t i g a t e s o m e i m p a c t s t h a t c a n n o t b e a d e q u a t e l y

m i t i g a t e d o n s i t e

. I m p a c t s t o w i l d l i f e f r o m i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e c a n n o t b e a d e q u a t e l y

m i t i g a t e d o n s i t e

. R e c o g n i z i n g t h i s f a c t

, E n C a n a

, a n d p o t e n t i a l l y o t h e r O p e r a t o r s

, c o m m i t t e d t o f u n d

v a r y i n g l e v e l s o f C M d e p e n d i n g o n t h e a m o u n t o f n e w s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a u t h o r i z e d i n t h i s d e c i s i o n

. T h e s e f u n d i n g l e v e l s a r e i n c l u d e d i n T a b l e 1 b e l o w f o r t h e f i v e d e v e l o p m e n t s s c e n a

r i o s p r o v i d e d f

o r i n t h e

E n C a n a c o m m i t m e n t l e t t e r

.

T a b l e 1

. E n C a n a P r o p o s e d C M F u n d i n g

, J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t

, S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, W y o m i n g

, 2 0 0 6

F u n d i n g D i s t r i b u t i o n A m o u n t o f A d d i t i o n a l S u r f a c e D i s t u r b a n c e

A u t h o r i z e d i n t h e J o n a h D r i l l i n g P r o j e c t

R O D O f f s i t e W i l d l i f

e H a b i t a t

I m p r o v e m e n t P r o

j e c t s O t h e r M o n i t o r i n g

,

I n s p e c t i o n

, a n d

E n f o r c e m e n t A c t i v i t i e s T o t a l

1 6

, 2 0 0 o r G r e a t e r A c r e s N e w I n i t i a l S u r f a c e

D i s t u r b a n c e $ 2 0

. 5 m i l l i o n $ 8 m i l l i o n $ 2 8

. 5 m i l l i o n

B e t w e e n 1 2

, 0 0 0 a n d 1 6

, 1 9 9 A c r e s N e w

I n i t i a l S u r f

a c e D i s t u r b a n c e $ 1 6

. 5 m i l l i o n $ 8 m i l l i o n $ 2 4

. 5 m i l l i o n

B e t w e e n 1 1

, 0 0 0 a n d 1 1

, 9 9 9 A c r e s N e w

I n i t i a l S u r f

a c e D i s t u r b a n c e $ 1 3

. 5 m i l l i o n $ 6

. 2 m i l l i o n $ 1 9

. 7 m i l l i o n

B e t w e e n 1 0

, 0 0 0 a n d 1 0

, 9 9 9 A c r e s N e w

I n i t i a l S u r f

a c e D i s t u r b a n c e $ 7

. 5 m i l l i o n $ 4

. 6 m i l l i o n $ 1 2

. 1 m i l l i o n

B e t w e e n 8

, 3 0 0 a n d 9

, 9 9 9 A c r e s N e w I n i t i a l

S u r f a c e D i s t u r b a n c e $ 1

. 5 m i l l i o n $ 4 m i l l i o n $ 5

. 5 m i l l i o n

T h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e p e r m i t s a t o t a l c u m u l a t i v e n e w s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e o f 1 6

, 1 2 5 a c r e s

. T h i s

e q u a t e s t o a t o t a l c o m m i t m e n t o f $ 2 4

. 5 m i l l i o n i n C M f u n d i n g

, t o b e p r o v i d e d a s r e q u e s t e d b y t h e J I O

C h a r t e r M e m

b e r s a n n u a l l y i n i n c r e m e n t s n o t t o e x c e e d 2 0 % o f t h e t o t a l C M f u n d p e r y e a r

. T h e s e f

u n d s

w i l l b e a p p l i e d t o o f

f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n p r o

j e c t s a n d m a n a g e d b y t h e J I O

, w i t h o v e r s i g h t b y t h e A g e n c y

M a n a g e r s C o m m i t t e e ( s e e F E I S

, A p p e n d i x F )

. I n t h e e v e n t C M p r o f f e r e d f u n d s a r e w i t h h e l d

, f

u r t h e r

s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a l l o w e d u n d e r t h i s d e c i s i o n w o u l d n o t b e a u t h o r i z e d

.

P r o j e c t p r o p o s a l s w i l l b e a c c e p t e d f r o m a v a r i e t y o f s o u r c e s : f e d e r a l

, s t a t e o r l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s

,

e d u c a t i o n a l i n s t i t u t i o n s

, i n t e r e s t g r o u p s

, o r i n d i v i d u a l s

. I n i t i a l p r o j e c t s e l e c t i o n w i l l b e b y t h e J I O

, w i t h

f i n a l a p p r o v a l b y t h e B L M

. A p p r o v e d p r o j e c t s w i l l b e i m p l e m e n t e d a n d m a n a g e d b y t h e J I O

.



## P U B L I C I N V O L V E M E N T

I n S e p t e m

b e r 2 0 0 2

, E n C a n a O i l & G a s ( U S A )

, I n c

. ( E n C a n a ) d b a M c M u r r a y O i l C o m p a n y

, B P A m e r i c a

( B P )

, a n d o t h e r n a t u r a l g a s o p e r a t o r s

, c o l l e c t i v e l y k n o w n a s t h e O p e r a t o r s

, s u b m i t t e d a p r o p o s a l t o t h e

B L M t o f u r t h e r d e v e l o p t h e J o n a h F i e l d b y “ i n f i l l ” d r i l l i n g n a t u r a l g a s w e l l s i n w e l l s p a c i n g t h a t w o u l d b e

m o r e d e n s e t h a n w h a t h a d b e e n p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d

.1 0

O n M a r c h 1 3

, 2 0 0 3

, t h e B L M ’ s N o t i c e o f I n t e n t ( N O I ) a p p e a r e d i n t h e F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r a n d i n v i t e d t h e

p u b l i c t o c o m m e n t o r p r o v i d e r e s e a r c h i n f o r m a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e O p e r a t o r s ’ p r o p o s a l t o i n f i l l d r i l l i n t h e

J o n a h n a t u r a l g a s f

i e l d

. O n M a r c h 2 6

, 2 0 0 3

, c o p i e s o f a s c o p i n g n o t i c e d e s c r i b i n g t h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n a n d

s e e k i n g c o m m e n t s w e r e m a i l e d t o a p p r o p r i a t e g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c e s

, e l e c t e d o f

f i c i a l s

, p u b l i c l a n d u s e r s

,

g r o u p s

, n e w s p a p e r s

, a n d r a d i o a n d t e l e v i s i o n s t a t i o n s

. A s c o p i n g m e e t i n g w a s h e l d i n P i n e d a l e

, W y o m i n g

,

o n A p r i l 1 7

, 2 0 0 3

. A n a d d i t i o n a l p u b l i c m e e t i n g w a s h e l d o n N o v e m b e r 1 3

, 2 0 0 3

, t o p r e s e n t t o t h e p u b l i c

t h e d r a f t p r o j e c t a l t e r n a t i v e s t h a t h a d b e e n d e v e l o p e d f o r a n a l y s i s i n t h e E I S t o a d d r e s s p u b l i c c o n c e r n s

. O n N o v e m

b e r 2 0

, 2 0 0 3

, E n C a n a a n d B P j o i n t l y s u b m i t t e d t o t h e B L M a r e v i s e d d e v e l o p m e n t p r o p o s a l

. T h e O p e r a t o r s ’ p r o p o s e d r e v i s e d d e v e l o p m e n t h a d e v o l v e d f r o m t h e p r o p o s e d a c t i v i t i e s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e

M a r c h 2 0 0 3 N O I

.

O n D e c e m

b e r 1 2

, 2 0 0 3

, t h e B L M n o t i f i e d s c o p i n g p a r t i c i p a n t s o f t h e O p e r a t o r

- p r o p o s e d d e v e l o p m e n t

p l a n r e v i s i o n s a n d s o l i c i t e d f u r t h e r c o m m e n t

. B L M ’ s l e t t e r d e s c r i b i n g t h e O p e r a t o r s ’ r e v i s e d p r o p o s a l

p r o v i d e d t h e p u b l i c w i t h a 3 0

- d a y r e v i e w a n d c o m m e n t p e r i o d

.

N u m e r o u s i s s u e s a n d c o n c e r n s w e r e i d e n t i f i e d i n c o m m e n t s r e c e i v e d b y B L M

. A l l c o m m e n t s r e c e i v e d

b e t w e e n M a r c h 2 0 0 3 a n d A u g u s t 2 0 0 4 w e r e r e v i e w e d a n d a n a l y z e d

. T h e B L M i d e n t i f i e d n i n e k e y i s s u e s

b a s e d p r i m a r i l y u p o n t h e a s s u m e d q u a n t i t y

, i n t e n s i t y

, o r d u r a t i o n o f a p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t

, a n d / o r t h e l e v e l o f

i n t e r e s t i n t h e i s s u e

. T h e s e i s s u e s w e r e u s e d t o d e v e l o p t h e r a n g e o f a l t e r n a t i v e s a n a l y z e d i n t h e d r a f t

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s t a t e m e n t ( D E I S )

.

T h e D E I S

, i n c l u d i n g t e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t d o c u m e n t s f o r a i r q u a l i t y a n d s o c i o e c o n o m i c s

, w a s r e l e a s e d t o t h e

p u b l i c a n d a n o t i c e o f a v a i l a b i l i t y ( N O A ) w a s p u b l i s h e d i n t h e F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r o n F e b r u a r y 1 1

, 2 0 0 5

. A l l

d o c u m e n t s w e r e a v a i l a b l e i n p a p e r a n d e l e c t r o n i c f o r m a t s ( C D

- R O M )

, a s w e l l a s b e i n g a v a i l a b l e f o r

d o w n l o a d f

r o m t h e B L M ’ s w e b s i t e

. T h e c o m m e n t p e r i o d e n d e d A p r i l 1 2

, 2 0 0 5

.

A f t e r p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e D E I S

, B L M d e t e r m i n e d t h e a i r q u a l i t y m o d e l i n g a n d a n a l y s i s i n t h e D E I S w a s

i n a d e q u a t e t o e v a l u a t e i m p a c t s

. A n a l y s i s i n t h e Q u e s t a r Y e a r

- R o u n d D r i l l i n g P r o

p o s a l E n v i r o n m e n t

a l

A s s e s s m e n t ( N o v e m

b e r 2 0 0 4 ) s h o w e d e m i s s i o n l e v e l s o f c e r t a i n p o l l u t a n t s w i t h i n t h e r e g i o n a l a i r s h e d h a d

i n c r e a s e d s i g n i f

i c a n t l y s i n c e t h e o r i g i n a l D E I S d a t a h a d b e e n c o m p i l e d

.

T h e B L M i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h o t h e r f e d e r a l a n d s t a t e g o v e r n m e n t s w i t h j u r i s d i c t i o n d e t e r m i n e d t h a t

s u p p l e m e n t a l a i r q u a l i t y m o d e l i n g a n d a n a l y s i s w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d

, a n a i r q u a l i t y t e c h n i c a l s u p p o r t

d o c u m e n t s u p p l e m e n t w o u l d b e p u b l i s h e d

, a n d t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e s e s t u d i e s w o u l d b e i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e

f i n a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s t a t e m e n t ( F E I S )

. O n A p r i l 1 2

, 2 0 0 5 B L M p u b l i s h e d i t s N O I i n t h e F e d e r a l

R e g i s t e r t o p r o v i d e s u p p l e m e n t a l a i r q u a l i t y i n f o r m a t i o n f

o r t h e D E I S

. T h e s u p p l e m e n t a l a i r q u a l i t y

i n f o r m a t i o n b e c a m e a v a i l a b l e f o r p u b l i c r e v i e w a n d c o m m e n t i n A u g u s t 2 0 0 5

, a n d B L M p u b l i s h e d a n

N O A i n t h e F e d e r

a l R e g i s t e r a n d p r o v i d e d t h e p u b l i c w i t h a n a d d i t i o n a l 6 0

- d a y c o m m e n t p e r i o d

.

B L M r e c e i v e d a t o t a l o f 8 7 7 s e p a r a t e w r i t t e n c o m m e n t s u b m i s s i o n s ( l e t t e r s

, e

- m a i l s

, f o r m s

, e t c

. ) o n t h e

D E I S

, T S D s

, a n d t h e A u g u s t 2 0 0 5 s u p p l e m e n t s

. W i t h i n t h e s e s u b m i s s i o n s

, 1

, 1 4 7 i n d i v i d u a l c o m m e n t s

w e r e i d e n t i f

i e d a s “ s u b s t a n t i v e

, ” o r m e a n i n g f u l t o r e v i s i o n o f t h e D E I S a n d / o r i t s s u p p o r t i n g v o l u m e s

. B L M r e s p o n d e d t o e a c h o f t h e s e s u b s t a n t i v e c o m m e n t s

, w h i c h w e r e u s e d t o g u i d e r e v i s i o n o f t h e D E I S

a n a l y s e s

. T h e s u b s t a n t i v e c o m m e n t s r e s u l t e d i n B L M ’ s d e c i s i o n t o s i g n i f i c a n t l y r e v i s e t h e P r e f

e r r e d

A l t e r n a t i v e a n d t o e l i m i n a t e f i v e o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e D E I S f r o m f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t

h e

F E I S

. A d e t a i l e d d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e c o m m e n t s m a d e o n t h e D E I S a n d t h e p r o c e s s b y w h i c h t h e y w e r e

a n a l y z e d b y B L M w a s i n c l u d e d w i t h t h e F E I S

.1 1

T h e F E I S w a s r e l e a s e d t o t h e p u b l i c a n d a n N O A p u b l i s h e d i n t h e F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r o n J a n u a r y 1 3

, 2 0 0 6

. C o m m e n t s w e r e a c c e p t e d o n t h e F E I S t h r o u g h F e b r u a r y 1 3

, 2 0 0 6

. A t o t a l o f 4 5 p u b l i c c o m m e n t s w e r e

r e c e i v e d

. A s u m m a r y o f t h e s e c o m m e n t s a n d B L M ’ s r e s p o n s e s a r e c o n t a i n e d i n A p p e n d i x E o f t h i s R O D

.



## S U M M A R Y O F P R O P O S E D A C T I O N A N D A L T E R N A T I V E S

A l t e r n a t i v e s C o n s i d e r e d

T h e J o n a h I n f

i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t F E I S a n a l y z e d f

i v e a l t e r n a t i v e s

. T h e y a r e :

1

. N o A c t i o n

2

. P r o p o s e d A c t i o n

3

. A l t e r n a t i v e A : M i n i m i z e D i r e c t i o n a l D r i l l i n g

4

. A l t e r n a t i v e B : M i n i m i z e S u r f a c e D i s t u r

b a n c e

5

. P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e



## N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e

U n d e r t h e N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e

, t h e B L M w o u l d r e j e c t t h e O p e r a t o r s ’ p r o p o s a l f o r a d d i t i o n a l f

i e l d

- l e v e l

n a t u r a l g a s d e v e l o p m e n t o n f e d e r a l l a n d s w i t h i n t h e J I D P A

. A u t h o r i z a t i o n s f o r a n d i m p a c t s f

r o m

p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d o r a n a l y z e d d e v e l o p m e n t ( 5 3 3 w e l l s ) a n d s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e ( 4 9 7 w e l l p a d s w i t h

a s s o c i a t e d r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d a n c i l l a r y f a c i l i t i e s ) w o u l d c o n t i n u e

. T h e a p p r o v e d s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e

u n d e r t h e N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e i s 4

, 2 0 9 a c r e s

, i n c l u d i n g 1

, 4 0 9 a c r e s o f l i f e o f p r o j e c t ( L O P ) d i s t

u r b a n c e

. L O P i s e s t i m a t e d t o b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6 3 y e a r s

.

H o w e v e r

, r e

j e c t i o n o f t h e O p e r a t o r s ’ p r o p o s a l w o u l d n o t p r e c l u d e a l l a d d i t i o n a l n a t u r a l g a s d e v e l o p m e n t

i n t h e J I D P A

. T h e N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e a s s u m e s t h e J I D P A w o u l d b e m a n a g e d a s a p p r o v e d b y e x i s t i n g

m a n a g e m e n t p l a n s a n d p r e v i o u s l y a p p r o v e d N E P A d o c u m e n t s

. T h o u g h t h e e x t e n t o f p o t e n t i a l f u t u r e

d e v e l o p m e n t u n d e r t h i s s c e n a r i o i s l i m i t e d

, i t c a n n o t b e p r e c i s e l y p r e d i c t e d

. T h e r e f o r e

, t h e i m p a c t a n a l y s i s

f o r t h e N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e a s s u m e s n o n e w d e v e l o p m e n t

.

T h e N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e s e r v e s a s a b e n c h m a r k e n a b l i n g d e c i s i o n

- m a k e r s a n d t h e p u b l i c t o c o m

p a r e t h e

m a g n i t u d e o f e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o n s e q u e n c e s a c r o s s a c t i o n a l t e r n a t i v e s

.



## P r o p o s e d A c t i o n

T h e O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i n f

i l l d r i l l a n d d e v e l o p u p t o 3

, 1 0 0 n e w w e l l s o n a m i n i m u m o f 6 4 w e l l p a d s / s e c t i o n

( a t l e a s t 1 p a d e v e r y 1 0 a c r e s ) w i t h r e l a t e d r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d a n c i l l a r y f a c i l i t i e s o n u p t o 1 6

, 2 0 0 a c r e s o f

n e w d i s t u r

b a n c e

. D r i l l i n g w o u l d b e g i n u p o n i s s u e o f t h e R O D a n d c o n t i n u e u n t i l t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f

p r o p o s e d w e l l s h a s b e e n d r i l l e d

, t h e n a t u r a l g a s r e s o u r c e s i n t h e f i e l d h a v e b e e n f

u l l y d e v e l o p e d

, o r

e c o n o m i c c o n d i t i o n s a r e s u c h t h a t i t i s n o l o n g e r p r o f i t a b l e t o d r i l l a d d i t i o n a l w e l l s

.

O p e r a t o r r e s e r v o i r m o d e l i n g s h o w s t h a t 3

, 1 0 0 n e w w e l l s w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y t o a d e q u a t e l y r e c o v e r t h e

n a t u r a l g a s r e s o u r c e p r e s e n t i n t h e a r e a

. T h e i r e x p e r i e n c e i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e u s e o f d i r e c t i o n a l d r i l l i n g i s i n

s o m e c a s e s n o t e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e a n d i n o t h e r c a s e s r e s u l t s i n i n a d e q u a t e r e s o u r c e r e c o v e r y

.1 2

T h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n a s s u m e s t h a t 2 5 0 w e l l s w o u l d b e d e v e l o p e d a n n u a l l y (

~ 2 0 r i g s o p e r a t i n g y e a r

r o u n d )

. L O P w o u l d b e a p p r o x i m a t e l y 7 6 y e a r s

. S p e c i f i c f e a t u r e s i n c l u d e :

• u p t o 3

, 1 0 0 n e w w e l l s o n u p t o 1 1

, 7 8 0 a c r e s o f n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 2

, 7 9 0 a c r e s L O P )

— a s s u m e s a l l

3

, 1 0 0 w e l l s w o u l d b e d r i l l e d f r o m s i n g l e

- w e l l p a d s w i t

h a n e s t i m a t e d t o t a l d i s t

u r b a n c e o f 3

. 8 a c r e s

a n d 0

. 9 a c r e L O P p e r s i n g l e w e l l p a d ;

• 4 6 5 m i l e s o f n e w r e s o u r c e r o a d s w i t h g a t h e r i n g p i p e l i n e s

— 4

, 1 3 1 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e

( 1

, 6 3 5 a c r e s L O P ) ;

• 8 m i l e s o f n e w c o l l e c t o r / l o c a l r o a d s

— 7 3 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 3 7 a c r e s L O P ) ;

• a n u p g r a d e o f a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 2 m i l e s o f t h e B u r m a R o a d

— 7 5 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 2 0 a c r e s

L O P ) ;

• a n c i l l a r y f

a c i l i t i e s

— 4 1 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 4 1 a c r e s L O P ) f

o r w a t e r d i s p o s a l

, s t o r a g e

, a n d

c o m p r e s s o r s t a t i o n f

a c i l i t i e s ; a n d

• e x p l o r a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

— 1 0 0 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 1 0 0 a c r e s L O P ) t o d e v e l o p w e l l p a d s a n d o t h e r

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s n e c e s s a r y t o e x p l o r e f o r n a t u r a l g a s r e s o u r c e s i n f o r m a t i o n s o t h e r t h a n t h e L a n c e

P o o l

.

F o l l o w i n g s u c c e s s f

u l i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n ( p o s t

- d r i l l i n g d u r i n g p r o d u c t i o n p h a s e )

, L O P s u r f a c e

d i s t u r b a n c e u n d e r t h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n w o u l d b e 6

, 0 4 0 a c r e s

, w h i c h i n c l u d e s 1

, 4 0 9 a c r e s o f e x i s t i n g

d i s t u r b a n c e

.

A d d i t i o n a l l y

, O p e r a t o r s i d e n t i f i e d a n u m b e r o f m i t i g a t i o n / d e v e l o p m e n t p r a c t i c e s t h e y w o u l d c o m m i t t o i n

a d v a n c e ( s e e A p p e n d i x B )

, a s w e l l a s $ 2 8

. 5 m i l l i o n i n c o m p e n s a t o r y ( o f f

- s i t e ) m i t i g a t i o n ( C M ) f

u n d i n g

.



## A l t e r n a t i v e A

– M i n i m i z e D i r e c t i o n a l D r i l l i n g

A l t e r n a t i v e A i s s i m i l a r t o t h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n i n i t s e s t i m a t e d s u r f a c e d i s t u r

b a n c e r e q u i r e m e n t s

( 1 6

, 2 0 0 a c r e s )

, d e v e l o p m e n t r a t e ( 2 5 0 w e l l s p e r y e a r ) a n d L O P ( 7 6 y e a r s )

, b u t d i f f e r s i n t h a t k n o w n a r e a s

w i t h s e n s i t i v e r e s o u r c e s i n t h e J I D P A w o u l d n o t b e a v o i d e d ( e

. g

. , S a n d D r a w

, s t e e p s l o p e s

, r a p t o r n e s t a n d

s a g e g r o u s e l e k b u f

f e r s )

. D e v e l o p m e n t o f n a t u r a l g a s r e s o u r c e s b e n e a t h t h e s e a r e a s w o u l d t h e r e f o r e n o t

r e q u i r e t h e u s e o f d i r e c t i o n a l d r i l l i n g

, r e s u l t i n g i n i n c r e a s e d r e c o v e r y o f t h e r e s o u r c e s b y ~ 2 5 0 b i l l i o n c u b i c

f e e t o v e r t h e L O P

. T h i s a l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d n o t n e c e s s a r i l y p r o v i d e f o r t h e R M P

- r e q u i r e d b a l a n c e b e t w e e n

g a s r e c o v e r y a n d o t h e r r e s o u r c e p r o t e c t i o n ; t h e r e f o r e

, p r o j e c t a u t h o r i z a t i o n u n d e r t h i s a l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d

r e q u i r e a n R M P a m e n d m e n t

. O t h e r f e a t u r e s o f A l t e r n a t i v e A i n c l u d e :

• W e l l p a d s

, a c c e s s r o a d s

, a n d o t h e r a b o v e g r o u n d f a c i l i t i e s c o u l d b e l o c a t e d w i t h i n 8 2 5 f e e t o f

a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t s

.

• S u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d o c c u p a n c y w o u l d n o t b e p r o h i b i t e d w i t h i n 0

. 2 5 m i l e o f t h e p e r i m e t e r o f

g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k s

.

• P r a i r i e d o g t o w n s w o u l d n o t b e a v o i d e d1 3 • T h e S a n d D r a w C o n d i t i o n a l S u r f a c e U s e r e s t r i c t i o n ( f

o r m e r l y r e f

e r r e d t o a s a N o S u r f

a c e

O c c u p a n c y r e s t r i c t i o n ) a n d o t h e r d r a i n a g e a n d s t e e p s l o p e a v o i d a n c e a r e a s w o u l d n o t b e

m a i n t a i n e d

.

O p e r a t o r s c o m m i t t e d t o a n u m b e r o f m i t i g a t i o n / d e v e l o p m e n t p r a c t i c e s i n a d v a n c e ( s e e A p p e n d i x B ) a n d

$ 2 8

. 5 m i l l i o n i n C M f

u n d i n g u n d e r t h i s a l t e r n a t i v e

.



## A l t e r n a t i v e B

– M i n i m i z e S u r f a c e D i s t u r b a n c e

S u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e w o u l d b e r e d u c e d u n d e r A l t e r n a t i v e B b y r e q u i r i n g a l l n e w w e l l s b e d r i l l e d f r o m

e x i s t i n g w e l l p a d s

. E x i s t i n g w e l l p a d s w o u l d b e e n l a r g e d a n d n e w p i p e l i n e s b u i l t w i t h i n e x i s t i n g p i p e l i n e

c o r r i d o r s

. A r a t e o f d e v e l o p m e n t o f 7 5 w e l l s p e r y e a r a n d a n L O P o f 1 0 5 y e a r s a r e a s s u m e d u n d e r

A l t e r n a t i v e B

. S p e c i f

i c f e a t u r e s i n c l u d e :

• e x p a n s i o n o f e x i s t i n g w e l l p a d s

— 3

, 0 8 1 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 1

, 0 4 4 a c r e s L O P )

— 6

. 2 a c r e s

n e w d i s t u r

b a n c e ( 3

. 0 a c r e s L O P ) p e r w e l l p a d e x p a n s i o n ;

• a n c i l l a r y f

a c i l i t i e s

— 4 1 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 4 1 a c r e s L O P ) f

o r w a t e r d i s p o s a l

, s t o r a g e

, a n d

c o m p r e s s o r s t a t i o n f

a c i l i t i e s ; a n d

• e x p l o r a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

— 1 0 0 a c r e s n e w d i s t u r b a n c e ( 1 0 0 a c r e s L O P ) t o d e v e l o p w e l l p a d s a n d o t h e r

i n f r a s t r u c t u r e s n e c e s s a r y t o e x p l o r e f o r n a t u r a l g a s r e s o u r c e s i n f o r m a t i o n s o t h e r t h a n t h e L a n c e

P o o l

.

F o l l o w i n g s u c c e s s f

u l i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n

, L O P s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e u n d e r A l t e r n a t i v e B w o u l d t o t a l

2

, 6 2 2 a c r e s

, w h i c h i n c l u d e s 1

, 4 0 9 a c r e s o f e x i s t i n g d i s t u r b a n c e

.

A l t h o u g h d i r e c t i o n a l d r i l l i n g u n d e r A l t e r n a t i v e B w o u l d m i n i m i z e s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d t

h e r e b y b e n e f

i t

w i l d l i f e a n d o t h e r r e s o u r c e s

, i t w o u l d a l s o i n c r e a s e a i r e m i s s i o n s b y a p p r o x i m a t e l y 2 0 % o v e r t

h e P r o p o s e d

A c t i o n a n d A l t e r n a t i v e A b y e x t e n d i n g t h e a m o u n t o f d r i l l i n g t i m e p e r w e l l

. T h u s

, A l t e r n a t i v e B c o u l d

h a v e a g r e a t e r c u m u l a t i v e i m p a c t o n a i r q u a l i t y r e s o u r c e s

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, A l t e r n a t i v e B r e s u l t s i n

s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o w e r o i l a n d g a s r e c o v e r y r a t e s i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n o r P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

(

~ 1

. 8 t r i l l i o n c u b i c f

e e t o f n a t u r a l g a s a n d 1 8 m i l l i o n b a r r e l s o f o i l )

.

O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s c o n t a i n e d i n A p p e n d i x B w o u l d a l s o a p p l y

, t h o u g h n o C M f u n d i n g w a s

v o l u n t e e r e d f

o r t h i s l e v e l o f d e v e l o p m e n t

.



## B L M P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

B L M r e v i s e d t h e P r e f

e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e b a s e d o n p u b l i c c o m m e n t a n d t e c h n i c a l i n f o r m a t i o n r e c e i v e d o n t

h e

D E I S

. T h e r e v i s e d P r e f

e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

, a n d i t s a s s o c i a t e d o u t c o m e

- b a s e d p e r f o r m a n c e o b

j e c t i v e s

,

m i t i g a t i o n

, a n d B e s t M a n a g e m e n t P r a c t i c e s ( B M P s )

, w o u l d a c h i e v e h i g h l e v e l s o f n a t u r a l g a s r e c o v e r y

( p o t e n t i a l l y t h a t o f t h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n ) w h i l e m i n i m i z i n g i m p a c t s r e l a t e d t o t h e k e y i s s u e s

. B L M h a s

c o n c l u d e d t h a t t h i s m a n a g e m e n t a p p r o a c h w o u l d a c h i e v e t h e f e w e s t l o n g

- t e r m i m p a c t s w h i l e a l l o w i n g

r e c o v e r y o f t h e m i n e r a l r e s o u r c e a s p r o v i d e d b y f e d e r a l l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s

, i n c l u d i n g F L P M A

, a n d

e x t a n t l e a s i n g s t i p u l a t i o n s

.1 4

T h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d l i m i t t o t a l s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a t a n y g i v e n t i m e t o 4 6 % o f t h e J I D P A

, o r

a m a x i m u m o f 1 4

, 0 3 0 a c r e s

. T o m i t i g a t e s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d a s s o c i a t e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s a s

q u i c k l y a s p o s s i b l e

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d t o i n i t i a t e r e c l a m a t i o n o f d e v e l o p e d w e l l p a d s a n d r o a d

a n d p i p e l i n e c o n s t r u c t i o n R O W s p u r s u a n t t o R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n s p e c i f i c a t i o n s ( s e e F E I S

, A p p e n d i x B )

. C r e d i t w o u l d t h e r e a f

t e r b e g i v e n

, o n a n a c r e

- f o r

- a c r e b a s i s f

o r a r e a s t h e B L M d e t e r m i n e s h a v e

s u c c e s s f u l l y b e e n r e c l a i m e d

. U n d e r n o c i r c u m s t a n c e s w o u l d c u m u l a t i v e t o t a l s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e e x c e e d

2 0

, 3 3 4 a c r e s o v e r t h e L O P

. S u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d r e c l a m a t i o n c r e d i t w i l l b e t r a c k e d o n a n o p e r a t e d

a c r e a g e b a s i s

. N o n

- p r o

j e c t r e l a t e d d i s t u r

b a n c e w i t h i n t

h e J I D P A b o u n d a

r i e s w i l l b e a l l o c a t e d t o O p e r a t o r s

o n a f i e l d

- w i d e o p e r a t e d

- a c r e a g e p e r c e n t a g e b a s i s

.

F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f a n a l y s i s

, a t o t a l o f 3

, 1 0 0 n e w w e l l s a n d a p a c e o f 2 5 0 w e l l s d r i l l e d p e r y e a r a r e

a s s u m e d

, r e s u l t i n g i n t h e f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t p h a s e b e i n g c o m p l e t e d i n a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1 3 y e a r s

. H o w e v e r

,

t h e a c t u a l p a c e o f d e v e l o p m e n t m a y b e l i m i t e d b y a i r q u a l i t y i m p a c t r e s t r i c t i o n s a n d a s s o c i a t e d m i t i g a t i o n

,

w h i c h c r e a t e s t h e p o t e n t i a l t o i n c r e a s e t h e d u r a t i o n o f t h e f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t p h a s e

. F o r t h e p u r p o s e s o f

a n a l y s i s t h e L O P i s a s s u m e d t o b e 7 6 y e a r s

.

A d d i t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e a r e a s f

o l l o w s :

• A n i n t e r a g e n c y m i t i g a t i o n a n d m o n i t o r i n g i m p l e m e n t a t i o n g r o u p

, c a l l e d t h e J o n a h I n t e r a g e n c y

M i t i g a t i o n a n d R e c l a m a t i o n O f f i c e ( J I O )

, w o u l d b e e s t a b l i s h e d a n d b e g i n w o r k i n g o n c e t h e R O D

i s i s s u e d

. D e t a i l s o f J I O c o m p o s i t i o n

, o b j e c t i v e s

, a n d o p e r a t i n g p r o c e d u r e s a r e p r o v i d e d i n

A p p e n d i x C

. G e n e r a l p r o v i s i o n s o f t h e J I O a r e a s f o l l o w s :

o O v e r s e e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f m i t i g a t i o n a n d m o n i t o r i n g o f J I D P a c t i v i t i e s

, i n c l u d i n g

c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n

.

o T h e J I O w o u l d i n c l u d e B L M

, W D E Q

, W G F D

, a n d t h e W y o m i n g D e p a

r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t

u r e

.

o F u n d i n g f

o r t h e J I O w o u l d b e p r o v i d e d b y t h e O p e r a t o r s

.

o B L M w o u l d c o n s i d e r p e r i o d i c J I O a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s t o a d j u s t C O A s

,

m o n i t o r i n g

, m i t i g a t i o n

, a n d / o r B M P s t o m e e t f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n o b j e c t i v e s

t h r o u g h o u t t h e L O P

.

• T h e e x i s t i n g W i l d l i f

e M o n i t o r i n g / P r o t e c t i o n P l a n d e v e l o p e d f o r t h e M o d i f

i e d J o n a h I I P r o

j e c t

w o u l d b e m o d i f

i e d / u p d a t e d t o a d d r e s s a c t i v i t i e s w i t h i n t h e J I D P A

.

• T o r e d u c e p o t e n t i a l w i l d l i f e i m p a c t s

, n o f

u r t h e r i m p r o v e m e n t s t o t h e B u r m a R o a d w o u l d b e

a u t h o r i z e d

. T h a t p o r t i o n o f t h e B u r m a R o a d t h a t i s c u r r e n t l y u p g r a d e d w o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d t o

B L M s t a n d a r d s

.

F o l l o w i n g s u c c e s s f

u l i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n a n d a s s u m i n g t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t

h e m a x i m u m r e c l a m a t i o n c r e d i t

( 6

, 3 0 4 a c r e s )

, L O P s u r f

a c e d i s t u r b a n c e u n d e r t h e B L M P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d t o t a l 6

, 0 2 0 a c r e s

,

w h i c h i n c l u d e s 1

, 4 0 9 a c r e s o f e x i s t i n g l o n g

- t e r m d i s t u r b a n c e

.

O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s a s d e s c r i b e d i n A p p e n d i x B w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d a s C O A s w h e r e a p p r o p r i a t e

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d f

u n d c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n e q u a l t o $ 2 4

. 5 m i l l i o n b a s e d o n t h e a u t h o r i z e d l e v e l o f

n e w s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e ( 1 6

, 1 2 5 a c r e s ; s e e T a b l e 1 )

.1 5



## A L T E R N A T I V E S C O N S I D E R E D A N D E L I M I N A T E D

F R O M D E T A I L E D S T U D Y

D r a f t E I S A l t e r n a t i v e s N o t C a r r i e d F o r w a r d f o r F i n a l A n a l y s i s

O f t h e 1 0 a l t e r n a t i v e s t h a t w e r e a n a l y z e d i n d e t a i l i n t h e D r a f t E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t S t a t e m e n t ( D E I S )

, f i v e o f t h e s e a l t e r n a t i v e s

— A l t e r n a t i v e s C

, D

, E

, F

, a n d G

— w e r e n o t c a r r i e d f o r w a r d f o r f i n a l a n a l y s i s i n

t h e F E I S

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, m u l t i p l e w e l l d e v e l o p m e n t r a t e s w i t h i n a n y s i n g l e a l t e r n a t i v e w e r e n o t f u r t h e r

a n a l y z e d

. A d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e s e a l t e r n a t i v e s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t r a t e s f o l l o w s

.

A l t e r n a t i v e s C a n d D p r o v i d e d d i f f e r e n t l i m i t s t o r e s t r i c t w e l l n u m b e r s a n d w e r e i n i t i a l l y c o n s i d e r e d i n

t h e D E I S t o p r o v i d e a r a n g e o f i m p a c t s t o a i r q u a l i t y

. A l t e r n a t i v e C p r o p o s e d l i m i t i n g d e v e l o p m e n t t o

1

, 2 5 0 n e w w e l l s a n d w e l l p a d s a n d a n e s t i m a t e d s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e o f 6

, 7 0 5 a c r e s

. A l t e r n a t i v e D w o u l d

h a v e l i m i t e d t h e n u m

b e r o f n e w w e l l s a n d w e l l p a d s t o 2

, 2 0 0 a n d a n e s t i m a t e d s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e o f

1 1

, 5 8 1 a c r e s

. N e i t h e r A l t e r n a t i v e C n o r A l t e r n a t i v e D l i m i t e d w e l l o r w e l l p a d s u r f a c e d e n s i t y

. T h e s e t w o

a l t e r n a t i v e s w e r e e l i m i n a t e d f r o m a d d i t i o n a l a n a l y s i s b e c a u s e n e i t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e i s c o n s i d e r e d r e a s o n a b l e :

a t l e a s t 3

, 1 0 0 a d d i t i o n a l w e l l s w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d t o f u l l y d e v e l o p t h e f

i e l d a n d a n y t h i n g l e s s w o u l d r e s u l t

i n s t r a n d e d r e s o u r c e s t h a t w o u l d m o s t l i k e l y n e v e r b e r e c o v e r e d

. A l l o w i n g m i n e r a l r e s o u r c e s t o r e m a i n

u n r e c o v e r e d

, a s w o u l d o c c u r u n d e r t h e s e a n d s i m i l a r a l t e r n a t i v e s

, w o u l d r e s u l t i n w a s t e a n d p r e v e n t B L M

f r o m a c h i e v i n g i t s s t a t u t o r y a n d p o l i c y g o a l s

. I n a d d i t i o n t o n o t f u l l y r e c o v e r i n g t

h e r e s o u r c e

, A l t e r n a t i v e s

C a n d D w o u l d r e s u l t i n i m p a c t s s i m i l a r t o t h o s e r e s u l t i n g f r o m c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s t h a t a r e

c a r r i e d f o r w a r d i n t h i s F E I S

. S p e c i f i c a l l y

, t h e s e c o m p o n e n t s a r e i n d i v i d u a l w e l l s f r o m c l o s e l y s p a c e d w e l l

p a d s u n d e r A l t e r n a t i v e A

, m u l t i p l e w e l l s f r o m a s i n g l e w e l l p a d a s a n a l y z e d i n A l t e r n a t i v e B

, a n d a

c o m b i n a t i o n o f s i n g l e a n d m u l t i p l e w e l l p a d s a s a n a l y z e d u n d e r t h e P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

.

A l t e r n a t i v e s E

, F

, a n d G p r o v i d e d v a r i a b l e s u r f a c e w e l l p a d s p a c i n g a l l o w a n c e s

, a n d w e r e i n i t i a l l y

c o n s i d e r e d t o p r o v i d e a r a n g e i n t h e a m o u n t a n d d i s t r i b u t i o n o f s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a c r o s s t h e J I D P A

. A l t e r n a t i v e E e x a m i n e d d r i l l i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g 1 6 w e l l s f r o m 1 6 w e l l p a d s i n a s e c t i o n

, r e s u l t i n g i n

a p p r o x i m a t e l y 6

, 3 8 6 a c r e s o f a d d i t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e

. A l t e r n a t i v e F a n a l y z e d t h e e f f e c t s o f i n c r e a s i n g

t h e w e l l p a d d e n s i t y t o 3 2 w e l l p a d s p e r s e c t i o n f o r a t o t a l o f 1 0

, 4 4 6 a c r e s o f a d d i t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e

. F i n a l l y

, A l t e r n a t i v e G e x a m i n e d t h e e f f e c t s o f 6 4 w e l l p a d s p e r s e c t i o n ( o n e w e l l p a d f o r e v e r y 1 0 a c r e s ) a t

a n e s t i m a t e d t o t a l a d d i t i o n a l d i s t u r b a n c e o f 1 3

, 8 9 8 a c r e s

. A s w i t h A l t e r n a t i v e s C a n d D

, t h e s e a l t e r n a t i v e s

w e r e e l i m i n a t e d f

r o m f u r t h e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n i n t h e F E I S b e c a u s e t h e a n t i c i p a t e d i m p a c t s f r o m t h e

a l t e r n a t i v e a c t i o n s w o u l d b e s i m i l a r t o t h o s e r e s u l t i n g f r o m c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s t h a t a r e c a r r i e d

f o r w a r d f o r a d d i t i o n a l a n a l y s i s i n t h i s F E I S

.

A l t e r n a t e p a c e s o f d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h i n e a c h a l t e r n a t i v e w e r e e l i m i n a t e d f r o m f u r t h e r a n a l y s e s i n t

h i s F E I S

b e c a u s e i t w a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t p r o v i d i n g t h i s i n f o r m a t i o n w i t h i n e a c h a l t e r n a t i v e i n t r o d u c e d a l e v e l o f

c o m p l e x i t y w h i c h m a d e i t d i f f i c u l t f o r t h e p u b l i c a n d d e c i s i o n

- m a k e r s t o a s s e s s p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s a c r o s s

t h e f u l l r a n g e o f a l t e r n a t i v e s

. T w o d e v e l o p m e n t r a t e s ( 2 5 0 a n d 7 5 w e l l s d r i l l e d p e r y e a r ) a r e c a r r i e d

f o r w a r d a s p a r t s o f s p e c i f

i c a l t e r n a t i v e s a n a l y z e d i n t h i s F E I S

, a n d w i t h t h e s e a n a l y s e s a s u f

f i c i e n t r a n g e o f

r e s o u r c e e f

f e c t s ( e

. g

. , L O P

, a i r q u a l i t y

, s o c i o e c o n o m i c s ) i s p r o v i d e d

.



## O t h e r A l t e r n a t i v e s C o n s i d e r e d a n d E l i m i n a t e d f r o m D e t a i l e d A n a l y s i s

M a n y s u g g e s t i o n s f

o r a l t e r n a t i v e s w e r e p r o p o s e d b y t h e p u b l i c d u r i n g s c o p i n g

. M o s t o f t h e s u g g e s t e d

a l t e r n a t i v e s i n v o l v e d a d d r e s s i n g v a r y i n g w e l l n u m b e r s

, v a r y i n g t h e r a t e a t w h i c h t h e f i e l d i s d e v e l o p e d

,1 6

a n d v a r y i n g s u r f

a c e d i s t u r b a n c e

. W h i l e n o t a l l t h e s u g g e s t e d w e l l n u m b e r

, d e v e l o p m e n t r a t e

, o r s u r f a c e

d i s t u r b a n c e s u g g e s t i o n s w e r e a n a l y z e d

, t h e B L M u s e d t h e s e s u g g e s t i o n s w h e n d e v e l o p i n g t h e r a n g e o f

a l t e r n a t i v e s

.

A n a l t e r n a t i v e r e

j e c t i n g a n y n e w d e v e l o p m e n t w a s a l s o s u g g e s t e d

. T h i s w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d r e a s o n a b l e

,

a s a d d i t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e a r e a w o u l d l i k e l y o c c u r f r o m n o n

- f

e d e r a l a c t i v i t i e s ( e

. g

. , S t a t e o f

W y o m i n g l a n d d e v e l o p m e n t )

, o v e r w h i c h B L M h a s n o a u t h o r i t y

. T h e N o A c t i o n A l t e r n a t i v e s u f f i c i e n t l y

c o n s i d e r s n o n e w d e v e l o p m e n t i m p a c t s ( s e e F E I S

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 1 )

.

A c t i o n a l t e r n a t i v e s l i m i t i n g t h e t o t a l n u m b e r o f w e l l s w e r e r e

j e c t e d f r o m c o n s i d e r a t i o n b a s e d u p o n k n o w n

n a t u r a l g a s r e s e r v o i r p r o p e r t i e s i n d i c a t i n g t h a t a n e s t i m a t e d 3

, 1 0 0 a d d i t i o n a l w e l l s w o u l d b e n e c e s s a r y f o r

a d e q u a t e r e s o u r c e r e c o v e r y

. A d d i t i o n a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n f o r e l i m i n a t i n g t h e s e a l t e r n a t i v e s f r o m d e t a i l e d

a n a l y s e s i s p r o v i d e d i n t h e F E I S

, S e c t i o n 2

. 2

. 3

. 1

.

P h a s e d d e v e l o p m e n t a l t e r n a t i v e s s u g g e s t i n g a d e v e l o p m e n t p a c e s l o w e r t h a n 7 5 w e l l s p e r y e a r w e r e

r e j e c t e d f r o m d e t a i l e d a n a l y s e s b e c a u s e t h e r e d u c e d d e v e l o p m e n t p a c e w o u l d r e s u l t i n r e c o v e r y a n d

o p e r a t i o n a l a n d s a f

e t y i s s u e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h d r i l l i n g t h r o u g h d e p r e s s u r i z e d z o n e s ( i

. e

. , s t u c k p i p e

, m u d

w e i g h t v a r i a b i l i t y p r o b l e m s

, b l o w

- o u t p o t e n t i a l )

. I t w a s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t t h e a n a l y z e d d e v e l o p m e n t p a c e s

o f 7 5 a n d 2 5 0 w e l l s d r i l l e d p e r y e a r p r o v i d e a n a d e q u a t e r a n g e o f d e v e l o p m e n t p a c e s t o a s s e s s t h e p o t e n t i a l

e f f e c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t r a t e ( e

. g

. , s o c i o e c o n o m i c s

, d u r a t i o n o f h a b i t a t l o s s )

. P h a s e d

d e v e l o p m e n t a l t e r n a t i v e s i n v o l v i n g s y s t e m a t i c e x t r a c t i o n o f r e s o u r c e s f

r o m p o r t i o n s o f t h e J I D P A f

o l l o w e d

b y a p p r o p r i a t e r e c l a m a t i o n p r i o r t o d e v e l o p i n g o t h e r a r e a s o f t h e J I D P A w e r e n o t p r o v i d e d d e t a i l e d

a n a l y s e s d u e t o t h e p o t e n t i a l f o r d i s p r o p o r t i o n a t e a d v e r s e e f f e c t s o n r e s o u r c e r e c o v e r y w i t h i n s o m e

l e a s e h o l d s ( s e e a l s o F E I S

, S e c t i o n 2

. 2

. 3

. 1 )

. A l l o w i n g m i n e r a l r e s o u r c e s t o r e m a i n u n r e c o v e r e d w o u l d

r e s u l t i n w a s t e a n d p r e v e n t B L M f r o m a c h i e v i n g i t s s t a t u t o r y a n d p o l i c y g o a l s

.

T w o a l t e r n a t i v e s r e q u i r i n g a l l n e w w e l l s t o b e d i r e c t i o n a l l y d r i l l e d a n d r e q u i r i n g n o n e w r o a d s w e r e n o t

s p e c i f i c a l l y a n a l y z e d i n d e t a i l b e c a u s e A l t e r n a t i v e B h a s a s i m i l a r p o t e n t i a l e f f e c t ( i

. e

. , n o n e w w e l l p a d s

, f e w n e w r o a d s n e e d e d )

.

A n a l t e r n a t i v e r e

j e c t i n g a l l f

u r t h e r d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e J I D P A u n t i l a l l e x i s t i n g d i s t u r b a n c e i n t h e a r e a i s

a d e q u a t e l y r e c l a i m e d w a s n o t c o n s i d e r e d s i n c e t h i s a c t i o n w o u l d l i k e l y l e a d t o c o n s i d e r a b l e u n r e c o v e r e d

r e s o u r c e a n d w o u l d u n n e c e s s a r i l y p r o l o n g t h e L O P

.

N u m e r o u s a l t e r n a t i v e s r e q u i r i n g t h e i n c l u s i o n / e x c l u s i o n o f m u l t i p l e r e s o u r c e p r o t e c t i o n

, m i t i g a t i o n

, a n d

m o n i t o r i n g m e a s u r e s w e r e s u g g e s t e d f o r a n a l y s i s

, i n c l u d i n g t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f b e s t m a n a g e m e n t p r a c t i c e s

( B M P s )

, t h e u s e o f a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e d u r e s

, a n d c o n s i d e r a t i o n o f o f f

- s i t e C M ( s e e F E I S

, C h a p t e r 5 )

. S o m e o f t h e s e a d d i t i o n a l m e a s u r e s h a v e b e e n i n c l u d e d a s c o m p o n e n t s o f t h e P r o p o s e d A c t i o n

a n d P r e f e r r e d A c t i o n a l t e r n a t i v e s a n d / o r m a y b e i n c l u d e d a s p r o j e c t r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t

h e R O D

. M a n y i f n o t

a l l o f t h e s e s u g g e s t e d r e q u i r e m e n t s a r e c o n s i d e r e d u n d e r o n e o r m o r e o f t h e a l t e r n a t i v e s a n a l y z e d i n d e t a i l

( s e e a l s o A p p e n d i c e s A a n d C o f t h e F E I S f o r B L M s t a n d a r d m i t i g a t i o n s

, O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d m e a s u r e s

,

a n d C M i d e a s )

.



## E N V I R O N M E N T A L L Y P R E F E R R E D A L T E R N A T I V E

I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h C o u n c i l o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y ( C E Q ) r e g u l a t i o n s ( 4 0 C F R 1 5 0 5

. 2 ( b ) )

, t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y p r e f

e r r e d a l t e r n a t i v e m u s t b e i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e R e c o r d o f D e c i s i o n

.1 7

B L M c o n s i d e r s t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y p r e f e r r e d a l t e r n a t i v e f

o r t h e J o n a h I n f

i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t t o b e t h e N

o

A c t i o n A l t e r

n a t i v e

. T h i s a l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d r e s u l t i n t h e l e a s t a m o u n t o f i m p a c t t o a m a j o r i t y o f r e s o u r c e s

w i t h i n t h e J o n a h F i e l d

. H o w e v e r

, t h e N o A c t i o n a l t e r n a t i v e w o u l d a l s o f a i l t o e f f e c t i v e l y r e c o v e r k n o w n

o i l a n d g a s r e s o u r c e s

. T h e r e f o r e

, t h e B L M P r e f

e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e w a s s e l e c t e d

.



## A P P E A L P R O C E S S

T h i s d e c i s i o n m a y b e a p p e a l e d t o t h e I n t e r i o r B o a r d o f L a n d A p p e a l s

, O f f i c e o f t h e S e c r e t a r y

, i n

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h t h e r e g u l a t i o n s c o n t a i n e d i n 4 3 C F R 3 1 6 5

. 4

. I f a n a p p e a l i s f i l e d

, y o u r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

m u s t b e f i l e d i n t h i s o f

f i c e ( B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

, S t a t e D i r e c t o r

, P

. O

. B o x 1 8 2 8

, C h e y e n n e

, W y o m i n g 8 2 0 0 3 ) w i t h i n 3 0 d a y s o f t h e d a t e B L M p u b l i s h e s t h e i r n o t i c e o f t h e d e c i s i o n i n t h e F e d e r a l

R e g i s t e r

. T h e a p p e l l a n t h a s t h e b u r d e n o f s h o w i n g t h a t t h e d e c i s i o n a p p e a l e d f r o m i s i n e r r o r

.

I f y o u w i s h t o f

i l e a p e t i t i o n p u r s u a n t t o 4 3 C F R 3 1 6 5

. 4 ( c ) f o r a s t a y ( s u s p e n s i o n ) o f t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f

t h i s d e c i s i o n d u r i n g t h e t i m e t h a t y o u r a p p e a l i s b e i n g r e v i e w e d b y t h e B o a r d

, t h e p e t i t i o n f o r a s t a y m u s t

a c c o m p a n y y o u r n o t i c e o f a p p e a l

. A p e t i t i o n f o r a s t a y i s r e q u i r e d t o s h o w s u f f i c i e n t j u s t i f

i c a t i o n b a s e d o n

t h e s t a n d a r d s l i s t e d i n 4 3 C F R 3 1 6 5

. 4 ( c )

. C o p i e s o f t h e n o t i c e o f a p p e a l a n d p e t i t i o n f o r a s t a y m u s t a l s o

b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e I n t e r i o r B o a r d o f L a n d A p p e a l s a n d t o t h e R o c k y M o u n t a i n R e g i o n a l o f f i c e o f t h e

S o l i c i t o r a t t h e s a m e t i m e t h e o r i g i n a l d o c u m e n t s a r e f i l e d w i t h t h i s o f

f i c e

. I f y o u r e q u e s t a s t a y

, y o u h a v e

t h e b u r d e n o f p r o o f t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t a s t a y s h o u l d b e g r a n t e d

.1 81 9 

## E R R A T A

M o d i f i c a t i o n s a n d C o r r e c t i o n s t o t h e

J o n a h I n f

i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t F i n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l A s s e s s m e n t

T h e s e c t i o n d e s c r i b e s c h a n g e s t o t h e F E I S t o c o r r e c t e r r o r s o r o m i s s i o n s a n d i d e n t i f y m o d i f i c a t i o n s

.

M o d i f i c a t i o n s

1

. A b s t r a c t

, p a g e i

, 3 r d p a r a g r a p h

, l i n e 6

, c h a n g e t o r e a d “ A b o v e a c e r t a i n l e v e l o f a u t h o r i z e d

d e v e l o p m e n t

, t h e s e v e r

a l O p e r a t o r s h a v e c o m m i t t e d t o e s t a b l i s h i n g a f u n d

... ”

. T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s

c o r r e c t e d t o r e f

l e c t t h a t a l l J o n a h F i e l d O p e r a t o r s h a v e n o t c o m m i t t e d t o c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n

.

2

. E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y

, p a g e i i i

, P r o p o s e d A c t i o n

, 1 s t p a r a g r a p h

, l i n e 8

, c h a n g e t o r e a d “ T h e S e v e r a l

O p e r a t o r s h a v e c o m m i t t e d t o v a r i o u s m i t i g a t i o n

... ”

. T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s c o r r e c t e d t o r e f l e c t t h a t n o t a l l

J o n a h F i e l d O p e r a t o r s h a v e c o m m i t t e d t o c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n

.

3

. E x e c u t i v e S u m m a r y

, p a g e v

, B L M P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

, 1 s t p a r a g r a p h

, l i n e 1

, c h a n g e t o r e a d “ ( i

. e

. ,

a c h i e v e d 8 0 % i n d i g e n o u s v e g e t a t i v e b a s a l c o v e r / d e n s i t y a n d s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n m e e t s r e c l a m a t i o n

p e r f o r m a n c e o b

j e c t i v e s )

. U n d e r n o c i r c u m s t a n c e s

... ”

. T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s c o r r e c t e d t o r e f l e c t f i n a l

r e c l a m a t i o n s t r a t e g y

.

4

. C h a p t e r 1

, S e c t i o n 1

. 3

, p a g e 1

- 4

, d e l e t e 1 s t p a r a g r a p h a n d a l l s i x b u l l e t s b e g i n n i n g w i t h “ T h e p r o p o s e d

d e v e l o p m e n t m e e t s t h e p u r p o s e a n d n e e d

... t o p l a n u s e s t h a t e n c o u r a g e e n e r g y c o n s e r v a t i o n ” f r o m t h i s

s e c t i o n a n d i n s e r t i n S e c t i o n 1

. 5

. 3

, p a g e 1

- 1 0

, b e t w e e n p a r a g r a p h 3 ( b e g i n n i n g “ T h e N o t i c e o f I n t e n t

( N O I ) f o r t h i s E I S

... ” ) a n d p a r a g r a p h 4 ( b e g i n n i n g “ S p e c i f i c a l l y

, t h e p r o p o s e d p r o j e c t i s i n

c o n f o r m a n c e w i t h

... ” )

. T h i s c h a n g e b e t t e r o r g a n i z e s t h e i n f o r m a t i o n p r e s e n t e d

.

5

. C h a p t e r 1

, S e c t i o n 1

. 5

. 3

, p a g e 1

- 1 0

, p a r a g r a p h 3

, c h a n g e l i n e 6 t o r e a d “

... P F O R M P a s u p d a t e d b y

t h e R O D f

o r t h e P i n e d a l e A n t i c l i n e O i l a n d G a s E x p l o r a t i o n a n d D e v e l o p m e n t P r o j e c t ( B L M 2 0 0 0 c )

i f d e v e l o p m e n t a t t h e p r o p o s e d l e v e l i s a p p r o v e d

. ” T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s m o d i f i e d t o r e f l e c t c u r r e n t I n t e r i o r

B o a r d o f L a n d A p p e a l s d e c i s i o n s

.

6

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 3

. 1

. 1

, p a g e 2

- 9

, W a t e r

, c h a n g e 1 s t b u l l e t t o r e a d “ O p e r a t o r s w o u l d m a i n t a i n o r

r e s t o r e g r o u n d w a t e r a n d s u r f a c e w a t e r

... ”

. T h i s b u l l e t i s c h a n g e d t o c l a r i f y O p e r a t o r s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

w i t h r e g a r d s t o t h e C l e a n W a t e r A c t a n d W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y ( W D E Q )

s t a n d a r d s

.

7

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 3

. 1

. 1

, p a g e 2

- 1 0

, R e c l a m a t i o n

, d e l e t e 1 s t b u l l e t t h a t b e g i n s “ O p e r a t o r s w o u l d

s u b m i t t o B L M f

o r a p p r o v a l a r e c l a m a t i o n p l a n

... ”

. T h i s r e q u i r e m e n t i s u n n e c e s s a r y s i n c e a

r e c l a m a t i o n p l a n i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e F E I S a n d m o n i t o r i n g w i l l b e a c c o m p l i s h e d b y t h e J I O

.

8

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 5

, p a g e 2

- 1 8

, B L M P r e f e r r e d A l t e r n a t i v e

, 2 n d p a r a g r a p h

, l i n e 7

, c h a n g e t o r e a d

“ ( i

. e

. , a c h i e v e d 8 0 % i n d i g e n o u s v e g e t a t i v e b a s a l c o v e r / d e n s i t y a n d s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n m e e t s

r e c l a m a t i o n p e r f

o r m a n c e o b

j e c t i v e s )

. U n d e r n o c i r c u m s t a n c e s

... ”

. T h i s s t a t e m e n t i s c o r r e c t e d t o

r e f l e c t f i n a l r e c l a m a t i o n s t r a t e g y

.2 0

9

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 5

. 2

, p a g e 2

- 2 2

, d e l e t e 7 t h b u l l e t f r o m t o p o f p a g e b e g i n n i n g “ O p e r a t o r s w o u l d

u t i l i z e c l o s e d d r i l l i n g s y s t e m s ( n o r e s e r v e p i t s )

... ”

. T h i s b u l l e t i s u n n e c e s s a r y i n l i g h t o f d e f i n e d

d e v e l o p m e n t p l a n s a n d p r o c e d u r e s a n d s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e m a n a g e m e n t s t r a t e g y

.

1 0

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 5

. 2

, p a g e 2

- 2 3

, d e l e t e 2 n d b u l l e t f r o m t o p o f p a g e b e g i n n i n g “ O p e r a t o r s w o u l d

p e r i o d i c a l l y d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s

... ”

. T h i s b u l l e t i s u n n e c e s s a r y i n l i g h t o f a i r q u a l i t y

m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s i n c l u d e d i n t h i s R O D

.

1 1

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 5

. 2

, p a g e 2

- 2 4

, d e l e t e 5 t h b u l l e t a n d b o t h s u b

- b u l l e t s r e g a r d i n g “ M i n i m u m

r e c l a m a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s w o u l d b e : ” a n d r e p l a c e w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g b u l l e t a n d s u b

- b u l l e t s :

• R e c l a m a t i o n o b

j e c t i v e s w i l l b e :

o R o l l o v e r r e c l a m a t i o n c r e d i t r e q u i r e s e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f v i a b l e s i t e

- s t a b i l i z i n g p l a n t g r o w t h

( e

. g

. , r e s i s t a n t t o w i n d a n d w a t e r e r o s i o n ) a n d a p l a n t c o m m u n i t y t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e s

s u r r o u n d i n g o r e c o l o g i c a l l y c o m p a r a b l e v e g e t a t i v e c o m p o s i t i o n t o t h e m a x i m u m e x t e n t

p o s s i b l e

.

o F i n a l r e c l a m a t i o n r e q u i r e s a r a n g e o f s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n

, d i v e r s i t

y

, c o v e r a n d p r o d u c t i o n

e q u a l t o p r e

- d i s t u r

b a n c e l e v e l s

.

1 2

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 5

. 2

, p a g e 2

- 2 4

, c h a n g e 7 t h b u l l e t t o r e a d “ O p e r a t o r s w o u l d v o l u n t a r i l y s e e k

o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a n d s u p p o r t p u b l i s h e d

... ”

. T h i s c h a n g e c l a r i f i e s a b e s t m a n a g e m e n t

p r a c t i c e

.

1 3

. C h a p t e r 2

, S e c t i o n 2

. 4

. 5

. 3

, p a g e 2

- 2 5

, m o d i f y t h e 5 t h b u l l e t t o r e a d “ I n s t i t u t e n i g h t t i m e l i g h t i n g / g l a r e

r e s t r i c t i o n s ( e

. g

. , i n s t a l l l i g h t s h a d e s / h o o d s

, d i r e c t i o n a l l i g h t i n g

, c o l o r e d l i g h t s

, w a t t a g e l i m i t s

, m o t i o n

d e t e c t o r s ; e x t i n g u i s h a l l u n n e c e s s a r y l i g h t i n g d u r i n g n o n

- w o r

k i n g h o u r s )

, c o n s i s t e n t w i t

h O c c u p a t i o n a l

S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h A d m i n i s t r a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s

. ”

1 4

. C h a p t e r 3

, S e c t i o n 3

. 1

. 6

. 2

, s u b s e c t i o n “ G r o u n d w a t e r U s e ”

, p a g e 3

- 4 3

, p a r a g r a p h 1

, c h a n g e l i n e 7 t o

r e a d : “

... M a p 4

. 1 )

. N o g r o u n d w a t e r i r r i g a t i o n o c c u r s i n t h e J I D P A o r C I A A S o m e i r r i g a t i o n o c c u r

r e d

w i t h i n t h e J I D P A t o s u p p o r t e x p e r i m e n t a l r e c l a m a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s

. ”

1 5

. C h a p t e r 5

, S e c t i o n 5

. 1

. 1

, p a g e 5

- 2

, p a r a g r a p h 1

, c h a n g e l i n e 1 t o r e a d “ T h e f o l l o w i n g a c t i o n s c o u l d

f u r t h e r r e d u c e o v e r a l l c u m u l a t i v e e m i s s i o n s

, w h i c h i n t u r n

... ”

.

1 6

. C h a p t e r 5

, S e c t i o n 5

. 1

. 2

, s u b s e c t i o n “ V i s i b i l i t y ”

, p a g e 5

- 5

, p a r a g r a p h 3

, c h a n g e l i n e 7 t o r e a d “

... a s

s o o n a s p o s s i b l e t o n o d a y s w i t h a n i m p a c t g r e a t e r t h a n o r e q u a l t o 1 d e c i v i e w ( d v )

. ”

1 7

. A p p e n d i x B

, S u b a p p e n d i x D P

- B

, p a g e D P

- B

- 3

, S e c t i o n D P

- B

- 2

. 1

, 2 n d p a r a g r a p h

, c h a n g e l i n e 1 t o

r e a d “ T h e r e c l a m a t i o n s u c c e s s s t a n d a r d s o b j e c t i v e s p r o v i d e d i n S e c t i o n D P

- B

- 2

. 2 a r e t h e m e a s u r e s

w i l l b e u s e d t o d e v e l o

p s p e c i f i c r e c l a m a t i o n s u c c e s s c r i t e r i a t h a t w i l l s h o w w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e s e g o a l s

a r e b e i n g m e t

. ”

1 8

. A p p e n d i x B

, S u b a p p e n d i x D P

- B

, p a g e D P

- B

- 3

, S e c t i o n D P

- B

- 2

. 2

, d e l e t e t e x t f r o m e n t i r e S e c t i o n

b e g i n n i n g w i t h “ T h e f

o l l o w i n g r e c l a m a t i o n s u c c e s s s t a n d a r d s a r e

... ” a n d e n d i n g w i t

h “

... s t a n d a

r d s 1

-

5

, 6 d

, 6 e

, 6 f

, a n d 7 h a v e b e e n a c h i e v e d

. ” R e p l a c e w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n g :2 1

“ B L M w i l l u s e t w o s e p a r a t e c r i t e r i a f o r r e c l a m a t i o n s u c c e s s i n t h e J I D P A ; r o l l o v e r a n d r e l e a s e

. W h e n

t h e r o l l o v e r c r i t e r i a a r e a c h i e v e d a c r e a g e w i l l b e c r e d i t e d b a c k t o t h e O p e r a t o r s a g a i n s t t h e 4 6 %

s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e c e i l i n g

. W h e n t h e r e l e a s e c r i t e r i a a r e a c h i e v e d t h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l b e r e l e a s e d f r o m

f i n a l b o n d o b l i g a t i o n

.

T h e s p e c i f

i c o b j e c t i v e s o f r o l l o v e r r e c l a m a t i o n c r i t e r i a i n c l u d e s i t e s t a b i l i z a t i o n ( e

. g

. , r e s i s t a n t t o w i n d

a n d w a t e r e r o s i o n ) a n d e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p l a n t c o m m u n i t y t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e s s u r r o u n d i n g o r

e c o l o g i c a l l y c o m p a r a b l e v e g e t a t i v e c o m p o s i t i o n

, t o t h e m a x i m u m e x t e n t p o s s i b l e

.

R e c l a m a t i o n s u c c e s s s t a n d a r d s f o r b o n d r e l e a s e w i l l m e e t t h e o b j e c t i v e s o f s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n

, d i v e r s i t y

, c o v e r a n d p r o d u c t i o n l e v e l s e q u a l t o p r e

- d i s t u r b a n c e l e v e l s

.

I n g e n e r a l

, s u c c e s s s t a n d a r d s m a y r e q u i r e a r a n g e o f s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n

, d i v e r s i t y a n d c o v e r

r e q u i r e m e n t s b a s e d o n v a r y i n g c o n d i t i o n s a n d / o r l o c a t i o n s

. T o d e a l w i t h t h e s e u n k n o w n s

, s p e c i f i c

s u c c e s s c r i t e r i a w i l l b e d e v e l o p e d b y t h e J I O

, w i t h p u b l i c p a r t i c i p a t i o n

, a n d a p p r o v e d b y t h e B L M

. F i n a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g w h e t h e r o r n o t a r e c l a i m e d a r e a m e e t s t

h e r o l l o v e r o r r e l e a s e s t a n d a r d s

w i l l b e m a d e b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r f o r t h e B L M

.

1 9

. A p p e n d i x B

, S u b a p p e n d i x D P

- B

, S e c t i o n D P

- B

- 4

. 1

. 2

. 2

, p a g e D P

- B

- 1 0

, p a r a g r a p h 1

, c h a n g e l i n e 1 1

t o r e a d “ T e m p o r a r y r e c l a m a t i o n ( s e e S e c t i o n D P

- B

- 4

. 3 ) w o u l d b e i m p l e m e n t e d i m m e d i a t e l y o n a l l

t o p s o i l a n d s p o i l s t o c k

p i l e s t h a t w o u l d b e i n p l a c e m o r e t h a n 6 m o n t

h s

. ” T h i s c h a n g e c l a r i f

i e s t h e s e

r e q u i r e m e n t s

.

2 0

. A p p e n d i x B

, S u b a p p e n d i x D P

- B

, S e c t i o n D P

- B

- 5

. 4

, p a g e D P

- B

- 2 7

, p a r a g r a p h 1

, c h a n g e l i n e 2 t o r e a d

“

... m o n i t o r e d q u a l i t a t i v e l y ( a n n u a l l y a n d a f t e r l a r g e r a i n s t o r m s o r s n o w m e l t r u n o f f e v e n t s )

. ” T h i s

c h a n g e c l a r i f

i e s t h e s e r e q u i r e m e n t s

.2 2

## A P P E N D I X A

J O N A H I N F I L L D R I L L I N G P R O J E C T A D M I N I S T R A T I V E

R E Q U I R E M E N T S

, C O N D I T I O N S O F A P P R O V A L

, A N D

M I T I G A T I O NA

- 1 

## A P P E N D I X A

J O N A H I N F I L L D R I L L I N G P R O J E C T A D M I N I S T R A T I V E

R E Q U I R E M E N T S

, C O N D I T I O N S O F A P P R O V A L

, A N D M I T I G A T I O N

A l l a p p r o v e d a c t i o n s w i t h i n t h e J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t A r e a ( J I D P A ) m a y i n c l u d e a l l o r s o m e o f t h e

f o l l o w i n g C o n d i t i o n s o f A p p r o v a l ( C O A s )

, a d m i n i s t r a t i v e r e q u i r e m e n t s

, m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s

, a n d / o r

B e s t M a n a g e m e n t P r a c t i c e s ( B M P s )

.



## A u t h o r i z i n g A c t i o n s

J I D P A O p e r a t o r s a r e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r a d h e r i n g t o a l l a p p l i c a b l e f e d e r a l

, s t a t e

, a n d l o c a l l a w s a n d / o r

r e g u l a t i o n s a n d f

o r o b t a i n i n g a l l n e c e s s a r y f e d e r a l

, s t a t e

, a n d c o u n t y p e r m i t s

. A b s e n t s p e c i f i c r e v i s i o n s i n

t h i s R O D

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l c o m p l y w i t h t h e m a n a g e m e n t o b j e c t i v e s

, C O A s

, a n d m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s

i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e B L M P i n e d a l e R M P R O D ( B L M 1 9 8 8 b ) a n d B L M G r e e n R i v e r R M P R O D ( B L M

1 9 9 7 b ) t o t h e e x t e n t f

e a s i b l e a n d p r a c t i c a b l e

.



## L a n d U s e / S u r f a c e D i s t u r b a n c e

1

. S u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e i s l i m i t e d t o 4 6 % o f t h e J I D P A a t a n y g i v e n t i m e

, o r a m a x i m u m o f

1 4

, 0 3 0 a c r e s

. D i s t u r

b a n c e w i l l b e t r a c k e d o n a n o p e r a t e d

- a c r e a g e b a s i s

. W i t h i n s i x ( 6 ) m o n t h s o f

t h e a p p r o v a l o f t h e R O D

, a l l J I D P A O p e r a t o r s s h a l l p r o v i d e t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r t h e l e a s e

n u m b e r a n d l e g a l d e s c r i p t i o n f o r a l l a c r e s t h e y o p e r a t e

, i n c l u d i n g t h o s e a c r e a g e s t h e y i n d i v i d u a l l y

o p e r a t e a n d t h o s e c o

- o p e r a t e d w i t h o t h e r s

.

2

. C r e d i t w i l l b e a p p l i e d t o t h e s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e c e i l i n g f

o r o p e r a t e d a c r e a g e s o n a n a c r e

- f o r

- a c r e

b a s i s f o r a r e a s t h e B L M c o n s i d e r s t o h a v e m e t r e c l a m a t i o n o b j e c t i v e s ( s e e F E I S A p p e n d i x B

, R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n )

.

3

. T o t a l c u m u l a t i v e f

i e l d

- w i d e s u r f

a c e d i s t u r b a n c e i s l i m i t e d t o a m a x i m u m o f 2 0

, 3 3 4 a c r e s o v e r t h e

l i f e o f t h e p r o

j e c t ( L O P )

.

4

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l t r a c k s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a c r e a g e a n d p r o v i d e B L M a n d t h e J I O w i t h F e d e r a l

G e o g r a p h i c D a t a C o m m i t t e e ( F G D C )

- c o m p l i a n t m e t a d a t a a n d g e o g r a p h i c i n f o r m a t i o n s y s t e m

( G I S ) / g l o b a l p o s i t i o n i n g s y s t e m ( G P S ) l o c a t i o n d a t a f o r a l l n e w l y d e v e l o p e d f a c i l i t i e s a n d

r e c l a i m e d a r e a s w i t h i n 3 0 d a y s o f c o m p l e t i o n o f d i s t u r b a n c e a n d / o r r e c l a m a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

.

5

. B y J a n u a r y 3 1 e a c h y e a r

, t h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l p r o v i d e t h e J I O a n d A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n n u a l

o p e r a t i n g p l a n s t h a t i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g i n f

o r m a t i o n :

a

. a l l p r e v i o u s y e a r a c t i v i t y t o i n c l u d e n u m b e r o f w e l l s d r i l l e d

, t o t a l n e w s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e b y

w e l l p a d s

, r o a d s a n d p i p e l i n e s

, a n d c u r r e n t s t a t u s o f a l l r e c l a m a t i o n a c t i v i t y ; a n d

b

. p l a n o f d e v e l o p m e n t f o r t h e u p c o m i n g y e a r t o i n c l u d e p l a n n e d n u m b e r o f w e l l s t o b e d r i l l e d

a n d a n e s t i m a t e o f n e w s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d r e c l a m a t i o n a c t i v i t y

.

6

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l i n v e n t o r y a l l r o a d s / t r a i l s i n t h e J I D P A n o t a l r e a d y i n v e n t o r i e d b y B L M w i t h i n

1 y e a r o f t h e R O D f

o r t h i s p r o

j e c t ; G I S d a t a w i l l b e p r o v i d e d t o B L M a n d t h e J I O w i t hA

- 2

F G D C

- c o m p l i a n t m e t a d a t a

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l i n i t i a t e c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e J I O p r i o r t o

i m p l e m e n t i n g t h i s a c t i o n

.

7

. W e l l p a d s u r f

a c e d i s t u r b a n c e w i l l n o t e x c e e d 7

. 0 a c r e s f o r p a r e n t a n d m u l t i

- w e l l p a d s

, 4

. 0 a c r e s

f o r s i n g l e

- w e l l p a d s

, a n d 2

. 0 a c r e s f o r s a t e l l i t e w e l l p a d s

, u n l e s s t h e O p e r a t o r c a n d e m o n s t r a t e t o

t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s t h a t t h e s i z e l i m i t a t i o n f o r a

g i v e n p a d w o u l d c r e a t e a s i g n i f i c a n t s a f e t y c o n c e r n f

o r t h e w o r k e r s

, t h e p u b l i c a t l a r g e

, o r t h e

e n v i r o n m e n t

. T h e s e a c r e a g e s i n c l u d e c u t

- a n d

- f i l l s l o p e s

, b u t d o n o t i n c l u d e a c c e s s r o a d s a n d

p i p e l i n e s

.

8

. A l l n e w d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s i n t

h e J I D P A w i l l b e p l a c e d a t c e n t r a l i z e d l o c a t i o n s

t o a c c o m m o d a t e m u l t i p l e w e l l s

, u n l e s s p r o v e n t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r o n a

c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s t h a t c e n t r a l i z a t i o n o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d n o t b e

t e c h n i c a l l y o r e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e

, o r t h a t a n o t h e r m e t h o d w o u l d c r e a t e l e s s e n v i r o n m e n t a l

i m p a c t

. T h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l c e n t r a l i z e e x i s t i n g d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s t o t

h e e x t e n t

e c o n o m i c a l l y f

e a s i b l e

.

9

. C e n t r a l i z e d f

r a c t u r i n g p r o c e s s e s w i l l b e r e q u i r e d f o r a l l w e l l p a d s w h e n s u r f

a c e d e n s i t y i s  1 w e l l

p a d / 4 0 a c r e s

, a n d r e c o m m e n d e d w h e n w e l l p a d s u r f a c e d e n s i t y i s < 1 p a d / 4 0 a c r e s

, u n l e s s t h e

O p e r a t o r c a n d e m o n s t r a t e t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r t h a t c e n t r a l i z e d f

r a c t u r i n g

i s n o t r e a s o n a b l e o r t e c h n i c a l l y o r e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e

, o r t h a t a n o t h e r w e l l c o m p l e t i o n

p r o c e d u r e w o u l d c r e a t e l e s s s u r f a c e i m p a c t

.

1 0

. W h e r e t e c h n i c a l l y a n d e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e

, a n d a t t h e e a r l i e s t p o s s i b l e d a t e

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l

b e g i n p i p i n g p r o d u c e d w a t e r a n d c o n d e n s a t e f r o m a l l w e l l s i n t h e J I D P A t o a n a p p r o p r i a t e

c o n d e n s a t e c o l l e c t i o n p o i n t o r s a l e s l i n e a n d a n a p p r o p r i a t e p r o d u c e d w a t e r t r e a t m e n t

, d i s p o s a l

, o r

c e n t r a l i z e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n f a c i l i t y

. A n a l y s e s m u s t b e p r o v i d e d w i t h i n o n e ( 1 ) y e a r o f t h e R O D

.

1 1

. O p e r a t o r s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o u s e c l o s e d l o o p d r i l l i n g s y s t e m s f o r a l l d r i l l i n g o p e r a t i o n s w i t h i n t h e

J I D P A



### . A c l o s e d

- l o o p d r i l l i n g s y s t e m s h a l l b e u s e d i n t h e f o l l o w i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s :

a

. t h e w e l l i s c o m p l e t e l y o r p a r t i a l l y d r i l l e d u s i n g o i l

- b a s e d d r i l l i n g m u d ;

b

. a g r o u n d w a t e r a q u i f

e r i s s u s p e c t e d o r k n o w n t o o c c u r w i t h i n 5 0 f e e t o f t h e p r e

- d i s t u r

b a n c e

g r o u n d s u r f

a c e ( i n t h e e v e n t g r o u n d w a t e r i s n o t e n c o u n t e r e d w i t h i n 5 0 f e e t o f t h e s u r f

a c e

w h e n t h e h o l e f

o r t h e c o n d u c t o r p i p e i s d r i l l e d

, t h e O p e r a t o r m a y r e v e r t t o a r e s e r v e p i t s y s t e m

f o r t h i s w e l l ) ;

c

. t h e r e i s n o t s u f

f i c i e n t a r e a d u e t o t e r r a i n f e a t u r e s ( d e e p d r a i n a g e s

, c l i f f s

, s t e e p s l o p e s

, e t c

. ) a t

t h e p r o p o s e d w e l l p a d s i t e f o r a p a d w i t h r e s e r v e p i t ;

d

. t h e r e i s n o t s u f

f i c i e n t a r e a d u e t o (

f i l l i n t h e b l a n k t h e c o n s t r a i n i n g v a l u e [ i

. e

. , c r i t i c a l w i l d l i f e

h a b i t a t ( d e s c r i b e )

, u n m i t i g a t

a b l e c u l t u r

a l r e s o u r c e s i t e

, e t c

. ] ) a t t h e p r o p o s e d w e l l p a d s i t e f o r

a p a d w i t h a r e s e r v e p i t

.

1 2

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l r e m o v e / v a c u u m f l u i d s f r o m r e s e r v e p i t s w i t h i n 6 0 d a y s f r o m w e l l c o m p l e t i o n o r

t h e y m u s t n o t i f

y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f

f i c e r

. I n a l l c a s e s

, f

l u i d s w i l l b e r e m o v e d a s s o o n a s p r a c t i c a l

.

1 3

. S u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s s h a l l n o t b e c o n d u c t e d o n s l o p e s i n e x c e s s o f 2 5 p e r c e n t o r w i t h i n

5 0 0 f e e t o f s u r f

a c e w a t e r a n d / o r r i p a r i a n h a b i t a t

.A

- 3 1 4

. N o w e l l p a d

, r o a d

, o r o t h e r c o n s t r u c t i o n s h a l l b e c o n d u c t e d i n o r w i t h f r o z e n m a t e r i a l s

, o r d u r i n g

p e r i o d s w h e n t h e s o i l i s s a t u r a t e d

, o r w h e n w a t e r s h e d d a m a g e i s l i k e l y t o o c c u r

.

1 5

. N o s u r f

a c e o c c u p a n c y w i l l b e a l l o w e d w i t h i n 3 0 0 f e e t o f S a n d D r a w

.



## A i r Q u a l i t y

1

. T i e r I I o r e q u i v a l e n t d i e s e l e n g i n e e m i s s i o n t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l b e r e q u i r e d f o r a l l d r i l l r i g s a t t h e

e a r l i e s t p o s s i b l e d a t e

.

2

. T h e B L M w i l l w o r k c o o p e r a t i v e l y w i t h s t a t e a n d o t h e r f e d e r a l a g e n c i e s

, a n d w i t h i n d u s t r y

, t o

t r a c k e m i s s i o n s i n t h e P i n e d a l e F i e l d O f f i c e a r e a

.

a

. B L M w i l l t r a c k n u m

b e r s o f w e l l s

, n u m

b e r s o f d r i l l r i g s

, d r i l l i n g e m i s s i o n s

, a n d c o m p r e s s o r

s t a t i o n s

.

b

. T h e W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y

, A i r Q u a l i t y D i v i s i o n ( W D E Q

– A Q D )

w i l l c o n t i n u e t o t r a c k p e r m i t t e d e m i s s i o n s

.

c

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l p r o v i d e B L M w i t h i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e i r d r i l l r i g s

, i n c l u d i n g d r i l l i n g d a y s

, h o r s e p o w e r

, l o a d f

a c t o r s

, a n d e m i s s i o n f

a c t o r s w i t h i n 1 0 d a y s o f t h e c o m p l e t i o n o f d r i l l i n g

o p e r a t i o n s f

o r e a c h w e l l

.

3

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l d e m o n s t r a t e b y J a n u a r y 3 1 e a c h y e a r t h a t e m i s s i o n r e d u c t i o n s f r o m t h e J o n a h I n f i l l

D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t w i l l r e d u c e t h e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t t o v i s i b i l i t y a s f o l l o w s :

a

. D e m o n s t r a t i o n P e r i o d : O p e r a t o r s i n t h e J I D P A w i l l b e g i n a 1 2

- m o n t h d e m o n s t r a t i o n p e r i o d

b e g i n n i n g w i t h t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e R O D

. I n c o r r e s p o n d e n c e w i t h B L M

, W D E Q a f f i r m e d t h e

S t a t e ’ s p o s i t i o n t h a t B L M “ r e q u i r e t h e u s e o f T i e r I I d i e s e l t e c h n o l o g y o n d r i l l r i g s u s e d i n t h e

J o n a h a r e a a t t h e e a r l i e s t p o s s i b l e d a t e ” ( W D E Q 2 0 0 5 )

. B e c a u s e p r e l i m i n a r y m o d e l i n g

c o n d u c t e d f

o r t h e D E I S i n d i c a t e d t h a t e m i s s i o n s f r o m e n g i n e s f

o r d r i l l i n g r i g s w o u l d h a v e t o

b e f u r t h e r r e d u c e d t o a t t a i n t h e a i r q u a l i t y g o a l s s t a t e d a b o v e

, B L M t r e a t s e m i s s i o n f a c t o r s f o r

T i e r 2 e n g i n e s ( E P A 1 9 9 8 ) a s a r e f e r e n c e p o i n t f

o r t h e m i n i m u m c o n t r o l o f e m i s s i o n s d u r i n g

t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n p e r i o d

. O p e r a t o r s i n t h e J o n a h a n d P i n e d a l e f i e l d s h a v e s u g g e s t e d s e v e r a l

t e c h n o l o g i e s t h a t c o u l d a c h i e v e e m i s s i o n s l o w e r t h a n T i e r 2

. A s p a r t o f t h i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n

p e r i o d

, t h e O p e r a t o r s i n t h e J o n a h f i e l d w i l l c o n d u c t e m i s s i o n t e s t s o n v a r i o u s d r i l l i n g e n g i n e

t e c h n o l o g i e s a s d e f

i n e d i n a p l a n t o b e d e v e l o p e d b y t h e O p e r a t o r ( s ) a n d a

p p r o v e d b y W D E Q

A Q D

. T h e r e s u l t s f

r o m t h i s d e m o n s t r a t i o n p e r i o d w i l l b e p r o v i d e d t o W D E Q a s s o o n a s

p o s s i b l e

, b u t n o l a t e r t h a n 1 y e a r a f t e r t h e R O D i s s i g n e d

. W D E Q w i l l t h e n c o n s i d e r t h e

e m i s s i o n s t e s t i n g d a t a i n t h e d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f t h e a p p r o p r i a t e B e s t A v a i l a b l e T e c h n o l o g y

( B A T ) f o r t h e e n g i n e s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a l l d r i l l i n g o p e r a t i o n s

. U n t i l s u c h t i m e a s t h e W D E Q

A Q D e s t a b l i s h e s a p p r o p r i a t e B A T s t a n d a r d s

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l b e r e q u i r e d t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t

t h e i m p a c t l e v e l s f

r o m t h e p r o p o s e d p r o

j e c t w i l l b e l e s s t h a n t h e i m p a c t l e v e l s o f t h e 8 0 %

e m i s s i o n r e d u c t i o n s c e n a r i o a s d e s c r i b e d i n F E I S S e c t i o n 4

. 1

. 2

. 5 a n d A Q T S D A p p e n d i x G

, S e c t i o n G

- 2

. W i t h i n 9 0 d a y s o f t h e R O D

, t h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l s u b m i t a p l a n t o B L M t h a t

d e s c r i b e s i n d e t a i l h o w t h e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s w i l l b e m i n i m i z e d

.

b

. I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P e r i o d : A l l O p e r a t o r s w i l l c o m p l y w i t h W D E Q

- e s t a b l i s h e d B A T s t a n d a r d s

.A

- 4

c

. I n t h e a b s e n c e o f W D E Q

- e s t a b l i s h e d B A T s t a n d a r d s

, t h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l s u b m i t a n n u a l

o p e r a t i n g p l a n s t h a t r e p o r t t h e e m i s s i o n s f r o m a l l e m i t t i n g u n i t s i n o r d e r t o d e m o n s t r a t e t h a t

t h e p o t e n t i a l v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t f r o m t h e p r o p o s e d p r o

j e c t w i l l b e l e s s t h a n t h e p o t e n t i a l

v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t l e v e l s o f t h e 8 0 % e m i s s i o n r e d u c t i o n s c e n a r i o d e s c r i b e d i n F E I S

S e c t i o n 4

. 1

. 2

. 5 a n d A Q T S D A p p e n d i x G

, S e c t i o n G

- 2

, a t a m i n i m u m

, a n d t o d e m o n s t r a t e

t h a t a n y p o t e n t i a l v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t d e c r e a s e s a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e t o n o d a y s w i t h a n i m p a c t

g r e a t e r t h a n o r e q u a l t o 1 d e c i v i e w ( d v )

.

d

. B a s e d u p o n e m i s s i o n s d a t a c o l l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n p e r i o d

, B L M m a y r u n a n a i r

d i s p e r s i o n m o d e l

, c o m p a r a b l e t o t h e m o d e l r u n f o r t h e A Q I A S

, t o r e a s s e s s a i r q u a l i t y i m p a c t s

. B L M

, i n c o n

j u n c t i o n w i t h t h e J I O

, w i l l u s e t h e r e s u l t s o f t h e m o d e l t o a s s e s s w h e t h e r

e m i s s i o n c o n t r o l s i n t h e J I D P A a d e q u a t e l y c o n t r o l e m i s s i o n s t o a c h i e v e t h e a i r q u a l i t y g o a l s

. A n n u a l l y t h e r e a f

t e r

, B L M w i l l d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a n a d d i t i o n a l m o d e l r u n i s n e c e s s a

r y b a s e d

u p o n f i e l d

- w i d e e m i s s i o n s o r a c o m p a r a b l e i n d i c a t o r s e l e c t e d b y B L M ( i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h

t h e J I O )

. O p e r a t o r s s h o u l d c o n t i n u e t o i n n o v a t e b y d e m o n s t r a t i n g a n d u s i n g n e w t e c h n i q u e s

f o r c o n t r o l l i n g e m i s s i o n s a f t e r t h e d e m o n s t r a t i o n p e r i o d

.

e

. T h e m e t h o d b y w h i c h t h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l d e m o n s t r a t e p o t e n t i a l p r o j e c t v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t w i l l

b e d e t e r m i n e d b y B L M i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h W D E Q

, E P A

, U S F S

, a n d N a t i o n a l P a r k S e r v i c e

( N P S )

. B L M w i l l r e l y o n t h e O p e r a t o r s t o d e t e r m i n e h o w t h e y w i l l a t t a i n t h e r e d u c t i o n i n

p o t e n t i a l v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t s f r o m t h e J o n a h I n f

i l l p r o j e c t

.

f

. B L M ’ s p e r f

o r m a n c e o b

j e c t i v e f o r v i s i b i l i t y w i l l b e a t t a i n e d i f a c t u a l v i s i b i l i t y m o n i t o r e d b y

t h e B r i d g e r W i l d e r n e s s I M P R O V E a e r o s o l s a m p l e r c o m p l i e s w i t h t h e r e a s o n a b l e p r o g r e s s

g o a l o f t h e W y o m i n g R e g i o n a l H a z e S t a t e I m p l e m e n t a t i o n P l a n

.

4

. I n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e J I O e s t a b l i s h e d u n d e r t h e R O D

, B L M w i l l r e v i e w o z o n e d a t a c o l l e c t e d i n

t h e a r e a

. I f i n t h e f

u t u r e a i r m o n i t o r i n g w e r e t o s h o w o z o n e e x c e e d a n c e s a t t r i b u t a b l e a t l e a s t i n

p a r t t o s o u r c e s i n t h e J o n a h f i e l d

, B L M w i l l c o n s u l t w i t h W D E Q

- A Q D

, E P A

, U S F S

, a n d N P S t o

d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t w o u l d b e n e e d e d t o m i t i g a t e i m p a c t s

.

5

. B L M w i l l c o n t i n u e t o w o r k c o o p e r a t i v e l y w i t h W D E Q

, E P A

, U S F S

, a n d N P S t o m a i n t a i n a n d

e n h a n c e c o n c e n t r a t i o n

, a t m o s p h e r i c d e p o s i t i o n

, a n d v i s i b i l i t y m o n i t o r i n g i n t h e P i n e d a l e F i e l d

O f f i c e a r e a

. T h e B L M a n d c o o p e r a t i n g a g e n c i e s w i l l c o n t r i b u t e t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t i s e a n d f i n a n c i a l

r e s o u r c e s t o m a i n t a i n i n g a n d e n h a n c i n g a i r q u a l i t y m o n i t o r i n g

. T h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l f u n d a n d

p a r t i c i p a t e i n a j o i n t i n d u s t r y / s t a t e / f e d e r a l m o n i t o r i n g a g r e e m e n t t o m a i n t a i n a n d e n h a n c e a i r

q u a l i t y m o n i t o r i n g

.



## W i l d l i f e

M o n i t o r i n g & I n v e n t o r y

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l m o n i t o r n e s t i n g o f r a p t o r s

, i n c l u d i n g f e r r u g i n o u s h a w k

, b a l d e a g l e

, a n d b u r r o w i n g

o w l ; g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k a t t e n d a n c e ; a n d o c c u r

r e n c e o f o t

h e r s a g e b r u s h

- o b l i g a t e s p e c i e s w i t

h i n

t h e J I D P A i n c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n d t h e J I O

.

2

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l i n v e n t o r y g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e s e a s o n a l h a b i t a t s w i t h i n t h e J I D P A n o t a l r e a d y

i n v e n t o r i e d b y B L M o r W G F D w i t h i n 1 y e a r a f t e r s i g n i n g o f t h e R O D f

o r t h i s p r o j e c t ; G I S d a t a

w o u l d b e p r o v i d e d t o t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r w i t h F G D C

- c o m p l i a n t m e t a d a t a

. O p e r a t o r s

w o u l d i n i t i a t e c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n d J I O p r i o r t o i m

p l e m e n t i n g t

h i s a c t i o n

.A

- 5

3

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l c o o r d i n a t e w i t h t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n d J I O t o r e v i e w a n d r e v i s e t h e J o n a h W i l d l i f e

M o n i t o r i n g a n d P r o t e c t i o n P l a n w i t h i n 1 y e a r o f t h e R O D f o r t h i s p r o

j e c t

.

R a p t o r s

1

. W e l l p a d s

, a c c e s s r o a d s

, a n d o t h e r a b o v e g r o u n d f a c i l i t i e s w i l l n o t b e l o c a t e d w i t h i n 8 2 5 f e e t o f a n

a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t

, w i t h i n 1

, 0 0 0 f e e t o f a n a c t i v e f

e r r u g i n o u s h a w k n e s t

, o r w i t h i n 2

, 6 4 0 f

e e t o f a n y

b a l d e a g l e n e s t

.

2

. T h e f

o l l o w i n g s e a s o n a l r e s t r i c t i o n s f o r s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s n e a r a c t i v e r a p t o r

n e s t s / r o o s t i n g s i t e s / f

o r a g i n g a r e a s w i l l b e i m p o s e d : ( s e e A p p e n d i x A

, T a b l e A

. 3

, o f t h e F E I S )

3

. F e b r u a r y 1 t h r o u g h J u l y 3 1

, w i t h i n 0

. 5 m i l e o f a l l a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t s ;

4

. F e b r u a r y 1 t h r o u g h J u l y 3 1

, w i t h i n 1

. 0 m i l e o f a l l a c t i v e f e r r u g i n o u s h a w k n e s t s ;

5

. F e b r u a r y 1 t h r o u g h A u g u s t 1 5

, w i t h i n 1

. 0 m i l e o f a l l a c t i v e b a l d e a g l e n e s t s ;

6

. N o v e m

b e r 1 t h r o u g h A p r i l 1

, w i t h i n 1

. 0 m i l e o f a c t i v e b a l d e a g l e c o m m u n a l w i n t e r r o o s t s ; a n d

7

. N o v e m

b e r 1 t h r o u g h A p r i l 1

, w i t h i n 1

. 0 m i l e o f w i n t e r f o r a g e a r e a s

.

S a g e G r o u s e

1

. S u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a n d d i s r u p t i v e a c t i v i t i e s i n g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e w i n t e r h a b i t a t w i l l b e a v o i d e d

f r o m N o v e m

b e r 1 5 t h r o u g h M a r c h 1 4

.

2

. S u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a n d d i s r u p t i v e a c t i v i t i e s i n g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e n e s t i n g a n d e a r l y b r o o d

- r e a

r i n g

h a b i t a t w i t h i n 2

. 0 m i l e s o f a n o c c u p i e d l e k

, o r i n i d e n t i f i e d g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e n e s t i n g a n d e a r l y

b r o o d

- r e a r i n g h a b i t a t o u t s i d e t h e 2

. 0

- m i l e b u f f e r w i l l b e p r o h i b i t e d f

r o m M a r c h 1 5 t h r o u g h

J u l y 1 5

.

3

. S u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e a n d o c c u p a n c y w i l l b e p r o h i b i t e d w i t h i n 0

. 2 5 m i l e o f t h e p e r i m e t e r o f g r e a t e r

s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k s

, a n d h u m a n a c t i v i t y i n t h e s e a r e a s w i l l b e a v o i d e d b e t w e e n 8 p

. m

. a n d 8 a

. m

. f r o m M a r c h 1 t h r o u g h M a y 1 5

.

4

. C o m p r e s s o r s t a t i o n s w i l l b e s i t e d a t l e a s t 2

. 0 m i l e s a w a y f r o m g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k s a n d n o

c l o s e r t h a n 0

. 5 m i l e t o a n a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t

.



## S o i l s / W a t e r

1

. A g r o u n d w a t e r m o n i t o r i n g p r o g r a m f o r a l l w a t e r w e l l s i n o r a f f e c t e d b y a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e J I D P A

w i l l b e i m p l e m e n t e d

. T h e f o l l o w i n g s p e c i f

i c s a p p l y :

a

. W a t e r w e l l s w i l l b e t e s t e d a n n u a l l y f o r s t a t i c w a t e r l e v e l

, g e n e r a l c h e m i c a l c o n s t i t u e n t s a s

d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r

, a n d t o t a l p e t r o l e u m h y d r o c a r b o n s

, u s i n g W D E Q

a p p r o v e d m e t h o d s

. A n n u a l r e p o r t s w i l l b e p r o v i d e d t o t h e J I O

, B L M ( A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r )

, W D E Q

, a n d W S E O b y J a n u a r y 3 1

.A

- 6

b

. W a t e r w i t h d r a w a l v o l u m e s f r o m a l l w a t e r w e l l s u t i l i z e d w i t h i n t h e J I D P A w i l l b e m o n i t o r e d

a n d a n n u a l d e p l e t i o n r e p o r t s p r o v i d e d t o t h e J I O

, B L M ( A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r )

, W S E O

, a n d

U

. S

. F i s h a n d W i l d l i f

e S e r v i c e ( U S F W S ) b y J a n u a r y 3 1 e a c h y e a r

.

2

. H y d r a u l i c s t r u c t u r e s ( c u l v e r t s

, b r i d g e s

, l o w w a t e r c r o s s i n g s

, s i l t t r a p s

, c a t c h m e n t s

, r e t e n t i o n

d a m s

, e t c

. ) p l a c e d i n e x i s t i n g

, n a t u r a l d r a i n a g e c o u r s e s w i l l b e e n g i n e e r e d a n d d e s i g n e d b y a

c e r t i f i e d c i v i l e n g i n e e r t o e n s u r e t h e s t r u c t u r e s a r e s t a b l e a n d e r o s i o n i s m i n i m i z e d

. C r o s s

- d r a i n

s t r u c t u r e s i n s t a l l e d o u t s i d e e x i s t i n g

, n a t u r a l d r a i n a g e c o u r s e s w i l l n o t r e q u i r e c e r t i f i e d c i v i l

e n g i n e e r d e s i g n

.

3

. A l l w e l l p a d s

, r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s w i l l b e e n g i n e e r e d a n d c o n s t r u c t e d t o m i n i m i z e

s e d i m e n t d i s c h a r g e o n t o a d j a c e n t u n d i s t u r

b e d l a n d o r d o w n

- c h a n n e l f r o m t h e J I D P A a n d t o m e e t

W D E Q s t o r m w a t e r d i s c h a r g e r e q u i r e m e n t s

.

4

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d p r o v i d e c o p i e s o f t h e i r S p i l l P r e v e n t i o n

, C o n t r o l

, a n d C o u n t e r m e a s u r e ( S P C C )

p l a n s a n d S t o r m W a t e r P o l l u t i o n P r e v e n t i o n P l a n s ( S W P P P s ) t o t h e B L M u p o n r e q u e s t

.

5

. S t o r m w a t e r a n d s n o w m e l t w a t e r w o u l d b e h e l d o n t h e J I D P A f o r a s l o n g a s p o s s i b l e t o a l l o w f o r

i n f i l t r a t i o n a n d t o r e d u c e s u r f a c e f l o w v e l o c i t y a n d a s s o c i a t e d s e d i m e n t l o a d s u s i n g g e o f a b r i c s

, j u t e n e t t i n g

, s p r e a d e r d i k e s

, r e t e n t i o n p o n d s

, a d d i t i o n a l a r m o r i n g o f e x i s t i n g w a t e r c o u r s e s

, o r o t h e r

a p p r o p r i a t e t e c h n i q u e s

.



## T r a n s p o r t a t i o n

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l c o n t i n u e t o e n c o u r a g e l i m i t i n g t h e s p e e d o f a l l v e h i c l e s o p e r a t e d b y t h e

l e a s e h o l d e r

, O p e r a t o r

, o r O p e r a t o r a g e n t s i n t h e J I D P A

, a n d w i l l i m p l e m e n t v o l u n t a r y f u g i t i v e

d u s t c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s o n p r i m a r y a c c e s s r o a d s a n d h e a v i l y u s e d r e s o u r c e r o a d s

.

2

. P r o j e c t

- r e q u i r e d t r a f

f i c i n t h e J I D P A i s l i m i t e d t o B L M

- a p p r o v e d r o a d s

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l c o n t i n u e

t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h e B L M t o i d e n t i f y a n d p r o h i b i t u s e o f t w o

- t r a c k s w h e r e R O W s h a v e n o t b e e n

o b t a i n e d

.

3

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l u t i l i z e r e m o t e t e l e m e t r y o r e q u i v a l e n t t e c h n o l o g y a t a l l w e l l s t o m i n i m i z e w e l l

m o n i t o r i n g t r i p s

, u n l e s s p r o v e n t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e

b a s i s t h a t i n s t a l l a t i o n o f r e m o t e t e l e m e t r y o r e q u i v a l e n t t e c h n o l o g y w o u l d n o t b e t e c h n i c a l l y o r

e c o n o m i c a l l y f

e a s i b l e

, o r t h a t a n o t h e r m e t h o d w o u l d c r e a t e l e s s e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t

.



## P a l e o n t o l o g i c a l V a l u e s P r o t e c t i o n

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l s u s p e n d a l l o p e r a t i o n s i f p r e v i o u s l y u n d e t e c t e d v e r t e b r a t e f o s s i l m a t e r i a l s a r e

d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g s u r f

a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s

. O p e r a t i o n s w i l l n o t r e s u m e u n t i l a u t h o r i z a t i o n t o

p r o c e e d i s g r a n t e d b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r

.



## R e c l a m a t i o n

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l m a x i m i z e i n t e r i m ( p r o d u c t i o n p h a s e ) w e l l p a d r e c l a m a t i o n b y r e c o n t o u r i n g t o t h e

d r i l l i n g r i g a n c h o r p i n s a n d r e c l a i m i n g / r e v e g e t a t i n g t o w i t h i n 2 0 f e e t o f t h e w e l l h e a d

, o r t o w i t h i n

2 0 f e e t o f t h e w e l l h e a d

, f

a c i l i t i e s

, t a n k s

, a n d s p i l l c o n t a i n m e n t s t r u c t u r e s o n t h o s e p a d s w i t h

p r o d u c t i o n f

a c i l i t i e s

. T h e i n i t i a t i o n o f i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n w i l l c o m m e n c e w i t h i n 3 0 d a y s a f

t e r t h eA

- 7 l a s t w e l l s c h e d u l e d o n a p a d i s p u t i n t o p r o d u c t i o n

. I n t h e e v e n t t h a t m o r e t h a n 1 y e a r w o u l d l a p s e

b e t w e e n t h e d r i l l i n g o f w e l l s o n a p a d

, t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r m a y r e q u i r e t e m p o r a r y s i t e

s t a b i l i z a t i o n m e a s u r e s

.

2

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l a c c e l e r a t e r e c l a m a t i o n o f d i s t u r b e d a r e a s u s i n g i n n o v a t i v e s e e d m i x t u r e s a n d

a p p l i c a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s

, s u p p l e m e n t i n g n a t u r a l p r e c i p i t a t i o n w i t h s p r i n k l e r i r r i g a t i o n a t k e y t i m e s

,

a n d / o r o t h e r p r a c t i c e s a s a p p r o v e d b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r

.

3

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l u n d e r t a k e a g g r e s s i v e i n v a s i v e p l a n t s p e c i e s a n d n o x i o u s w e e d c o n t r o l o r r e m o v a l

i n d i s t u r b e d a r e a s

, b e r e s p o n s i b l e f o r w e e d c o n t r o l o n a l l d i s t u r b e d a r e a s i n t h e J I D P A

, a n d b e

r e s p o n s i b l e f

o r c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n d / o r l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s f o r a c c e p t a b l e

w e e d c o n t r o l m e t h o d s

. W h e r e a p p l i c a b l e

, a “ P e s t i c i d e U s e P r o p o s a l ” ( F o r m W Y

- 0 4

- 9 2 2 2

- 1 )

,

s u r f a c t a n t m a t e r i a l s a f

e t y d a t a s h e e t ( s )

, a n d m a p s a n d / o r l e g a l d e s c r i p t i o n s o f t h e a r e a t o b e t r e a t e d

w i l l b e s u b m i t t e d b y t h e O p e r a t o r t o t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r n o l a t e r t h a n D e c e m

b e r 1 f o r u s e t h e

f o l l o w i n g s p r i n g / s u m m e r

.

4

. T h e f o l l o w i n g r e c l a m a t i o n o b

j e c t i v e s w i l l b e u s e d t o d e t e r m i n e s u c c e s s o f r e c l a m a t i o n

. F i n a l

d e t e r m i n a t i o n c o n c e r n i n g w h e t h e r o r n o t a r e c l a i m e d a r e a m e e t s t h e r o l l o v e r o r r e l e a s e s t a n d a r d s

w i l l b e m a d e b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r f o r t h e B L M

.

a

. R o l l o v e r r e c l a m a t i o n c r e d i t r e q u i r e s e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f v i a b l e s i t e

- s t a b i l i z i n g p l a n t g r o w t h

( e

. g

. , r e s i s t a n t t o w i n d a n d w a t e r e r o s i o n ) a n d a p l a n t c o m m u n i t y t h a t a p p r o x i m a t e s

s u r r o u n d i n g o r e c o l o g i c a l l y c o m p a r a b l e v e g e t a t i v e c o m p o s i t i o n t o t h e m a x i m u m e x t e n t

p o s s i b l e

.

b

. F i n a l r e c l a m a t i o n r e q u i r e s a r a n g e o f s p e c i e s c o m p o s i t i o n

, d i v e r s i t y

, c o v e r a n d p r o d u c t i o n

e q u a l t o p r e

- d i s t u r

b a n c e l e v e l s

.

5

. W i l d l i f

e h a b i t a t e v a l u a t i o n s u s i n g H a b i t a t E v a l u a t i o n P r o c e d u r e s ( H E P ) a n d H a b i t a t S u i t a b i l i t y

I n d i c e s ( H S I ) f

o r a p p r o p r i a t e s p e c i e s w i l l b e d e v e l o p e d w i t h i n 1 y e a r o f t h e R O D a n d w i l l b e

u s e d t o e v a l u a t e i m p a c t s t o h a b i t a t a n d t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f r e c l a m a t i o n a n d m i t i g a t i o n

.

6

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l r e s t o r e t h o s e p o r t i o n s o f p a d s n o t n e e d e d f o r p r o d u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s t o a s c l o s e t o

o r i g i n a l c o n t o u r s a s p r a c t i c a l d u r i n g i n t e r i m r e c l a m a t i o n t o m i n i m i z e o r e l i m i n a t e t h e n e e d t o r e

d i s t u r b t h o s e r e c l a i m e d a r e a s w h e n w e l l s a r e p l u g g e d a n d a b a n d o n e d

.

7

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l e m p l o y a p p r o p r i a t e t o p s o i l s t o r a g e a n d r e p l a c e m e n t t e c h n o l o g y a n d p r o c e d u r e s t o

e n s u r e s o i l v i a b i l i t y a n d p l a n t r o o t i n g p o t e n t i a l a r e m a i n t a i n e d

.



## N o i s e

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l u t i l i z e f l a r e l e s s c o m p l e t i o n s f

o r a l l w e l l s w i t h i n t h e J I D P A u n l e s s p r o v e n t o t h e

s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s t h a t f l a r e l e s s c o m

p l e t i o n o p e r a t i o n s

w o u l d n o t b e t e c h n i c a l l y o r e c o n o m i c a l l y f e a s i b l e o r w o u l d b e u n s a f

e

, a n d t h a t W D E Q h a s i s s u e d

a p e r m i t t o c o n d u c t w e l l c o m p l e t i o n f l a r i n g f o r t h a t s p e c i f

i c w e l l

.

2

. A s d i r e c t e d o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l m o n i t o r t h e

r e p r e s e n t a t i v e n o i s e l e v e l s o f d r i l l i n g

, c e m e n t i n g

, a n d c o m p l e t i o n o p e r a t i o n s 3 0 f e e t f r o m t h e

w e l l p a d b o u n d a r y a n d p r o v i d e m o n i t o r i n g d a t a t o t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r w i t h i n 3 0 d a y s o f t h e

d a t a c o l l e c t i o n f

o r t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f n o i s e i m p a c t c h a r t s

.A

- 8

3

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l m o n i t o r n o i s e a t n o i s e

- s e n s i t i v e r e s o u r c e l o c a t i o n s

, a s d e t e r m i n e d b y t h e

A u t h o r i z e d O f

f i c e r

, a n d a n n u a l l y r e p o r t r e s u l t s t o t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n d J I O

.



## N i g h t L i g h t i n g

1

. O n a s i t e

- s p e c i f

i c b a s i s

, n i g h t t i m e l i g h t i n g / g l a r e r e s t r i c t i o n s ( e

. g

. , i n s t a l l l i g h t s h a d e s / h o o d s

, d i r e c t i o n a l l i g h t i n g

, c o l o r e d l i g h t s

, w a t t a g e l i m i t s

, m o t i o n d e t e c t o r s ; e x t i n g u i s h a l l u n n e c e s s a r y

l i g h t i n g d u r i n g n o n

- w o r k i n g h o u r s ) m a y b e r e q u i r e d

, c o n s i s t e n t w i t h O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d

H e a l t h A d m i n i s t r a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s

.



## C u l t u r a l / H i s t o r i c R e s o u r c e s P r o t e c t i o n

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l s u s p e n d a l l o p e r a t i o n s i f p r e v i o u s l y u n d e t e c t e d a r c h a e o l o g i c a l o r h i s t o r i c a l

m a t e r i a l s a r e d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s

. O p e r a t i o n s w i l l n o t r e s u m e u n t i l

a u t h o r i z a t i o n t o p r o c e e d i s g r a n t e d b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r

.



## S o c i o e c o n o m i c

1

. O p e r a t o r s w i l l p r o v i d e t h e B L M w i t h t h e i r 3

- y e a r o p e r a t i o n a l f o r e c a s t s f o r t h e J I D P A b y

J a n u a r y 3 1 o f e a c h y e a r d u r i n g f i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t

. T h e s e f o r e c a s t s w i l l i n c l u d e e s t i m a t e s o f t o t a l

d r i l l i n g a c t i v i t y b y y e a r

.



## L i v e s t o c k G r a z i n g

1

. I n c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r a n d J I O

, O p e r a t o r s w i l l :

a

. M o n i t o r t h e e f

f e c t s o f l i v e s t o c k o n r e c l a m a t i o n p r o j e c t s a n d n a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n i n c l u d i n g

, b u t

n o t l i m i t e d t o

, f

o r a g e u t i l i z a t i o n a n d p e r c e n t c o m p o s i t i o n

.

b

. M o n i t o r t h e e f

f e c t s o f g a s f

i e l d d e v e l o p m e n t o n l i v e s t o c k o p e r a t i o n s ( i

. e

. , d e a t h l o s s

, f o r a g e

q u a l i t y

, e t c

. )

.



## V i s u a l R e s o u r c e M a n a g e m e n t

1

. N e w p r o d u c t i o n f

a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e p a i n t e d a n o n

- c o n t r a s t i n g c o l o r w h i c h i s h a r m o n i o u s w i t h t h e

s u r r o u n d i n g l a n d s c a p e ( i

. e

. , s h a l e g r e e n

, u n l e s s o t h e r w i s e s p e c i f i e d b y B L M o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e

b a s i s ) ; e x i s t i n g p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e p a i n t e d t h a t c o l o r a t t h e e a r l i e s t o p p o r

t u n i t y

, a n d n o

l a t e r t h a n w h e n f

a c i l i t i e s a r e d u e f

o r r o u t i n e r e p a i n t i n g

.

## A P P E N D I X B

O P E R A T O R

- C O M M I T T E D P R A C T I C E SB

- 1 

## A P P E N D I X B

O P E R A T O R

- C O M M I T T E D P R A C T I C E S

E x i s t i n g J o n a h p r o

j e c t N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y A c t o f 1 9 6 9 ( N E P A ) d o c u m e n t s ( B u r e a u o f L a n d

M a n a g e m e n t [ B L M ] 1 9 9 8

, 2 0 0 0 a ) p r o v i d e v a r i o u s p r o g r a m s a n d p o l i c i e s t h a t w o u l d b e i m p l e m e n t e d t o

p r o t e c t t h e e n v i r o n m e n t d u r i n g t h e d e v e l o p m e n t a n d o p e r a t i o n o f t h e p r o p o s e d J o n a

h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t

( J I D P )

. U n l e s s o t h e r w i s e n o t e d

, e a c h o f t h e m e a s u r e s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h i s a p p e n d i x h a v e b e e n a g r e e d t o b y

a l l t h e O p e r a t o r s c u r r e n t l y w o r k i n g i n t h e J o n a h I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t A r e a ( J I D P A )

. T h e 1 5 a i r q u a l i t y

r e l a t e d m e a s u r e s l i s t e d a t t h e v e r y e n d o f t h i s d o c u m e n t h a v e b e e n c o m m i t t e d t o b y E n C a n a O i l & G a s

( U S A )

, I n c

. , b u t n o t y e t a g r e e d t o b y a n y o f t h e o t h e r O p e r a t o r s

.

M a n y o f t h e s e e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s w o u l d b e i n c l u d e d a s C o n d i t i o n s o f A p p r o v a l ( C O A s )

i n t h i s R O D

. H o w e v e r

, b y a d d i t i o n a l l y i n c l u d i n g t h e m a s O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s

, t h e v a r i o u s

O p e r a t o r s h a v e m a d e a c o m m i t m e n t t o i m p l e m e n t t h e m t h r o u g h o u t t h e l i f e

- o f

- p r o j e c t ( L O P )

, a n d t h e

i m p a c t a n a l y s e s p r o v i d e d i n t h e J I D P E I S t a k e i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e s e m e a s u r e s

b a s e d o n t h i s c o m m i t m e n t

.

W h e r e O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s d i f f e r f r o m a n d a r e l e s s r i g o r o u s t h a n t h o s e p r o v i d e d i n p r e v i o u s

N E P A d o c u m e n t s

, t h e r e a s o n f o r t h e c h a n g e i s i d e n t i f

i e d

. I f d e e m e d a p p r o p r i a t e b y t h e a p p l i c a b l e

r e g u l a t o r y a g e n c y

, t h e m o r e s t r i n g e n t m e a s u r e w i l l b e i m p o s e d

.

S o m e o f t h e O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s a r e o u t s i d e t h e j u r i s d i c t i o n o f B L M

. T h e s e p r a c t i c e s a r e

i d e n t i f i e d a s i t a l i c i z e d t e x t

.

I n a d d i t i o n t o O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n p r a c t i c e s

, t h e v a r i o u s J I D P A l e a s e s o f t e n

c o n t a i n o n e o r m o r e s t i p u l a t i o n s t h a t o b l i g a t e t h e l e a s e h o l d e r

. T h e s e l e a s e s t i p u l a t i o n s a r e m a n d a t o r y a n d

a d d r e s s a n u m

b e r o f i s s u e s

, i n c l u d i n g b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o s e a s o n a l a n d a r e a r e s t r i c t i o n s f o r r a p t o r n e s t s

,

g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k s a n d n e s t i n g h a b i t a t

, u n s t a b l e s o i l s

, s t e e p s l o p e s

, a n d c o n t r o l l e d s u r f a c e o c c u p a n c y

( s e e F E I S A p p e n d i x A )

. T h e s e l e a s e

- s p e c i f i c s t i p u l a t i o n s m a y b e d u p l i c a t e d b y t h e m o r e g e n e r a l m e a s u r e s

l i s t e d b e l o w

.

E x c e p t i o n s t o O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s m a y b e g r a n t e d i f a t h o r o u g h a n a l y s i s b y t h e B L M

d e t e r m i n e s t h a t t h e r e s o u r c e ( s ) f o r w h i c h t h e m e a s u r e w a s d e v e l o p e d w o u l d n o t b e u n a c c e p t a b l y i m p a c t e d

b y t h e p r o p o s e d p r o

j e c t

, o r i f t h e O p e r a t o r c a n d e m o n s t r a t e t o t h e s a t i s f a c t i o n o f t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f

f i c e r o n

a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s t h a t t h e r e q u i r e d m i t i g a t i o n o r p r a c t i c e w o u l d n o t b e t e c h n i c a l l y o r e c o n o m i c a l l y

f e a s i b l e

, o r t h a t a n o t h e r m e t h o d w o u l d c r e a t e l e s s e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t

.

T o a s s u r e c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s s t i p u l a t e d i n t h e F E I S

, t h i s R O D

, a n d i n s i t e

s p e c i f i c A P D s a n d R O W s

, e a c h O p e r a t o r w i l l p r o v i d e q u a l i f i e d i n d i v i d u a l s t o o v e r s e e c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d

d r i l l i n g o p e r a t i o n s a n d t o c o n s u l t w i t h t h e B L M o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s

, a s n e c e s s a r y

, d u r i n g f i e l d

d e v e l o p m e n t

.

A l l o f t h e p r o p o s e d O p e r a t o r

- c o m m i t t e d p r a c t i c e s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h i s s e c t i o n w i l l b e i m p l e m e n t e d o n a l l

f e d e r a l l a n d s a n d m i n e r a l s w i t h i n t h e J I D P A

. D e v e l o p m e n t a c t i v i t i e s o n a l l l a n d s w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d i n

a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a l l a p p r o p r i a t e f e d e r a l

, s t a t e

, a n d c o u n t y l a w s

, r u l e s

, a n d r e g u l a t i o n s

.B

- 2



## P R E C O N S T R U C T I O N P L A N N I N G A N D D E S I G N M E A S U R E S

1

. I m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f s i t e

- s p e c i f i c p r o j e c t s w o u l d b e c o n t i n g e n t o n B L M r e c e i v i n g

, f o r

a p p r o v a l / a c c e p t a n c e

, t h e f o l l o w i n g p l a n s : A P D a n d R O W S u r f a c e U s e P l a n s

, P l a n s o f

D e v e l o p m e n t

, a n d o t h e r s i t e

- s p e c i f i c p l a n s / r e p o r t s ( e

. g

. , r o a d a n d w e l l p a d d e s i g n p l a n s

, c u l t u r a l

c l e a r a n c e s

, s p e c i a l s t a t u s s p e c i e s c l e a r a n c e s

, e t c

. ) ; T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n

, R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n

, a n d

H a z a r d o u s M a t e r i a l s M a n a g e m e n t S u m m a r y ( s e e F E I S A p p e n d i c e s D P

- A

, D P

- B

, a n d D P

- C )

. T h e a b o v e p l a n s m a y b e p r e p a r e d b y O p e r a t o r s f o r t h e J I D P A o r m a y b e s u b m i t t e d i n c r e m e n t a l l y

w i t h e a c h A P D

, R O W a p p l i c a t i o n

, o r S u n d r y N o t i c e

.

2

. A p p r o v a l o f i n d i v i d u a l p r o j e c t c o m p o n e n t s ( i

. e

. , w e l l s

, r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d a n c i l l a r y f a c i l i t i e s )

w o u l d b e c o n t i n g e n t o n c o m p l e t i o n a n d a c c e p t a n c e o f a s i t e

- s p e c i f i c c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e l i t e r a t u r e

s e a r c h

, C l a s s I I I i n v e n t o r y r e p o r t

, a n d

, a s n e c e s s a r y

, p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l i n v e n t o r y ; t h r e a t e n e d

,

e n d a n g e r e d

, p r o p o s e d

, a n d c a n d i d a t e ( T E P & C ) a n d B L M W y o m i n g s e n s i t i v e ( B W S ) s p e c i e s

s u r v e y s ; g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k a n d n e s t i n g c l e a r a n c e ; r a p t o r n e s t c l e a r a n c e ; a n d a n y o t h e r

c l e a r a n c e s t h a t a r e j u s t i f

i e d f o r s c i e n t i f i c d a t a c o l l e c t i o n a n d p e r t i n e n t t o a g i v e n p r o j e c t

.

3

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i n c l u d e i n A P D

, R O W

, o r o t h e r a p p r o p r i a t e p e r m i t a p p l i c a t i o n s a d i s c u s s i o n o f

s i t e

- s p e c i f

i c m i t i g a t i o n a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o t e c t i o n m e a s u r e s a n d a m a p s h o w i n g s p e c i f i c

l o c a t i o n s w h e r e t h e s e m e a s u r e s w o u l d b e i m p l e m e n t e d

. F i n a l l o c a t i o n s f o r t h e s e m e a s u r e s w o u l d

b e c o n f i r m e d b y B L M a n d t h e O p e r a t o r s f o l l o w i n g o n

- s i t e i n s p e c t i o n s o f p r o j e c t l o c a t i o n s

.

4

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d o b t a i n a l l n e c e s s a r y f e d e r a l

, s t a t e

, a n d c o u n t y p e r m i t s

, i n c l u d i n g n e c e s s a r y S p i l l

P r e v e n t i o n a n d C o n t r o l C o u n t e r m e a s u r e P l a n s ( S P C C P s ) a n d S t o r m W a t e r P o l l u t i o n P r e v e n t i o n

P l a n s ( S W P P P s )

, t o e n s u r e t h a t p r o j e c t d e v e l o p m e n t o c c u r s i n a n e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y r e s p o n s i b l e

m a n n e r

.

5

. E n C a n a O i l & G a s ( U

S A ) I n c

. , B P A m e r i c a P r o d u c t i o n C o m p a n y

, a n d p o t e n t i a l l

y o t h e r

O p e r a t o r s w o u l d v o l u n t

a r i l y i m p l e m e n t a n o

f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n p r o g r

a m i n p a r t t o o

f f s e t p o t e n t i a l

i m p a c t s r e s u l t i n g f

r o m t h e p r o j e c t

. A s c u r r e n t l

y i d e n t i f i e d

, t h e s e p r o j e c t s m a y e n t a i l p r o n g h o r

n

m i g r a t i o n c o r r i d o r p r o t e c t i o n ; g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e h a b i t a t p r e s e r v a t i o n

, p r o t e c t i o n

, a n d

e n h a n c e m e n t p r o

j e c t s ; r a p t o r p r o t e c t i o n ; r e c r e a t i o n a l r e s o u r c e a u g m e n t a t i o n ; c o n s e r

v a t i o n

e a s e m e n t d e v e l o

p m e n t ; a i r q u a l i t

y i m p r o v e m e n t a n d A i r Q u a l i t

y R e l a t e d V a l u e s ( A Q R V ) p r o j e c t s ;

o n

- t h e

- g r o u n d r e c l a m a t i o n r e s e a r c h w i t h a n e m p h a s i s o n s a g e b r u s h ; a n d c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e

p r o j e c t s

. P o t e n t i a l p r o g r

a m p r o j e c t s m a y b e p r o p o s e d b y t h e p u b l i c

, B L

M

, s t a t e a g e n c i e s

, g r

a z i n g

p e r m i t t e e s

, o r o t

h e r e n t i t i e s

. F i n a l a

p p r o v a l f o r p r o j e c t s o n B L M

- a d m i n i s t e r e d l a n d

s w o u l d r e s t

s o l e l y w i t h t h e B L M

. S e e E n C a n a A p p e n d i x 1

, V o l u n t a r y C o m p e n s a t o r y M i t i g a t i o n P r o

p o s a l

.



## A I R Q U A L I T Y

6

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d t r e a t p r i m a r

y a c c e s s r o a d

s ( e

. g

. , L u m a n R o a d

, W i n d m i l l R o a d

, B u r m a R o a d

,

a n d N o r t h J o n a h R o a d

)

, a n d h e a v i l

y u s e d r e s o u r c e r o a d

s a s n e c e s s a r

y d u r i n g h i g h u s e p e r i o d

s

,

w i t h d u s t s u p p r e s s a n t s ( e

. g

. , m a g n e s i u m c h l o r i d e ) a n d w o u l d w a t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s a n d w e l l

p a d a c c e s s r o a d

s a s n e c e s s a r

y t o c o n t r o l f

u g i t i v e d u s t d u r i n g t

h e s u m m e r

.

7

. N o o p e n b u r n i n g o f g a r b a g e o r r e

f u s e w o u l d b e a l l o w e d a t t h e w e l l s i t e s o r o t

h e r f a c i l i t i e s

. A n y o p e n b u r n i n g w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d u n d e r t h e p e r m i t t i n g p r o v i s i o n s o

f C h a p t e r 1 0

, S e c t i o n 2

o f t h e W y o m i n g A i r Q u a l i t

y S t a n d a r d s a n d R e g u l a t i o n s

.B

- 3

8

. N e c e s s a r y a i r q u a l i t

y p e r m i t s t o c o n s t r u c t

, t e s t

, a n d o p e r a t e f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e o b t

a i n e d f r o m

t h e W y o m i n g D e

p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t

a l Q u a l i t y / A i r Q u a l i t

y D i v i s i o n ( W

D E Q / A Q D )

. A l l i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e q u i

p m e n t w o u l d b e k e

p t i n g o o d w o r

k i n g o r d e r

.

9

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o m

p l y w i t h a l l a p p l i c a b l e l o c a l

, s t a t e

, t r i b a l

, a n d f e d e r a l a i r q u a l i t

y l a w s

,

s t a t u t e s

, r e g u l a t i o n s

, s t

a n d a r d s

, a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n p l a n s

, i n c l u d i n g W y o m i n g A m b i e n t A i r

Q u a l i t y S t a n d a r d s ( W A A Q S ) a n d N

a t i o n a l A m b i e n t A i r Q u a l i t y S t a n d a r d s ( N A A Q S )

.

1 0

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o o

p e r a t e w i t h W D E Q i n d e t e r

m i n i n g r e g i o n a l o x i d e s o f n i t r o g e n (

N O

x )

e m i s s i o n l e v e l s

.

1 1

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o e n c o u r a g e c o n t r a c t o r s a n d e m p l o y e e s t o o b e y s

p e e d l i m i t

s a n d

s u p p o r t l o c a l l a w e n

f o r c e m e n t o

f f i c i a l s i n e n

f o r c i n g s p e e d l i m i t s ( i

. e

. , 3 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r [ m p h ] ) t o

r e d u c e f u g i t i v e d u s t c o n c e r

n s

, a s w e l l a s f

o r h u m a n h e a l t

h a n d s a f e t y r e a s o n s

.

1 2

. E n C a n a O i l & G a s ( U

S A ) I n c

. , B P A m e r i c a P r o d u c t i o n C o m p a n y

, a n d p o t e n t i a l l

y o t h e r

O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o o

p e r a t e w i t h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a n y W D E Q

- m a n d

a t e d a i r q u a l i t

y

m o n i t o r i n g p r o g r

a m o r e m i s s i o n s c o n t r o l p r o g r a m

.



## T O P O G R A P H Y

1 3

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i n c o r p o r a t e i n t h e i r S u r f a c e U s e P l a n s a n d P l a n s o f D e v e l o p m e n t t h e p r o c e d u r e s

c o n t a i n e d i n S t a n d a r d P r a c t i c e s

, B e s t M a n a g e m e n t P r a c t i c e s

, a n d G u i d e l i n e s f o r S u r f a c e

D i s t u r b i n g A c t i v i t i e s

, g u i d e l i n e s f o r r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n c o n t a i n e d i n B L M M a n u a l 9 1 1 3 ( B L M

1 9 8 5

, 1 9 9 1 )

, a n d p r o

j e c t

- s p e c i f

i c r e q u i r e m e n t s i n t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n s f o r

t h i s p r o j e c t ( F E I S A p p e n d i c e s D P

- A a n d D P

- B )

.

1 4

. U n n e c e s s a r y t o p o g r a p h i c a l t e r a t i o n s w o u l d b e m i t i g a t e d b y a v o i d i n g

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

, s t e e p

s l o p e s

, r u g g e d t o p o g r a p h y

, a n d e p h e m e r a l / i n t e r m i t t e n t d r a i n a g e s a n d b y m i n i m i z i n g t h e s i z e o f

d i s t u r b e d a r e a s

.

1 5

. U p o n c o m p l e t i o n o f c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d / o r p r o d u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d r e s t o r e t h e

t o p o g r a p h y t o n e a r p r e

- e x i s t i n g c o n t o u r s a t w e l l p a d s

, r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d o t h e r f a c i l i t y s i t e s

. T h e O p e r a t o r s w i l l c o m p l y w i t h t h e r e q u i r e m e n t s o f a l l W D E Q a n d U

. S

. E n v i r o n m e n t a l

P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y ( E P A ) s t o r m w a t e r e r o s i o n c o n t r o l p e r m i t t i n g p r a c t i c e s

.

1 6

. N o w e l l p a d s

, r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, o r o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e b u i l t w i t h i n 3 0 0 f e e t o f t h e e d g e o f

S a n d D r a w o r w i t h i n t h e t a l l s a g e b r u s h a r e a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h i s d r a i n a g e

, e x c e p t f o r c r o s s i n g s

t h a t w o u l d b e d o n e a t r i g h t a n g l e s t o t h e c h a n n e l

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

. T h e n u m b e r o f c r o s s i n g s a l s o

w o u l d b e m i n i m i z e d

.



## G E O L O G I C A L / P A L E O N T O L O G I C A L R E S O U R C E S

1 7

. A t t h e O p e r a t o r ’ s d i s c r e t i o n

, w e l l s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d a n c i l l a r y f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e d e s i g n e d a n d

c o n s t r u c t e d s u c h t h a t t h e y w o u l d n o t b e d a m a g e d b y m o d e r a t e e a r t h q u a k e s

. A n y f a c i l i t i e s d e f

i n e d

a s c r i t i c a l

, a c c o r d i n g t o t h e U n i f o r m B u i l d i n g C o d e

, w o u l d b e c o n s t r u c t e d i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h

a p p l i c a b l e U n i f

o r m B u i l d i n g C o d e S t a n d a r d s f o r S e i s m i c R i s k Z o n e 2 B

.B

- 4

1 8

. I n a r e a s o f p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l s e n s i t i v i t y

, a d e t e r m i n a t i o n w o u l d b e m a d e b y t h e B L M a s t o w h e t h e r

a s u r v e y b y a q u a l i f

i e d p a l e o n t o l o g i s t i s n e c e s s a r y p r i o r t o t h e d i s t u r b a n c e

. I n s o m e c a s e s

,

c o n s t r u c t i o n m o n i t o r i n g

, p r o j e c t r e l o c a t i o n

, d a t a r e c o v e r y

, o r o t h e r m i t i g a t i o n m a y b e r e q u i r e d t o

e n s u r e t h a t s i g n i f

i c a n t p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l r e s o u r c e s a r e a v o i d e d o r r e c o v e r e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n

.

1 9

. I f p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l r e s o u r c e s a r e u n c o v e r e d d u r i n g s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d

s u s p e n d a l l o p e r a t i o n s t h a t w o u l d f u r t h e r d i s t u r

b s u c h m a t e r i a l s a n d w o u l d i m m e d i a t e l y c o n t a c t

t h e B L M

, w h o w o u l d a r r a n g e f o r a d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f s i g n i f i c a n c e a n d

, i f n e c e s s a r y

, r e c o m m e n d a

r e c o v e r y o r a v o i d a n c e p l a n

. M i t i g a t i o n o f i m p a c t s t o p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l r e s o u r c e s w o u l d b e o n a

c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s

, a n d O p e r a t o r s w o u l d e i t h e r a v o i d o r p r o t e c t p a l e o n t o l o g i c a l r e s o u r c e s

.

2 0

. C o n t r a c t o r s a n d t h e i r w o r k e r s w o u l d b e i n s t r u c t e d a b o u t t h e p o t e n t i a l o f e n c o u n t e r i n g f o s s i l s a n d

t h e s t e p s t o t a k e i f f

o s s i l s a r e d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g p r o j e c t

- r e l a t e d a c t i v i t i e s

. T h e i l l e g a l i t y o f

r e m o v i n g v e r t e b r a t e f

o s s i l m a t e r i a l s f

r o m f e d e r a l l a n d s w i t h o u t a n a p p r o p r i a t e p e r m i t w o u l d b e

e x p l a i n e d

.



## S O I L S

2 1

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a d h e r e t o t h e r e c l a m a t i o n g u i d e l i n e s p r e s e n t e d i n B L M 2 0 0 4

. A d v e r s e i m p a c t s t o

s o i l s w o u l d b e m i t i g a t e d b y m i n i m i z i n g d i s t u r b a n c e ; a v o i d i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h f r o z e n s o i l

m a t e r i a l s ; a v o i d i n g a r e a s w i t h h i g h e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l ( e

. g

. , u n s t a b l e s o i l s

, d u n a l a r e a s

, s l o p e s

g r e a t e r t h a n 2 5 %

, f

l o o d p l a i n s )

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l ; s a l v a g i n g a n d s e l e c t i v e l y h a n d l i n g t o p s o i l f r o m

d i s t u r b e d a r e a s ; a d e q u a t e l y p r o t e c t i n g s t o c k p i l e d t o p s o i l a n d r e p l a c i n g i t o n t h e s u r f a c e d u r i n g

r e c l a m a t i o n ; l e a v i n g t h e s o i l i n t a c t ( s c a l p i n g o n l y ) d u r i n g p i p e l i n e c o n s t r u c t i o n

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l ;

u s i n g a p p r o p r i a t e e r o s i o n a n d s e d i m e n t a t i o n c o n t r o l t e c h n i q u e s i n c l u d i n g

, b u t n o t l i m i t e d t o

, d i v e r s i o n t e r r a c e s

, r i p r a p

, a n d m a t t i n g ; a n d p r o m p t l y r e v e g e t a t i n g d i s t u r b e d a r e a s u s i n g n a t i v e

s p e c i e s

. T e m p o r a r y e r o s i o n c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s s u c h a s t e m p o r a r y v e g e t a t i o n c o v e r ; a p p l i c a t i o n o f

m u l c h

, n e t t i n g

, o r s o i l s t a b i l i z e r s ; a n d / o r c o n s t r u c t i o n o f b a r r i e r s m a y b e u s e d i n s o m e a r e a s t o

m i n i m i z e w i n d a n d w a t e r e r o s i o n a n d s e d i m e n t a t i o n p r i o r t o v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t

. S p e c i f i c

m e a s u r e s a n d l o c a t i o n s w o u l d b e i d e n t i f i e d i n S u r f

a c e U s e P l a n s

, P l a n s o f D e v e l o p m e n t

, o r

S W P P P s p r e p a r e d d u r i n g A P D a n d / o r R O W a p p l i c a t i o n p r o c e s s e s

.

2 2

. P i p e l i n e R O W s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d t o m i n i m i z e s o i l d i s t u r b a n c e

. W h e r e p r a c t i c a l

, m i t i g a t i o n w o u l d

i n c l u d e l o c a t i n g R O W s a d j a c e n t t o a c c e s s r o a d s t o m i n i m i z e R O W d i s t u r b a n c e w i d t h s o r r o u t i n g

p i p e l i n e R O W s d i r e c t l y t o m i n i m i z e d i s t u r b a n c e l e n g t h s ; d i r e c t

- l i n e r o u t e s m a y b e p r e f e r a b l e i n

a r e a s w i t h h i g h w e l l p a d d e n s i t i e s

.

2 3

. A p p r o p r i a t e e r o s i o n c o n t r o l a n d r e v e g e t a t i o n m e a s u r e s w o u l d b e e m p l o y e d

. G r a d i n g a n d

l a n d s c a p i n g w o u l d b e u s e d t o m i n i m i z e s l o p e s

, a n d w a t e r b a r s w o u l d b e i n s t a l l e d o n d i s t u r b e d

s l o p e s i n a r e a s w i t h u n s t a b l e s o i l s w h e r e s e e d i n g a l o n e m a y n o t a d e q u a t e l y c o n t r o l e r o s i o n

. E r o s i o n c o n t r o l a n d r e v e g e t a t i o n e f f o r t s w o u l d b e m o n i t o r e d b y t h e B L M a n d O p e r a t o r s a n d

a u g m e n t e d

, a s n e c e s s a r y

, t o c o n t r o l e r o s i o n a n d e n s u r e s u c c e s s f u l e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f n a t i v e

v e g e t a t i o n

.

2 4

. S u f f i c i e n t t o p s o i l o r o t h e r s u i t a b l e m a t e r i a l t o f a c i l i t a t e r e v e g e t a t i o n w o u l d b e s e g r e g a t e d f r o m

s u b s o i l s d u r i n g a l l c o n s t r u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s r e q u i r i n g e x c a v a t i o n a n d w o u l d b e r e t u r n e d t o t h e

s u r f a c e u p o n c o m p l e t i o n o f o p e r a t i o n s

. S o i l s c o m p a c t e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d b e r i p p e d a n d

t i l l e d a s n e c e s s a r y p r i o r t o r e s e e d i n g

. C u t

- a n d

- f i l l s e c t i o n s o n a l l r o a d s a n d a l o n g p i p e l i n e s w o u l d

b e r e v e g e t a t e d w i t h n a t i v e s p e c i e s

.B

- 5

2 5

. T o t h e e x t e n t p r a c t i c a l a n d n e c e s s a r y

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d p l a n n e w g r o u n d

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s f

o r

p e r i o d s w h e n s o i l s a r e n o t f r o z e n a n d w o u l d w o r k w i t h t h e B L M o n a p p r o p r i a t e c o n s t r u c t i o n

a c t i o n s i n t h e e v e n t t h a t t h e y a r e p r o p o s e d f o r p e r i o d s w h e n s o i l f

r o s t d e p t h s e x c e e d 6

. 0 i n c h e s

.

2 6

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d r e v e g e t a t e a l l d i s t u r b e d s i t e s a s s o o n a s p r a c t i c a l f o l l o w i n g d i s t u r

b a n c e

.

2 7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d r e s t r i c t o

f f

- h i g h w a y v e h i c l e ( O H V

) a c t i v i t y b y e m p l o y e e s a n d c o n t r

a c t w o r k e r s

.

2 8

. P r o j e c t

- r e l a t e d t r a v e l w o u l d b e l i m i t e d t o o n l y t h a t n e c e s s a r y f o r e f f i c i e n t p r o j e c t o p e r a t i o n d u r i n g

p e r i o d s w h e n s o i l s a r e s a t u r a t e d a n d e x c e s s i v e r u t t i n g c o u l d o c c u r

.

2 9

. R e v i e w s o

f e r o s i o n c o n t r o l s t r u c t u r e s

, c u l v e r t s

, r e c l a m a t i o n

, e t c

. , w o u l d b e m a d e b y O p e r a t o r

p e r s o n n e l a s r e q u i r e d b y S W P P P s a n d W

D E Q o r E

P A r e g u l a t i o n s

.



## W A T E R R E S O U R C E S

3 0

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o m

p l y w i t h U

. S

. A r m y C o r p s o f E n g i n e e r s ( C O E ) r e q u i r e m e n t

s w h e n

c o n d u c t i n g o

p e r a t i o n s i n w e t l a n d

s

, r i p a r i a n a r e a s

, o

p e n w a t e r a r e a s

, a n d e p h e m e r a l o r

i n t e r m i t t e n t d r

a i n a g e s

, w h e r e p r

a c t i c a l

. W h e r e e p h e m e r a l o r i n t e r m i t t e n t c h a n n e l s w o u l d b e

c r o s s e d b y r o a d s

, c u l v e r t s o r l o w

- w a t e r c r o s s i n g s w o u l d b e i n s t a l l e d a t a l l a p p r o p r i a t e l o c a t i o n s a s

s p e c i f i e d i n t h e B L M M a n u a l 9 1 1 2

– B r i d g e s a n d M a j o r C u l v e r t s ( B L M 1 9 9 0 ) a n d M a n u a l 9 1 1 3

– R o a d s ( B L M 1 9 8 5

, 1 9 9 1 )

. C h a n n e l s w o u l d b e c r o s s e d p e r p e n d i c u l a r ( a t r i g h t a n g l e s ) t o f l o w

,

w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

, a n d a l l s t r e a m c r o s s i n g s t r u c t u r e s w o u l d b e d e s i g n e d t o c a r r y t h e 2 5

- y e a r

d i s c h a r g e e v e n t o r o t h e r c a p a c i t i e s a s d i r e c t e d b y B L M

.

3 1

. A l l n o n

- r e c

y c l e d w a t e r u s e d i n a s s o c i a t i o n w i t h t h i s p r o j e c t w o u l d b e o b t

a i n e d f r o m W y o m i n g

S t a t e E n g i n e e r ’ s O

f f i c e ( W S E O )

- a p p r o v e d g r o u n d

w a t e r w e l l s

.

3 2

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a d

h e r e t o g u i d e l i n e s s

p e c i f i e d i n S P C C P s

. A n y s p i l l o r a c c i d e n t a l d i s c h a r g e o f

h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l w o u l d b e r e m e d i a t e d

. A n o r i e n t a t i o n w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d b y O p e r a t o r s t o

e n s u r e t h a t p r o

j e c t p e r s o n n e l a r e a w a r e o f t h e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s t h a t c a n r e s u l t f r o m a c c i d e n t a l

s p i l l s a n d t h a t t h e y k n o w t h e a p p r o p r i a t e r e c o u r s e i f a s p i l l o c c u r s

.

3 3

. E r o s i o n

- p r o n e a r e a s ( e

. g

. , d r a i n a g e s ) o r h i g h

- s a l i n i t y a r e a s w o u l d b e a v o i d e d w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

, a n d

n e c e s s a r y c o n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e s e a r e a s w o u l d b e d o n e i n t h e l a t e s u m m e r

, f a l l

, a n d w i n t e r ( p r i o r t o

s o i l f r e e z i n g ) t o a v o i d r u n o f

f p e r i o d s

. P r o p e r c o n t a i n m e n t o f o i l a n d p r o d u c e d w a t e r i n t a n k s

, d r i l l i n g a n d f

r a c t u r i n g f

l u i d s i n t a n k s o r r e s e r v e p i t s

, a n d t h e l o c a t i o n o f s t a g i n g a r e a s f o r

e q u i p m e n t s t o r a g e a w a y f r o m d r a i n a g e s w o u l d p r e v e n t p o t e n t i a l c o n t a m i n a n t s f r o m e n t e r i n g

s u r f a c e w a t e r s

.

3 4

. P r u d e n t u s e o f e r o s i o n c o n t r o l m e a s u r e s

, i n c l u d i n g d i v e r s i o n t e r r a c e s

, r i p r a p

, m a t t i n g

, t e m p o r a r y

s e d i m e n t t r a p s

, a n d w a t e r b a r s

, w o u l d b e e m p l o y e d a s n e c e s s a r y

. I n t e r c e p t o r d i k e s o r w a t e r b a r s

w o u l d b e u s e d t o c o n t r o l s u r f a c e r u n o f f g e n e r a t e d a t w e l l p a d s

, w h e r e n e c e s s a r y

. E r o s i o n c o n t r o l

a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n m e t h o d s w o u l d b e d e s c r i b e d i n A P D a n d R O W p l a n s

, i f n e c e s s a r y

. I f w a t e r i s

d i s c h a r g e d i n t o a n e s t a b l i s h e d d r a i n a g e c h a n n e l

, t h e r a t e o f d i s c h a r g e w o u l d n o t e x c e e d t h e

c a p a c i t y o f t h e c h a n n e l t o c o n v e y t h e i n c r e a s e d f l o w w i t h o u t c r e a t i n g e r o s i o n i n d u c e d c h a n n e l

a d j u s t m e n t s

. W a t e r s t h a t d o n o t m e e t a p p l i c a b l e s t a t e o r f e d e r a l s t a n d a r d s w o u l d b e e v a p o r a t e d

,

t r e a t e d

, o r d i s p o s e d o f a t a n a p p r o v e d d i s p o s a l f a c i l i t y

.B

- 6

3 5

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o n s t r u c t r e s e r v e p i t s w i t h 2 f e e t o f f r e e b o a r d i n c u t a r e a s o r i n c o m p a c t e d a n d

s t a b i l i z e d f

i l l

. T h e s u b s o i l m a t e r i a l a t p r o p o s e d p i t l o c a t i o n s w o u l d b e i n s p e c t e d t o a s s e s s s o i l

s t a b i l i t y a n d p e r m e a b i l i t y a n d w h e t h e r r e i n f o r c e m e n t a n d / o r l i n i n g a r e r e q u i r e d

. P r i o r t o

i n s t a l l a t i o n o f r e s e r v e p i t l i n e r s a n d / o r f l u i d s

, r e s e r v e p i t s m a y b e i n s p e c t e d b y B L M p e r s o n n e l

. U n l i n e d e a r t h e n r e s e r v e p i t s w o u l d b e u s e d o n l y a f t e r B L M e v a l u a t i o n o f t h e p i t l o c a t i o n f o r

d i s t a n c e t o s u r f

a c e w a t e r s

, d e p t h t o u s e a b l e g r o u n d w a t e r

, s o i l t y p e a n d p e r m e a b i l i t y

, a n d

c o n t a i n m e n t f

l u i d c o n t e n t i n d i c a t e n o p o t e n t i a l a d v e r s e e f f e c t s t o w a t e r r e s o u r c e s

.

3 6

. I f r e s e r v e p i t l e a k a g e i s d e t e c t e d

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a p p l y a p p r o p r i a t e m i t i g a t i o n t e c h n i q u e s i n

c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e B L M

.

3 7

. A l l w e l l s w o u l d b e c a s e d a n d c e m e n t e d t o p r o t e c t s u b s u r f a c e m i n e r a l a n d f

r e s h w a t e r z o n e s

. U n p r o d u c t i v e w e l l s a n d w e l l s t h a t h a v e c o m p l e t e d t h e i r i n t e n d e d p u r p o s e w o u l d b e p r o p e r l y

a b a n d o n e d a n d p l u g g e d u s i n g p r o c e d u r e s i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e W y o m i n g O i l a n d G a s C o n s e r v a t i o n

C o m m i s s i o n ( W O G C C ) a n d t h e B L M

.

3 8

. C h a n n e l c r o s s i n g s b y p i p e l i n e s w o u l d b e c o n s t r u c t e d s o t h a t t h e p i p e i s b u r i e d a t l e a s t 4 f e e t

b e l o w t h e c h a n n e l b o t t o m

.

3 9

. C h a n n e l c r o s s i n g s b y r o a d s a n d p i p e l i n e s w o u l d b e c o n s t r u c t e d p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o f l o w

.

4 0

. D i s t u r

b e d c h a n n e l b e d s w o u l d b e r e s h a p e d t o t h e i r a p p r o x i m a t e o r i g i n a l c o n f i g u r a t i o n

.

4 1

. D i s p o s a l o f a l l w a t e r ( h y d r o s t a t i c t e s t w a t e r

, s t o r m w a t e r

, p r o d u c e d w a t e r ) w o u l d b e d o n e i n

c o n f o r m a n c e w i t h W D E Q /

W a t e r Q u a l i t y D i v i s i o n ( W Q D ) ( 1 9 9 3 )

, B L M O n s h o r e O i l a n d G a s

O r d e r N o

. 7

, a n d W O G C C r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s

.

4 2

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d p r e

p a r e S W P P P s f o r a l l d i s t u r

b a n c e s g r e a t e r t h a n 5 a c r e s i n s i z e a s r e q u i r e d b y

W D E Q N a t i o n a l P o l l u t i o n D i s c h a r g e E l i m i n a t i o n S

y s t e m ( N P D E S ) p e r m i t r e q u i r e m e n t

s

.

4 3

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i m

p l e m e n t S P C C P s i f l i q u i d p e t r o l e u m p r o d u c t s o r o t h e r h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l s

a r e s t o r e d o n

- s i t e i n s u

f f i c i e n t q u a n t i t i e s

, i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h 4 0 C F R 1 1 2

.

4 4

. A n y d i s t u r

b a n c e s t o w e t l a n d

s a n d / o r w a t e r s o f t h e U

. S

. w o u l d b e c o o r

d i n a t e d w i t

h t h e C O E

, a n d

S e c t i o n 4 0 4 p e r

m i t s w o u l d b e s e c u r e d a s n e c e s s a r y p r i o r t o d i s t u r

b a n c e

.

4 5

. T o m i t i g a t e p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s c a u s e d b y f l o o d i n g d u r i n g t h e L O P

, c o n s t r u c t i o n i n f l o o d

- p r o n e

a r e a s w o u l d b e l i m i t e d t o l a t e s u m m e r

, f a l l

, o r w i n t e r w h e n c o n d i t i o n s a r e g e n e r a l l y d r y a n d f l o w s

a r e l o w o r n o n e x i s t e n t

. A d d i t i o n a l m i t i g a t i o n t o l e s s e n a n y i m p a c t s f r o m f l o o d i n g o r h i g h f

l o w s

d u r i n g a n d a f

t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d i n c l u d e t h e a v o i d a n c e o f a r e a s w i t h h i g h e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l

( i

. e

. , s t e e p s l o p e s

, f

l o o d p l a i n s

, u n s t a b l e s o i l s ) ; r e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f e x i s t i n g c o n t o u r s w h e r e

p r a c t i c a l ; a v o i d a n c e o f a r e a s w i t h i n 5 0 0 f e e t o f w e t l a n d e d g e s

, r i p a r i a n a r e a s

, a n d o p e n w a t e r

,

w h e r e p r a c t i c a l ; a v o i d a n c e o f a r e a s w i t h i n 1 0 0 f e e t o f e p h e m e r a l d r a i n a g e s

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l ; a n d

i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a p p r o p r i a t e e r o s i o n a n d s e d i m e n t c o n t r o l a n d r e v e g e t a t i o n p r o c e d u r e s

.

4 6

. I n c r e a s e d s e d i m e n t a t i o n i m p a c t s t o s u r f a c e w a t e r s w o u l d b e a v o i d e d o r m i n i m i z e d t h r o u g h

c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d e r o s i o n c o n t r o l p r a c t i c e s a p p r o v e d w i t h e a c h a u t h o r i z a t i o n a n d t h r o u g h t h e

p r o m p t r e c l a m a t i o n o f d i s t u r b a n c e s

.B

- 7

4 7

. E n C a n a O i l a n d G a s ( U

S A ) I n c

. , B P A m e r i c a P r o d u c t i o n C o m p a n y

, a n d p o t e n t i a l l

y o t h e r

O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o n d u c t c o m

p l e t e w a t e r q u a l i t

y a n a l y s e s a s d e s c r i b e d i n E

n C a n a ’ s P r o p o s e d

G r o u n d w a t e r M o n i t o r i n g P l a n ( e

. g

. , p H

, a l k a l i n i t y

, t o t a l d i s s o l v e d s o l i d

s [ T D S ]

, o i l a n d g r

e a s e

, b e n z e n e ) o n a l l n e w l

y d e v e l o p e d w a t e r w e l l s l e s s t

h a n 3 0 0 f e e t i n d e p t h

. A d d i t i o n a l l y

, a n n u a l

w a t e r q u a l i t

y t e s t i n g n e w a n d e x i s t i n g p r o j e c t

- r e q u i r e d w a t e r w e l l s w o u l d b e i m p l e m e n t e d t o

d e t e c t w a t e r q u a l i t

y c h a n g e s

, a n d i n t

h e e v e n t a d v e r

s e c h a n g e s a r e n o t e d

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d w o r

k

w i t h t h e B L M a n d t h e W D E Q i f n e c e s s a r

y o n d e v e l o

p i n g a n d i m

p l e m e n t i n g a

p p r o p r i a t e

c o r r e c t i v e a c t i o n s

. W

a t e r w e l l d r i l l i n g a n d q u a l i t y a n a l y s i s r e p o r t s w o u l d b e s u b m i t t e d b y

O c t o b e r 1 o

f e a c h y e a r t o t

h e B L M P i n e d a l e F i e l d O

f f i c e ( P F O )

, W

S E O

, a n d W

D E Q / W Q D f o r

r e v i e w

.



## N O I S E

4 8

. A l l e n g i n e s a n d c o m p r e s s o r e x h a u s t s t a c k s w o u l d b e m u f f l e d a n d m a i n t a i n e d a c c o r d i n g t o

m a n u f a c t u r e r s ' s p e c i f

i c a t i o n s

.

4 9

. C o n s t r u c t i o n

, d r i l l i n g

, c o m p l e t i o n

, t e s t i n g

, a n d p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t y i n s t a l l a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e

s e a s o n a l l y r e s t r i c t e d p r o x i m a l t o a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t s d u r i n g t h e n e s t i n g p e r i o d a n d i n g r e a t e r s a g e

g r o u s e b r e e d i n g a n d n e s t i n g a r e a s

, u n l e s s t h i s r e s t r i c t i o n i s u n n e c e s s a r y b a s e d u p o n s i t e

- s p e c i f i c

r e v i e w s a n d t h e B L M g r a n t s a w a i v e r o r m o d i f i c a t i o n

.

5 0

. R o a d u s e a n d t r a v e l p a t t e r n s p e c i f i c a t i o n s w o u l d b e d e s i g n e d

, i n p a r t

, t o k e e p t r a f f i c t o a m i n i m

u m

a n d t o r e d u c e n o i s e i m p a c t s a s i d e n t i f i e d i n t h e T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n ( F E I S A p p e n d i x D P

- A )

.



## V E G E T A T I O N

5 1

. H e r b i c i d e a p p l i c a t i o n s w o u l d b e k e p t a t l e a s t 5 0 0 f e e t f r o m k n o w n B W S p l a n t s p e c i e s p o p u l a t i o n s

o r o t h e r d i s t a n c e d e e m e d s a f e b y t h e B L M

.

5 2

. R e m o v a l a n d d i s t u r

b a n c e o f v e g e t a t i o n w o u l d b e k e p t t o a m i n i m u m t h r o u g h c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e

m a n a g e m e n t ( e

. g

. , u s i n g p r e v i o u s l y d i s t u r b e d a r e a s a n d e x i s t i n g e a s e m e n t s

, l i m i t i n g

e q u i p m e n t

/ m a t e r i a l s s t o r a g e y a r d a n d s t a g i n g a r e a s i z e s

, e t c

. )

. W e l l p a d s a n d a s s o c i a t e d r o a d s a n d

p i p e l i n e s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d t o a v o i d o r m i n i m i z e i m p a c t s i n a r e a s o f h i g h v a l u e ( e

. g

. , T E P & C o r

B W S s p e c i e s h a b i t a t s

, w e t l a n d / r i p a r i a n a r e a s )

.

5 3

. P r o p e r e r o s i o n a n d s e d i m e n t c o n t r o l s t r u c t u r e s a n d t e c h n i q u e s w o u l d b e i n c o r p o r a t e d b y

O p e r a t o r s i n t o t h e d e s i g n o f w e l l p a d s

, r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d o t h e r f a c i l i t i e s

. R e v e g e t a t i o n u s i n g a

B L M

- a p p r o v e d

, l o c a l l y a d a p t e d s e e d m i x t u r e c o n t a i n i n g n a t i v e g r a s s e s

, f o r b s

, a n d s h r u b s w o u l d

b e g i n i n t h e f

i r s t a p p r o p r i a t e s e a s o n f

o l l o w i n g d i s t

u r b a n c e

. V e g e t a t i o n r e m o v e d w o u l d b e r e p l a c e d

w i t h p l a n t s o f s i m i l a r f

o r a g e v a l u e a n d g r o w t h f

o r m u s i n g t h e f

o l l o w i n g p r o c e d u r e s :

• f a l l r e s e e d i n g ( S e p t e m

b e r 1 5 t o f

r e e z e

- u p )

, w h e r e f

e a s i b l e ;

• s p r i n g r e s e e d i n g ( p o s t

- t h a w a n d p r i o r t o M a y 1 5 ) i f f a l l s e e d i n g i s n o t f

e a s i b l e ;

• d e e p r i p p i n g o f c o m p a c t e d s o i l s p r i o r t o r e s e e d i n g ;

• s u r f a c e p i t t i n g /

r o u g h e n i n g p r i o r t o r e s e e d i n g ;B

- 8 • u t i l i z a t i o n o f n a t i v e c o o l

- s e a s o n g r a s s e s

, f o r b s

, a n d s h r u b s i n t h e s e e d m i x ;

• i n t e r s e e d i n g o f s h r u b s i n t o a n e s t a b l i s h e d s t a n d o f g r a s s e s a n d f o r b s a t l e a s t 1 y e a r a f

t e r

s e e d i n g t h e g r a s s e s a n d f

o r b s ;

• a p p r o p r i a t e

, a p p r o v e d w e e d c o n t r o l t e c h n i q u e s ;

• b r o a d c a s t o r d r i l l s e e d i n g

, d e p e n d i n g o n s i t e c o n d i t i o n s ; a n d

• f e n c i n g o f c e r t a i n s e n s i t i v e r e c l a m a t i o n s i t e s ( e

. g

. , r i p a r i a n a r e a s

, s t e e p s l o p e s

, a n d a r e a s

w i t h i n 0

. 5 m i l e o f l i v e s t o c k w a t e r i n g f a c i l i t i e s ) a s d e t e r m i n e d n e c e s s a r y t h r o u g h m o n i t o r i n g

.

5 4

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i m p l e m e n t t h e r e s o u r c e

, m i t i g a t i o n

, a n d m o n i t o r i n g m e a s u r e s f o u n d i n t h e

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n a n d R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n s ( F E I S A p p e n d i c e s D P

- A a n d D P

- B )

.

5 5

. R e c o n t o u r i n g a n d s e e d b e d p r e p a r a t i o n w o u l d o c c u r i m m e d i a t e l y p r i o r t o r e s e e d i n g o n t h e u n u s e d

p o r t i o n o f w e l l p a d s a n d r o a d R O W s a n d e n t i r e p i p e l i n e R O W s o u t s i d e o f r o a d R O W s

. I n t h e

e v e n t o f u n e c o n o m i c w e l l s

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i n i t i a t e r e c l a m a t i o n o f t h e e n t i r e w e l l p a d

, a c c e s s

r o a d

, a n d a d

j a c e n t d i s t u r

b e d h a b i t a t a s s o o n a s p r a c t i c a l

. R e c l a m a t i o n w o u l d b e m o n i t o r e d b y t h e

O p e r a t o r s a n d t h e B L M

, a s s p e c i f i e d i n t h e R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n ( F E I S A p p e n d i x D P

- B )

, t o

d e t e r m i n e a n d e n s u r e s u c c e s s f u l a n d t i m e l y e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f v e g e t a t i o n

.

5 6

. T r a f f i c w o u l d b e c o n f

i n e d t o t h e r u n n i n g s u r f

a c e o f r o a d s a n d w e l l p a d s a s a p p r o v e d i n A P D s a n d

R O W s

. O p e r a t o r s h a v e a n d w i l l c o n t i n u e t o c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h e B L M t o i d e n t i f y a n d p r o h i b i t u s e

o f t w o

- t r a c k s w h e r e R O W s h a v e n o t b e e n o b t a i n e d

.

5 7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d m o n i t o r n o x i o u s w e e d a n d i n v a s i v e n o n

- n a t i v e s p e c i e s o f c o n c e r n o c c u r r e n c e o n

t h e J I D P A a n d i m p l e m e n t a n o x i o u s w e e d / n o n

- n a t i v e s p e c i e s o f c o n c e r n c o n t r o l p r o g r a m i n

c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e B L M a n d S u b l e t t e C o u n t y t o e n s u r e n o x i o u s w e e d a n d n o n

- n a t i v e s p e c i e s o f

c o n c e r n i n v a s i o n d o e s n o t b e c o m e a p r o b l e m

. W e e d

- f r e e c e r t i f i c a t i o n b y c o u n t y e x t e n s i o n a g e n t s

w o u l d b e r e q u i r e d f

o r g r a i n o r s t r a w u s e d f

o r m u l c h i n g r e v e g e t a t e d a r e a s

. G r a v e l a n d o t h e r

s u r f a c i n g m a t e r i a l s u s e d f

o r t h e p r o j e c t w o u l d b e f

r e e o f n o x i o u s w e e d s

.

5 8

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d e v a l u a t e a l l p r o

j e c t f a c i l i t y s i t e s f o r o c c u r r e n c e o

f w a t e r s o f t h e U

. S

. , s p e c i a l

a q u a t i c s i t e s

, a n d w e t l a n d s

, p e r C O E r

e q u i r e m e n t s

. A l l p r o j e c t a c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d o u t s i d e

o f t h e s e a r e a s

, w h e r e p r

a c t i c a l

.

5 9

. W h e r e w e t l a n d

s

, r i p a r i a n a r e a s

, a n d e

p h e m e r a l o r i n t e r

m i t t e n t s t r e a m c h a n n e l s m u s t b e

d i s t u r b e d

, C O E S e c t i o n 4 0 4 p e r

m i t s w o u l d b e o b t

a i n e d i f n e c e s s a r

y

.



## W I L D L I F E A N D F I S H E R I E S

T h e f o l l o w i n g p r a c t i c e s w o u l d b e a p p l i e d f o r g e n e r a l w i l d l i f

e p r o t e c t i o n

.

6 0

. W e l l p a d s

, a c c e s s r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d a n c i l l a r y f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d a n d d e s i g n e d t o

m i n i m i z e d i s t u r

b a n c e s t o a r e a s o f h i g h w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t v a l u e

, i n c l u d i n g w e t l a n d s a n d r i p a r i a n

a r e a s

.B

- 9

6 1

. A r e a s w i t h h i g h e r o s i o n p o t e n t i a l a n d / o r r u g g e d t o p o g r a p h y ( i

. e

. , s t e e p s l o p e s

, d u n e s

, f l o o d p l a i n s

,

u n s t a b l e s o i l s ) w o u l d b e a v o i d e d

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

.

6 2

. R e m o v a l o r d i s t u r

b a n c e o f v e g e t a t i o n w o u l d b e m i n i m i z e d t h r o u g h c o n s t

r u c t i o n s i t e m a n a g e m e n t

( e

. g

. , b y u t i l i z i n g p r e v i o u s l y d i s t u r b e d a r e a s

, a n d e x i s t i n g R O W s w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

, d e s i g n a t i n g

l i m i t e d e q u i p m e n t

/ m a t e r i a l s s t o r a g e y a r d s a n d s t a g i n g a r e a s

, v e g e t a t i o n s c a l p i n g )

, a n d O p e r a t o r s

w o u l d a d h e r e t o a l l r e c l a m a t i o n g u i d e l i n e s p r e s e n t e d i n t h e R e c l a m a t i o n P l a n ( F E I S A p p e n d i x

D P

- B )

.

6 3

. O p e r a t o r s

, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m B L M

, W y o m i n g G a m e a n d F i s h D e p a r t m e n t

( W G F D )

, U

. S

. F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e ( U S F W S )

, a n d o t h e r i n t e r e s t e d g r o u p s s u c h a s a r e a

l i v e s t o c k o p e r a t o r s

, w o u l d a d h e r e t o t h e W i l d l i f e M o n i t o r i n g / P r o t e c t i o n P l a n f o r t h i s p r o

j e c t

( B L M 1 9 9 8 : A p p e n d i x D ) a s a n n u a l l y u p d a t e d ( T R C M a r i a h 2 0 0 4 )

. T h e p l a n w o u l d b e

i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e O p e r a t o r f i e l d o p e r a t i o n s m a n u a l o r h a n d b o o k

, a c o p y o f w h i c h w o u l d b e

k e p t o n

- s i t e i n t h e J I D P A o r w i t h O p e r a t o r p e r s o n n e l w h e n o n

- s i t e

.

6 4

. T o m i n i m i z e w i l d l i

f e m o r t a l i t y d u e t o v e h i c l e c o l l i s i o n s

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o a d v i s e

p r o j e c t p e r s o n n e l r e g a r

d i n g a p p r o p r i a t e s p e e d l i m i t

s ( i

. e

. , 3 5 m

p h ) i n t h e J I D P A

, a n d r o a d

s

w o u l d b e r e c l a i m e d a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e a f t e r t h e y a r e n o l o n g e r r e q u i r e d

. S o m e e x i s t i n g r o a d s i n

t h e a r e a m a y b e c l o s e d a n d r e c l a i m e d b y O p e r a t o r s a s a u t h o r i z e d b y B L M

. P o t e n t i a l i n c r e a s e s i n

p o a c h i n g w o u l d b e m i n i m i z e d t h r o u g h e m

p l o y e e a n d c o n t r

a c t o r e d u c a t i o n r e g a r

d i n g w i l d l i

f e

l a w s

. I f v i o l a t i o n s a r e d i s c o v e r e d

, t h e o f f e n d i n g e m p l o y e e o r c o n t r

a c t o r w o u l d b e d i s c i

p l i n e d a n d

m a y b e d i s m i s s e d b y O

p e r a t o r s a n d / o r p r o s e c u t e d b y W

G F D

.

6 5

. R e s e r v e

, w o r k o v e r

, a n d e v a p o r a t i o n p i t s a n d o t h e r a r e a s t h a t c o n t a i n h y d r o c a r b o n s w o u l d b e

a d e q u a t e l y p r o t e c t e d t o p r e v e n t a c c e s s b y m i g r a t o r y b i r d s a n d o t h e r w i l d l i f e

.

6 6

. F i r e a r

m s a n d d o g s w o u l d n o t b e a l l o w e d o n

- s i t e d u r i n g w o r k i n g h o u r s

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d e n f o r c e

t h e i r e x i s t i n g d r u g

, a l c o h o l

, a n d f i r e a r m s p o l i c i e s

.

6 7

. T o p r o t e c t p l a n t p o p u l a t i o n s a n d w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t

, p r o

j e c t

- r e l a t e d t r a v e l w o u l d b e r e s t r i c t e d t o

e s t a b l i s h e d p r o

j e c t r o a d s ; n o o f

f

- r o a d / R O W t r a v e l w o u l d b e a l l o w e d

, e x c e p t i n e m e r g e n c i e s

.

6 8

. W i l d l i f

e

- p r o o f f e n c i n g w o u l d b e u t i l i z e d o n r e c l a i m e d a r e a s i f i t i s d e t e r m i n e d t h a t w i l d l i f e

s p e c i e s a n d / o r l i v e s t o c k a r e i m p e d i n g s u c c e s s f u l v e g e t a t i o n e s t a b l i s h m e n t

.

6 9

. R O W f

e n c i n g a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h i s p r o j e c t w o u l d b e k e p t t o a m i n i m u m

, a n d f e n c e s

, w h e r e

n e c e s s a r y

, w o u l d m e e t B L M a n d W G F D s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r f a c i l i t a t i n g w i l d l i f

e m o v e m e n t

.

7 0

. P o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s t o f i s h e r i e s a n d w e t l a n d o r r i p a r i a n a r e a s w o u l d b e m i n i m i z e d b y u s i n g p r o p e r

e r o s i o n c o n t r o l t e c h n i q u e s ( e

. g

. , w a t e r b a r s

, j u t e n e t t i n g

, r i p

- r a p

, m u l c h )

. C o n s t r u c t i o n w i t h i n

5 0 0 f e e t o f o p e n w a t e r

, 3 0 0 f

e e t o f S a n d D r a w

, a n d 1 0 0 f e e t o f o t h e r i n t e r m i t t e n t o r e p h e m e r a l

c h a n n e l s w o u l d b e a v o i d e d

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

. C h a n n e l c r o s s i n g s f o r r o a d s a n d p i p e l i n e s w o u l d b e

c o n s t r u c t e d d u r i n g p e r i o d s o f l o w o r n o f l o w ( i

. e

. , l a t e s u m m e r o r f a l l )

. A l l n e c e s s a r y c r o s s i n g s

w o u l d b e c o n s t r u c t e d p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o f l o w

. N o s u r f

a c e w a t e r o r s h a l l o w g r o u n d w a t e r i n

c o n n e c t i o n w i t h s u r f

a c e w a t e r w o u l d b e u t i l i z e d f o r t h e p r o j e c t

.

7 1

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i m

p l e m e n t p o l i c i e s d e s i g n e d t o c o n t r o l p o a c h i n g a n d l i t t e r i n g a n d w o u l d n o t i

f y

a l l e m p l o y e e s ( c o n t r

a c t a n d c o m

p a n y ) t h a t c o n v i c t i o n o

f a m a j o r g a m e v i o l a t i o n c o u l d r e s u l t i nB

- 1 0

d i s c i p l i n a r y a c t i o n

. C o n t r

a c t o r s w o u l d b e i n

f o r m e d t h a t a n y i n t e n t i o n a l p o a c h i n g o r l i t t e r i n g

w i t h i n t h e J I D P A m a y r e s u l t i n d i s m i s s a l

.

T h e f o l l o w i n g p r a c t i c e s w o u l d b e a p p l i e d f o r r a p t o r s

.

7 2

. O p e r a t o r c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h B L M

, U S F W S

, a n d W G F D w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d f o r a l l m i t i g a t i o n

a c t i v i t i e s r e l a t e d t o r a p t o r

, T E P & C

, a n d B W S s p e c i e s ( a n d t h e i r h a b i t a t s )

, a n d a l l p e r m i t s r e q u i r e d

f o r r e l o c a t i o n

, r e m o v a l

, a n d / o r e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f r a p t o r n e s t s w o u l d b e o b t a i n e d

.

7 3

. W e l l p a d s

, p i p e l i n e s

, a n d a s s o c i a t e d r o a d s w o u l d b e s e l e c t e d a n d d e s i g n e d t o a v o i d d i s t u r b a n c e t o

k n o w n a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t s i t e s

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

.

7 4

. R a p t o r n e s t s u r v e y s w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d w i t h i n a 1

. 0

- m i l e r a d i u s o f p r o p o s e d s u r f a c e u s e o r

a c t i v i t y a r e a s i f s u c h a c t i v i t i e s a r e p r o p o s e d t o b e c o n d u c t e d b e t w e e n F e b r u a r y 1 a n d J u l y 3 1

.

7 5

. A l l s u r f

a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t y ( e

. g

. , r o a d

, p i p e l i n e

, w e l l p a d c o n s t r u c t i o n

, d r i l l i n g

, c o m p l e t i o n

,

w o r k o v e r o p e r a t i o n s ) w o u l d b e s e a s o n a l l y r e s t r i c t e d f r o m F e b r u a r y 1 t h r o u g h J u l y 3 1 w i t h i n a

0

. 5

- m i l e r a d i u s o f a l l a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t s

, e x c e p t f e r r u g i n o u s h a w k n e s t s

, f

o r w h i c h t h e s e a s o n a l

b u f f e r w o u l d b e 1

. 0 m i l e

. ( A n a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t i s d e f i n e d a s a n e s t t h a t h a s b e e n o c c u p i e d w i t h i n

t h e p a s t 3 y e a r s

. ) T h e s e a s o n a l b u f f e r d i s t a n c e a n d a p p l i c a b l e e x c l u s i o n d a t e s m a y v a r y

, d e p e n d i n g o n s u c h f

a c t o r s a s t h e a c t i v i t y s t a t u s o f t h e n e s t

, s p e c i e s i n v o l v e d

, p r e y a v a i l a b i l i t y

,

n a t u r a l t o p o g r a p h i c b a r r i e r s

, l i n e

- o f

- s i t e d i s t a n c e ( s )

, a n d o t h e r c o n f l i c t i n g i s s u e s s u c h a s c u l t u r a l

v a l u e s

, s t e e p s l o p e s

, e t c

. R o u t i n e m a i n t e n a n c e o r e m e r g e n c y h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y a c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e

a l l o w e d o n e x i s t i n g w e l l p a d s

.

7 6

. W e l l p a d s

, r o a d s

, a n c i l l a r y f a c i l i t i e s

, a n d o t h e r s u r f

a c e s t r u c t u r e s r e q u i r i n g r e p e a t e d h u m a n

p r e s e n c e w o u l d n o t b e c o n s t r u c t e d w i t h i n 8 2 5 f e e t o f a c t i v e r a p t o r n e s t s ( 2

, 0 0 0 f e e t f o r b a l d

e a g l e s )

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

. F a c i l i t y c o n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e s e a r e a s w o u l d r e q u i r e s p e c i f i c a p p r o v a l f r o m

t h e B L M

.

7 7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d n o t i f y t h e B L M

, U S F W S

, a n d W G F D i m m e d i a t e l y i f r a p t o r s a r e f o u n d n e s t i n g

o n p r o j e c t f a c i l i t i e s a n d w o u l d c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h e a p p r o p r i a t e a g e n c i e s a s n e c e s s a r y t o e r e c t

a r t i f i c i a l n e s t i n g s t r u c t u r e s

.

T h e f o l l o w i n g p r a c t i c e s w o u l d b e a p p l i e d f o r b l a c k

- f o o t e d f e r r e t

.

7 8

. W h e r e p r a c t i c a l

, s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e i n a l l p r a i r i e d o g t o w n s w o u l d b e a v o i d e d

.

7 9

. S p e c i f

i c r e q u i r e m e n t s f

o r b l a c k

- f o o t e d f e r r e t s u r v e y s a r e n o l o n g e r s p e c i f i e d s i n c e t h e e n t i r e

J I D P A i s i n c l u d e d w i t h i n a n a r e a i d e n t i f i e d b y t h e U S F W S a s n o l o n g e r r e q u i r i n g s u r v e y s

. H o w e v e r

, i f b l a c k

- f

o o t e d f e r r e t s a r e o b s e r v e d

, n o f

u r t h e r p r o j e c t

- s p e c i f

i c s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e

w o u l d o c c u r t o t h e p r a i r i e d o g c o m p l e x i n w h i c h t h e f e r r e t ( s ) w e r e o b s e r v e d

.

T h e f o l l o w i n g m e a s u r e s w o u l d b e a p p l i e d f o r g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e

, a n d t h e s e m e a s u r e s m a y b e m o d i f i e d

,

w i t h O p e r a t o r a p p r o v a l

, t o f a c i l i t a t e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n o n g o i n g g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e s t u d i e s

.

8 0

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a v o i d a l l s u r f a c e d i s t u r b a n c e ( i n c l u d i n g p i p e l i n e s ) w i t h i n 0

. 2 5 m i l e o f a c t i v e

g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k s

.B

- 1 1

8 1

. P e r m a n e n t h i g h

- p r o f

i l e s t r u c t u r e s s u c h a s b u i l d i n g s a n d s t o r a g e t a n k s w o u l d n o t b e c o n s t r u c t e d

w i t h i n 0

. 2 5 m i l e o f a n a c t i v e l e k

.

8 2

. G r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e n e s t s u r v e y s w o u l d b e i m p l e m e n t e d d u r i n g t h e n e s t i n g s e a s o n ( A p r i l 1

–

J u l y 3 1 ) b y a q u a l i f

i e d b i o l o g i s t p r i o r t o t h e s t a r t o f c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s i n i d e n t i f i e d g r e a t e r

s a g e

- g r o u s e n e s t i n g h a b i t a t w i t h i n 2

. 0 m i l e s o f a c t i v e l e k s

, a n d i f a n a c t i v e g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e

n e s t i s i d e n t i f

i e d

, s u r f a c e

- d i s t u r b i n g a c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e d e l a y e d u n t i l n e s t i n g i s c o m p l e t e d

.

8 3

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a v o i d o p t i m a l g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e n e s t i n g h a b i t a t s

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

. O p t i m a l

n e s t i n g h a b i t a t i s d e f

i n e d a s a r e a s w i t h s a g e b r u s h h e i g h t s o f 2 0

– 3 1 i n c h e s a n d c o v e r o f 1 5

– 2 5 %

a n d a n u n d e r s t o r y ( g r a s s e s a n d f o r b s ) c o v e r o f > 1 5 %

.

8 4

. E n C a n a O i l a n d G a s ( U S A ) I n c

. , B P A m e r i c a P r o d u c t i o n C o m p a n y

, a n d p o t e n t i a l l y o t h e r

O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a v o i d a l l d r i l l i n g a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s d u r i n g t h e g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e

s t r u t t i n g p e r i o d ( M a r c h 1

– M a y 1 5 ) o n a r e a s w i t h i n 1

. 0 m i l e o f a c t i v e l e k s

.

8 5

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d u t i l i z e d i r e c t i o n a l d r i l l i n g t o a c c e s s r e s o u r c e s b e n e a t h t h e 0

. 2 5

- m i l e a c t i v e

g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k b u f f e r s i f r e s e r v e s b e n e a t h t h e s e l o c a t i o n s a r e d e e m e d e c o n o m i c

.

8 6

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d u t i l i z e d i r e c t i o n a l d r i l l i n g t o a c c e s s r e s o u r c e s b e n e a t h t h e 6 0 0

- f o o t w i d e ( o r t a l l

s a g e b r u s h

- d o m i n a t e d ) b u f f e r a s s o c i a t e d w i t

h t h e S a n d D r a w p r o t e c t i o n a r e a s i f d e e m e d e c o n o m i c

.

8 7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o o p e r a t e i n o n g o i n g g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e s t u d i e s i n t h e a r e a

.

8 8

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o o p e r a t e w i t h t h e W G F D o n e x i s t i n g / n e w g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e h a b i t a t

i m p r o v e m e n t e f

f o r t s w i t h i n U p l a n d G a m e B i r d M a n a g e m e n t A r e a 7 ( e

. g

. , w a t e r d e v e l o p m e n t s )

.

8 9

. T o f u r t h e r m i t i g a t e p o t e n t i a l a d v e r s e e f f e c t s t o b r e e d i n g a n d n e s t i n g g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e o n t h e

J I D P A

, 0

. 5

- m i l e f

a c i l i t y

- f r e e b u f f e r s w o u l d b e a p p l i e d t o g r e a t e r s a g e

- g r o u s e l e k 7 s o u t h o f t h e

J I D P A f o r a s l o n g a s O p e r a t o r s c o n t i n u e t o h o l d t h e l e a s e s f o r t h e s e a r e a s

. N o f

e a t u r e s r e q u i r i n g

r e p e a t e d h u m a n p r e s e n c e w o u l d b e b u i l t w i t h i n t h i s a r e a

.



## L I V E S T O C K / G R A Z I N G M A N A G E M E N T

9 0

. R e c l a m a t i o n o f n o n e s s e n t i a l a r e a s d i s t u r b e d d u r i n g c o n s t

r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s w o u l d b e a c c o m p l i s h e d

i n t h e f i r s t a p p r o p r i a t e s e a s o n a f t e r w e l l c o m p l e t i o n

. N o n e s s e n t i a l a r e a s i n c l u d e p o r t i o n s o f t h e

w e l l p a d s n o t n e e d e d f

o r p r o d u c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s

, t h e o u t s l o p e p o r t i o n s o f n e w r o a d R O W s

, e n t i r e

p i p e l i n e R O W s o u t s i d e o f r o a d R O W s

, a n d a l l r o a d s a n d a s s o c i a t e d d i s t u r b e d a r e a s a t

n o n p r o d u c t i v e w e l l p a d s

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d r e p a i r o r r e p l a c e f e n c e s

, c a t t l e g u a r d s

, g a t e s

, d r i f t

f e n c e s

, a n d n a t u r a l b a r r i e r s t h a t a r e d a m a g e d b y d e v e l o p m e n t a c t i o n s t o m a i n t a i n c u r r e n t B L M

s t a n d a r d s

. C a t t l e g u a r d s w o u l d b e u s e d i n s t e a d o f g a t e s f o r l i v e s t o c k c o n t r o l o n m o s t r o a d R O W s

. L i v e s t o c k w o u l d b e p r o t e c t e d f r o m p i p e l i n e t r e n c h e s

, a n d l i v e s t o c k a c c e s s t o e x i s t i n g w a t e r

s o u r c e s w o u l d b e m a i n t a i n e d

.

9 1

. B L M

, i n c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h l i v e s t o c k p e r m i t t e e s

, w o u l d m o n i t o r l i v e s t o c k m o v e m e n t s

, e s p e c i a l l y

r e g a r d i n g a n y i m p a c t s t o l i v e s t o c k f r o m r o a d s o r d i s t u r

b a n c e f r o m c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d d r i l l i n g

a c t i v i t i e s

. O p e r a t o r s i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e B L M w i l l t a k e a p p r o p r i a t e a n d r e a s o n a b l e m e a s u r e s

t o c o r r e c t a n y a d v e r s e i m p a c t s

, i f t h e y o c c u r

.B

- 1 2

9 2

. A l l p i t s c o n t a i n i n g f

l u i d s w o u l d b e f

e n c e d t o e x c l u d e l i v e s t o c k

.



## C U L T U R A L R E S O U R C E S

9 3

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d f

o l l o w t h e p r o c e d u r e s e s t a b l i s h e d b y t h e B L M N a t i o n a l P r o g r a m m a t i c

A g r e e m e n t

/ W y o m i n g S t a t e P r o t o c o l A g r e e m e n t ( r a t i f i e d A p r i l 1 9 9 8 ) f

o r c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e

m a n a g e m e n t a n d r e g u l a t i o n c o n t a i n e d w i t h i n 3 6 C F R 8 0 0 a n d w o u l d e i t h e r a v o i d

, p r o t e c t

, o r

m i t i g a t e c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e p r o p e r t i e s

.

9 4

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d h a l t c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e a r e a o f c o n c e r n i f p r e v i o u s l y u n d e t e c t e d

c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e p r o p e r t i e s a r e d i s c o v e r e d d u r i n g c o n s t r u c t i o n

. T h e B L M w o u l d b e n o t i f i e d

i m m e d i a t e l y

, a n d c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e W y o m i n g S t a t e H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n O f f i c e ( S H P O )

a n d / o r t h e A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l o n H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n ( A C H P ) w o u l d b e i n i t i a t e d t o d e t e r m i n e

p r o p e r m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s p u r s u a n t t o 3 6 C F R § 8 0 0

. 1 3 o r o t h e r T r e a t m e n t P l a n s

, P r o g r a m m a t i c

A g r e e m e n t s

, o r D i s c o v e r y P l a n s t h a t m a y d i r e c t s u c h e f f o r t s

. C o n s t r u c t i o n w o u l d n o t r e s u m e

u n t i l a N o t i c e t o P r o c e e d i s i s s u e d b y t h e B L M

.

9 5

. I f a r e a s o f r e l i g i o u s i m p o r t a n c e

, t r a d i t i o n a l c u l t u r a l p r o p e r t i e s

, o r o t h e r s e n s i t i v e N a t i v e A m e r i c a n

a r e a s a r e i d e n t i f

i e d i n a f f e c t e d a r e a s

, B L M w o u l d c o n s u l t w i t h a f f e c t e d t r i b e s a n d

, i n f

u r t h e r

c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h O p e r a t o r s

, w o u l d i d e n t i f y p o t e n t i a l i m p a c t s a n d d e t e r m i n e a p p r o p r i a t e

m i t i g a t i v e t r e a t m e n t s o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s

.

9 6

. O p e r a t o r s i n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h t h e B L M w o u l d c o n d u c t a n e d u c a t i o n a l p r o g r a m t o i n f o r m

e m p l o y e e s a n d c o n t r

a c t o r s a b o u t t h e r e g u l a t i o n s c o n c e r

n i n g c u l t u r

a l r e s o u r c e m a n a g e m e n t a n d

a r t i f a c t c o l l e c t i o n

.

9 7

. A l l r e c o g n i z e d e l i g i b l e s i t e s

, a r e a s o f N a t i v e A m e r i c a n c o n c e r n

, a n d o t h e r r e c o g n i z e d s e n s i t i v e

a r e a s w o u l d b e a v o i d e d a s m u c h a s p r a c t i c a l d u r i n g d e v e l o p m e n t p e r m i t t i n g

. I m p a c t s t h a t c a n n o t

b e e l i m i n a t e d b y a v o i d a n c e w o u l d b e m i t i g a t e d o n a c a s e

- b y

- c a s e b a s i s t h r o u g h B L M

- a p p r o v e d

a n d S H P O

- a p p r o v e d m e t h o d s

. M i t i g a t i o n m a y i n c l u d e d a t a r e c o v e r y ( i n c l u d i n g e x c a v a t i o n )

a n d / o r N a t i v e A m e r i c a n c o n s u l t a t i o n / c o o r d i n a t i o n f o r d e v e l o p m e n t i n s e n s i t i v e c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e

a r e a s

, a n d c o s t s f

o r t h e s e e f

f o r t s w o u l d b e b o r n e b y O p e r a t o r s

.

9 8

. C o n s t r u c t i o n i n a r c h a e o l o g i c a l l y s e n s i t i v e a r e a s d u r i n g f r o z e n g r o u n d c o n d i t i o n s w o u l d n o t

n o r m a l l y b e i m p l e m e n t e d ; e x c e p t i o n s w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d b y t h e A u t h o r i z e d O f f i c e r o n a c a s e

b y

- c a s e b a s i s

.

9 9

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d w o r k w i t h t h e B L M

, S H P O

, a n d A C H P i n d e v e l o p i n g a n d i m p l e m e n t i n g

a p p r o p r i a t e P r o g r a m m a t i c A g r e e m e n t s

, R e s e a r c h D e s i g n s / U n a n t i c i p a t e d D i s c o v e r y P l a n s

, T r e a t m e n t P l a n s

, a n d / o r C u l t u r a l R e s o u r c e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n s f o r t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f c u l t u r a l

r e s o u r c e s i n t h e J I D P A

.



## S O C I O E C O N O M I C S

1 0 0

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d e n c o u r

a g e t h e u s e o f l o c a l o r r e g i o n a l w o r

k e r s

.B

- 1 3

1 0 1

. W h e r e f e a s i b l e

, O

p e r a t o r s w o u l d s c h e d u l e c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f p r o j e c t t r a f f i c

, s u c h a s t r u c k

c o n v o y s o r h e a v

y t r a f f i c f l o w s

, t o a v o i d p e r i o d

s o f e x p e c t e d h e a v

y t r a f f i c f l o w s a s s o c i a t e d w i t

h

r e c r e a t i o n

.

1 0 2

. T r a v e l a n d p a r k i n g w o u l d b e r e s t r i c t e d t o a c c e s s r o a d s a n d o n

- s i t e p a r k i n g a r e a s

.

1 0 3

. W h e r e f e a s i b l e

, O

p e r a t o r s w o u l d p l a n p r o

p o s e d d e v e l o

p m e n t o p e r a t i o n s s o t

h a t s e a s o n a l

r e s t r i c t i o n s d o n o t c r e a t e a s i g n i f i c a n t r e d u c t i o n i n t

h e l e v e l o f d e v e l o p m e n t c a u s i n g s e a s o n a l

w o r k f o r c e l a y o f f s ( i

. e

. , w o r

k c o n t i n u e s a t a c o n s i s t e n t r a t e y e a r

- r o u n d

)

.



## L A N D S T A T U S / U S E / P R I O R R I G H T S

M i t i g a t i o n t o p r i o r r i g h t s w o u l d i n c l u d e t h e f o l l o w i n g :

1 0 4

. l i m i t i n g d r i l l i n g o p e r a t i o n s t o l a n d s l e a s e d o r o w n e d b y t h e O p e r a t o r s ;

1 0 5

. l o c a t i n g w e l l s a w a y f r o m k n o w n u n d e r g r o u n d c a b l e s ;

1 0 6

. r e g r a d i n g a n d r e p a i r i n g r o a d s

, a s n e c e s s a r y

, i n a r e a s d a m a g e d b y p r o j e c t a c t i v i t i e s ;

1 0 7

. r e e s t a b l i s h i n g a l e v e l c o m p a c t e d s u r f a c e w h e r e p i p e l i n e s c r o s s e x i s t i n g r o a d s ;

1 0 8

. a d v a n c e i d e n t i f

i c a t i o n a n d f

l a g g i n g o f a l l e x i s t i n g R O W s t h a t w o u l d b e c r o s s e d b y p r o p o s e d

p i p e l i n e s a n d r o a d s ;

1 0 9

. b a c k

h o e a n d h a n d e x c a v a t i n g a t p i p e l i n e c r o s s i n g s u n t i l t h e e x a c t l o c a t i o n s o f e x i s t i n g

u n d e r g r o u n d l i n e s h a v e b e e n d e t e r m i n e d ; a n d

1 1 0

. r e s t o r i n g n a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n a s s o o n a s p r a c t i c a l

.

1 1 1

. R o a d s a n d p i p e l i n e s w o u l d b e l o c a t e d a d j a c e n t t o e x i s t i n g l i n e a r f

a c i l i t i e s w h e r e v e r p r a c t i c a l ;

d i r e c t

- l i n e r o u t e s m a y b e p r e f e r a b l e i n a r e a s w i t h h i g h w e l l p a d d e n s i t i e s

.

1 1 2

. P o r t i o n s o f e x i s t i n g r o a d s n o t i n c l u d e d i n t h e n e w r o a d R O W a n d n o t n e e d e d b y o t h e r u s e r s

w o u l d b e r e c l a i m e d a n d r e v e g e t a t e d b y O p e r a t o r s

, f o l l o w i n g C l a s s I I I c u l t

u r a l r e s o u r c e s u r v e y s

.

1 1 3

. A d e q u a t e t u r n o u t s o n n e w c r o w n e d

- a n d

- d i t c h e d r o a d s w o u l d b e b u i l t t o p r o v i d e a c c e s s t o

e x i s t i n g t w o

- t r a c k s a n d o t h e r u n d e v e l o p e d r o a d s

.



## R E C R E A T I O N

1 1 4

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i n

f o r m t h e i r e m p l o y e e s

, c o n t r

a c t o r s

, a n d s u b c o n t r

a c t o r s t h a t l o n g

- t e r

m

c a m p i n g ( g r e a t e r t

h a n 1 4 d a y s ) o n f e d e r a l l a n d s o r a t f e d e r a l r e c r e a t i o n s i t e s i s p r o h i b i t e d

.

1 1 5

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d d i r e c t t

h e i r e m p l o y e e s

, c o n t r

a c t o r s

, a n d s u b c o n t r

a c t o r s t o a b i d e b y a l l s t

a t e

a n d f e d e r a l l a w s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s r e g a r d i n g h u n t i n g

.B

- 1 4



## V I S U A L R E S O U R C E S

1 1 6

. E n C a n a O i l a n d G a s ( U S A ) I n c

. , B P A m e r i c a P r o d u c t i o n C o m p a n y

, a n d p o t e n t i a l l y o t h e r

O p e r a t o r s w o u l d u t i l i z e e x i s t i n g t o p o g r a p h y t o s c r e e n r o a d s

, p i p e l i n e c o r r i d o r s

, d r i l l r i g s

, w e l l s

,

a n d p r o d u c t i o n f

a c i l i t i e s f r o m v i e w

, w h e r e p r a c t i c a l

.

1 1 7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d p a i n t a l l a b o v e g r o u n d p r o d u c t i o n f a c i l i t i e s w i t

h a p p r o p r i a t e c o l o r s ( e

. g

. , S h a l e

G r e e n o r o t h e r e n v i r o n m e n t a l c o l o r r e q u i r e d b y B L M ) t o b l e n d w i t h a d j a c e n t t e r r a i n

, e x c e p t f

o r

s t r u c t u r e s t h a t r e q u i r e s a f e t y c o l o r a t i o n i n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h O c c u p a t i o n a l S a f e t y a n d H e a l t h

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n ( O S H A ) r e q u i r e m e n t s

.



## T R A N S P O R T A T I O N

1 1 8

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i m p l e m e n t t h e r e s o u r c e

, m i t i g a t i o n

, a n d m o n i t o r i n g m e a s u r e s f o u n d i n t h e

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n P l a n ( F E I S A p p e n d i x D P

- A )

. A n n u a l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p l a n n i n g w o u l d o c c u r i n

c o o r d i n a t i o n w i t h e f

f o r t s r e q u i r e d f

o r t h e P i n e d a l e A n t i c l i n e P r o j e c t ( B L M 2 0 0 0 b ) t o i d e n t i f y

t h e m i n i m u m r o a d n e t w o r k n e c e s s a r y t o s u p p o r t a n n u a l l y p r o p o s e d p r o j e c t a c t i v i t i e s ; O p e r a t o r

c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ; a n d r o a d

- s p e c i f i c d u s t a b a t e m e n t

, c o n s t r u c t i o n

,

a n d s u r f a c i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s

.

1 1 9

. E x i s t i n g r o a d s w o u l d b e u s e d t o t h e m a x i m u m e x t e n t p o s s i b l e a n d u p g r a d e d a s n e c e s s a r y

.

1 2 0

. A l l n e w a n d i m p r o v e d r o a d s n o t r e q u i r e d f o r r o u t i n e o p e r a t i o n a n d m a i n t e n a n c e o f p r o d u c i n g

w e l l s o r a n c i l l a r y f

a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e r e c l a i m e d a s d i r e c t e d b y t h e B L M

, S t a t e L a n d B o a r d

, o r

p r i v a t e l a n d o w n e r

. T h e s e r o a d s w o u l d b e p e r m a n e n t l y b l o c k e d

, r e c o n t o u r e d

, r e c l a i m e d

, a n d

r e v e g e t a t e d b y O p e r a t o r s

, a s w o u l d d i s t u r b e d a r e a s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h p e r m a n e n t l y p l u g g e d a n d

a b a n d o n e d w e l l s

. R e c l a m a t i o n o f e x i s t i n g t w o

- t r a c k r o a d s w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d o n a c a s e

- b y

c a s e b a s i s

.

1 2 1

. O n a c a s e

- s p e c i f

i c b a s i s

, c e n t e r l i n e s u r v e y a n d c o n s t r u c t i o n d e s i g n s w o u l d b e s u b m i t t e d t o a n d

a p p r o v e d b y t h e B L M p r i o r t o r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n

.

1 2 2

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o m p l y w i t h e x i s t i n g f e d e r a l

, s t a t e

, a n d c o u n t

y r e q u i r e m e n t s a n d r e s t

r i c t i o n s t o

p r o t e c t r o a d n e t w o r k s a n d t h e t r a v e l i n g p u b l i c

.

1 2 3

. S p e c i a l a r r

a n g e m e n t s w o u l d b e m a d e w i t

h t h e W y o m i n g D e

p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n t o

t r a n s p o r t o v e r s i z e l o a d s t o t h e p r o j e c t a r e a

. O t

h e r w i s e

, l o a d l i m i t

s w o u l d b e o b s e r

v e d a t a l l

t i m e s t o p r e v e n t d

a m a g e t o e x i s t i n g r o a d s u r f a c e s

.

1 2 4

. A l l d e v e l o p m e n t a c t i v i t i e s a l o n g a p p r o v e d R O W s w o u l d b e r e s t r i c t e d t o a r e a s a u t h o r i z e d i n t

h e

a p p r o v e d R O W

.

1 2 5

. A v a i l a b l e t o p s o i l w o u l d b e s t r i p p e d f r o m a l l r o a d c o r r i d o r s p r i o r t o c o m m e n c e m e n t o f

c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s a n d w o u l d b e r e d i s t r i b u t e d a n d r e s e e d e d o n b a c k s l o p e a r e a s o f t h e

b o r r o w d i t c h a f

t e r c o m p l e t i o n o f r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

. B o r r o w d i t c h e s w o u l d b e r e s e e d e d

i n t h e f i r s t a p p r o p r i a t e s e a s o n a f

t e r i n i t i a l d i s t u r

b a n c e

.B

- 1 5 1 2 6

. W h e n p r a c t i c a l a n d f e a s i b l e

, t h e O p e r a t o r s w o u l d m a x i m i z e t h e u s e o f t e m p o r a r y f r e s h w a t e r

p i p e l i n e s d u r i n g l a t e s p r i n g

, s u m m e r

, a n d e a r l y f a l l f r o m w a t e r w e l l s t o a c t i v e d r i l l s i t e s t o

d e c r e a s e w a t e r h a u l i n g n e e d s

.



## H E A L T H A N D S A F E T Y / H A Z A R D O U S M A T E R I A L S

1 2 7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d u t i l i z e W

D E Q

- a p p r o v e d p o r t

a b l e s a n i t a t i o n f a c i l i t i e s a t d r i l l s i t e s

.

1 2 8

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d p l a c e w a r

n i n g s i g n s n e a r h a z a r

d o u s a r e a s a n d a l o n g r o a d w a y s

.

1 2 9

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d p l a c e d u m

p s t e r s a t e a c h c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e t o c o l l e c t a n d s t o r e g a r b a g e a n d

r e f u s e

.

1 3 0

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d e n s u r e t h a t a l l r e f u s e a n d g a r

b a g e i s t r a n s p o r t e d t o a s t a t e

- a p p r o v e d s a n i t a r y

l a n d f i l l f o r d i s p o s a l

.

1 3 1

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d i n s t i t u t e a H

a z a r d C o m m u n i c a t i o n P r o g r

a m f o r i t s e m p l o y e e s a n d w o u l d

r e q u i r e s u b c o n t r

a c t o r p r o g r

a m s i n a c c o r

d a n c e w i t h O S H A ( 2 9 C F R § 1 9 1 0

. 1 2 0 0 )

.

1 3 2

. I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h 2 9 C F R § 1 9 1 0

. 1 2 0 0

, a M

a t e r i a l S a f e t y D a t a S h e e t f o r e v e r y c h e m i c a l o r

h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l b r o u g h t o n

- s i t e w o u l d b e k e p t o n f i l e a t t h e O p e r a t o r ’ s f i e l d o f f i c e

.

1 3 3

. S P C C P s w o u l d b e w r i t t e n a n d i m p l e m e n t e d i n a c c o r

d a n c e w i t h 4 0 C F R § 1 1 2

.

1 3 4

. C h e m i c a l a n d h a z a r d o u s m a t e r i a l s w o u l d b e i n v e n t o r i e d a n d r e p o r t e d i n a c c o r

d a n c e w i t h

4 0 C F R § 3 3 5

. I f q u a n t i t i e s e x c e e d i n g 1 0

, 0 0 0 p o u n d s o r t h e t h r e s h o l d p l a n n i n g q u a l i t

y a r e t o b e

p r o d u c e d o r s t o r e d

, t h e a p p r o p r i a t e S e c t i o n 3 1 1 a n d 3 1 2 f o r m s w o u l d b e s u b m i t t e d a t t h e

r e q u i r e d t i m e s t o t

h e S t a t e a n d C o u n t y E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t C

o o r d i n a t o r s a n d t h e l o c a l f i r e

d e p a r t m e n t s

.

1 3 5

. A n y h a z a r

d o u s w a s t e s

, a s d e

f i n e d b y t h e R e s o u r c e C o n s e r

v a t i o n a n d R e c o v e r

y A c t o f 1 9 7 6

( R C R A )

, a s a m e n d e d

, w o u l d b e t r

a n s p o r t e d a n d

/ o r d i s p o s e d o f i n a c c o r

d a n c e w i t h a l l

a p p l i c a b l e f e d e r a l

, s t a t e

, a n d l o c a l r e g u l a t i o n s

.

1 3 6

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d a d

h e r e t o e x i s t i n g i n t e r

n a l h e a l t h a n d s a f e t y p o l i c i e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s

.

1 3 7

. D u r i n g r o u t i n e o

p e r a t i o n s

, O p e r a t o r s w o u l d n o t r e l e a s e f

r a c t u r i n g f l u i d s a n d c o n d

e n s a t e s i n t o

f l a r e p i t s o r s u r r o u n d i n g a r e a s ; t h e y w o u l d b e c o n

f i n e d i n l i n e d p i t

s o r t a n k s

.



## A D D I T I O N A L A I R Q U A L I T Y M E A S U R E S

U n l i k e t h e m e a s u r e s l i s t e d i n t h e p r e c e d i n g s e c t i o n s

, t h e f o l l o w i n g 1 5 a i r q u a l i t y

- r e l a t e d m e a s u r e s h a v e

b e e n c o m m i t t e d t o b y E n C a n a O i l a n d G a s ( U S A )

, b u t n o t y e t a g r e e d t o b y a n y o f t h e o t h e r O p e r a t o r s i n

t h e J I D P A

.

1

. R e g u l a r e q u i p m e n t m a i n t e n a n c e

, i n c l u d i n g e m i s s i o n s c h e c k s

, a n d r e g u l a r m a i n t e n a n c e o f r o a d s

w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d a s n e c e s s a r y t h r o u g h o u t t h e L O P

.B

- 1 6

2

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d t r e a t p r i m a r

y a c c e s s r o a d

s ( e

. g

. , L u m a n R o a d

, W i n d m i l l R o a d

, B u r m a R o a d

,

a n d N o r t h J o n a h R o a d i n t

h e J I D P A ) a n d h e a v i l

y u s e d r e s o u r c e r o a d

s a s a p p r o p r i a t e w i t h d u s t

s u p p r e s s a n t s ( e

. g

. , m a g n e s i u m c h l o r i d e ) a n d w o u l d w a t e r c o n s t r u c t i o n s i t e s a n d w e l l p a d a c c e s s

r o a d s a s n e c e s s a r

y t o c o n t r o l f

u g i t i v e d u s t d u r i n g t

h e s u m m e r

.

3

. N o o p e n b u r n i n g o f g a r b a g e o r r e

f u s e w o u l d b e a l l o w e d a t t h e w e l l s i t e s o r o t

h e r f a c i l i t i e s

. A n y o p e n b u r n i n g w o u l d b e c o n d u c t e d u n d e r t h e p e r m i t t i n g p r o v i s i o n s o

f C h a p t e r 1 0

, S e c t i o n 2

o f t h e W y o m i n g A i r Q u a l i t

y S t a n d a r d s a n d R e g u l a t i o n s

.

4

. N e c e s s a r y a i r q u a l i t y p e r m i t s t o c o n s t r u c t

, t e s t

, a n d o p e r a t e f a c i l i t i e s w o u l d b e o b t a i n e d f r o m t h e

W y o m i n g D e p a

r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y / A i r Q u a l i t y D i v i s i o n ( W D E Q /

A Q D )

. A l l i n t e r n a l

c o m b u s t i o n e q u i p m e n t w o u l d b e k e p t i n g o o d w o r k i n g o r d e r

.

5

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o m

p l y w i t h a l l a p p l i c a b l e l o c a l

, s t a t e

, t r i b a l

, a n d f e d e r a l a i r q u a l i t

y l a w s

,

s t a t u t e s

, r e g u l a t i o n s

, s t

a n d a r d s

, a n d i m p l e m e n t a t i o n p l a n s

, i n c l u d i n g W y o m i n g A m b i e n t A i r

Q u a l i t y S t a n d a r d s ( W A A Q S ) a n d N

a t i o n a l A m b i e n t A i r Q u a l i t y S t a n d a r d s ( N A A Q S )

.

6

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o o

p e r a t e w i t h B L M a n d W D E Q i n d e t e r

m i n i n g r e g i o n a l o x i d e s o

f n i t r o g e n

( N O

x ) e m i s s i o n l e v e l s

.

7

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o n t i n u e t o e n c o u r a g e c o n t r a c t o r s a n d e m p l o y e e s t o o b e y s

p e e d l i m i t

s a n d

s u p p o r t l o c a l l a w e n

f o r c e m e n t o

f f i c i a l s i n e n

f o r c i n g s p e e d l i m i t s ( i

. e

. , 3 5 m i l e s p e r h o u r [ m p h ] ) t o

r e d u c e f u g i t i v e d u s t c o n c e r

n s

, a s w e l l a s f

o r h u m a n h e a l t

h a n d s a f e t y r e a s o n s

.

8

. O p e r a t o r s w o u l d c o o

p e r a t e w i t h t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f a n y l e g a l l y e n f o r c e a b l e W D E Q

- m a n d

a t e d

a i r q u a l i t y m o n i t o r i n g p r o g r

a m o r e m i s s i o n s c o n t r o l p r o g r a m

.

9

. B y J a n u a r y 1

, 2 0 0 6

, E n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o a c h i e v e a v e r

a g e d r i l l i n g r i g e m i s s i o n s e q u i v a l e n t t o T i e r

1 s t a n d a r d s o r b e t t e r f

r o m 1 0 0 % o

f E n C a n a o p e r a t e d o r c o n t r

a c t e d d r i l l i n g r i g s i n t

h e J o n a h

F i e l d

.

1 0

. B y J a n u a r y 1

, 2 0 0 7

, E n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o a c h i e v e a v e r

a g e d r i l l i n g r i g e m i s s i o n s e q u i v a l e n t t o T i e r

2 s t a n d a r d s o r b e t t e r f

r o m 1 0 0 % o

f E n C a n a o p e r a t e d o r c o n t r

a c t e d d r i l l i n g r i g s i n t

h e J o n a h

F i e l d

.

1 1

. B y J a n u a r y 1

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, E

n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o a c h i e v e a v e r

a g e d r i l l i n g r i g e m i s s i o n s e q u i v a l e n t t o T i e r

3 s t a n d a r d s o r b e t t e r f

r o m 1 0 0 % o

f E n C a n a o p e r a t e d o r c o n t r

a c t e d d r i l l i n g r i g s i n t

h e J o n a h

F i e l d

.

1 2

. B y J a n u a r y 1

, 2 0 0 6

, E n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o c a p t u r e o n a v e r

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p l e t i o n

t e c h n i q u e s

, 9 0 % o

f t h e h y d r o c a r

b o n a n d c o m b u s t i o n e m i s s i o n s t h a t w o u l d h a v e p r e v i o u s l

y b e e n

e m i t t e d b y f

l a r i n g d u r i n g f

l o w b a c k p r o c e d u r e s o n E n C a n a o p e r a t e d n a t u r

a l g a s w e l l s

.

1 3

. W h e r e p r a c t i c a l a n d f

e a s i b l e

, E n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o r e d u c e t r

a f f i c a n d s u r f a c e d i s t u r

b a n c e a n d

a s s o c i a t e d d u s t a n d t

a i l p i p e e m i s s i o n s b y u t i l i z i n g h u b a n d s p o k e d r i l l i n g a n d c o m

p l e t i o n

t e c h n i q u e s

, c e n t r

a l i z e d f r a c t u r i n g o

p e r a t i o n s

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a l i z e d c o n d e n s a t e a n d w a t e r c o l l e c t i o n

.

1 4

. W h e r e v e r p o s s i b l e

, E

n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o v e r t i c a l l

y d r i l l a l l E

n C a n a o p e r a t e d n a t u r

a l g a s w e l l s i n

t h e J o n a h F i e l d i n o r

d e r t o r e d u c e a s s o c i a t e d N O

x , S O 2 , a n d P

M 1 0 e m i s s i o n s

.B

- 1 7 1 5

. W h e r e f e a s i b l e

, E n C a n a c o m m i t

s t o e s t a b l i s h p l a n t c o v e r f

o r a l l a r e a s d i s t u r

b e d b y E n C a n a ’ s

o p e r a t i o n s w i t

h i n a n a g r e e d t i m e p e r i o d u s i n g a c c e l e r a t e d a n d f

o c u s e d r e c l a m a t i o n e

f f o r t s

,

s t a b i l i z e d s o i l s t o c k

p i l e s

, u s i n g m u l c h a n d g e o t e x t i l e f a b r i c s t o s t

a b i l i z e s o i l s

, i

f n e c e s s a r

y

, a n d

w a t e r i n g a r e a s u n d e r c o n s t r u c t i o n t o r e d u c e f u g i t i v e d u s t e m i s s i o n s

.B

- 1 8



## R E F E R E N C E S

B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

. 1 9 8 5

. M a n u a l 9 1 1 3

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. E n g i n e e r i n g R e l

. 9

- 2 4 7

. U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f

t h e I n t e r i o r

, B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

.

. 1 9 8 8

. R e c o r d o f D e c i s i o n a n d R e s o u r c e M a n a g e m e n t P l a n f o r t h e P i n e d a l e R e s o u r c e A r e a

. U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r

, B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

, P i n e d a l e R e s o u r c e A r e a

, R o c k

S p r i n g s D i s t r i c t

, R o c k S p r i n g s

, W y o m i n g

. 1 1 8 p p

.

. 1 9 9 0

. B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t M a n u a l S e c t i o n 9 1 1 2

.

. 1 9 9 1

. W y o m i n g S u p p l e m e n t t o t h e B u r e a u 9 1 1 3 M a n u a l

. U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r

, B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

, W y o m i n g S t a t e O f f i c e

, C h e y e n n e

, W y o m i n g

. 1 6 p p

.

. 1 9 9 8

. R e c o r d o f D e c i s i o n f o r J o n a h F i e l d I I N a t u r a l G a s P r o j e c t

, E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t

S t a t e m e n t

, S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, W y o m i n g

. B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

, P i n e d a l e a n d G r e e n R i v e r

R e s o u r c e A r e a s

, R o c k S p r i n g s D i s t r i c t

, R o c k S p r i n g s

, W y o m i n g

.

. 2 0 0 0 a

. D e c i s i o n R e c o r d a n d F i n d i n g o f N o S i g n i f i c a n t I m p a c t f

o r t h e M o d i f

i e d J o n a h F i e l d I I

N a t u r a l G a s P r o

j e c t

, S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, W y o m i n g

. B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

. P i n e d a l e F i e l d

O f f i c e

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, W y o m i n g

, a n d R o c k S p r i n g s F i e l d O f f i c e

, R o c k S p r i n g s

, W y o m i n g

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ . 2 0 0 0 b

. R e c o r d o f D e c i s i o n

, E n v i r o n m e n t a l I m p a c t S t a t e m e n t f o r t h e P i n e d a l e A n t i c l i n e O i l a n d

G a s E x p l o r a t i o n a n d D e v e l o p m e n t P r o j e c t

, S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, W y o m i n g

. B u r e a u o f L a n d

M a n a g e m e n t

, W y o m i n g S t a t e O f f i c e

, C h e y e n n e

, W y o m i n g

, a n d P i n e d a l e F i e l d O f f i c e

, P i n e d a l e

, W y o m i n g

. B L M /

W Y / P L

- 0 0 / 0 2 6 + 1 3 1 0

. R O D E I S

- 0 0

- 0 1 8

. 5 3 p p

. + a p p e n d

.

. 2 0 0 4

. J o n a h I n f

i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t D e v e l o p m e n t P r o c e d u r e s T e c h n i c a l S u p p o r t D o c u m e n t

. U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f t h e I n t e r i o r

, B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

, P i n e d a l e a n d R o c k S p r i n g s F i e l d

O f f i c e s

. P i n e d a l e a n d R o c k S p r i n g s

, W y o m i n g

.

T R C M a r i a h A s s o c i a t e s I n c

. 2 0 0 4

. 2 0 0 3 W i l d l i f e S t u d i e s

, J o n a h F i e l d I I N a t u r a l G a s D e v e l o p m e n t

P r o j e c t

. P r e p a r e d f

o r U

. S

. B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t

, P i n e d a l e F i e l d O f f i c e

, P i n e d a l e

, W y o m i n g

, R o c k S p r i n g s F i e l d O f f i c e

, R o c k S p r i n g s

, W y o m i n g

, a n d J o n a h I I A r e a O p e r a t o r s

, b y

T R C M a r i a h A s s o c i a t e s I n c

. , L a r a m i e

, W y o m i n g

.

W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y

, W a t e r Q u a l i t

y D i v i s i o n

. 1 9 9 3

. W a t e r Q u a l i t y R u l e s a n d

R e g u l a t i o n s

. C h a p t e r I

. W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y

, W a t e r Q u a l i t y

D i v i s i o n

. 8 7 p p

.

## A P P E N D I X C

A D A P T I V E M A N A G E M E N T I N T H E J O N A H I N F I L L D R I L L I N G

P R O J E C T A R E AC

- 1 

## A P P E N D I X C

A D A P T I V E M A N A G E M E N T

I N T H E J O N A H I N F I L L D R I L L I N G P R O J E C T A R E A

I n t r o d u c t i o n

T h e B u r e a u o f L a n d M a n a g e m e n t ( B L M ) w i l l i m p l e m e n t a n a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s f o r t h e J o n a h

I n f i l l D r i l l i n g P r o

j e c t A r e a ( J I D P A ) t h a t w i l l f o l l o w t h e f

r a m e w o r k d e s c r i b e d i n t h i s a p p e n d i x

. T o i m p l e m e n t t h i s p r o c e s s

, t h e J o n a h I n t e r a g e n c y M i t i g a t i o n a n d R e c l a m a t i o n O f f i c e ( J I O ) i s e s t a b l i s h e d

a n d w i l l o p e r a t e a s d e s c r i b e d b e l o w a n d i n t h e J I O C h a r t e r ( A t t a c h m e n t C

- 1 ) a n d E s c r o w A g r e e m e n t

( A t t a c h m e n t C

- 2 )

.

T h e p o t e n t i a l v a l u e o f a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t t o t h e N a t i o n a l E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y A c t ( N E P A ) p r o c e s s i s

d i s c u s s e d b y C a r p e n t e r ( 1 9 9 7 ) 1 a n d i s s t r o n g l y s u p p o r t e d b y a n u m b e r o f a g e n c i e s a t t h e n a t i o n a l l e v e l

, i n c l u d i n g B L M

, U

. S

. E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y ( E P A )

, a n d U

. S

. D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e

F o r e s t S e r v i c e ( U S F S )

. C a r p e n t e r s u m m a r i z e d a s f o l l o w s : “ I t i s i n c r e a s i n g l y r e c o g n i z e d t h a t h u m a n

i n t e r v e n t i o n s i n t o n a t u r a l s y s t e m s s e l d o m p r o c e e d a s o r i g i n a l l y p l a n n e d

. S c i e n t i f i c u n c e r t a i n t i e s p r e v e n t

e n v i r o n m e n t a l i m p a c t s f

r o m b e i n g r e l i a b l y o r p r e c i s e l y p r e d i c t e d

. T h u s

, t h e s t y l e o f m a n a g e m e n t m u s t

p r o v i d e f o r m o n i t o r i n g t o g u i d e m i d

- c o u r s e c o r r e c t i o n s i n a d a p t i n g t o i n e v i t a b l e s u r p r i s e s

. ” C o u n c i l o n

E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y ( C E Q ) N E P A r e g u l a t i o n s r e q u i r e c o n t i n u a l m o n i t o r i n g

. 2



## P u r p o s e a n d N e e d

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e u n c e r t a i n t i e s a b o u t h o w n a t u r a l s y s t e m s w i l l r e a c t t o h u m a n i n t e r v e n t i o n s

, i t h a s b e c o m e

a p p a r e n t t h a t c u r r e n t d e v e l o p m e n t g u i d e l i n e s a n d C o n d i t i o n s o f A p p r o v a l

, a n d t h e r e s t r i c t i o n o f 1 w e l l

p a d / 4 0 a c r e s ( 1 6 w e l l p a d s / 6 4 0

- a c r e s e c t i o n ) a u t h o r i z e d i n t h e M o d i f i e d J o n a h F i e l d I I P r o

j e c t A r e a

, a r e

n o t a d e q u a t e p r o t e c t i o n f

o r s o m e J I D P A r e s o u r c e s

. H o w e v e r

, n a t i o n a l d e m a n d m a k e s i t i m p e r a t i v e t h a t a s

m u c h n a t u r a l g a s a s p o s s i b l e b e r e c o v e r e d f r o m t h e J I D P A

. P r o

j e c t p r o p o n e n t s a r e c o n t i n u a l l y s t r i v i n g t o

d e v e l o p d r i l l i n g a n d p r o d u c t i o n m i t i g a t i o n t e c h n o l o g i e s t o l e s s e n t h e i m p a c t s o f n a t u r a l g a s r e c o v e r y

, b u t

t h o s e t e c h n o l o g i e s a r e l a r g e l y u n t e s t e d

. T h e r e i s u n c e r t a i n t y r e g a r d i n g t h e s h o r t

- a n d l o n g

- t e r m

e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e s e n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s

, a s w e l l a s u n c e r t a i n t y r e g a r d i n g t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e

m i t i g a t i o n s a n d m a n a g e m e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s e s t a b l i s h e d i n t h i s R O D

. T h e s e u n c e r t a i n t i e s r e q u i r e t h a t a

n u m b e r o f a s s u m p t i o n s b e u s e d t o p r e d i c t t h e i m p a c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h i n f i l l d e v e l o p m e n t ; t h o s e

a s s u m p t i o n s m a y o r m a y n o t b e p a r t i a l l y o r w h o l l y c o r r e c t

, w h i c h m e a n s t h e i m p a c t a n a l y s i s m a y o r m a y

n o t b e p a r t i a l l y o r w h o l l y c o r r e c t

. A l s o

, c o n s i d e r i n g t h e e x p e c t e d l e v e l o f i m

p a c t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t

h p r o p o s e d

d e v e l o p m e n t

, a s i g n i f

i c a n t o f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n p r o g r a m w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y

.

U n c e r t a i n t y r e g a r d i n g t h e a c c u r a c y o f t h e p r e d i c t i v e a s s u m p t i o n s a n d m o d e l s u s e d i n t h e i m p a c t a n a l y s i s

,

a n d u n c e r t a i n t y r e g a r d i n g h o w t h e e n v i r o n m e n t w i l l r e a c t t o f u t u r e d e v e l o p m e n t i n t h e J I D P A u s i n g

c u r r e n t a n d f

u t u r e u n t e s t e d d e v e l o p m e n t a n d m i t i g a t i o n t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d u n t r i e d r e s t r i c t i o n s

, c r e a t e s a

n e e d f o r a m e c h a n i s m t h r o u g h w h i c h B L M c a n m a k e i n c r e m e n t a l a d j u s t m e n t s t o f

i e l d m a n a g e m e n t o v e r

t i m e

, a s i n f

o r m a t i o n i s g a i n e d a b o u t h o w a r e a r e s o u r c e s a r e r e a c t i n g t o n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s a n d / o r

r e s t r i c t i o n s

. T h a t m e c h a n i s m i s a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t

.C

- 2

T h e a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s a l l o w s f o r c h a n g e s i n m a n a g e m e n t w i t h o u t f u r t h e r N E P A a n a l y s i s

,

u n l e s s d e s i g n a t e d t h r e s h o l d s a r e r e a c h e d

. T h e p r o c e s s i n c r e a s e s t h e s p e e d a t w h i c h m a n a g e r s l e a r n h o w

r e s o u r c e s r e a c t t o t h e i r d e c i s i o n s a n d d e v e l o p m e n t a c t i v i t i e s

, a n d t h e r e b y i n c r e a s e s t h e s p e e d a t w h i c h

m a n a g e r s c a n a d

j u s t m i t i g a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s f o r u n a n t i c i p a t e d i m p a c t s

, o r l a c k t h e r e o f

. T h e a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t f r a m e w o r k h a s s e v e r a l c o n t i n u o u s s t e p s : d e c i s i o n i s i m p l e m e n t e d ; i m p a c t s a r e

m o n i t o r e d ; m o n i t o r i n g d a t a a r e e v a l u a t e d ; m o d i f i c a t i o n s t o m i t i g a t i o n s o r m a n a g e m e n t r e s t r i c t i o n s a r e

r e c o m m e n d e d

, b a s e d o n m o n i t o r i n g d a t a ; a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t d e c i s i o n i s m a d e a n d i m p l e m e n t e d ;

i m p a c t s a r e m o n i t o r e d ; e t c

.

T h e p u r p o s e o f t h i s a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s i s t o e n s u r e t h a t i m p a c t s o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d p r o d u c t i o n

a r e m o n i t o r e d

, a n d t h e i n f o r m a t i o n f

r o m t h a t m o n i t o r i n g i s e v a l u a t e d a n d i n c o r p o r a t e d

, o n a r e g u l a r b a s i s

, i n t o f u t u r e m i t i g a t i o n a n d m a n a g e m e n t d e c i s i o n s

. O n e o f t h e p u r p o s e s o f t h e J I O i s t o i m p l e m e n t t h i s

a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s i n t h e J I D P A

, a s w e l l a s s e l e c t a n d m a n a g e a l l o f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n p r o

j e c t s

.



## G o a l s a n d O b j e c t i v e s

• D e t e r m i n e t h e e f

f e c t s o f J I D P A d e v e l o p m e n t o n a r e a r e s o u r c e s ;

• D e t e r m i n e t h e e f

f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s c o n t a i n e d i n t h i s R O D ;

• S u g g e s t m o d i f

i c a t i o n s t o m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s t o a c h i e v e t h e s t a t e d g o a l s / o b j e c t i v e s ;

• A s s u r e o i l a n d g a s

- r e l a t e d B L M d e c i s i o n s r e g a r d i n g t h e J I D P A a r e c o o r d i n a t e d w i t h n o n

- o i l

- a n d

g a s

- r e l a t e d d e c i s i o n s ( s u c h a s g r a z i n g

, r e c r e a t i o n

, e t c

. ) ;

• P r o v i d e a r a p i d r e s p o n s e t o u n n e c e s s a r y a n d u n d u e e n v i r o n m e n t a l d e g r a d a t i o n ;

• V a l i d a t e p r e d i c t i v e m o d e l s u s e d i n t h e E I S a n d r e v i s e t h e m o d e l s / p r o j e c t i o n s a s n e c e s s a r y b a s e d

o n f i e l d o b s e r v a t i o n s a n d m o n i t o r i n g ;

• A c c u r a t e l y m o n i t o r a n d p r e d i c t c u m u l a t i v e i m p a c t s t h r o u g h B L M m a i n t e n a n c e o f a G e o g r a p h i c

I n f o r m a t i o n S y s t e m ( G I S ) f o r t h e J I D P A

, i n c l u d i n g a l l a c t i v i t i e s ( n a t u r a l g a s

, a g r i c u l t u r a l

,

r e c r e a t i o n a l

, e t c

. ) o n f

e d e r a l a n d n o n

- f

e d e r a l l a n d s a n d h o w t h e y a r e a f f e c t i n g a r e a r e s o u r c e s ;

• P r o v i d e g u i d a n c e f

o r m o n i t o r i n g u p o n w h i c h t h e n e e d t o i n i t i a t e S e c t i o n 7 c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e

U

. S

. F i s h a n d W i l d l i f

e S e r v i c e ( U S F W S ) w i l l b e d e t e r m i n e d

.



## I m p l e m e n t a t i o n M o d e l

B L M w i l l i m p l e m e n t a n d c o o r d i n a t e t h e a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t p r o c e s s

. T h e B L M P i n e d a l e F i e l d M a n a g e r

w i l l a c c o m p l i s h t h a t b y e s t a b l i s h i n g t h e i n t e r a g e n c y J I O i n t h e p r o j e c t R O D

. T h e J I O w i l l b e s t a f f e d b y

f u l l

- t i m e e m p l o y e e s o r c o n t r a c t o r s f r o m B L M

, W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Q u a l i t y ( W D E Q )

, W y o m i n g G a m e a n d F i s h D e p a r t m e n t ( W G F D )

, a n d W y o m i n g D e p a r t m e n t o f A g r i c u l t u r e ( W D A )

. D e t a i l s o n J I O o b

j e c t i v e s a n d d u t i e s a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e J I O C h a r t e r ( A t t a c h m e n t C

- 1 )

.



### J I O F u n c t i o n s

T h e J I O w i l l b e f

u l l y s t a f f e d b y t h e a g e n c i e s a s s o o n a s p o s s i b l e f o l l o w i n g i s s u a n c e o f t h i s R O D

. T h e s c o p e o f w o r k f

o r t h e J I O i s a s d e s c r i b e d i n t h e J I O C h a r t e r ( A t t a c h m e n t C

- 1 )

.C

- 3



### J I O O p e r a t i n g P r o c e d u r e s

I t i s a n t i c i p a t e d t h e J I O w i l l b e n e c e s s a r y f o r t h e n e x t 5 t o 1 5 y e a r s

, w i t h f u n d i n g s u p p o r t p r o v i d e d b y

E n C a n a O i l & G a s ( U S A )

, I n c

. O f f i c e o v e r s i g h t w i l l b e p r o v i d e d b y a n A g e n c y M a n a g e r s C o m m i t t e e

c o n s i s t i n g o f i n d i v i d u a l a g e n c y h e a d s o r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m B L M

, W D E Q

, W G F D

, a n d W D A

. T h e

C o m m i t t e e w i l l m e e t a t l e a s t o n c e p e r y e a r t o p r o v i d e s e n i o r

- l e v e l g u i d a n c e

, e v a l u a t e p a s t p r o g r e s s

, a n d

r e v i e w s t a f

f i n g l e v e l s a n d f

u t u r e n e e d s

.

I n a c c o r d a n c e w i t h a n e s c r o w a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e W y o m i n g W i l d l i f e a n d N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e T r u s t

A c c o u n t B o a r d ( a n i n s t r u m e n t a l i t y o f t h e S t a t e o f W y o m i n g ) a n d t h e J o n a h I n t e r a g e n c y O f f i c e C h a r t e r

M e m b e r s

, t h e B o a r d w i l l r e c e i v e a n d h o l d a l l c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n f u n d i n g p r o v i d e d b y J o n a h

O p e r a t o r s ( A t t a c h m e n t C

- 2 )

. A s t h e e n t i t y c h a r g e d w i t h s e l e c t i n g

, i m p l e m e n t i n g

, a n d m o n i t o r i n g o f f s i t e

m i t i g a t i o n

, t h e J I O w i l l m a i n t a i n a n a c c u r a t e a c c o u n t i n g o f a l l c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n f

u n d e x p e n d i t

u r e s

a n d p r o v i d e t h e A g e n c y M a n a g e r s C o m m i t t e e a n a n n u a l f i n a n c i a l r e p o r t

.

S p e c i f i c J I O o p e r a t i o n a l p r o c e d u r e s w i l l b e d e v e l o p e d b y t h e o f f i c e s t a f f t o m e e t d e f

i n e d g o a l s a n d

o b j e c t i v e s

.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

1 C a r p e n t e r

, R

. A

. 1 9 9 7

. “ T h e C a s e f o r C o n t i n u o u s M o n i t o r i n g a n d A d a p t i v e M a n a g e m e n t U n d e r N E P A

. ”

I n E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c

y a n d N E P A

. R

. C l a r k a n d L

. C a n t e r

, e d s

. B o c a R a t o n

, F L : S t

. L u c i e P r e s s

.

2 C E Q r e g u l a t i o n s r e q u i r e a p p r o p r i a t e a p p l i c a t i o n o f c o n t i n u a l m o n i t o r i n g a n d a s s e s s m e n t

. S e c t i o n 1 0 2 ( 2 ) ( B ) o f N E P A

c a l l s f o r “ m e t h o d s

... w h i c h w i l l i n s u r e t h a t p r e s e n t l y u n q u a n t i f i e d e n v i r o n m e n t a l a m e n i t i e s a n d v a l u e s m a y b e g i v e n

a p p r o p r i a t e c o n s i d e r a t i o n

. ” C E Q r e g u l a t i o n s a t 4 0 C F R 1 5 0 5

. 2 ( c ) a n d 1 5 0 5

. 3 ( c ) s t a t e

, “ a m o n i t o r i n g a n d e n f o r c e m e n t

p r o g r a m s h a l l b e a d o p t e d a n d s u m m a r i z e d w h e r e a p p l i c a b l e f o r a n y m i t i g a t i o n ” a n d t h a t a g e n c i e s “ m a y p r o v i d e f o r

m o n i t o r i n g t o a s s u r e t h a t t h e i r d e c i s i o n s a r e c a r r i e d o u t a n d s h o u l d d o s o i n i m p o r t a n t c a s e s

. ” T h e l e a d a g e n c y m u s t

, “ u p o n

r e q u e s t

, i n f

o r m c o o p e r a t i n g o r c o m m e n t i n g a g e n c i e s o n p r o g r e s s i n c a r r y i n g o u t m i t i g a t i o n m e a s u r e s w h i c h t h e y h a v e

p r o p o s e d a n d w h i c h w e r e a d o p t e d b y t h e a g e n c y m a k i n g t h e d e c i s i o n

, ” a n d

, “ u p o n r e q u e s t

, m a k e a v a i l a b l e t o t h e p u b l i c t

h e

r e s u l t s o f r e l e v a n t m o n i t o r i n g

. ”

# ATTACHMENT C-1

Uni ted S t ates De pa rtment o f lhe Inter i o r

B ur eau of Land Ma nagement

State of Wyoming



### CHARTER

I

. OFF I CIAL DESIGNATION: Jona h lnterdgency Mihgation a nd Reclamation Office

2

. BACKGROUND : The Jonah Natural Gns Field i s ao nrca of west central Wyo m i n g

, sou tl t of

Ute town of Pinedale, and w i t h i n the Uppe r Gree n Ri vcr Ba s in. It i nc l udes about 30

, 000 acre s of

ro l ling s agebru s h covered lands tha t are about SO perce n t federally m anaged s urfa c e a nd 83

p

e rcent federa ll y ma n aged mine r als. It i s an area o f intense oil and gas development i n 't i g)lt

sands'

. Th e dr i ll i ng spac in g n ecessary to efficie n t l

y recover th e o il and gas resource i s denser

than i n t rnditional o i l and gas fi el d development

. F urth er. the area has v i s ual

. wi l dlife, a nd other

resource vn.lues Ut a! complicate r eso urce m a

nage m ent is s ues

.

3. PURPOSE: llte Jonah Interagency Office (P r o j ect Orrice) wi ll provide the s ervice s n ecessary

to exec u te p l a n s. m o n itoring

, and ot h

er act i v iti es nece s sary t o assure the effect i veness of l a n

d

management reco m menda ti o n s, r ec l a m ation actions, and motogatio n in Ut e vic i nity of U1 e Jonah

Natural Gas Field in accordance with the Record of Dec o sion (ROD) fo r the Jonah Inllll D r illong

Projec t. In addit i o n the Project Office 

## w m provide oversig h t of f u nds available for recla m auon

monitoring a nd mitigation (offsite and ons it e)

.

Tbe scope of wo rk for the Pr ojec t Ollice i n c l

udes the fo l l o\\ • ing:

• Oversee the se l ection a nd effective n ess of30,000- 90,000 a c res o r olJsite mitigation

• in spect and verify co mp h a ncc on up to 1 5

, 000 ac o ·es of su r face reclamation

• In spect and moni t or reclamation on u p t o 3

, 100 new well location s.

• lns u re compliance wiU 1 t h

e Wyoming OEQ A or Q ual oty a nd Water Qua li ty n ol es and

regulatio n s

• Monitor big game and sage gro u se populations

• Ass u re habitat r eston o tion

• Mono t o r liv es t ock u tili zation of cxisung pennits

• Validate, coordinate, and oversee research

• Coordina t e transportat i on p l an n i n g

• Assure vege t ation s urv ey s/ In vasive s pe cies contro l

• Prov i de i nforma t ion t o U1 e respective agenc i e s and the p u b l

ic regard i ng Impacts

,

m

o n itoring data. and mit i gat i on success

4. OFFICE OBJECT I VES AND DUTIES: The Project Office wi ll be smiTed by fu ll t i me

emp l oyee s or contractors of the responsible agencies. A ll personnel will have p ri ma ry d uttes

related to U1 e imp l e m entatio n or s up po rt of m on i toring an d envirorunenta l co mplian ce a n d

pcmutting, focusi n g on, b u t not limited to

, air

, water

, wildlife

, a n d re c l amat i on monito r ing o f

on- s ite and designated o(f

. s ite m iti gation ac r es related t o Jonah Fie l d deve l opme n t

. Any ta s k s

assigned to these e m p l

oyee s or co n trac t or s o u tside this pr i mary funct i on wou l d be s upponed by

rund s ot h

er t ha n t h ose desc r ibed below in p aragraph 10. The B u rea u of Land Manageme n t will

main t a i n the l ease fo r t he P roject Office sp ac e

.Public and mtcragency reporting of resource conditions will occur on a regular basis. F r om t ime

t o time, sta l e agencies may meet with anterested cmzens to mform omerested stakeholders, and to

discuss ongoi n g and anticipated mi t igation and mon.tori n g.

T h e BLM Project Office Coo r dinator w ill draft and submot to t h e Managers Committee for

approva l an operating p l an t hat wi ll prescribe standard oi1ice procedures

. These standard

procedure s wil l inc l ude procedw-es for d i sbursemelll of Project Office fund s

, timing of funding

reques t s and procedures for reporting tO the lvtanagers Committee

. This initia l report is due

before Ma r ch 31, 2006. Upo o t approval, these procedures wi ll become an allac h mcn t to th i s

C h arter

,

5. TElRMINAT I ON DATE : The cooperators anticipate that 

### a need for an expanded personnel

presence in the vicmiry of the Jonah Natural Gus Field will contin u e to exist for t b e next 5 to 15

years

. Periodic all y

, the mteragency s t aff wi ll meet to review Project Office staffi n g nced s und

n eed l or continuance of the individual staff

.

6. JONAH INTERAGENCY OmCE MANAGEMENT :

Jonah Project Office Coo r dinator

Bw·cau of Land Management

Department of the Interio r

432 East Mi ll Stree t

P.O. Box 768

P i

neda l e, Wyom i n g 8294 1

7. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT : Admin i strative suppo o t and timding for the Project Office

will be provided by Encana Oi l and Gas (USA) lnc. contributions as set fort h i n No

. 10 be l ow.

8

. ESTIMATED ANNUAL COST: TI 1 e Project Office will r eq uire approximately S600.000

annually for all person n el

, suppon, and office costs

. This is estab li shed as fo ll ows :

• Initial s t al'fong for tbe oflice: $500,000

• Building Renta l in Pineda l e; $24,000

• Computers

, softwa r e, furniture, technical suppo o t

, and vehic l es: 

### $76.000

Each of the agencies listed in No. 9 below will e m ploy 

### a person/contractor t o accomp l ish the

work identified above. Annually, each of the Cba o tered Members in No.9 wi ll deve l op 

### a budget.

A

ll Chanered Members will concur on budget estimates. An n ually, or at another mutua ll y agreed

to interval

, the duties and needs for each Project Office position will be examined by the Age n cy Managers Commi u ce and o numally agreed to adjustments will be made. This cou l d i nclude

office staffing increases

, decreases, identificatio n and expansion or con t r.lction of duties

. The

primary duty location of the team is Pinedale, Wyoming.

9. JONAH INTERAGENCY OFFICE CHARTERED MEMBERS :

A. Wyomi1 1 g Department of Agricult w ·e



### B. Wyoming Game a n d Fis h Department

C. Wyomi n g Department of Environmenta l Quality

D. United States Departme nt of the Interio r /Bureau of Land ManagementTbe Chartered Members will approve all dasbursements or funds contributed by tncana

Otl and Gas (USA) Inc

. or other industry contributors for the purpose of wildlife habitat

improvement, resource monitoring and/or other mitigation.

10. fUNJ)lNG: Encann Oi l nnd Gas (USA) In c. will**prova e**  funding t o support lhc cos t s of the

project office, for a peraod of 6 years. ' Ine ProJect Orlice funding m echanism wall be

memorialized in the Jonah lnllll EJS ROD. II is expected that participating opcrntor(s} wi ll see

tamely penmmng to the extent pennitted by law

. Other urne economies rela!Cd to confumabon of

m:lamation activilles and mcreascd pubhc viSibtltty of tmlely and**succes.~ful** envtronrnental

remediation and reclamauon are also anticap:ued

.

II

. NATURE 

### AND PUTt ES Of THE AGENCY MANAGERS COMMfl'TEE : At least once

per year

, the Agency Managers committee

, consistmg of the agency heads or represcntauve s

from the Agencies in No

. 9 above, und a s in gle member of each of a h

e oi l nnd ga s industry

propo n en t s i n vo l ved in the ProjecL Oflice will meet. Al l hat annua l oversigh l mee t ing. progress

will be eva l uated, and darcchon. coverage, and staffing l or the nex1 year would be cons i dered and

adopted. At u nunimum, the Agency Managers committee wou ld provide the 'big picture' needs

for the ProJeCt Office

. Par the imtial penod, thas would anclude : I) Estabhsh the mat ani

maugauon and momtonng program for Atr, Water

, Wtldllfc

, LavcStoek and Reclnmataon : 2)

selection and uuhzatton of appropnare software or rcporung standards to tnsure that all data

coUected would be s tored and utilized in rneeung the monttonng commttments contained in EIS ' s

and oahcr environmental documents: 3} Coordinauon and tracking of ongomg research beang

conducted in the Jonah PrOJCCI area to provide adv1ce and recommendations on**envaronm~ntnl** nt()ni l oring and needed science to document lhe eiTects of Energy development : und 4) Reporung.

12. AUT HORI'I'Y : The esta bli s hment of th e l'rojecl Office i s i n U 1e pub l ic i n terest m con n ec t ion

wttb tbe duties and responsibilities delegall:d to a h

e**I~LM** by tl1c Secretary of ahc Umaed Sta t es

Dt:panment of the Interior m manoging the publac lands under section 307(b} of the federal Land

Pohcy and**Managcm~'flt** Act of 1976

, 43 USC§ 1737 (b)

.

13. Nothmg m thas charter shall change the respon s ibahlles or negotaated agreements of any State

agency as it relates to dcahng wuh impacts of de,eloprnent an southwest Wyommg

.Jonah lnteragency Office C h a rt er Members

Date Signed :.

___ J.. _-_/_ '1

_-_

11

_ , __

1 D partment :

Dat e Signe d :**___, z.** **::::..; ;;..** **:... 'f** **,_ --=** **=- ~--** 

Date Signed :

# --==-;:J--+/....:..1-''f-L.~:::..:~=-----

DateSigned :

## p~

# ATTACHMENT C-2

ESCROW AGREEMENT

The Wyom i ng Wi l dlife and Natu r al Resource T r ust Account Board ("'Esc r ow Agent"), an

instrumentality of U1c State of Wyoming, and the Jo n ah I nt eragency Office C hart er Members

("JlOCM"), an i nt e r -agency gro u p organized in the Charter oflhe Jonah Interagency Mitiga t ion and

Reclamat i on Office (attached, section 9), enter into this Escrow Agreemen t fo r the pLLrp oses of

mitigating the l oss of wildlife h abi t at functio n caused by U1e development of oi l and gas in the J onah

Fie l d. All t em 1s not otherwise defined h ere in shal l have U1e meaning ascribed in th e Sched u le of

Defini t ions in Exhibit A hereto.

RECITALS

A

. EnCana Oil & Gas (USA) 111 c. and other oi l and gas companies proposed in 2002 to expand

t h

e i r existing, approved drilling program by increasi n g t h e densi t y of we ll spacing from 40 acre

spaci n g to I 0- and 5- acre s pa c ing (a p r ocess te nn ed in

- til l drilling). At these prop osed wel lh ead

densities, t h e opportunit i es for mitigating the impacts of deveiO I Jille n t a n d prod u ctio n activities at the

site of impact are reduced, some tim es to t h e poin t of i neflec t iveness. Because of tl1e recognized

potential impacts to s u rface reso ur ces (partic ularl y wildl i fe and air quality) resulting from tl1ese

hi g h -intensity gas field activities, so m e of the companies (co ll ective l y tl1e ''Co ntr ibuti n g

Companies") agree to deposit funds into an Escrow Account for purposes of funding a pr ogram of

compe t lSatO t 'Y mitiga t ion (somcliJnes referred to as ' ·ofi:si t e'' mitigation ) to offset t h e impacts of gas

fie l d develop m ent. T h e Contr ibut ing Companies commit to p l ace certai n fund s t o be u sed

exclusive l y for ei t her the purpose of Wildlife Habitat Improveme n t or that of Resource Monitoring

and Other Mitigation, all of w hi c h escrow funds s hall constitute th e Esc row ed Monies (as defined in

Sec t ion I. 2 h ere to ).

B

. The Escrow Agent i s authorized to enter into t his Escrow Agreement pursuan t to Wyo. S ta t.



### §§ 9-15 -1 03(a), 9-15

- l03(c), 9-15-104 (g)(ii) and 

### in accorda n ce with the criteria enume r ated in

Section 9 of the Rules and Regulations of the Wildlife and Na tural Resource Tntst Account Board

adop t ed purs u ant t o Wyo. S t at.§ 9-15-104(f)(vi).

C. The Escrow Agent must inves t

, maintain

, and a ppl y the Escrowed Monies in the manner

he r ei naft e r se t forth.

NOW, THEREFORE

, i n consideration of the**mun~al** covena nt s and agreements co nt ained he r ein,

t h e parties h ere t o agree as follows :

Section I

. ESCROW OF MONIES

1.1 Deposit of Monies by Contributing Companies. On or before Apr i l I

and on each anniversary thereof, t h e Contributing Companies sha ll deposit fLLnds wit h the Escrow

Agent forthe.lonah Fie ld Wildl i fe Habitat I mp r ovemen t

. Monitoring and Other Mitigation Account

(collectively ref erred to as the Escrow Account). The amoun t to be deposited is based on estimated

### ann u al costs as determined by the J IO C M ; t h e maxi mum yea r ly amount ca n not be more than 20%

of the total EnCana O i l & 

### Gas Inc. commitment in any one year.

1.2 

### Escrowed Monies. Cash f un ds and 

### i J westments in the Escrow Account

, t oge the r

with any income, in cluding interest or profit received or made by the Escrow Agen t i n respect of

moni es on depo sit under this Escrow Agreement, shal l constitute the '

· Escrowed Monies"

. The

Escrow Agent agree s to accep t the Esc r owed Monies, which sha ll be h eld i n trust by th e Escrow

Agent forthe use 

### and benefit oftheJonah Field m i tigation, and sha ll b e wi t hdraw n and applied on l y

on and subject to the te rm s set forth 

### in Sec t ion 

### 3 hereto

.

Sect i on 2. INVESTMENT OF ESCROWED MONfES



### 2. 1 Pem1itled Investments. The Escrow Agent agrees t o inves t tl1 e Escrowe d Monies in

accordance w i th the Sta t e o f Wyomi n g's master i nvestmem p ol i cy es tabli shed pursuant to Wyo

. Stat. 

### § 9-4-709.

2.2 Reporting and Auditing.

(a) The Escrow Agent shall fumish to EnCana Oil & 

### Gas (USA) lnc. and th e JlOCM, on o r

prior to the fifteenth bu s ine ss day of each month, a statement showi n g the total wnoL mt orEscrowcd

Monies and Escrowed Interest on depo s it in, and all d e pos its to

, and disbursements li"om, th e Escrow

Acco u nt for the previous mont h

.

(b) The JIOCM h ave the rig ht to pe r iodica ll y a udit the Escrow Account and may choose to

exe r cise t h e ir r ight wit h reasonab l e notice and during nonnal busi11ess .hours

.

Section 

### J. DISBURSEMENT OF ESCROWED MONfES

The Escrow Agent s hall disburse Esc rowed Mo n ies u pon the receip t of, and i n accordance

with

, written in structions from the Jonah Interagency Proj ect Office Coor dinator

, such written

inst ru c t ions to be jo i nt l y agreed to by all Charter Membe r s of t h e Jona h Inte r agency Office.

The Jonah Interagency Proj ect Office Coordinator shall subm it a n order fo r d i sbursemem no

more frequently than four (4) times per month. Upo n re ce i pt of an order s ubsta n ti ally in t he fom 1 of

Ex hi bit B 

### hereto, executed by th e Jonah Interagency Project Ollice Coordinator

, the Escrow Agent

must d i s bur se the Escrowed Monies i n the manner requested on th e certificate within ten ( t O)



### business days.

Sectio n 4. THE ESCROW AGENT

.

The Escrow Agent h ereby accepts the duties and responsibilities of t h e Escrow Agern

h ereunde r on and subject to the following tenns and condit ion s:

4.1 

### Scope ofUndertaldng

. Es crow Age n t ' s d u ties and responsibilities io 

### connection with

2this Escrow Agreement sha ll be purely ministerial a n d sha ll be lim i ted to those express l y set [orth in

this Escrow Agreement. Escrow Age n t is n ot a p ri ncipal, partic i pant, or beneficiary in any transaction

u n derlying this Esc r ow Agreement and shal l have no duty t o inquire beyond the te n ns a n d provisions

hereof. Escrow Agent sha ll have no responsibility or ob li gation of a n y ltind i n connect i on with this

Escrow Agreement o r the Esc r owed Monies and shall not be required to deliver the Escrowed Mo n ies

o r any pru1 thereof or take any action w i th respect to a n y m atters that might arise in connection

therewith, o t her tha n t o r eceive

, h o l d, invest, reinvest and deliver the Escrowed Mo n ies as he r ein

prov i ded. Escrow Agent shall not be liable for any error in judgme n t, any act or omiss i on, a ny mistake

oflaw or fact, or for anytbi.ngit may do or refrai n from doing in connection hcrcwi tl l. ll is the i n te n tion

oft he parties he r eto tllat Esc r ow Age n t shall never b e re< 1 uircd t o usc, advance, or r i sk its own funds or

otllerwise incur linancial li abi l it:y i11 the performance of any of i ts duties or U 1 e exercise of any of its

rights and powers hereunder.

4.2 Sovere i gn Immunity. The StatcofWyomingand Escrow Agen t do not waive sovere i gn

inununity by entering into this Escrow Agreement and spec i fica ll y retain immunity and all defenses

availab l e to them as sovereigns purs u ant to Wyo

. Stat

. 

### § 1-39- J 04(a) and all ot h er state law.

4.3 Res i gnation: Remova l ; S u ccessors.

(a) The Escrow Age n t may resign and be d i scharged of t h e tms t s created hereunder by

mai l ing notice specify i ng t h e date when s u ch resignat i o n sh a ll t ake effect to t he Jonah Interage n cy

Project Office Coordinator. S u c h r esignation shall take effect on the day specifie d in such notice

(being n ot less th an 30 days after the mai l ing ofsucb notice} unless prev i o u sly asucccssoreserow

agent shall have been appointed as hereina

. fter provided, il 1 which event such resignat i on shall take

effect immediately upon t he appoin t ment of such successor

.

(b) The Esc r ow Age n t may be removed and a successor escrow agen t may be appointed at

a

n y time by an instrument i n writing contemporaneous l y de li vered to t h e Escrow Agent, or to such

successor escrow agent. Such instrument must be exec u ted by the JlOCM

. The s u ccessor escrow

agent m u st meet the qualifying c t iteria set fort h below in Sectio n 4.3 (c) and agree in writing to be

bound by al l of the tenus and conditiollS of t his Escrow Agreeme n t.

(c) Any successor escrow agent shall be a sta t e or natio n a I bank

, financial institut i on, or tmst

company 

### in good standing, organized un der the laws ofU1e U n ited States of America or any State

thereof, havi n g a cap it al

, s u rplus, and und i vided profits aggregating a t l eas t US $500

, 000

, 000.00,

unless JIOCM agrees otherw i se.

4.4 Acceptance of AprointmeuL Every successor escrow agent appointed hereLulder shall

execute and de l ive r to its predecessor and .I r OCM a n ins tr ument 

### in writing accepting such

appointment hereunder, and tbereupon suc h s u ccessor escrow agent, without any fu r the r act

, deed

, o r

conveyance

, shall become f u lly vested with all U1e estates, properties

, rights, powers, trusts, duties

,

<md obligatiollS of its predecessor; bu t such predecessor s h all, nevertheless

, on t he wr it ten req u est of

.IIOCM execute and de l iver an instrumcm transferr i ng to a n y successor esc r ow agent all the estates,

3properties

, rights, tit l es, p owers, and trusts of s u ch predecessor hereunder

. Should any deed

,

co n veyance, or ins t rument in writing from TIOCM be required to m o r e fully and ce r tairdy vest in

such successor escrow agent t he esta t es, rig ht s, titles, powers

, and dut i es hereby vested, any and all

suc h i n struments in w r iting shaH, on request of the successor escrow agent, be executed lUld

delivered by TIOCM.

4.5 Compensatio n . T h e Escrow Agent shall be entit l ed to reasonable and c u stomary

compe n satio n for all services rendered, and to reimburseme nt fo r all reaso n ab l e expenses,

disbursements, and advances i n curred o r made by it in lUld abou t the adminis t rat i on of the tr usts

he r ein provided for, and i n and a b o u t enfo r cement or other protection of this Escrow Agreement.

For purposes ofr.his Escrow Agreement, compensatio n sha ll be o n e q u arter of one percent (0.25%)

of the Escrowed Monies. Fo r purp oses of this Section, compensation shall be calculated on r.he total

sum o fEscrowed Monies deposi t ed dur i ng the cale nd ar year a nd s h all be immediately payable to the

Wildlife and Natural Resource Incom e AccOlmt on December 3 1 of eacb year.

4

. 6 Co ll ection. Unless o th erwise specifica l ly i n d i cated herein, the Escrow Agent shall

proceed as soon as pract i cable t o co ll ec t a n y checks or other co ll ection items a t m1y time deposited

hereunde r a n d be enti tl ed to h ave its legal fees and costs reimbursed from Escrowed Monies.

4.7 Author i tv. The Escrow Agent r e pr esents and warrants t hat it has the necessary

power and a ut hority to execute. deliver, aud p erfo r m it s obligat i o n s unde r this Esc r ow Agreement.

4

. 8 Unenforcea b i li tv. lf fo r any reason this Escrow Agreement i

. s rendered unworkable,

un enforceab l e

, or illegal, r.he Escrowed Monies, together with a ll interest and earnings thereon

, l ess

any accrued compensation due Escrow Age nt purs uant to Section 4.5 of this Escrow Agreeme nt

, shall revert L o the Successo r Escrow Age nt upon the i r appointment un der Section 4

. 3 of this Escrow

Agreement

Section 5

. MJSCELLANEOUS

.

5 .1 Successors m1d Assigns

. Whenever any of the parties he r eto is r eferred to

, s u ch

r efe r ence shall be deemed to include the successors and pen ni tted ass i gns of such party; and a ll the

covenants, promises, a nd agree m e n ts in t h is Escrow Agreement contained by or o n be h alf of t h e

Escrow Agent shall bi nd a nd inure to the benefit of the respective :;uccesso r s m1d perrnined assigns

of such parties

, whether so exp r essed or n ot

.

5.2 Separabi l ity

. T h e unenforceability or invalidi t y of any provision o r provisions oftbis

Esc r ow Agreement shall n ot r ender aoyo t herp r ovis i on o r provisions herein contained unenforceable

or inva l id.

5.3 Amendments. A n y term, covenant

, agreement, or conditio n of t his Escrow

Agreeme n t may b e amended o r compliance U1erewit h may be waived -e it her generally or i n a

particular instance, an d either retrospectively or prospectivel y- by an instru m e nt i n writ in g

,

4

### execute d and agreed to b y Escrow Agent and JIOCM.

5 .4 

### Notices. Any notice or other communication required or permitted 10 

### b e g i veo under

lhis Escrow Agreement by any party hereto to any other party hereto shall be considered as

pr operly given if in writing and (a) delivered agains t r eceip t th erefore

, (b) mailed b y registered or

certifi ed mai l

, retum r eceipt req u ested a n d p ostage prepaid

, or (c) scot by tclc

- facsimi l e machine

, in

each case to the address or tcle-facsim.i l c n um ber, as t he case ma y be, set forth b elow:

If 

### to J IOCM: Jonah Interagency Office Pro ject Coor dinator

Bureau of !..and M anagemenL

P.O

. Box 768

Pineda l e, WY 82941

· 0768

lf 

### to t h e Esc r ow Agent: Wyoming Wildlife a nd Natural R eso urce T ru stAccOtull Board

500 

### Eas t Fremont

Riverton, Wyoming 82501

T Jto EnCana O i l & 

### Gas (USA) I nc: E n Ca na Oil & 

### Gas (USA) Inc

. 

### Jonah Team Lead

3 70 17th Stree t

S u ite 1700

Denver, CO 80202

Or to such ot h er add r ess as any of th e parties hereto may ha ve su b st i tuted th erefore by written

notification to t he o the r parties hereto in accordance with thi s Section 5.4. Delivery of any

commun i cat i on given i11 acco rdaJ1 ce h e r ewith s h all be effective on l y up on actual receipt thereof by the

party or parties to whom suc h commun.ication is dir ected. W h e n ever und er the terms h ereto t he time

for g i ving a n o t

ice or perfom1ing an act falls upon a Sat urd ay

, Sunday, or Lega l Holiday, s u c h rime

shall be exten d e d to th e n ext business day.

5.5 

### Gove rn ing Law

. 

### This Escrow Agreement shall be constn 1 ed in accordance with and

governed by the laws of the State of Wyoming.

5.6 

### Counten>arts. T h is Escrow Agreement may b e executed and 

### delivered in a n y ntunber

of co unt e rp arts

, eac h of such counterparts consti t uting an orig ina l but al l together only one

agreement.

5.7 Termi n ation. JJOCM may tenni.na t e t hi s Escrow Agreement at will, in a writing

exec ut ed by the.JIOCM, and t he Esc r ow Age nt shaH

, upon tennination, pay over Escrowed Monies

, less any accrued compensat i on as set described llOder Section 4

. 5 of t hi s Esc ro w A!,'Teement

, as

JJOCM shall direct.

5

## r N WITNESS VvHEREOF, t h e p arties h e r eto have ca u sed th i s Esc r ow Agreemen t to be

exec ut ed and delivered as of the date show n 

### io th e 

### tirst paragrap h of this document

J onah Interagency Oftice Cha rt er Members

Date S i gned :



### - -" Z

=-

·

- /V'_,_--"o-= '- =-----

Date Signed:

_ __,Z::....:..-,_1.**...: <J** **:::. =-** **--**

For the Wyoming Department of E n v ir o ru nen t al Q ual ity :

Ap Date S ign ed:

# ::....**...:... :......** **1'}'--' ...::.** **'0...!:: :..___** 

Date S i gned: 

# 'Jizp

r t

he Wyom in g State Agencies:

Date S i g n ed: 

## "2.-/ 

# O{p

WYOMIN WILDLIF E AND NAT U RAL RESOURCES TRUST ACCOUNT BOARD "Escrow

Agenf'



### Date S ign ed :

# ~ 

# /CJ"

6SCHEDULE OF DEF I NITIONS Exhibit A to

Escrow Agreeme n t

"Adm in istrative Fees" shall mean ann u a l administrative se r vice fees of the Escrow Agen t

.

"Bus i ness day '" shall mea n any day t h a t is no t a Sa t urday

, Sunday or Lega l Holiday

.

" Legal Holiday " s h a ll mean any Monday through Friday 

### in which mail is n ot delive r ed by th e

Un i ted States Postal Service, and any day o n w h ic h the New Yo r k S t ock Exchange i s c l osed

.

7

### ORDER TO D I SBURSE Exhibit B to

Escrow Agreement

### ----**----------~20** 

### ___

Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource T rust Accoun t Board

Membe r s of the Board:

Referenc e i s mad e to t he Escrow Agreement of (da t e) ( the "Esc row

Agreement " ) among the Jonah Interagency Office C hart er Members (''JIOCM") and the

Wyoming Wildlife and Natttral Resource Trust Account Board. The authorized officer of

JTOCM

, 

### in accordance with Section 

### 3 of the Escrow Agreeme nt , a uth orizes and directs

you to disburse$ rrom Esc ro wed Monies on deposit i n the Escrow

Account, on th e da t e h ere to t o at 

### [Bank and Accotmt inf ormation or

Address]

.

Very truly yours,

Jonah Interagency Ofl'ice Project Coordi nator

By:

Name :

___________ _

Ti tl e :

------------

Da t e:--

------- ---

8

## A P P E N D I X D

U

. S

. F I S H A N D W I L D L I F E S E R V I C E

C O N C U R R E N C E L E T T E Rf)l. lrPL V IUifU- TO FWSIR6 

### ES

Memorand um 

## U n ited States D epartmen t of t h e I nte ri o r

FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE

Mounta i n-P r airie Region

MAILING ADDRESS:

P

. O

. Box 25486 DFC 

### Denver, Colorado 80225.()486 STREET LOCATION : 134 Union Boulovard

Lakewood. Colorado 80228-1807



# DEC 1 9 2005

To: FieJd Manager

, Bureau of Land Management, Pinedale. Wyoming

Attention : Priscilla Mecham

·• C' '

## From**:;;~~1t~glo nal**  Director, Region 6

### ~ ·

. .u.Sf.ish and Wildlife Service

.. . Denver, Colorado

Subject: Fi n al B i olog i ca l Opinion fo r th e Jonah l nfi ll Drilling Pr oject, Sub l ette County,

Wyoming

In accordance with section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended 

## - 

# .

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et 

### seq .)

, and the Interagency Cooperation Regulations (50 CFR 402), this



### document transmits the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) biological opinion based 

### on

our review of the proposed Jonah 

### 1nfill Drilling Project (Project) located in Sublette County,

Wyoming

, and its effects on the endangered Colorado pikeminnow (PtychocheiiiiS lucius),



### humpbac k chub (Gila cypha), 

### bo n yta i l (Gila elegan.r), 

### and razo r bac k suc k e r (Xyrauchen



### r exanus) and the i r critica l habita t s. Your October 25, 2005. correspondence requesti n g in itiation

of formal consultation was received on October 28, 2005.

This biological opinion is based primarily on our review of the information in your request letter

and 

### supplemental information regarding the proposed actions and the estimated average annual

water depletion

. A complete administrative record of this consultation is 

### on file at the USFWS

Wyoming Field Office. Copies of this opinion should be provided to the applicant because the

USFWS has incorporated reasonable and prudent ahern11tives that should be included as

conditions of any authorization issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for this

Project.

With respect to critical habitat, this biological opinion does not rely on the regulatory definition

of

.. destruction or adverse modification" of critical habitat at 50 CFR 4 02.02

. Instead

, we have

relied upon the statutory provisions of the ESA t o complete the following analysis

.

### 2

BIOLOGI CA L OPINIO N



### DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOS ED ACTION

The Jonah lnfill Drilling Project Area currently encompasses approximately 30,500 acres located

in ponions ofTownshi ps 28 and 29 North

, Ranges 10 7 through 109 West, in Sublette County

approximately 32 miles southeast of Pinedale and 28 miles northwest of Farson, Wyoming.

There are SOl 

### producing and shut-in natural gas wells within the Project Area 

### as well as

extensive infrastructure inc l uding roads and pipelines for natura l gas production

.

The proposed expansion of the existing Project includes drilling up to 3, I 00 new wells and

16,200 acres of new surface disturbance over the next 12

. 4 years. This 

### proposed expansion

includes-a minimum of 64 well pads per 640-acre section; downhole well spacing from

I bottombole every 5 acres to one bottombole every 40 acres ; 465 miles of new resoun::e roads

with associated pipelines ; 8 miles of new collector /local roads; 41 acres of new surface

dis t urbance for ancillary facilities ; and 100 acres of new surface disturbance for explora t ion of

o th er geo l ogic format i ons

. A total of 1 2,400 acre-feet of water from the Green River Basin in

Wyoming will be used for well drilling

, hydrostati c testing of pipelines, and dust abatement

associated with this proposed expansion ofthe Jonah lnfill Drilling Project.

An 

### additional component of the proposed Jonah lnfill Drilling Project is the Bird to Opal 

## m

compressor station and pipeline

. There will be one 36 -inch diameter pipeline that will be

17 miles l ong and two segments of24-inc h diameter pipeline tha t will be S 

### I miles long

. Hydrostatic t esting of these pipeline s will require a total of 1 6

. 2 acre-feet of water from the

Green River Basin in Wyoming

.

Habitat reclamation for areas disturbed by the proposed Project is described in the Jonah Gas

Fi eld N ativ e Habitat Surface Reclamation Project Plan

. This reclamation plan will characterize

the physical and biological nature of the Jonah field 's soils and vegetation to be used in design

site goals and prescri p tio n s for r eclan 1 ation

. Six treauncnts have been identified for experimen t a l

veget a tion p l an t ings

. Approximately 67 acre-fee t of wnter from th e G r een River Basin will be

used to hold topsoi I in place and to provide moisture for planting and seed gerrninarion

.

Consequen t ly. the revised Jonah lnfill Drilling Project and associated Proj ect components as

described above will result in a total depletion to the Green River Basin in Wyoming of

12,483 acre-feet over the 12.4 year 

### life of the project The average annual depletion over the life

of the project is 1 ,006.7 acre-feet

.

Our regulation s define the action area as all areas dire c tl y or indirectly affected by the Federal

action and not merely the immediate area involved in the ac t ion ( 5 0 CFR 402 .0 2)

. The subject

Project water depl etio n would result in a loss of water from the point of removal within the

Green River Basin in Wyoming

, continuing downstream to the confluence with the Colorado

River, and downstream to Lake P owell. Therefore, t.h e action area designation begins at the

wa t er r emoval l oca t ion as described above downstream t o Lake Powell.

### S TATU S OF THE S PE C I ES AND C RITI CAL RABfT AT

COLORADO PtKEMINNOW



### Species Description

The Colorado pikeminnow is the largest cyprinid fish (minnow family) native to North America

and evolved as the main predator in the Colorado River system

. lt is an elongated pike-like fish

that during predevelopment times may have grown as large as 6 feet in length and weighed

nearly I 00 pounds (Behnke and Benson 1983). Today, Co l orado pikeminnow rarely exceed 3



### 3 feet in length or weigh more than 18 pounds; such fish are estimated to be 45 to 55 

### years o l d

(Osmundson el al. 1997). The mouth of this species is large and nearly horizonta l with long

slender pharyngealteelh (located in the throat), adapted for grasping and holding prey

. The diet

of Colorado pikeminnow longer than 3 or 4 inches consists almost entirely of other fishes

(Vanicek and Kramer 1969)

. Males become sexually mature earlier and at a smaller size than do

females, though all are mature by about age 7 and 20 inches in length (Vanicek and Kramer

1969; Seethaler 1978; Hamman 1981 )

. Adults are strongly eountershaded with a dark, olive

back, and a white belly. Young arc si l very and usually hove a dark, wedge-shaped spot at the

base of the caudal fin

.

Status and Distribution

Based on early fish collection records, archaeological finds

, and other observations, the Colorado

pikeminnow was once found throughout warm water reaches of the entire Colorado River Basin

down to the Gulf of California, and including reaches of the upper Co l orado River and its mlljor

tributaries, th e Green River and its major tributaries, and the Gi l a River system in Arizona

(Seethaler 1978). Colorado pikeminnow apparently were never found in colder, headwater

areas. Seethaler (1978) indicated that the species was abundant 

### in suitable habitat throughout the

entire Colorado River Basin prior to the 1850s. No historic records exist that would indicate

how far upstream Colorado pikeminnow once occurred in the Colorado River

. The only reliable

a

. ccouni of the species occurring upstream of the Price Stubb Dam near Palisade, Colorado

, is

from a USFWS biologist who reports having captured Co l orado pik eminnow in Plateau Creek

approxima t ely 2

- 3 miles upstream from the Co l orado River conOuence while angling there

around 1 960 (Osmundson 200 I )

.

By the 1970s

, Colorado pikeminnow were extirpated from the entire lower basin (downstream of

Glen Canyon Dam ) and from portions oflhe upper basin of the Colorado River as a result of

major alterations to the riverine environment. Having lost 75 to 

### 80 percent of its former range

(Miller 1961; Moyle 1976; Tyus 1 991; Osmundson and Burnham 1 998), the Colorado

pikeminnow was federally l isted as an endange r ed**~-pecies** 

### in 1967 (32 FR 4001).

Colorado pikeminnow are presently restricted to the Upper Colorado River Basin and inhabit

warmwater reaches of the Colorado, Green, and San Juan Rivers and associated tributaries

. The

species inhabits about 350 miles of the mainstem Green River from its eonOuence with the

Colorado River upstream to the mouth of the Yampa River

. ln 

### the Yampa River, its range

extends up stream an additiona l 1 60 miles

. Colorado pikeminnow also occur in the lowennost4



### I 04 miles of the White River, another tributary to the Green River. In 

### the mainstem Colorado

River, distribution of the species extends 201 miles upstream from the upper end of Lake 

### Pow e ll

to Palisade, Colorado (Tyus 1982)

.

Colorado pik emiMow are found in the Gunnison River as far upstream as the Hartland Diversion



### Dam. which is a barrier to upstream fish passage, located approximately 

### 57 miles upstream of

the Redland s Diversion Dam (Burdick 1995). Colorado pikeminnow use most of the Gunnsion

River between the Redlands D1version and the Aanland Diversion (Burdick 1995). A suspected

spawning area was located between river mile 32 

### and 33 (Burdick 1995 ; McAda 2003).



### Co l orado pikcminnow larvae wore co ll ected in the Gunnison River in 1 995 and 1 996 (Anderson

1999). Collection of larval fish provides evidence of spawning, but does not locate specific

spawning locations

.

Osmundson and Burnham (1998) summarized the statUS and trend of the Colorado River

population of Colorado pikeminnow. They found that numbers were low but new individuals

were active l y recruiting to the adult popu l ation, and recruitment l argely occurs in pulses from

infreq u ent strong year c l asses

. These investigators conc l uded that l ow adult numbers and

infrequent pulsed recruitment make this population vulnerable to extirpation over time from both

natural fluctuations in numbers as well as from continued changes in habitat.

Threats

Major declines in Colorado pikeminnow populations occurred during the dam-building era of the

1930s through the 1960s. Behnke and Benson ( ! 983) summarized the decli n e of the natura.!

ecosystem, pointing out that dams, impoundme n ts

, and water u se prac t ices drastically modified

the river 's natural hydrology and channel characteristics throughout the Colorado River Basin

. Dams on the mainstem broke the natural continuum of the river ecosystem into a series of

disjunct segments, blocking nat i ve fish migrations, redu cing temperatures downstream of dams,

creating lacustrine habitat, and providing conditions that allowed competitive and predatory

nonnative fishes to thrive both within the impounded reservoirs and in th e modified river

segments that connect them

. The highly modified flow regime in the lower basin coupled with

the introduction of noMative fishes decima t ed popu l ations of native fish.

Major declines of native fishes first occurred in the lower basin where large dams were

constructed from the 1930s through the 1960s. In 

### the upper basin, the following major dams

were not constructed until the 1960s-Gien Canyon Dam on the mainstcm Colorado River

, Flaming Gorge Dam on the Green River, Navajo Dam on the San Juan River

, and the Aspinall

Unit Dams on the Gunniso n River

. To date

, some native fish popu l ations in the Upper Basin

have managed to persist

, while others have become nearly extirpated. River segments where

native fish have declined more slowly than in other areas are those wbere the hydrologic regime

most closely resembles the natural condition, wberc adequate habitat for all life phases still

exists, and where migration corridors arc unblocked and allow connectivity among life phases

.

The Redland s Diversion Dam restricted upstream travel of Colorado pikeminnow in the lower

Gunnison River between 1917 and 1996

. A smal l remnant po p u.latio n persisted upstream of the

dam. Five adu l t Colorado p i keminnow were captured in the Gunnison River between 1992 and

1994 (Burdick 1995 ). Earlier studies captured four adult Co lorado pikeminnow in the Gunnison

### River between river mile 22

. 1 and 31.4 (Valdez et al

. J982a). ln 1996 the fish ladder was

constructed around the Redlands Diversion Dam

, and 62 Colorado pilccminnow have ascended

the fish ladder. In addition, 1,050 Colorado pikeminnow (150-300 millimeters long) were

stocked in the Gunnison River at Delta in 2003

. 

### 5

In the mainstem Co l orado River, the magnitude of spring flows has declined by 30 to 45 percent

since the early part of the century (Osmundson and Kaeding 1991; Van Steeter 1996 ; Pitlick

ct al

. 1999)

. Such flow reduction negatively affects Colorado pikeminnow in four ways1) reducing the river's ability to build and clean cobble bars for spawning; 2) reducing the

dilution effect for watc:tbome contaminants from urban and agricultural sources that may

int.erfere with reproductive success; 3) reducing the connectivity of main-channel and

bottomland habitats needed for habitat diversity and productivit.y; and 4) providing a more benign environment for nonnative fish and invasive nonnative, bank-stabilizing shrubs (salt

cedar) to persist and flourish (Osmundson and Burnham 1 998). In genera l

, the existing habitat

has been modified to the extent that it impairs essentia l behavior patterns, such as breeding,

feeding, and sheltering

.

Nonnative fishes compete with native fishes in several ways

. The capacity of a particular area to

suppon aquatic life is limited by physical habitat conditions

. Increasing the number of species in

an area usually results in a smaller population of most species. The size of each species

population is controlled by the abiHty of each life stage to compete for space and food resources

and to avoid predation. Some nonnative fishes' life stages appear to have a greater ability to

compe t e for space and food and to avoid predation in the eKisting altered habitat than do some

native fishes' life stages.

Nonnative fishes are often stocked in and enter rivers from off-channel impoundments. The

periodic introduction of these nonnative fishes into a river allows them to bypass limitations to

reproduction, growth, or survival that they might encounter in the river

. Consequently,

populations of nonnative fishes in the river are enhanced

. Endangered and other native species

in the river experience greater competition and predation as a result.

Life History

The life

- his t ory phases tha t appear to be most critical for the Colorado pikeminnow include

spawning, egg hatching, development of larvae. and the first year of life. These phases of

Colorado pikeminnow development are tied closely to specific habitat requirements

. Narural

spawning of Colorado pikemi

. nnow is initiated on the descending limb of the annual hydro graph

as water temperarures approach or exceed 20"C ( Vanicek and Kramer 1969 ; Hamman 1981 ;

Haynes et al

. 1984 ; Tyus 1990 ; McAda and Kaeding 1991 )

. Temperature at initiation of

spawning varies somewhat by river--in the Green River

, spawning begins as temperatures exceed

20-23 " C; in the Yampa River, 16-23 ° C (Bestgen et al. 1998); in the Colorado River, 18-22 ° C

(McAda and Kaeding 1991 ). Spawning. both in the hatchery and under natural riverine

conditions, generally occurs in a 2-month timeframe between late June and l ate August.

However, in 

### the natural system, sustained high flows during wet years may suppress river

temperatures and extend spawning into September (McAda and Kaeding 1991)

. Conversely

, during low Oow years

, when the water warms earlier

, spawning may commence in mid-June.

### Temperature has an effect on egg development and hatching success. In 

### the laboratory, egg

deve l opment was tested at five temp eratures and hatching success was found to be highest at

20°C

, lower at 25 °C, and mortalit y was I 00 percent at 5, I 0, 15, and 30 °C. I n addition, larval

abnormalities were twice as high ot 25°C than at 20°C (Marsh 198 5). 6



### Experimental tests of temperature preference of yearling ( Black and Bulkley 1985a ) and 

### adult

(Bulkley ct at 1981 ) Colorado pikcminnow indicated that 25°C was the most preferred

temperature for both life phases

. Additional experimentS indicated that 

### optimum growth 

### of

yearling Colorado pikeminnow also occurs at temperatures near 25 °C (B l ack and Bulkley

1985b)

. Although no sucb t ests were conducted using adults, the test s with year l ings supported

the conclusions of Jobling (198 1 ) th at the final thermal preferendum provides a good indication

of optimum growth temperature

, i

. e

., 2s•c

.

Most information on Colorado pikcminnow reproducu on was gathered from spawning sites on

the lower 20 miles of the Yampa River and in Gray Canyon on the Green River (Tyus and

M

cAda 1984 ; Tyus 1985; Wicket al. 

### 1985; Tyus 1990)

. Co l orado pikeminnow spawn after

peak runoff subsides and is probabl y triggered by several intera

. cting variables such as

photoperiod, temperature, flow l evel, and perhaps substrate characteristics. Spawning generally

occurs from late June to mid-August with peak 

### activity occurring when water temperatures 

### are

between 18 and 23°C (Haynes ct al

. 1984; Archer et al

. 1985; Tyus 1990 ; Bestgcn e1 

### al

. 1998)

.

Spawning has been confumed in the Colorado River by the presence of Co l orado pikeminnow

larvae in all years sampled. Larvae ore 

### distributed throughout the 

### river although most have been

found dow n stream of Grand Jun ction (McAda and Ka eding 1 991; Osmundson and Burnham

1998)

. Aggregations of ripe adults have been found near Clifton and Grand Junction

, Colorado,

and near the Co lorado-Utah State l ine (Osmundson and Kaeding 1989 ; M cA da and Kaeding

1991 ; USF WS unpublished data)

. Suitable spawning habitat ( defined below) 

### in the Colorado

River near Cataract Canyon, Professor Valley, and upstream from 

### the Dolores River confluence

indicates spawning may occur in or ncar these areas as well (Arc her et al. 1985 ; Va.ldez: 1990 ).

Known spawning si t es in the Yampa River are characterized b y riffics or sha.llow runs with

well-was h ed coarse substrate (cobble containing relativ e l y deep interstitial voids (for egg

deposition) in association with deep pools or 

### areas of slo w laminar Oow used as staging 

### areas by

adults (Lamarra ct 

### al. 

### 1985 ; Tyu s 1990)

. R ecent investigations at a 

### spawning site in the San Juan

R iver by Bliesner and 

### Lamarra ( 1995 ) and at 

### one in the upper Colorado River (U SFWS

unpublished data ) indicate a similar association of habitats

. The most unique feature at 

### the sites

actually used for spawning. in comparison with otherwise simi lar sites nearby

, is th e degre e of

l oose n ess of t he co bbl e substra t e 

### and t h e depth to 

### whi ch the rocks 

### are devoid of 

### fine sediments ;

this appears consistent at the sites in al l three rivers (Lamarra et a!. 

### 1985 ; Bliesner and Lamarra

1995)

.

Habitat Use and Pr eferences

Clean cobble substrates that provide interstitial spaces for eggs are necessary for spawning and

egg incubation (Tyus and Karp 1989). Several studies on the cobble cleaning process have been

con du c ted a t a known spawning l ocatio n in Yampa Canyon

. O'Brien (1984) studied U1e



### hydraulic and sediment transport dynamics of the cobble bar within th e Yampa River spawning

### 7



### site and duplicated some of its characteristics in a laboratory flume study. 

### 0' Brien (1984)

concluded that incipient motion of the cobble bed is required to clean cobbles for spawning and

estima t ed that this takes d i scharges ofabout21,500 cfs

. However, Harvey et al. { 1 993)

concluded that because flows required for incipient motion of bed material arc rare (20-year

return period event) and spawning occurs annually, another process must be cleaning the

cobbles. Their srudy found that in Yampa Canyon m:cssional flows routinely dissect gravel bars

and thereby produce tertiary bars of clean cobble at the base of the rimes

. These tertiary bars are

used by Colorado pikeminnow for spawning. The importance of high magnitude, low frequency

discharges is in forming and maintaining the midc h annel bars. Dissection of bars without

redeposition by high magnitude flows would lead to conditions where spawning habitat is no longer available (Harvey et al. 

### 1993)

.

lt is nnknown whether tertiary bars similar to those used for Colorado pikerninnow spawning in

Yampa Canyon are available in the 15-mile reach of the Colorado River

. There, significant

motion of bed material occurs at near bankfull discharge of22,000 cfs (Van Sleeter 1996).

These flows occur on average once in 4 years. Van Sleeter (1996) concluded that flows of this

magnitude are important because they generally remove fine sediment from the gravel matrix

which maintains the invertebrate community and cleans spawning substrate

.

Although the location of spawning areas in the Colorado River is not as defined as in the Yampa

River, the annual presence of larvae and young-of-the-year downstream of the Walker Wildlife

Area, 

### in the Lorna to Black Rocks reach and near the confluence of the Dolores River,

demonstra t es that spaw n ing occurs every year. Osmundson and Kaeding (1989

, 1991) reported

that water temperatures in the Grand Junct i on area were suitab l e for Colorado pikeminnow

spawning. ln 1986, a year of high runoff, suitable temperatures for spawning (20°C} occurred in

mid-August; in 1989

, a year oflow runoff, the mean temperature reached 20"C during tbe last

• week of June

. Tyus (1990) demonstrated that Colorado pikeminnow often migrate considerable

distances to spawn in the Green and Yampa Rivers, and similar though more limited movement

has been noted in the mainstem Colorado River (McAda and Kaeding 1991 )

.

Collections of larvae a n d young-of-t h e-year downstream of known spawning 

### sites in tbe Green

and Yampa Rivers indicate that downstream drift oflarval Colorado pikeminnow occurs following hatching (Haynes eta!. 1984; Nesler et al

. 1988: Tyus 1990, Tyus and Haines 1991)

. During their first year of life, Colorado pikeminnow prefer warm. turbid, relatively deep

(averaging 

### 1.3 feet) backwater areas of 

### zero velocity (Tyus and Raines 1991)

. After about

I 

### year, young 

### are rarely found in such habitats, though juveniles and subadults are often located

in large deep backwaters during spring runoff (USFWS, unpublished data; Osmundson and

Burnham 1998)

.

Larval Colorado pikerninnow have been collected in the Gunnison River upstream and

downstream of the Redlands Diversion Dam (Anderson 1999; Osmundson and Burnham 1998)

. Burdick ( 1997) 

### reports that 

### the capture oflarval Colorado pikeminnow in 1995 and 1996

upstream of the Redlands Diversion Dam coupled with aggregations of radio-tagged adult fish

during the spawning season confirms that spawning occurs upstream of the dam

.

### 8



### Information on radio-tagged adult Colorado pikeminnow during fall suggests that fish seek out

deep water areas in the Colorado River (Miller et nl. 

### 1982; Osmundson and Kaeding 1989), as d o

many other riverine species. River pools

, runs

, and other deep water areas, especially in

upstream rea ches, are important winter habitats for Colorado pikeminnow (Osmu ndson et al.

1995)

.

Very little information is available on the infiuence of turbidity on the endangered Colorado

River fishes. Osmundson and Kaeding {1989) found that turbidity allows usc of relatively

s

. hallow habitats ostensibly by providing adults with needed cover; this allows foraging and

resting in areas otherwise exposed to avian 

### or land predators

. Tyus and Haine s ( 1 991) found that

young Colorado pikcminnow in the Green River preferred backwaters that were turbid. Clear

conditions in these shallow waters might expose young fish to predation from wading birds or

introduced sight-feeding, piscivorous fish. 

### It is unknown whether the river was as turbid in the

past as it is today

. For now, it is assumed that these endemic fishes evolved under natural

conditions of high turbidity; therefore, the retention of these highly turbid conditions is 

### probably

an important factor in maintaining the ability of these fish to compete with nonnatives that 

### may

not have evolved under similar conditions.

Population Dynaroics

Osmundson (2002) investigated population dynamics of Colorado pikcminnow from 199lto

2000. These years were divided into two study pcriods-1991 to 1994 and 1998 to 

### 2000. The

results of the investigation found that annual estimates of whole

- river (the Colorado River from

the confluence with the Green River upstream to the Price -S tubb Dam, including the lower

2.3 miles of the Gunnison River downstream of the Redlands Diversion Dam) population size

(all fish;:: 250 mm) averaged 582 fish during the earlier study period and 742 fish during the

more recent study period. This 

### represents a 27 percent increase based on these estimates.

Estimates of adult**fish~** 

### 500 mm) averaged 362 during the earlier study period and 4 90 during

the more recent study period, 

### representing a 35 percent increase in adult fish

.

Colorado pikeminnow reproduce each year; however, s trong year classes that recruit fish to U1e



### adult population are relatively rare (Os mundson and Burnham 1998)

. A distinct increase of

subadult fish was found below Moab in 1991 and within 

### a few years these fish were distributed

throughout the Colorado River

. Osmundson and Burnham (199 8 ) concluded that these fish were

the result of one or more strong ye

. ar classes produ ced during the mid-1980s

. McAda and Rye I



### (1999) have identified another strong year class that cxx:urred in 1996

. In 

### both 

### cases, the

common hydrologic conditions that led to successful reproduction and first year survival was 

### a

spring and summer of moderately high flows following a year of exceptionally high-flood flows

(McAda and Rycl 1999)

.

C riti cal 

### Habit a t

Critical habitat for the Colorado pikcminnow was designated in 1994 within the 100-year

floodplain oflhe Colorado pikeminnow 's historical range in the following area of the upper

Colorado River (59 FR 13374)

. Colorado pikeminnow now only occur in the upper Colorado

### River basin (upstream of Lee Fc:rry jus t below the Glen Canyon Dam)

. Most of Lake PoweU is

no! suitable habitat for Colorado pikeminnow and is not designated critieal habitat

. The total

designated miles is 1

, 148 and represents 29 percent of the h is torieal habitat for the species:

Moffat County

, Colorndo

. The Yampa River and i t s 100-year floodplain from the Sta t e

Highway 394 bridge in T. 6 N., R. 

### 91 W

., sect i on I (6th Principal Meridian) to the

confluence with the Green River in T

. 7 N

. • R. 

### 103 W., section 28 (6th Principal

Meridian ). 9



### Uintah Carbon. Grand. Emerv. Wavne, and San Juan Counties, Utah; and Moffat

County, Colorado

. The Green River and its 100-year floodplain from the confluence

with the Yampa River in T. 7 N., R. 

### 103 W

. , section 28 (6th Principal Meridian ) to the

confluence with the Colorado River in T

. 30 S

., R. 19 E., section 7 (Salt Lake Meridian).

Rio Blanco Coun1y. Colorado: and Uintah County, Utah

. The White River and its

100-year floodplain from Rio Blanco Lake Dam in T

. IN

., R

. 96 W

., section 6

(6th Principal Meridian ) to the confluence with the Green River in T

. 

### 9 S., R

. 20 E

., section 4 (Salt Lake Meridian ).

Delta and Mesa Counties. Colorado

. The Gunnison River and its 100-year floodplain

from the confluence with the Uncompahgre River in T

. ISS

., 

### R. 

### 96 W

., section II

(6th Principal Meridian ) to 

### the confluence with the Colorado River in T

. I S

. , R. I W.,

sect ion 22 (Ute Meridian).

Mesa and Garfield Counties. Colorado: and Grand. San Juan. Wavne. and Garfield

Counties. Utah

. The Colorado River and its 100-year floodplain from the Co lorado River

Bridge at exit 90 north otT Interstate 70 in T

. 6 S

., R. 

### 93 W

., section 16 (6th Principal

Meridian) to North Wash. including the Dirty Devil arm of Lake Powell up t o the full



### pool elevation

, in T

. 33 S., R

. 14 E

., section 29 (Salt Lake Meridian)

.

San Juan County. New Mexico; and San Juan Countv, Utah

. The San Juan River and its

I 00-ycar floodplain from the State Route 37 1 Bridge in T. 29 N., R

. 13 W., section 17

(New Mexico M eridian) t o Neskahai Canyon in the San Juan ann of Lake Powell in

T. 41 S

.. R. 

### II E., sect i on 26 (Salt Lake Meridian ) up to the full pool elevation.

The final 

### eritieal habitat rule identified water, physical habitat

, and the biological environment as

the Primary Constituent E lements (PCEs) of critieal habitat. The water PCE was further

d escribed as including a quantity of water of sufficient quality (i.e., temperature

, dissolved

oxygen, lack of contaminants

, nutrients, turbidity

, etc .) that is delivered to a specific location in

accordance with a hydrologic regime that is required for the particular life stage for each species

. The physieal habitat includes areas of the Colorado River system that 

### are inhabited or potentially

habitable by fish for use in spawning, nursery, feeding

, nnd rearing, o r serve as corridors

between these areas

. I n addition to river channels

, th ese areas also include bottom lands

, side

channels, secondary channe l s, oxbows, backwaters

, and other areas in the I 00-year floodplain,

which when inundated provide access to spawning

, nursery

, feeding

, and rearing habitats

. The

biological environment PCE includes food supply predation

, and competition

. Food supply is a

### 10

function of nutrient supply, productivity, and av8Jiability to each life stage of the 

### species

. Predation and competition, although considered nonnal componentS of this environment, are out

of balance due to introduced nonnative fish species in many areas.

PRI MARY CONST I TUENT EL EMENT· WAT E R



### The status of water quantity includes all historical depletions in 

### the Upper Basin. depletions

resulting from projects, which have previously undergone section 7 consultation, and depletions

resulting from projects contemporaneous with this consultation. Since 1988

, the U SFWS bas



### consulted on l 52 projects with a potential to 

### deplete a total of l, 729

, 060 acre

- feet in the entire

Upper Colorado River Basin, of which 1,507,202 acre

- feet are historic depletions

. According to

the Colorado River Compact of 1922, the total Oow from the Upper Colorado River Basin is

approximately 16 million acre

- feet in an average year

. Therefore, withdrawals of approximately

II percent of the average flow has been covered in previous biological opinions

.

The status of water quality in critical habitat includes concerns regarcting the following

contaminants--heavy metals

, seleniwn

, salts, PAHs, and pesticides

. Selenium is of particular

concern because of its docwnented effects on fish (and wildlife) reproduction

. Many chemical.

physical, and 

### biologJcal factors affect the toxicity of environmental contaminants to biological

organisms

. Chemical and physical factors include contaminant type, 

### chemical species or fonn,

pH, water temperature

, dissolved oxygen, hardness. salinity, and multiple-chemical exposure (antagonism and synergism)

. Duration of exposure, quantity of contaminant

, and exposure pathways from the environment to the organism also affect toxicity. Some tmcc clements are

beneficial to organisms at l ow concentrations bu t may be toxic at higher concentrations.

Biological and physiological factors affecting toxicity include species, age, sex

, and health of the

organism.

Seleniwn concentrations can be 

### elevated in areas where irrigation occurs on soils which are

derived from or which overlie Upper Cretaceous marine sediments. Percolation of irrigation

water through these soils and sediments leaches seleniwn into receiving waters

. Other sources of

selenium include powerplant fly ash and oil refineries

. Water depletions

, by reducing dilution

effects, have increased the concentrations of selenium and other contaminants. In 1995,

Colorado's Water Quality Cont r ol Commission reduced the chronic selenium standard from

17 f.Lg{L 

### to 5 

### f.LgfL

. 

### The USFWS recommended the level be lowered to 2 f.Lg/L

.

P RJMARY CONSTITUENT [L EM£1\o'T

· PH YS I CAL H AB IT AT



### Physical habitat of the Colorado River in the action area has been 

### greatly altered by changes in

the timing and volume of flows

, bank stabilization, diking. and diversion dams

. Barriers to fish

movement have been identified as a factor in the decline of the endangered fishes because they

block migration routes and prevent fish from reaching spawning grounds and other important

habitat. As 

### an example, t he Red l ands Diversion Dam has been in place since 1 918 and

completely blocked upstream fish movement until 1996 when a fish ladder was installed. Large

quantities of water are diverted into the Redlands Water and Power Company ' s Canal for power production and irrigation

. Large diversions are known to divert many species of fish into canals

, inclucting the Colorado River endangered fishes (Burdick 2003). Once 

### fish enter the RedlandsCanal

, they likely enter the power turbines and are injured or killed

. Fish also could be lost in

the electric pumps

, during canal dewatering. or transported through ditches to irrigated fields.

Fish hav e likely bee n lost in the Redlands Water and Power Company ' s Canal since 1 9 1 8

. 11



### In addition to blocking native fish migrations

, dams have reduced downstream temperatures and

c reated l acustrine habitats that provided conditions that allowed competirive and predatory

nonnative fishes to thrive both withio the impounded reservoir s and in the modified river

segmeots that coonect them

. The high l y modified flow regimes coupled with the introduction of

noonative fishes decimated populations of native fish

.

Water deplet i ons

, by affecting the quantity and timing of flows

, have reduced the abil i ty of the

river to create and maintain habita t s and have red u ced the frequenc y and dura t ion of availability

of cenain habitats.

The formation of a variety of chanoel habitats, inc l uding gravel/cobb l e bars and substrates used

by Co l orado pikeminnow for spawning, is essential to ensure the availability of the range of

habitats required by all endangered fish life stages to fulfill dai l y requirements (foraging, resting,

spawning. avoiding predation, etc.) under various flow conditions. T h e number and distribution

of these channel habitats can be described as channel habitat complexity, diversity

, or

heterogeneity

. Osmundson and Kaeding (1991) found that adult Co l orado pikeminnow in the

Grand Valley prefer river segments with a comp l ex morphometry to those that are simple

. Some

important physical habita t s, such as inundated floodplain depressions

, are located outside the

channel. Floodplain depressioos are principally derived from abandoned main channe l s

, side-channels

, backwaters, and meander c ut offs

.

The creation of complex channel habitat and the formation and eventua l abandonmen t of channel

features from which floodplain depressions are fanned occur primarily during spring runoff

when flows are of sufficient size and dura t ion to cause major changes in channel morphology

through sigoificant erosion and deposition of bed and bank materials. The reduction in the

magnitude, duration, and frequeocy of high spring flows has slowed the rate at which channel

morphology changes

. Coosequcntly

, the creation of complex channel habitat and floodplain

depressions has slowed

. The placeme n t of riprap and other bank stabilization measu r es and the

construction of dikes and levees impede changes in channel morpho l ogy and cootribute to t be

slowed creation of complex chaonel habitat. 

### ln addition, the constru c tion of dikes and levees

reduces existing channe l habitat c-omplexity by causing channelizatioo of the river

. Dikes and

levees also isolate existing floodplain depressioos from the channel during high flows. The

s l

owed creation of complex chaoncl habitats and new floodp l ain depressions, the reduction of

existiog channel habitat complexity, and the isolation of existing floodplain depress i ons hav e

acted to reduce the quantity and quality of important habitat for endangered fishes

.

Backwaters

, a habitat component of the physical habita t PCE

, are essential for various life stages

of endangered .fish

. Backwaters are damaged by the deposition of .fine sediments which redu c es

their depth and consequently their duration and frequency of inundatio n

. Gravel and cobble

substrates

, used b y pikeminnow for spawning. are damaged by the infiltratioo of [me sediments.

T h e establishment of ve g etation on ba c kwater sediment s and on bars further reduces th e value of

these habitats for endangered fishes

. F u

rthermore

, higher flows are required to llush sed i ments

### 12

from vegetated backwaters than from unvegetated ones

. Osmundson and 

### Kaeding ( 1991)

reponed observations that, on the 15-mile reach during the drought years of 1988 to 1990,

backwaters were filling in with silt and spring Oows were not sufficient to 

### flush out the fine

sed imen t. Also

, they reponed that tamarisk co l onized sand and cobble bars

. Therefore. the

lower frequency of high water years decreases the frequency at which silt and sand is flushed

from backwaters, fine sediments are flushed from graveVcobble substrates, and vegetation is

scoured from backwaters and bars. Flow recommendations recently developed for the Gunnison

River (McAda 2003) are intended to restore and maintain in-channel critical habitats used by all

life stages-!) spawning areas for adults; 2) spring. summer, autumn, and winter habitats used by

subadults and adults; and 3) nursery areas used by larvae, young-of -year

, and juveniles.

Summer (August

- October) Habitats--Osmundson et al. (1995) reported that, in the 15-mile reach,

availability of habitats did not differ significantly between periods of moderate flows and low

flows

. Though absolute area of habitat decreases with declini n g flows, re l ative area or percent

composition of habitat types changes little. However

, pikeminnow habitat usc patterns did

change. The fish used a greater variety of habitats during moderate flows than during low Oows.

During moderate flows

, the fish used primarily backwaters, eddies, and pools. During low

flows, the fish used slow and fast runs almost 

### exclusively

. The change in 

### habitat use without a

corresponding change in 

### relative habitat availability indicates that other factors also influence

habitat selection. These factors could include changes in quality of physical habitat features such

as diversity, depth, dissolved oxygen, etc., or changes in biotic interactions. Osmundson et al.

(1995) interpreted the pikeminnow behavioral changes as reflective of suboptimal conditions; the

behavioral changes demonstrate the ability of the species to modify their habitat use patterns to

temporarily cope with adverse conditions and do n ot demonstrate habitat preferences under

optimum conditions.

Winter (November-March) Habitats--Osmundson et al. (1995) reported that, in 

### the IS-mile

reach, flows during the winter are usually moderate because no water 

### is diverted for irrigation

and because additional water is released through upstream dams to increase reservoir storage

capacity 

### in anticipation of spring runoff. The relative availability of slow runs and rimes during

the winter was very similar to their availability during summer. As in the summer, backwaters,

eddies, and pools were the preferred types of habitat in the winter. However, whereas eddies

were most preferred in summe r

, p ools were most preferred in winter. Adult pikeminnow used

fewer habitat types overall during winter than during summer. Although fast runs and rimes

were used during the summer, they were not used during the winter. The colder water

temperatures in winter which cause lower metabolic rates may account for the avoidance of high

velocity sites. Absolute area of pools 

### increases as flows decrease and slow runs lose velocity.

Because Osmundson et al

. ( 1995) did not sample low flows in the winter. they could not

determine if pools would still be preferred in the winter at lower flows

.

Spring (April-July) Habitats --Os mundson and Kaeding (1989) reported that pikeminnow use of

low velocity habitats such as backwaters and flooded gravel pits 

### is greatest during the spring

runoff

. It 

### is 

### believed that pikeminnow use these habitats during the runoff to escape the high

velocity, low temperature flows of the 

### main channel. Because backwaters, flooded gravel pits

, and other low velocity habitats are conside

. rably warmer than the 

### main chan

. ncl during the runoff,

these habitats allow pikeminnow to extend their growing season substantially. The earlier13

wanning of these habilllts al

. so may be important in enabling pikeminnow to reach spawning

cond it ion by the time flow and temperature in the main channe l are optimum fo r spawni n g.

Osmundson et a l. (1995) reported that, in the 15

- mile reach

, the numbers of backwaters and

flooded gravel pits increases with increasing spring flows. (Although the number of backwaters

even tuall y decreases as increasing flows convert ba ckwate

. rs to side channels, the number of

other low ve l ocity habitats like l y increases as increasi n g flows inundate additional bottomlands.)

The decrease in the magnitude

, duration

, and frequency of h igh spring flows, then, decreases the

quantity and the duration and frequency of availability of important low velocity, higher

temperature h abitat in the spring

. These changes cou ld be affecting pikeminnow growth and

spawning s u ccess.

P RiMARY CONST I TUENT ELE M ENT- BI OLOG I CAL ENVIRONMEN T

This PCE includes food supply and predation. As described in the species section above,

predation and competition from nonnat i ve fishes have been clearly implicated in the population

reductions or elimination of native fishes in the Colorado Riv er Basin ( Dill 1944; Minckley and

Deacon 1968; Joseph et a t. 1 977; Lanigan and Berry 1979; Behnke 1980; Meffe 1985;

Osmundson and Kaeding 1 989; Propst and Bestgen 1991 ; Rinne 1991). The modification of

flow regim es, water temperatures, sediment l evels, and other habitat conditions caused by wa t er

depletions bas contributed 

### to the establishment of nonnative fishes. Durin g l ow wate r yea r s,

nonnative minnows capa bl e of preying o n or competing with larval endangered fishes greatly

increase in numbers (Osmundson an d Kaeding 1991). Thus, the biological environment PGE bas

been adversely affected by nonnative fishes.

Spec i es / Cri ti ca l Habitat Like l y to be Affected

The Colorado pikcminnow and its critical habitat in the action area are likely t o be adversely

. affected. The critical habitat includes the Gree n River and its 100-year floodplain from the

confluence with the Yampa River in T. 7 N

. , R. 1 03 W., section 28 (6th Principa l Meridian) to

the confluence with the Colorado River in T

. 30 S

. , R. 19 E., section 7 (Sa lt Lake Meridian),

continuing to the Co l orado River and its 

### I 00-year floodplain from the Colorado River Bridg e at

exit 90 north off Interstate 70 in T. 6 S.

, R

. 93 W.

, section 16 (6th Prin cipal Merid i an) to North

Wash, including the Dirty Devil arm of Lake Powell up to the full pool elevation, in T

. 33 S.,



### R. 1 4 E.

, section 29 (Salt Lake Meridian ).

RA ZO RBA C K SUCKER

Species Description

The razorback sucker

, an endemic species unique to the Colorado River Basin, was historicall y

abundant and widely distTibuted within warmwater reaches throughout the Co lorad o River Basin

. The razorback sucker is the only sucker with an abrupt sharp

- e dged dorsal keel behind its head

.

It bas a l arge fleshy s u bterminal mouth that i s typical of most suckers. Adults often exceed

6 po u nds in weight and 2 feet in length.

Historically

, r azorback suckers were found in the mainstem Colorado River and major tributaries



### in Arizona, California, Colorado

, Nevada, New Mexico

, Utah, Wyoming

, and in Mexico (Ellis

1 914; Mincklcy 1983). Bes t gen (I 990) r eported that thi s species was once so numerous that it14

was commonly used as food by early settlers and, further

, tha t commerc i aUy marketable

q u antities were ca u ght in Arizona as recently as 1949. In the Upper Basin

, razorback suckers

were reported in the Green River to be very abun d ant near Green River

, Utah, in the late 1 800s

(Jordan 189 1 )

. An acco un t in Osmundson and Kaeding (1989) reported that residents Jiving

along the Colorado River near Clifton, Colorado

, observed several thousand razorback suckers

during spring runoff in the 1930 s and ear l y 1940s

. 

### In the San Juan River drainage, Platan i a and

Young (1989) relayed historical accounts of razorback s u ckers ascending the Animas River to

Durango

, Colorado, around the t um of the century.

Status and Distribution

The current distributio n and abundance of the razorback sucker have b een significan tly reduced

throughout the Colorado R iver sys t em, due to lack of recruitment to the adult population (Ho l den

a n d Stalnaker 1 975; M cAda and Wydoski 1980; Minckley 1 983; McAda 1987 ; Tyus 1987 ;

M arsh and Minckley 1989 ). The only substantial popu l ation exists in Lake Mohave with an

estimated population of 5,000 adult razorback suckers in 2005 (B urk e 2005) down from an

earlier est i mate of25,000 in 1995 (Minckley 1 995) and 60 ,0 00 in 1 991 (Minckley et al. 199 1 ).

They do not appear to be successfully recruiting

. While limited numbers of razorback suckers

persist in other locations in th e lowe r Colo rado River, they are considered rare or incidental and

may be continuing to decline

.



### In the Uppe r Basin, above Glen Canyon Dam, razorback suckers are found in limited numbers in

both l en tic and !otic environments

. Th e l argest pop u lation of razorback s u ckers in the Upper

Basin is found in the upper Green River and l ower Yampa River (Tyus 1987). Lanigan and Tyus

( 1 989) estimated that from 758 to 1

, 13 8 razorback suckers inhabit the u pper Green Rive r.

Modd e et al. ( 1 996) r eport no significan t decrease in the population between 1982 and 1992, and

the continued presence of fish smaller than 480 mm during the study p eriod suggest some level

of recruitment. 

### In the Colorado River, most razo rb ack suckers occur in the Grand VaUey area

ncar G r and Junction

, Colorado; however

, they are increasingly rare

. Osmundson and Kaeding

( 1 991) report that the number of razorback sucker captures in the Grand Junction area bas

declined dramatically since 1974. 

### In 1991 and 1992

, 28 adult razorback suckers were col l ected

from isolated ponds adjacent to the Colorado River near De Beq u e, Colorado (Burdick 1992).

The last wild razorback sucker was caught in the Grand VaUey area in 1995; however

, stocked

razorback s u ckers are now captured on a regular basi s in the Grand Valley area during ongoing

survey efforts (C. M cAda, pers

. comm. 2005)

. T h e existing habitat has been modified to th e

extent that it impairs essential behavior patterns, such as breeding, feeding, and she l tering.

Anecdotal infonnation indica t es razorback sucker were o n ce common in the Gunnison River

(Kidd 1977; Q u artrone 1993), and two specimens from the 1940s are in the University of

Michigan Museum of Zoo l ogy (Wiltzi u s 1 978). One razorback sucker was collected near Delta

in 1975 (Wilzius 1978) and th r ee were collec t ed in the vicini1y in 198 1 (Holden et al. 198 1 )

. No

razorback suc k ers were collec t ed during sampling b y Valdez et al. ( 1 982a) or Burdick (1995)

.

A stocking program was i ni tiated by the Recovery Program and between April 1994 and

October2001, 18,423 juvenile, sub-adult, and adnlt r azo rb ack suckers were stocked in the

Gunnison River and 3 1 ,53 1 juveni l e, sub-adult

, and adult razorback suckers were stocked in the

Colo rado River (Burdick 200Ja). Razorback s u ckers were not stocked in th e Gunnison Ri ve r in15

2002 or 2003 due to the low water conditions, which increase the chance of fish being lost in the

unscreened Redlands Canal. The goal of t he s t ocking program is to estab]jsb a self-sustaining

population of 600 individuals between Hartland Diversion and Redlands Diversion

. In 200 I and

2002

, six razorback suckers used the Redlands fish ladder

. Razorback s u ckers did not use the

Redlands fish ladder in 2003

. 

### ln 2002

, eight larval razorback suckers were collected in the

Gunnison River (Osmundson 2002b ). These are the first larval razorbacks suckers collected

from the Colorado or Gunnison Rivers and confirm that spawning is taking place in the

Gunnison River

.

A marked decline in populations of razorback suckers can be attributed to construct i on of dams

and reservoirs, introduction of nonnative fisbes, and removal of large quantities of water from

the Colorado River system. Dams on the mainstem Co l orado Rive r and its major tributaries have

segmented the river system, blocking migration routes. Dams also have drastically altered flows,

temperatures

, and channel geomorpho l ogy. These changes have modified habitats in many areas

so that they are no longer suitable for breeding, feeding

, or sheltering. Major changes in species

composition have occurred due to the introduction of numerous nonnative fishes

, many of which

have thrived due to man-induced changes to the natural riverine system

.

Razorback suckers are in imminent danger of extirpation in the wild. The razorback sucker was

)jsted as endangered October 23, I 991 (56 FR 54957). 

### As Bestgen {1990) pointed out :

"Reasons for decline of most native fishes in the Co l orado River Basin have been

attributed to habitat loss due to construction of mainstream dams and subsequent

interruption or alteration of natural flow and physio-chemical regimes

, inundation of river

reaches by reservoirs, channe l ization

, water quality degradation

, introduction of

nonnative fish species and resulting competitive interactions or predatioD, and other

man

- induced disturbances (Miller 1961 ; Joseph et al. 1977; Behnke and Benson 1983 ;

Carlson and Muth 198 9; Tyus and Karp 1989). These factors ar e almost certainly not

mutually exc lu sive; therefore it is often difficult to detem 1 ine exact cause and effect

relationships. "

The virtual absence of any recruitment suggests a combination of biological, physical, and/or

chemical factors that may be affecting the survival and recruitment of early liie stages of

razorback suckers. Within the Upper Basin

, recovery efforts endo r sed by the Recovery Program

include the capture and r emoval of razorback suckers from all known l ocations for genetic

analyses and development of discrete brood stocks 

### if necessary

. These measures have been

undertaken to develop refugia populations of the razorback sucker from the same genetic

parentage as their wild counte

. rparts such that

, if these fish are genetically unique by subbasin or

individual popu l ation, then separate stocks will be available for future augmentation

. Such

augmentation may be a necessary step to prevent the extinction of razorback suckers in the

Upper Basin.

Life History

McAda and Wydoski (1980) and Tyus (1987) reported springtime aggregations of razorback

suckers in off-channel habitats and tributaries; such aggregations are believed to be associated

with reproductive activities. Tyus and Kal]) (I 990) and Osmundson and Kaeding (199 I)

### 16

reported off-channel habitats to be much wanner than the mainstem river and that razorback

suckers presumably moved to these areas for feeding. resting, sexual maturation, spawning, and

other activities associated with their reproductive cyc l e

. Prior to construction of large mainstcm

dam5 and the suppression of spring-peak flows, low velocity, off-channel habitats (seasonally

flooded bottomlands and shorelines) were commonly available throughout the Upper Basin

(Tyus and Karp 1989; Osmundson and Kaeding 1991)

. Dams changed riverine ecosystems into

lakes by impounding water, which eliminated these off

- channel habitats 

### in reservoirs. Reduction

in spring-peak flows eliminates or reduces the frequency of inundation of off-channel habitats

. The absence of these seasonally flooded riverine habitats is believed to be a lim i ting factor in the

successful recruitmen t of razorback s u ckers in their native environment (Tyus and Karp 1989;

Osmundson and Kaeding 1991). Wydoslci and Wick (1998) identified starvation oftarvaJ

razorback suckers due to low zooplankton densities in the main channel and loss of floodplain

habitats which provide adequate zooplankton densities for larval food as one of the most

important factors limiting recruitment

While razorback suckers have never been d i rectly observed spawning in turbid riveri n e

environments within the Upper Basin, captures of ripe specimens, both males and females. have

been 

### recorded (Valdez et 

### at

. 1982b; McAda and Wydoslci 1980; Tyus 1987 ; Osmundson and

Kaeding 1989; Tyus and Karp 1989; Tyus and Karp 1990 ; Platania 1990 ; Osmundson and

Kaeding 1991) in the Yampa, Green, Colorado

, and San Juan Rivers

. Sexually mature razorback

suckers are generally collected on the ascending limb of the bydrograph from mid

- April through

June and are associated with coarse gravel substrates (depending on the specific location).

The qtllll1tity and freque n cy of availnbility of inundated floodp l ain depressions used by razorback

suckers for spawning is dependent on the magnitude and frequency of spring flows necessary to

inundate these areas. The decrease in the magnitude and frequency of spring flows necessary to

inundate floodplain depressions is believed to be largely responsible for poor razorback sucker

spawning success

.

Outside of the spawning season, adult razorbac k suckers occupy a variety of shoreline and main

channel habitats incl u ding slow runs, shal l ow to deep pools, backwaters, eddies, and other

relatively slow velocity areas associated with sand substrates (Tyus 1987; Tyus and Karp 1989;

Osmundson and Kaeding 1989 ; Valdez and Masslich 1989; Tyus and Karp 1990; Osmundson

and 

### Kaeding 1991)

.

Habitat requirements of young and juvenile razorback suckers in the wild are not well known,

particularly in native riverine environments. Prior to 1991, the last confirmed documentation of

a razorback sucker juvenile in the Upper Basin was a capture in the Co l orado River n ear Moab,

Utah (Taba et at. 1965). 

### In 1991, two early juvenile (36

. 6 and 39

. 3 mm TL) razorback suckers

were collected in the lower Green River near Hell Roari

. ng Canyon (Gutermuth et at. 1994)

. Juvenile razorback suckers have been collected in recent ye

. ars from Old Charley Wash, a

wetland adjacent to the Green 

### River(Modde 1996)

. Between 1992 and 1995larval razorback

suckers were collected in the middle and lower Green River and within the Colorado River

inflow to Lake Powell (Muth 1995)

. No young razorback s u ckers have been collected in recent

times in the Colorado River

.

### 17

Population Dynamics

Captures of razorback suckers in 

### the upper Colorado River have been so low in recent years that

estimating population size is not possible. Presumably

, the numbers are very low due to the low

ca

ptur e rates and the extensive habitat modification described above.

C r i ti c al Habita t

Critical habitat was designated in 

### 1994 within the 100-year floodplain of the razorback sucker's

historical range in the following area of the upper Colorado River (59 

### FR 13374)

. The PCEs arc

the same as critical habitat for Colorado pikeminnow described previously

, as is the status of the

PCEs

. We designated 15 reaches of the Colorado River system as critical habitat fo r the

razorback sucker. These reaches total 1

, 724 miles as measured along the center line of the river

within the subject reaches

. The designation represents approximately 49 percent of the historical

habitat for the species and includes reaches of the Green, Yampa, Duchesne, Colorado, White

, Gunnison. and San Juan Rivers:

Moffat County. Colorado

. The Yampa River and its 100-year floodplain from the mouth

of Cross Mountain Canyon in T. 6 N., R. 

### 98 W

. , section 23 (6th Principal Meridian) to



### the confluence with the Green River 

### in T

. 7 N

. , R. 

### I 03 W., section 28 (6th Principal

Meridian)

.

Uintah County. Utah: and M offat County. Colorado

. The Green River and its I 00-year

floodplain from the confluence with the Yampa River in T. 7 N., R

. 103 W

. , section 28

(6th Principal Meridian) to Sand Wash in T. II 

### S., R

. 18 E., section 20 (6th Principa

. l

Meridian).

tfmtab. Carbon. Grand. Emerv. Wayne, and San Juan Counties. Utah

. The Green River

and its 100-year floodplain from Sand Wash at river mile 96 at T

. II S

. , R

. 18 E.,

section 20 (6th Principal Meridian) to the confluence with the Colorado River in T. 30 S

. , R. 19 E., section 7 (6th Principal Meridian)

.

Uintah Countv. Utah

. The White River and its I 00-yca r floodplain from the boundary of

the lJmtab and Ouray Indian Reservat ion at river mile 18 in T

. 9 S

. , R

. 22 E

. , section 21

(Salt Lake Meridian) to the confluence with the Green River in T. 9 S.

, R 20 E

. , section 4

(Salt Lake Meridian)

.

Uintah CountY. Utah. The Duchesne River and its I 00-year floodplain from river

mile 2

. 5 in T

. 4 S

., R. 

### 3 E

. , section 30 (Salt Lake M eridian) to the confluence with the

Green River in T

. S 

### S

., R

. 3 E

. , section 5 (Uintah Meridian).

Delta and Mesa Counties. Co lorado

. The Gunnison River and its I 

### 00-year floodplain

from th e confluence with the Uncompahgre River in T. 15 S., R. 96 W

. , section I I

(6th Principal Meridian) to Redlands Diversion Dam in T

. I S., R. I W

. , section 27

(Ute Meridian)

.18



### Mesa and Garfield Counties. Colorado

. The Colorado River and its I 00-ycar floodplain

from Colorado River Bridge at exit 

### 90 north ofT Interstate 70 in T

. 

### 6 S

. , R

. 93 W.,

section 16 (6th Principal Meridian) to Westwater Canyon in T. 20 S., R

. 25 E., section 12

(Salt Lake Me

. ridian) including the Gunnison River and its 100-year floodplain from the

Red l ands Diversion Dam in T. I 

### S., R. I 

### W

. , section 27 (Ute Meridian) to the confluence

with the Colorado River in T

. I S

., R

. I W

., section 22 (Ute Meridian)

.

Grand. San Juan. Wayne. and Garfield Counties. Utah

. The Colorado Ri v er and its

100-year floodplain from WestWater Canyon in T

. 20 S., R. 

### 25 E.

, section 12 (Salt Lake

Meridian) to full pool elevation, upstream of North Wash, and 

### including the Dirty Devil

arm 

### of Lake Powell in T

. 33 S.

, R. 

### 14 E

. , section 29 { Salt Lake Meridian).

San Juan County: and Utah. San Juan CountY. New Mexico. The San Juan River and its

100-ycar floodplain from the Hogback Diversion in T. 

### 29 N

. , R. 

### 16 W., section 9 (New

M

exico Meridian) to the full pool elevation at the mouth ofNeskahai Canyon on the San

Juan arm 

### of Lake Powell in T. 41 S.

, R. 

### I 

### I E

. , section 26 (Sah Lake Meridian)

.

S PE CIES/C RITI CAL HAB I T A T L IKEL Y T O B E AFFECTE D



### The razotbaclc sucker and its critical habitat, as described below, are 

### likely lObe 

### adversely

afTccted by the subject Project:

Uintah County. Utah: and Moffat County. Colorado. The Green River and its I 00-year

floodplain from the confluence with the Yampa River in 

### T

. 7 N.

, 

### R

. 103 W

., section 28

(6th Principal Meridian) to Sand Wash in 

### T

. II S.

, R

. 18 E.

, section 20 (6th Principal

Meridian).

Uintah, Carbon. Grand, Emerv. Wayne. and San Juan Counties. Utah

. The Green Ri,

- er

and its I 00-ycar floodplain from Sand Wash at river mile 96 at T

. I I S

., R. 

### 18 E

., section 20 (6th Principal Meridian) to the confluence with the Colorado River in 

### T. 30 S

., R. 

### 19 E

. , section 7 (6th Principal Meridian).

G ran d. San Juan. Wavne, and Garfield Counties. Utah. T h e Colorado River and its



### I 00-year floodplain from the confluence with the Green River in 

### T

. 30 S., R. 

### I 9 

### E.,

section 7 (6th Principal Meridian) to full pool elevation, upstream of North Wash, and

including the Dirty Devil arm 

### of Lake Powell in T

. 33 S

. , R. 

### 14 E.

, section 29 {Salt Lake

Meridian)

.

H UMP B AC K C H UB



### Species Description

T h e 

### humpback cbub is a 

### medium-sized freshwater fish (less than 500 mm) of the minnow

family. The adults have a pronounced dorsa l h ump

, a narrow flattened head, a fleshy snout with

an inferior

- subterminal mouth

, and small 

### eyes

. It bas silvery sides with a 

### brown or olive colored

back

.

### The humpback chub is endemic to the Colorado River Basin and is part of a native fish fauna

traced 

### to the Miocene epoch in fossil records (Miller 1946; Minckley et 

### al

. 

### 1986)

. Humpback

chub remains have been dated to about 4000 B

. C.

, but the fish was not described as a species

unti l the 1 940s (Miller 1946)

, presumably because of its restricted distribution in remote white

wa t er canyons (USFWS 1990b). Because of this, its original distnoution is not known. The

humpback cnub was listed as endange r ed on March II

, 1967.

Status and Dis1noution 19

Unti I the 1950s. the humpback chub was known only from Grand Canyon. During surveys in the

1950s and 1960s humpback chub were found in the upper Green River including specimens from

Echo Park, Island Park, and Swallow Canyon (Smith 1960; Vanicek et at. 1970)

. Individuals

also were reponed from the lower Yampa River (Holden and Stalnaker 1975), the White River in

Utah (Sigler and Miller 1963), Desolation Canyon of the Green River (Holden and Stalnaker

1970)

, and the Co l orado River near Moab (Sigler and M il l er 1 963).

Today the largest populations of this species occur in the Little Colorado and Colorado Rivers in

the Grand Canyon, and in Black Rocks and Westwater Canyon in the upper Colorado River.

Other populations have been reponed in De 

### Beque Canyon of the Colorado River, Desolation

and Gray Canyons of the Green River, Yampa and Whirlpool Canyons in Dinosaur National

Monument {USFWS 1990b)

. One individual was recently captured 

### in the Gunnison River in a canyon-bound reach at river mile 22 (Burdick 1995)

.

Ln general, the existing habita t h as been modifi ed to th e extent that it impairs essential behavior

patterns, such as breeding, feeding, and sheltering.

Life History

Humpback chubs spawn soon after the highest spring nows when water temperatures approach

20"F (Kaeding et aL 

### 1990; Karp 

### and Tyus 1990; USFWS 1990b). The collection of ripe and

spent fish indicated that spawning occurred in Black Rocks during June 2-15, 1980, at water

temperatures of 11

. 5 to 16"C; in 1981, spawning occurred May 15-25, at water temperatures of

16 to 16.3°C (Valdez et at. 1982b ). Humpback chub spawned in Black Rocks on the Colorado

River in 1 983 when maximum daily watcrtempcratures were 12.6to l ?"C (Archer et at. 1985).

In the Gra nd Canyon, humpb ack chub spawn in t h e spring between March and May in the Little

Colorado River when water t emperatures are between I 

### 6 and 22°C

. Swimming abilit i es of

young-of-the-year humpback chub were determined to be significantly reduced when laboratory

water temperatures were reduced from 20 to I4 ° C

. Many young-of

- year humpback chub are displaced from the Little Colorado River into the mainstem by monsoonal floods from July

through September (Valdez and Ryel1995)

. Young humpback chub are found in low velocity

shorelines and backwaters. Survival rates 

### are extremely low and believed to be less than I in

1,000 to 2 years of age

. Low water temperatures and predation are believed to 

### be the primary

factors

. Valdez and Ryel (1995) estimated that 250,000 young humpback chub are consumed

annually by brown trout, rainbow trout, and channel ca tfi sh

.

### 20

Backwaters, eddies, and runs have been reported as common capture locations for young

- of- ye ar

humpback chub (Va lde z and Clemmer 1982). These data indicate that in Black Rocks and

Westwater Canyon, young utilize shallow areas. Habitat suitability index curves developed b y

Valdez et 

### al. ( 1990) indicate young-of-year prefer average depths of2.1 feet with a maximum of

5.1 feet. Average velocities were reported at 0.2 feet per second

.

Population Dynamics

The number of humpback in the Gunnison Riv e r is so low that i t is not possible to do a population es t imat e.

Cr iti c al H abitat

Critical habitat was designated in I 

### 994 within humpback chub historical range in the following

sections of the upper Colorado River (59 FR 

### 13374). The PCEs are the same as those d escribed

for the Colorado pikeminno w, as is the status ofthePCEs. We designated seven reaches of the

Colorado River system for 

### a total of379 miles 

### as measured along t he center line of the subject

reaches

. Th e designation represents approximately 28 percent of the historica l habitat of the

species and includes reaches in the Colorado, Green, and Yampa Rivers in the Upper Basin:

Moffat County. Colorado. The 

### Yampa River from the boundary of Dinosaur National

Monument in T

. 6 N

., 

### R

. 99 

### W

., section 27 (6th Principal Meridian) to the confluence

with the Green River in T

. 7 N., 

### R

. 103 

### W

., section 28 {6th Principal Meridian)

.

Uintah County; and Colorado. Moffat County, Utah. The Green River from th e

confluence with the Yampa River in T. 7 N

., R. 1 03 W.

, section 28 (6 th Principal

Meridian) to tbe southern boundary of Dinosaur National Monument in T. 6 N., R. 

### 24 E.,

section 30 (Salt Lake M eridian).

Uintah and Grand Counties

. Utah

. The Green Ri ver (Desolation and Gray Canyo ns )

from Sumner's Amphitheater in T. 12 S.

, 

### R

. 18 

### E., section 5 

### ( Salt Lake Meridian) to

Swasey 's Rapid in T. 

### 20 S

., R

. 

### 1 6 E., 

### section 3 

### (Salt Lake Meridian).

Grand County: and Colorado, Mesa County, Utah. The Colorado River from Black

Rocks in T. 10 S

., R

. 104 W

., section25 (6th Principal Meridian) to Fish Ford in T. 21 S.,

R. 24 E.

, section 35 ( Sa il Lake Merid ian).

Garfield and San Juan Counties. Utah. The Co lorado River from Brown Betty Rapid in

T

. 30 S

., R. 

### 1 8 E.

, section 34 (Salt Lake Meridian) to Imperial Canyon in T

. 31 S

., 

### R

. 17 

### E., section 28 (Sa l t Lake Meridian ).



### S PEClES / CRIT J CA L HAB I TAT 

### UKELY TO BE AFFECTED

The humpback chub and its critica l habitat

, as described be l ow

, are like l y to be adversely

affected b y the subject Project

. Although the Project depletion does not occur within the

designated critical habitat for the humpback cbub, the depletion would adversely affect c ri tical

habitat by reducing the amount o f water flowing into designated critical habitat:21

Uintah County; and Colorado. Moffat County, Utah. The Green River from the

confluence with the Yampa River in T. 7 N., R. 103 W., section 28 (6th Principal

Meridian) to the southe rn boundary of Dinosaur National Monument in T

. 6 N., 

### R. 24 E.

, section 30 (Salt Lake Meridian).

Uintah and Grand Counties. Utah. The Green River (Desolation and Gray Canyons)

from Sumner's Amphitheater in T

. 12 S., R

. 18 E., sectionS (Salt Lake Meridian) to

Swasey ' s Rapid in T. 20 S., R. 16 E., section 3 (Salt Lake Meridian).

Garfield and San Juan Counties, Utah. The Co l orado River from Brown Betty Rapid in

T. 30 S., R. 18 E., section 34 (Salt Lake Meridian) to Imperial Canyon in T

. 3 1 S.

, 

### R. 17 E., section 28 (Salt Lake Meridian ).

BONYT AlL

Species Description

Bonytail are medium-sized (less than 600 mm) fish in the minnow family. Adu lt bonytail are

gray or olive colored on the back with silvery sides and a whi t e b elly. The adu lt bonytail has an

e longat ed body with a l ong, 

### thin caudal pedunc l e

.

Status and Distribution

The bonytail is the rarest native fish in the Colo r ado River. It was listed as endangered on

April23, 1980. Forme rl y reported as widespread and abundant in mainstem rivers (Jordan and

Eveonann 1896}, its populations have been greatly reduced. The fish is presentl y represented in

the wild by a low number of old adult fish in Lake Mohave and perhaps other lower basin

reservoirs (USFWS 199 0a)

. The last known riverine area where bonytail were common was the

. Green River in Dinosaur Nationa l M onument, where Vanicek (1967) and Holden and Stalnaker

(1970) collected 91 specimens during 1 962-1966

. From 1977 to 19 83, no bonytai l were

collected from the Co l orado or Gunnison Rivers 

### in Colorado or Utah (Wicket al. 19 79

, 1981 ;

Valdez e t 

### al

. 1982b ; Miller et al. 1 984). However, in 1984, a single bonytail was collected from

Black Rocks on the Colorado River (Kaeding et al. 1986). Several suspected bonytail were

captured in Cataract Canyon in 1985-1987 (Valdez 1990 ). 

### In 2003 one formerly stocked

oonytail was captured in the Red l ands fish ladder and released upstream. This is the first record

of a bonytail in the Gunnison River

.

The existing habitat has been modified to the extent that it impairs essential behavior patt erns,

such as breeding

, feeding, and sheltering

.

Life History

The bonytai l is considered a species that is adapted to mainstem rivers, where it has been

observed in pool s and eddies (Vanicek 1 967; Minckley 1973). Spawning ofbonytail has n ever

been observed in a river

, but ripe fish were collected in Dinosaur National Monument during late

June and early July suggesting that spawning occurred at water temperatures of about 18 °C

(Vanicek and Kramer 1969 ).Population Dynamics

The number ofbonytaiJ in the upper Colorado River and its tributaries 

### is so low that it is not

possible to do a popu l ation estimate.

Cri ti ca l H abi t a t 22

Critical habitat was designated in 1994 within the bonytaiJ's historical range in the following

sections of the upper Colorado River (59 FR 13374). The PCEs are the same as those described

for th e Colo rado pikeminnow

, as 

### is the status of the PCEs. We designated seven reaches of the

Co lorado River system as critica

. l habitat for the bonytail chub. These reaches total 

### J 12 miles as

measured along the center line of the subject reaches

, represent ing approximately 14 p ercen t of

the historical habitat of the spec i es. C ri tical habitat includes portions of the Colora do, Green

, and Yampa Rivers i n the Upper Basin:

Moffat County, Colorado. The Yampa River from the boundary of Dinosaur Nat ional

Monument in T. 6 N., R. 99 W., section 27 (6th Principal Meridian) to the confluence

with the Green River in T

. 7 N., R. I 03 W., section 28 (6th Principal Meridian).

Uintah County: and Colorado. Moffat County

. Utah. The Green River from the

confluence with the Yampa River 

### in T. 7 N., 

### R. 103 W., section 28 (6th Principal

Meridian) to the boundary of Dinosaur National Monument in T. 6 N., 

### R. 24 E.,

section 30 (Sa l t Lake Meridian).

Uintah and Grand Coun ties

, Utah

. The Green River (Desolation and Gray Canyons)

from Sumner's Amphitheater in T. 12 S., R. 18 E

. , section 5 (Salt Lake Meridian) to

Swasey's Rapid (river mile 12 ) in T. 20 S., R. 1 6 E., section 3 (Salt Lake Meridian).

Grand County, Utah; and Mesa Countv, Colorado. The Co lorado River from Black

Rocks (river mile 137) in T. tO S., 

### R. 104 W., section 25 (6th Principal Meridian) to Fish

Ford in T. 21 S., R. 24 E., section 35 (Sa lt Lake Meridian)

.

Garfield and San Juan Counties. Utah. The Colorado River from Brown Betty Rapid in

T. 30 S., R. 18 E., section 34 (Salt Lake Meridian ) to Imperial Canyon in T. 31 S.,



### R. 17 E., section 28 (Salt Lake Meridian)

.

S P EC I ES /C RITI CAL HAB IT A T L IKE L Y TO B E AFFECTE D

The bonytail and its critical habitat, as described below, are likely to be adversely affected by the

su bj ect Project. Althougb the Project depletion does not occur within th e designated critical

habitat for the bonytail, the depletion would adversely affect critical habitat by reducing the

amount of water flowing into designated critica l habitat.

Uintab Countv: and Colorado, Moffat Co untv. Utah. The Green River from the

confluence with the Yampa River 

### in T. 7 N., R. 103 W., section 28 (6th Principal

Meridian) to the boundary of Dinosaur National Monument 

### in T. 6 N.

, 

### R. 24 E.,

section 30 (Salt Lake Meridian )

.Uintah and Grand Counties. Utah

. The Green River (Desolation and Gray Canyons)

from Sumner's Amphitheater i n T. 12 S., R

. 18 E

., section 

### 5 (Sail Lake Meridian) to

Swasey ' s Rapid (river mile 12) 

### in T

. 20 S.

, 

### R 1 6 E

., section 3 (Salt Lake Meridian)

. 

### 23

Garfield and San Juan Counties, Utah

. The Colorado River from Brown Betty Rapid in

T. 30 S.

, R. 18 E., section 34 (Salt Lake Meridian) to Imperial Canyon in T. 31 S

., 

### R 17 E., section 28 (Sail Lake Meridian)

.

E NVIR ONMENT AL B ASE LI NE

The environmental baseline includes the past and present impacts of all Federal

, State

, and

private actions and other human activities in the action area ; the anticipated impacts of all

proposed Federal projects in the action area that have a l ready undergone fonnal section 7

consultation ; and the impact of State or private actions contemporaneous with the consultation

process

.



### In fonnulating this opinion, the USFWS considered adverse and beneficial effects likely to result

from cumulative effects of future State and private activities that are reasonably certain to occur

within the Project area

, a l o n g with the direc t and indi r ect effects of the Project and impacts from

actions that are part of the environmental baseline (50 CFR 402.02 and 402

. 14 (g)(3)).

Because of the widespread eiTecls of the Project on downstream areas and th e l arge si ze of the

action area

, the environmental baseline for the four listed fish is roughly the same as the sta t us as

described above

. Therefore, we are not repeating that infonnation in this section.

FA CI' ORS AFFE CTIN G THE S P E CIES E NVIRONME NT WITIIIN T HE ACTIO N AREA

The action area includes critical habitat for Colorado pikeminnow

, razorback sucker, humpback

chub, and bonytail on the Green River from the confluence of the Yampa River to the confluence

with the Colorado River and downstream to Lake Powell.



### C r itic al Habi t at

- Gr een Ri ve r

Critical habitat on the Green River historically experienced hig h spring turbid flows and low

flows throughout the r est of the year. High spring flows create and maintain the braided

channels that provide a variety of important habitats

. Impoundments and diversions have

reduced peak discharges 

### in various river reaches throughout the Upper Co l orado River Basin

since pioneer settleme n t of the basin

, while increasing base flows in other reaches

. Important

spawning and nursery habitats for the razorback sucker and the Colorado pikemiMow are found

along the Green River below the confluenc e with theY arnpa River

. While flows and sediment

transport in the Green River have been significantly altered by the operation of Flaming Gorge

Dam

, th e influence of th e Yampa and Little Snake Rivers ' more natural hydrograph partial l y

ameliorates these adverse effects to the riverine environment of the Green River below the

Yampa River c onfluence.

### 24

PRJ MA R Y CONS TIT U ENT ELEME N T

· WATE R

Alteration of the natural hydrology of th e actio n area due to existing water deve l opment projects

constitu t e the most significant existing factor affecting the species and critical habita t. Existing

projects have reduced tbe magnitude and frequency of peak flows, augmented summer base

flows, and lowered average water t em peratures in the Green Rive r

. These projects h ave reduced

the amo u nt and quality of spawning and nu r sery habita t

, changed environmental cues necessar y

for the initiation of spawning behavior, and favored non-native fish species in the Green River

. Q u antity of wa t er of s ufficient quality that is delivered to a specific location in accord

. ance with a

hydrologic regime that is required for the particular l ife stage for each species has been

substantially al t e r ed.

P R IMAR Y CONST I TIIEN T ELEMEN T

- PHY S I CAL HAB I TAT

The p hysical habi t at inc lud es areas of th e Colorado River sys t em that are inhabited or potentially

habitable for u se 

### in spawning and feeding, as a nursery, o r serve as corridors b etween these

areas

. Storage and diversion of water tends to reduce the peak flows

. , altering processes th at

trigger spawning behavior

, maintain spawning gravels. backwaters and floodplain connectivity to

the river

. Reduced sediment l oad and associated channel changes in the Green River due to the

closure of Flam in g Gorge Reservoir have been documented at Jense n

, Utah. Further r eductions

in sediment supply to the Green River may lead to r eductions in the active c hann el width and

nursery habitat for larval fish.

Historically, floodplain habitats inundated and connected to the main c hann el by ove rbank

flooding during spring-runoff discharges would have been availab l e as n u rsery areas for young

razorback s u ckers in the G r een Rive r

. 

### Tyus an d Karp ( 1990) associated low recruitment with

reductions in floodplain inundation since 1962 (closu r e of Flaming Gorge Dam), and Modde

ct al. (1996) assoc i ated years of hi gh s pr ing discharge and floodplain inundation in the middle

Green Rive r (1983, 1 984

, and 1 986) w i th subsequent suspected recruitment of young adu l t

razorback s u ckers.

P RI MARY CO NS TIT UE NT ELEMENT

· 8 JOLOGJCAL EN V IRO N ME NT

Oxbows

, backwaters

, and other areas in the I 00-year floodplain, when inundated, provide access

to spawning, nursery, feeding, and rearing habita t s. Food s u pply

, predation and competition are

imponant e l ements of the biological environment. Re du ction of peak flow and augmentation of

summe r base flows also affects the biological environment by favoring nonnative predators and

c o mpetitors better adapted to more stable hydrology and reducing autochthono us nutrient inputs

from floodplain habitats

.

Some scientists believe (Tyus and Saunders 1996) that c hanges in th e b i ological comm u nity as a

result of fish introductions may current l y be t h e most significant threat to the native fish fauna of

the Colorado River Basin. The impoundment of tributaries and mainstem waters h as resulted in

the s t ocking of a number of nonnative sport and bait fis h es for use by local residents and v i sitors

to the basin

. Whi l e the acceptance of these fishes has been gene r ally favo ra b l e by the public

, their presence has led to predat ion, compet i tion and the genera l demise of native fishes (Tyus

### 25

and Saunders 1996)

. The stocking of nonnative wann water fishes such as c hann el catfish,

smallmouth bass

, and northern pike have resulted i

. n the continuing high probability of predati on

o n soft-rayed nati ve fishes. Red shiners, for example, have been documented as preying on

larval suckers

, including razorbacks (Rupert et. al. 1993; Modde and Irving 1997)

. Other exotics

such as sand shiner and fathead minnow com p

ete for food and space in remaining habitats.

As reported by the Interagency Aquatic Nuisance Species Task Force (Aquatic Nuisance Species

Task Force 1994), introductionsofnoonativespecies into aquatic habitats has be come problematic worldwide. Not unique to the Colorado River system, the threat that nonnative

fishes pose to native fishes, particularly wheo cou pled with significant changes to the physical

environment, is hastenin g the decline of native species

.

Tyus and Saunders (1996) reported species commonly identified as adversely affecting native

fish populations nationwide are centrarchids s uch as largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).



### green sunfish (Lepo mis cyanellus}, 

### bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus)

, 

### cra ppi e (Pomoxis 

### spp.), and

smallmouth bass (MicropceniS dolomieu)

. 

### The second most cited group are from the family

Ictalurida e, which includes channel catfish (lctaluniS puncta/us)

, 

### and bull.heads (AmeiuniS 

### spp.)

. Other species such as red shiner (Cyprinella lwrensis} 

### and fathead minnow (Pi meplrales

promelas) 

### also have been identified as problematic to Colorado River endangered fishes. All of

these species currently inhabit the Colorado River Basin

.

Since the late 1 800s, over 40 species of nonnative fishes have been stocked (primarily to enhance

recreational fishing opportunities) or accidentally introduced to the Upper Co lorado River Basin

, including the Little Snake River Basin

. Many of these fishes have es tablished resident

populations because of alteration of stream flow s and resultant changes in physical aquatic

habitats favorable to their existence

. Many ofthcse fishes are reproducing naturally and

, in some

. cases, out-reproducing native fishes. Presently, two-thirds of the fish species in the Colorado

River system are nonnative

. Nonnative fishes continue to invade endangered fish habitats

through introductions, escapement, and range expansions. Some exotics are stocked in basin

rivers mostly for sport fishing purposes

, while other exotics are removed when encoun t ered but

st

ill represent a major detriment to the 14 native fishes still residing in the basin

.

Stocking of cold water sport fishes such as trout do not appear to ha ve a dramatic effect on native

fish populations

, primarily because their habitats do not overlap significantly and they are J ess

voracious than other warm water exotics such as bass

, pike, and catfish. Recovery

lmp I emen tali on Program participants have concluded that continued stocking of trout does not

represent any Joog-tenn threat to listed fishes

. However

, s t ocking of warm water fishes will be

controlled and intensiv ely monitored to ensure that physical barriers or other behavioral

limitat ions will reduce the likelihood of inte

. rspecific competition and/or predation. 

### On

September 5, 19 96, a stocking policy was completed by the three Upper Basin States and th e

USFWS to establish procedures for stocking fish within the Upper Colorado River Basin.26



### Critical Hab i tat- Co l ora d o River 

### f r o m G r ee n River Confluence t o Lake Powe ll

Historically

, the Co l orado River produced lligh spring tu rb id flows that maintained critical

habitat by inundating floodp l ains, maintaining side cnannels, and creating backwaters. Between

the confluence with lhe G r een River and Lake Powell the Colo r ado River flow s thro u gh Cataract

Canyon where the river cuts deeply through s t eep canyo ns and talus s l opes and bas deep swift

runs, major rapids, large eddies, and pools

. La r ge angular rock and steep gradient have created

approxima t ely 13 miles of rapids before the river flow s into the upper end of Lake Powell where

it resembles a large, deep

, slow-flowing river with high sandstone wal l s.

Major habitat change occurred in Cataract Canyon when Lake Powell was fonned by the closure

of Glen Canyon Dam 

### in 1 963

. Lake Powell now inundates the l owe r end of Cata ract Canyon

where there is a transition zone between riverine and lacustrine habitat. Prior to inundation by

Lake Powell

, Cataract Canyon's steep gradient and large r apids comprised a 35-mile reach.

Excep t for changes in water quantity and historic flow regime, the physical habitat 

### in portions of

Cataract Canyon above Lake Powell remains largely unmoclified

.

PRIMAR Y CONSTITUENT EutMl:Nl'- W A TER

Like the G r een Rive r

, th e q u antity of water in the Co lorado River has been reduced by water

development pro jects. Any wa te r depletions 

### in the Green River will adversely affect the

Colorado River critical habitat below the confluence through Cataract Canyon. F l ow regimes

have been altered significanUy 

### in the Co l orado River by numer ous upstream r eservoirs and water

projects

, many of w hi ch transport lar ge vo lu mes of water out of the Colorado River Basin

.

E l evated se l enium concentrations associated w i th irrigation drainwater were found in the

Colorado River during NTWQP investigations (Butler et al. 1994, 1 996; Butler and Osmundson

2000). These elevated selenium concentrations still occur in water, sediment. and biota, and

continue to pose a risk to this PCE. Studies show that selenium concentrations in water and fish

ti ssue are r elated to flows; the l ower the flow s lhe higher the selenium concentrations

(Osm u ndson el al. 2000).

PRIM A RY CONS TI TUENT ELE Ml l NT- P HY S I CAL HAB I TA T

Westwa t er and Cataract canyons provide movement and migration corridors between the other

re l atively flat wa t er habitats. Floodplain habitats between the canyons provide warm water, low

velocity

, feeding and nursery habitats

. Many backwaters between Westwa t er Canyon and Lake

Powell provide nursery habita t

. Cataract Canyon provides d eep eddies and poo l s, with swift

currents and l ar ger boulders id entified as prefe rr ed habitat ofhumback chub (USFWS 1990b).

PRt li 1ARY CONSTITUENT ELEM ENT- B IOL OC I CAL E NV I RONM ENT

This PCE is impaired by the pr esence of nonna tive fishes common 

### in this reach of the Colorado

Ri ver. No nn ative fishes occ u py the same backwaters that are very important for young Colorado

pikeminnow and razorback sucker. Largemouth bass 

### (Microp1erus sal moid es) and green sunfish



### (Lepomis cyanella) are the most common large-bodied fishes t h at occupy backwater habitats27

year-round (Osmundson 2003)

. The three most common small-bodies fishes found in

backwaters are fathead minnow, sand shiner, and red shiner, comprising 80 to I 00 percent of the

fish found in Colorado River backwaters (McAda 1987)

.

The critical habitat units within the action area have been identified·in the recovery goals for

each of the four endangered fish species (USFWS 2002a, b

, c, d) as essential for the conservation

of the spec i es

. Colorado pikemionow is a wide ranging s p ecies sometimes migrating extensive

distances to carry out life history functions. The action area encompasses a large area of

razorback sucker critical hab i tat. Critical habitat for humpback chub and bonytail are limited t o

shorter reaches of the Colo rado Ri ver within critical hab it at for Colorado pikeminnow and

razorback sucker. These shorter reaches include unique habitats required for humpback chub

and bonytail that are found in o nl y a few other places in the Colorado River Basin

.



### EFFECTS OF THE ACT I ON

Effects to Endange r ed Species

The Project would adversely affect Colorado pikemionow, razorba ck sucker, bonytai l

, and

humpbac k c h ub by reducing the amount of water in the river system upon which t h ey depend by

up t o 1,006.7 acre-feet/year. The effects to all four species primarily r esult from the effects of

the action upon their habitats

. 

### In gene r al, the proposed action would adversely affect the four

listed fish by reduc i ng the amount of water availab l e to th em, inc r easing the l ikelihood of water

quality issues

, increasing their vulnerability to predat io n, and reducing their breeding

opportunities by shrinking the amount of b r eeding habitat within their range

.

Removing 1 ,006. 7 acre -f eet of water per year from the Green and Colorado Rivers would change

the natural hydrological r egime that creates and maintains important fish habitats

, such as

• spawning habitats, and reduces the frequency and duration o f availability of thes e habitats of the

fo u r endangered fish. The reduction of available habitats will directly affec t individuals of all

four species by decreasing reproductive potential and foraging and s heltering opportunities.

Many of the habitats required for breeding become seve r ely di m inished when flows are red u ced.



### As a result, individual fish \vi thin the a ctio n area may not be ab l e t o find a p l ace to breed, or will

deposit eggs in less than optima l habitats more prone to fai l ure or predation. ln addition,

reduction in flow rates lessens the abi l ity of the river to inundate bottomland, a source of nutrient

su p p l y for fish productivity. Water dep l etions also exacerbate competition and predation by

nonnative fishes by altering fl ow and temperature regimes that favor nonnatives

.

T h e proposed depletio n would affec t the water quality in the action area by increasing

concentrations of heavy metals, se l enium, salts, pestic i des

, and o ther contam inants

. Increases in

wa t er depletions wi ll cause associated reductions in assimilative capacity and dilution potential

fo r any contaminan t s that e nt e r the Green and Colorado Rivers

. The Project 's depletion wou l d

cause a proportionate decrease in dilution

, which in turn wou ld cause a proportionate increase in

heavy meta l

, selenium

, salts

, pesticides, and other contaminant concentrations in the Co l orado

River to Lake Powell. An increase in contaminant concentrations in the river would tik ely r esult

i n an increase in the bioaccumulation of these contaminants in the food chain which co uld

adverse l y affect the endangered fishes

, particularly the predatory Co l orado pikeminnow

.Selenium is of particular concern due to its effects on fish reproduction and its tendency to

concentrate in low velocity areas that are important habitats for Co lorado pikeminnow and

razorback suckers. 

### 28

The proposed Project would adversely affect the fo ur listed fish by resulting in a reduction of

water and co ncomitant effects to habitat. 

### This reduction would contribute to the cumu lativ e

redu ct ion in high spring flows, which are essential for creating and maintaining complex channel

geomorphology and suitable spawning substrates

, creating and providing access to off -c hannel

habitats, and possibly stimulating Colo rado pikemi:nnow spawning migrations

. Adequat e

s ummer and**\\~nter** flows are important for providing a sufficie nt quantity of preferred habitats

for a duration and at a frequency necessary to support all life stages of viable populations of 

### all

endangered fishes. To the extent that the Project will reduce flows

, the ability of the river to

provide these functions will be reduced

. 

### This reduction of water affects habitat availability and

habitat quality

.

To the extent that it would reduce flows and contribute to further habitat alteration

, the Project

would contribute to an increase in nonnative fish populations

. The modification of flow regimes

,

water temperatures, sediment l eve ls

, and other habitat conditions caused by water depletions has

contributed to the establishment of nonnative fishes

. Endangered fishes within the action area

would experience increased competition and predation as 

### a result.

Effects to Critical Habitat



### All four of the listed Colorado River fish require the same PCEs essential for their surviva l.

Therefore

, we are combining our analys is of all four species into one section. Because the

amount of designated critical habitat varies for each of the four species

, the amount of habitat

will vary ; however

, the effects would b e the same for all critical habitat within the action area

Water

, physica l habitat, and the biological environment are the P CEs of critical habitat. This

includes a quantity of water of sufficient quality that is delivered to a speci 

### fie location in

accordance with a hydrologic regime 

### that is required for the particular life stage for each species

. The physical habitat includes areas of the Colorado River system that are inhabited or potentially

habitable for use in spawning and feeding

, as a nursery

, or serve as corridors between these

areas. 

### In addition, oxbows, backwaters

, and other areas in the 

### 1 00-year floodplain, when

inundated

, provide access to spawning, nursery, f eeding, and rearing habitats. Food supply,

predation

, and competition are important elements of the biological environment.

P RI M AR Y CONSTtTUENTELEM " ENT· WATER

The Project would deplete up to 1,006

. 7 acre-feet of water per year fTom the Co lorad o River

Basin. Removing water

. from th e river system changes the natural hydrological r egime that

creates and maintains important fish habitats, such as spawning habitats

, and reduces the

frequency and duration of availability of these habitats of the four endangered fish

. 

### In addition

,

r eduction in flow rates lessens the ability of the river to inundate bottomland

, a source of nutrient

supply for fish productivity and important nursery habitat for razorback sucker

. Water

depletions change flow and temperature regimes that favor nonnative fish adding t o competition

and predation by thes e nonnative fishes as discussed above

.

### Changes in water quantity would affect water quality, which is a PCE of critical habitat.

Contaminants enter the Colorado River from various point and nonpoint 

### sources, resulting in

increased concentrations of heavy metals

, se l enium, salts, pesticides, and other contaminants.

I ncreases in water depletions will cause associated reductions in assimilative capacity and

di l ution potentia l for any contaminants that enter critical habitat in the Green and Colorado

Rivers. 

### 29

The Project 's depletion would cause a proportionate decrease in dilution, which in tum 

### would

cause a proportionate increase in heavy metal, selenium, salts, pesticides, and other contaminant

concentrations in the Colorado River to Lake 

### Powell

. An 

### increase in contaminant concentrations

in the river would likely result in an increase in the bioaccumulation of these contaminants in the

food chain which could adversely afTect the endangered fishes, particularly the predatory

Colorado pikeminnow

. Selenium is of particular concern due to its effects on fish reproductio n

and its te n dency to concentrate in l ow ve l ocity areas tha t are i m portan t habitats for Colorado

pikeminnow and razorback suckers.

PR I M A R Y C ONST I 111ENT EL£ 111£ NT

- PHY S I CAL HAB I TAT



### The proposed Project would affect the physical condition of habitat for the four listed fish by

resulting in 

### a reduction of water

. This reduction would contribute to 

### the cumulative reduction in

high spring flows

, which 

### are essential for creating and maintaining complex channel

geomorphology and suitable spawning substrates, creating and providing access to ofT-channel

habitats, and possibly stim ul ating Colorado pi k eminnow spawning migrations. Adequa t e

summer and w i nter flows are important for providing a sufficient quantity of preferred habitats

for 

### a duration and at a frequency necessary to support all life stages of viable popu l ations of all

endangered fishes

. To the extent that the Project wil l reduce flows

, the ability of the river to

• provide these functions will be 

### reduced. This reduction of water affects habitat availability and

habitat quality

.

PRIM ARY CONS TI 111EN T ELE M ENT- Bt OLOC I CAL ENV IR ONMEt'T



### To the extent that i t would reduce flows and contribute to furthe r habitat alteration, the P r oject

wo u ld contri but e to 

### an increase in nonnative fish populat i o n s. The modification of flow regimes.

wa t er temperatures, sediment levels, and other habitat conditions caused by water depletions has

contributed to 

### the establishment of nonnative fishes

. Endangered fishes within the action area

would experience increased competition and predation as a result.

CU MM U LA TIVE EFFE CTS

Cum ulative effects include the effects of future State, local

, or private actions that are reasonably

certain to occur in the action area considered in this biological o p inion. Future Federal actio n s

that are unrelated to the proposed action are n o t considered in this section because they require

separate consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA

. The USFWS is not aware of any fut ur e

non-Federal actions not included in this action under consultation that are reasonably certain to

occur in the action area

.

### 30

CONCLUS ION

Based upon the best scientific and commercial information that is currently available, it is the

USFWS' s biological opinion that the water depletions associated with the Jonab lnfill Drilling

Project, as described herein, are likely to jeopard ize the continued existence of the Colorado

p i

keminnow, humpback chub, bonytail, and razorback sucker because the listed fish are harmed

. from the reduction of water in their habitats r esulting from the Project in the following manner:

I) Individuals using habitats diminished by the proposed wa t er depletions could be more

susceptible to predation and competition from nonnativ e fish;

2) Individuals may be unable to breed because reduced flows wo u ld impact habitat formulation

and maintenance.

Based upon the best scientific and co mmer cial information that i s currenlly available

, it is the

USFWS's biological opinion that the water depletions associated with the Jonah 

### Infil1 Drilling

Project, 

### as described herein, are likely to resu lt in adverse modification of cri t ica l habitat for the

Colorado pikeminnow

, humpback c hub

, bonytail

, and r azo rb ack sucker because th e PCEs and

the functioning of the critical habitat uni ts would be altered i n the follow in g manner:

I ) Water

, a PCE

, wo ul d be affected by further reducing the flows in critical habitat that are

needed for endangered fishes breed

. ing. feeding and sheltering. Reduction in flows also

wou ld affect wa t er quali t y by reducing dilution of contaminants

.

2) Ph ysic al hab i ta t, a PCE

, wou l d be affected by reduction in flows b y reducing importan t

habitat such as spawning bars

, backwaters

, and inundated floodp lai n s.

3) Bio l ogical environment, a PCE, wou ld be affected by th e increase in nonnativ e fishes due to

altered flow regimes

.

The USFWS bas developed a reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid the like lih ood of

jeopardy to the e ndan gered fishes and destruction or adverse modification of their critical h abi tat.

REASONABLE AND PR U DENT ALTERNATIVE

Regulations (50 CFR 402.02) implementi n g section 7 of the ESA define reasonable and prudent

alternatives 

### as alternative actions, iden t ified during formal consultation, that-- I) can be

implemented in a mann er co nsist ent with the int ended purpose of the action; 2) can

. be

implemented consistent with t h e scope oftl1e action agency ' s lega l a uth ori t y and jurisdiction;

3) are economically and technologically feasib l e; and 4) would, the USFWS believes, avoid the

lik elihood of jeopard i zing the continued existe n ce of listed s p ecies o r resulting in th e d estruction

or adverse modification of critica l habitat

On Jan u ary 21-22

, 1988, th e Secretary of the Departme nt of the Interior; th e Governo r s of

Wyoming. Colorado, and Utah ; and the Administrator of tbe Western Area Power

Administratio n we r e cosigners of a Coo p erative Agree m ent to i mpl ement th e "RecoveryImplementation Program for Endangered Fish Spec i es 

### in the Upper Colorado River Basin''

(USFWS 1987). 

### In 2001. the Recovery Program was extended until September 30, 2013. An

objective of the Recovery Program was to recover the listed species while providing for new

water development in the Upper Basin

. 31



### In order to further define and clarify processes out lin ed in sections 4.1.5, 4.1.6

, and 5.3 .4 of the

Recovery Program, a section 7 Agreeme nt (Agreement) and a Recovery Implementation

Program Recovery Action

. Plan (Plan) was developed (USFWS 1 993). The Agreement

establishes a framework for conducting all future section 7 consultations on depletion impacts

related to new projects and all impacts associated with historic projects in the Upper Basin.

Procedures outlined in the Agreement 

### will be used to determine if sufficient progress is being

accomp l ished in the recovery of the endangered fishes to enable the Recovery Program to serve

as a reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid jeopardy. T h e Plan was finalized on October 15,

1 993, and has been reviewed and updated annually

.



### In accordance with the Agreement, the USFWS assesses the impacts of projects that require

section 7 consultation and determine if progress toward r ecovery has been sufficient for the

Recovery Program to serve as a reasonable and prudent alternative. If sufficient progress is

being achieved, biological opinions are written to identify activities and accomplishments of the

Recovery Program that support it as a reasonable and prudent alternative. 

### If sufficient progress

in the recovery of the endangered fis h es has not been achieved by the Recovery Program, actions

from the Plan are identified which must be completed to avoid jeopardy to the endangered fishes.

For historic projects, these actions serve as the reasonable and p rud ent alternative as lon g as they

are comp leted according to the schedule identified in the Plan. For new projects, these actions

serve as the reasonable and prudent alternative so long as tbey are completed before the impact

of the Project occurs. The Jonah lnfill Drilling Project is considered a new project.



### In determining if sufficient progress bas been achieved, the USFWS considers-a) actions which

result 

### in a measurable population response, a measurable improvement in habita.t for the fishes,

legal protection of flows needed for recovery

, or a reduction 

### in the threat of immediate

extinction ; b) status of fish populations; c) adequacy of flows ; and, d) magnitude of the Project

impact. 

### In addition

, the USFWS considers support activities (funding, research, information, and

education, etc.) of the Recovery Program if they help achieve a measurable popu l ation response

,

a measurab.le improvement in habitat for the fishes

, legal protection of flows needed for

recovery

, or a reduction in the threat of immediate extinction

. The USFWS evaluates progress

separately for the Co l orado River and Green River subbasins; however, it gives due

consideration to progress throughout the Upper Basin in evaluating progress toward recovery

.

The following excerpts summarize portions of the Recovery Program that address depletion

impacts, section 7 consultation, and Project proponent responsibilities:32

"All future section 7 consultations completed after approval and implementation of this

program (establishment of the Implementation Committee, provision of congressional

funding, and initiation of the elements) will result in a one-time contribution to be paid to

the USFWS by water project proponents in the amount of$1 0.00 per acre-foot based on

th e average annual depletion of the project

... This figure 

### will b e adjusted annually for

inflation (the current figure is $16.67 per acre-foot]

... Conc urrentl y with the

completion of the Federal action which initiated the consultation, e.g.,

... issuance of a

4 04 permit, I 0 percent of the total contribution will be provided. The balance

.. . will be

... due at the time the construction commences

. ... "



### lt is important to note that these provisions of the Recovery Program were based on appropriate

legal protection of the instream flow needs of the endangered Colorado River fishes

. The

Recovery Program further states:

"

... it is necessary to protect and manage sufficient habitat to Sltpport self-sustaining

populations of these species

. One way to accomplish this is to provide long term

protection ofthe habitat by acquiring or appropriating water rights to ensure instream

flows. Since this program sets in place a mechanism and a commitment to assure that the

instream flows are protected under State law

, the USFWS will consider these elements

under section 7 consultation as offsetting project depletion impacts."

Thus

, the USFWS has determined that depletion impacts, which the USFWS has co n sistently

maintained are likely to jeopardize the listed fishes

, can be offset by--a) the water Project

proponent's one-time contribution to the Recovery 

### Program in the amount of$16.67 per

acre-foot of the Project's average annual depletion; b) appropriate legal protection ofinstream

flows pursuant to State law; and

, c) accomplishment of activities necessary to recover the

end angered fishes as specified under the Plan. The USFWS believes it is essential that

protection of in stream flows proceed expeditiously

, before significant additional water depletions

occur

.

With respect to (a) above (i.e

., d epletio n charge), the applicant will mak e a one-time payment

which has been calculated by multiplying the Project's average annual dep l etio n (acre

- feet) by

the dep l etion charge in effect at the time payment is made. For Fiscal Year 2006 (October l,

2005

, to September 30

, 2006)

, the depletion charge is $16.67 per acre-foot for the average annual

depletion which equals a total payment of$ 16,781.69 for this Project. The U SFWS will notify

the applicant of any change in the depletion charge by September I of each year

. Ten percent of

the total contribution $1,678.16

, or total payment

, will b e provided to the USFWS 's designated

agent, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Foundation), at the time of issuance of the

Federal approvals from 

### BLM

. Th e balance will be due at the time the construction commences.

The payment will be in c lud ed by tl1e 

### BLM as a p ermi t stipulatioJ L The amount payable will be

adjusted annually for inflation on October I of each year based on the Composite Consumer

Price Index. Fifty percent of the funds will be used for acquisition o f water rights to meet the

instream flow needs of the endangered fishes (unless otherwise recommended by the

Implementation Committee) ; the balance will be used to support other re covery activities for the

Colorado River endangered fishes

. All payments should be made to the Foundation:Rebecca Kramer

, Special Funds Program Coordinator

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

28 Second Street

, 6th Floor

San Francisco, California 94105 33

Each payment is to be accompanied by a cover letter that identifies the Project and biological

opinion that requires the payme n t, U1e amount of payment enc l osed

, check numbe r

, and any

special conditions identified in the biological opinion relative to disbursement or use of the fund s

(there are non e in this instance)

. A copy of the cover letter and of the chec k is to be sent d irectly

to the USFWS fie ld office that issued the biological opinion. The cover letter shall identify the

name and address of the payor

, the name and address of the Federal Agency r espo n sib l e fo r

authorizing the Project

, and the address of the USFWS office issuing the biological opinion

. This in formation will be used by the Foundation to notify the payor, the lead Federal agency, and

t he US FWS that payment has been r eceived. The Foundation is to send notices of r ece ipt to

these entities within 

### 5 working days of its receip t o f payment.

IN C ID ENTAL TAKE STATEMENT

Section 9 of the ESA and Federal regulation pursuant to section 4(d) of the ESA prohibit the take

of endangered and threatened species

, respectively

, without special exemption. Take is defined

as to harass

, hann, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect, or to attempt to

engage in any such conduct. Harm is furfuer defined by the USFWS to incl u de significant

habitat modification or degradation that r esults in death or injury of listed species b y

significantly impairing essential bel:tavioral patterns

, including breeding

, feed i ng, or sheltering.

Harass is defined by th e USFWS as intentional or negligen t actions that create the li kelihood of

injury to listed spec i es to such an extent as to significantly disrupt normal behavior patterns

, which include, but are not limited to breediQg, feeding or sheltering

. In cidental take is defined as

take that i s incidental to

, and not the purpose of, carrying out of an otherwise lawful activity.

Under the terms of section 7(b)(4) and section 7 (o)(2), taking that is in cide ntal to and not

intended as part of the agency action is not considered to be prohibited taking under the ESA

pro vide d that such taking is in comp li ance with the terms and conditio n s of this Incidental Take

StatemenL

Colorado p ikeminnow

, humpback chub

, bonytail

, and razorback sucker are harmed from the

reduction of water in their habitats resulting from the Pro ject in the following mann er-



### ! ) ind ivi duals usin g habitats dimin i shed by th e proposed water depletions could be more

susceptible t o predation and competition from normative fish; 2) habitat conditions may be

rendered unsuitable for breeding because reduced flows would impact habitat formulation and

maintenance as described in the biological opinion

.

Estimating the number of individuals of these species that would be taken as a result of water

dep l etions is difficult to quantify for the following reasons-(!) determining whether an

individual forwent breeding as a result of wa t er depletions versus natural causes would b e

extremely difficult to determine ; (2) finding a dead or injured listed fish would be difficu l t, due

to the large size of the Project area and because carcasses are subject to scavenging ; (3) natural

fluctuations in river flows and species abundance may mask Project effects, and (4) effects that34

reduce fecundity are difficult to q u antify

. Estimating the number ofindivid

. uals of the four listed

fishes that could be taken by the water deplet ions addressed in this biological opinion is not

possible

. However

, the imp l ementation of the Recovery Program is intended to minimize

impacts of water depletions and, therefo r e, the reasonable and prudent alternatives outlined 

### in the

biological opinion also will serve as reasonable and prudent measures for minimizing the take

that results from the 1 ,006

. 7 acre

- feet/year water depletion

. Any amount of water withdrawal

above this level would exceed the anticipated l evel of incidental take.



### REIN I TIAT I ON NOT I CE

This conc lude s formal co nsultation on the action outlined in the request

. As provided in



### 50 CFR 402. 1 6, reinitiation of formal consultation is required where discretionary Federal

agency involvemen t or contro l over the action has been retained (or i s authorized by law) and 

### if--

1) the amount or extent of incidental take is exceeded; 2) new information reveals effects of the

agency action that may affect li sted species or critical habitat in a manner or to an extent not

considered in this opinion; 3) the action is subsequently modified in a manner that causes an

effect to the listed species or critical habitat not considered in this opinion; or 

### 4) a new species i s

listed or critica l habitat designated that may be affected by the action.

Thank you for your cooperation in the formu l ation of this biological opinio n and your interest in

conserving endangered species.35



### LITERATURE CITE D

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## A P P E N D I X E

S U M M A R Y O F P U B L I C C O M M E N T S O N T H E J O N A H I N F I L L

D R I L L I N G P R O J E C T F E I S A N D B L M ’ S R E S P O N S E SE

- 1 

## A P P E N D I X E

S U M M A R Y O F P U B L I C C O M M E N T S O N T H E J O N A H I N F I L L

D R I L L I N G P R O J E C T F E I S A N D B L M ’ S R E S P O N S E S

A n y p e r s o n w h o p a r t i c i p a t e d i n t h e E I S p r o c e s s a n d h a d a n i n t e r e s t t h a t m a y b e a d v e r s e l y a f f e c t e d c o u l d

c o m m e n t o n t h e F E I S f

o r t h e J I D P

. C o m m e n t s h a d t o b e f i l e d w i t h t h e B L M w i t h i n 3 0 d a y s f r o m t h e d a t e

t h e E P A p u b l i s h e d t h e N o t i c e o f A v a i l a b i l i t y o f t h e F E I S i n t h e F e d e r a l R e g i s t e r

. T h e c o m m e n t p e r i o d

b e g a n J a n u a r y 1 3

, 2 0 0 6 a n d c l o s e d o n F e b r u a r y 1 3

, 2 0 0 6

. O r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s w h o s u b m i t t e d

c o m m e n t s o n t h e J I D P F E I S d u r i n g t h i s t i m e a r e i d e n t i f i e d i n T a b l e E

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.

T a b l e E

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. O r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d I n d i v i d u a l s S u b m i t t i n g C o m m e n t s o n t h e J I D P F E I S

O r g a n i z a t i o n

( C o o p e r a t i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n ) S i g n e r

( A d d i t i o n a l S i g n e r )

B P A m e r i c a P r o d u c t i o n C o

. D a v i d R

. B r o w n

, M a n a g e r

, R e g u l a t o r y A f f a i r s

- H S S E

B i o d i v e r s i t y C o n s e r v a t i o n A l l i a n c e ( B C A )

( C e n t e r f o r N a t i v e E c o s y s t e m s ) S u z a n n e H

. L e w i s

( J a c o b S m i t h )

C

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. B r o o k s & A s s o c

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. ( B r o o k s ) C o n s t a n c e E

. B r o o k s

C i t y o f R o c k S p r i n g s

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. K a u m o

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E n C a n a O i l a n d G a s ( U S A ) I n c

. ( E n C a n a ) J o h n S c h o p p

, V i c e P r e s i d e n t

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U n i t

G e n e R

. G e o r g e A s s o c i a t e s

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. G e o r g e

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T y l e r H

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I n d e p e n d e n t P e t r o l e u m A s s o c

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, D i r e c t o r o f G o v e r n m e n t A f f a i r s

J o n a h F i e l d L i v e s t o c k G r a z i n g P e r m i t t e e s

( H i t t l e L a n d a n d L i v e s t o c k )

( R e n d e z v o u s R a n c h ) ( D o n R o d g e r s J r

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( J o h n a n d J o y E r r a m o u s p e )

K C H a r v e y

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D o u g l a s J

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P e t r o l e u m A s s o c i a t i o n o f W y o m i n g ( P A W ) E r i c k a S

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R o u g h r i d e r P o w e r K i t J e n n i n g s

S t a t e o f W y o m i n g

, O f

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, G o v e r n o r

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, O f

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S u b l e t t e C o u n t y

, B o a r d o f C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s B e t t y F e a r

, C h a i r m a n

S w e e t w a t e r E c o n o m i c D e v e l o p m e n t A s s o c i a t i o n P a t r i c i a R o b b i n s

, D i r e c t o r

T o w n o f P i n e d a l e

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U

. S

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T a b l e E

. 1

. C o n t i n u e d

O r g a n i z a t i o n

( C o o p e r a t i n g O r g a n i z a t i o n ) S i g n e r

( A d d i t i o n a l S i g n e r )

U

. S

. E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n A g e n c y R o b e r t E

. R o b e r t s

W y o m i n g C o n t r a c t o r s A s s o c

. C h a r l e s E

. W a r e

, E x e c u t i v e V i c e P r e s i d e n t

W y o m i n g O u t d o o r C o u n c i l B r u c e P e n d e r y

( J a c k s o n H o l e C o n s e r v a t i o n A l l i a n c e ) ( T o m D a r i n )

( C e n t e r f o r N a t i v e E c o s y s t e m s ) ( J a c o b S m i t h )

( G r e a t e r Y e l l o w s t o n e C o a l i t i o n ) ( L l o y d D o r s e y )

( T h e W i l d e r n e s s S o c i e t y ) ( P e t e r A e n g s t )

( B i o d i v e r s i t y C o n s e r v a t i o n A l l i a n c e ) ( S u z a n n e L e w i s )

( E n v i r o n m e n t a l D e f

e n s e ) ( J a n a M i l f o r d )

( T r o u t U n l i m i t e d ) ( C a t h y P u r v e s )

( N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f

e F e d e r a t i o n

, ) ( M i c h a e l S a u l )

( U p p e r G r e e n R i v e r V a l l e y C o a l i t i o n ) ( L i n d a B a k e r )

( W y o m i n g W i l d l i f

e F e d e r a t i o n ) ( D a v e G o w d e y )

I n d i v i d u a l s

A n d r i k o p o u l o s

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. H u n k i n s

, R a y m o n d B

.

B e r g

, E r i c M

. K i n n i s o n

, A l l a n

B o u s m a n

, C o t t o n M a G e e

, J i m

C l a r k

, R o n a l d P e c k l e r

, M a t t h e w K

.

D i b r i t o

, L a r r y R e i n t s

, L l o y d

D o n h a m

, R i t a R e i m e r s

, R e b e c c a

D u n n

, D u a n e R e y n o l d s

, S t e p h e n A

.

H e n d e r s o n

, L e s l i e F

. S w i g l e

, R o b e r t

H e n d r i c k s

, C u r t i s L

. W h i t e

, M o n t e



## I s s u e S u m m a r y

C o m m e n t s o n t h e J I D P F E I S r a i s e d a v a r i e t y o f i s s u e s

, i n c l u d i n g t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f l o c a l a n d r e g i o n a l a i r

q u a l i t y

, t h e p r o t e c t i o n o f c u l t u r a l r e s o u r c e s

, l i v e s t o c k g r a z i n g w i t h i n t h e J I D P A

, s o c i o e c o n o m i c i m p a c t s o f

t h e J I D P o n l o c a l c o m m u n i t i e s

, w i l d l i f e i m p a c t s

, r e c l a m a t i o n a c t i v i t i e s

, B L M ’ s l e g a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

, a n d

a d e q u a c y o f o i l a n d g a s r e s e r v o i r e s t i m a t e s

. S i g n i f i c a n t c o m m e n t s a n d B L M r e s p o n s e s

, c a t e g o r i z e d b y

r e s o u r c e o r r e s o u r c e u s e

, a r e s u m m a r i z e d b e l o w

.



## A i r Q u a l i t y

S e v e r a l c o m m e n t s s t a t e d t h a t t h e B L M h a d n o a u t h o r i t y t o r e g u l a t e a i r q u a l i t y e m i s s i o n s

. S e v e r a l o t h e r

c o m m e n t s e x p r e s s e d t h e c o n c e r n t h a t t h e B L M h a d n o t d e t a i l e d h o w i t w o u l d r e g u l a t e a i r q u a l i t y

. I n

g e n e r a l B L M r e s p o n d e d t o a l l t h e s e c o m m e n t s s i m i l a r l y : “ B L M r e c o g n i z e s t h a t W D E Q h a s t h e a u t h o r i t y

a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o r e g u l a t e a i r q u a l i t y

. A s t h e l e a d f e d e r a l l a n d m a n a g e r

, B L M h a s t h e a u t h o r i t y a n d

r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o s e t m a n a g e m e n t g u i d e l i n e s f o r p o t e n t i a l a i r q u a l i t y i m p a c t s f r o m B L M a c t i v i t i e s

. ”E

- 3

S e v e r a l c o m m e n t s e x p r e s s e d t e c h n i c a l c o n c e r n s r e g a r d i n g a i r q u a l i t y d a t a

, m o n i t o r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n

, t h e

a p p r o p r i a t e n e s s o f d i s p e r s i o n m o d e l i n g

, a n d t h e s c i e n t i f i c c o r r e c t n e s s o f m o d e l a s s u m p t i o n s a n d

m e t h o d o l o g i e s

. T h e s e c o m m e n t s r e c e i v e d r e s p o n s e s s i m i l a r t o t h e f o l l o w i n g : “ B L M m a i n t a i n s t h a t

d i s p e r s i o n m o d e l i n g r e s u l t s a r e d e f e n s i b l e a n d n o t i n c o n s i s t e n t w i t h a v a i l a b l e m o n i t o r i n g d a t a

. T h e J o n a h

a i r q u a l i t y m o d e l w a s d e v e l o p e d c o o p e r a t i v e l y b y a n i n t e r a g e n c y t e a m o f e x p e r t s

. ”

A f e w c o m m e n t s e x p r e s s e d c o n c e r n s r e g a r d i n g m o n i t o r i n g o f a i r q u a l i t y

. A t y p i c a l r e s p o n s e t o t h e s e

c o m m e n t s w a s t h a t “ B L M r e c o g n i z e s t h a t b e t t e r d a t a m i g h t i m p r o v e m o d e l p r e d i c t i o n s

, a n d b e t t e r

d o c u m e n t a i r q u a l i t y

. B L M

, i n c o n s u l t a t i o n w i t h t h e i n t e r a g e n c y a i r q u a l i t y t e a m a n d t h e J I O

, m a y

c o n s i d e r i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a d d i t i o n a l a i r q u a l i t y m o n i t o r i n g s t a t i o n s

. ”

O t h e r a i r q u a l i t y i s s u e s i n c l u d e t h e n e e d f o r a d d i t i o n a l m o n i t o r i n g l o c a t i o n s

, a d d i n g t h e D i n o s a u r N a t i o n a l

M o n u m e n t a s a s e n s i t i v e r e c e p t o r

, d o u b l e c o u n t i n g o f e m i s s i o n s

, v i s i b i l i t y i m p a c t s

, a n d f u n d i n g f o r

m o n i t o r i n g a n d B L M ’ s a n n u a l m o n i t o r i n g b u d g e t

.



## R e c l a m a t i o n

S e v e r a l c o m m e n t s w e r e r e c e i v e d c o n c e r n i n g t h e m e t h o d t o b e u s e d t o d e t e r m i n e s u c c e s s f u l r e c l a m a t i o n

w i t h i n t h e J I D P A a n d q u e s t i o n i n g f e a s i b i l i t y o f t h e m e t r i c t h a t r e q u i r e d “ 8 0 % b a s a l c o v e r / d e n s i t y

. ” T h e

n e e d t o f a i r l y a l l o c a t e a l l o w a b l e d i s t u r b a n c e t o e a c h l e a s e h o l d e r w a s a l s o r a i s e d

. B L M r e s p o n d e d t o t h e s e

c o m m e n t s b y r e c o g n i z i n g t h e n e e d f o r e q u i t a b l e d i s t

r i b u t i o n o f d i s t

u r b a n c e o n a n “ o p e r a t e d

- a c r e a g e b a s i s ”

a n d t o e s t a b l i s h s e p a r a t e “ r o l l o v e r ” a n d “ r e l e a s e ” r e c l a m a t i o n o b j e c t i v e s

.

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s e c o m m e n t s

, t h e u s e o f t h e w o r d “ r e s t o r a t i o n ” i n s t e a d o f “ r e c l a m a t i o n

, ” a n d t h e n e e d f o r

s i t e

- s p e c i f

i c s o i l s a l v a g e r e q u i r e m e n t s w a s i d e n t i f i e d i n c o m m e n t s

.

T h e p a c e o f d e v e l o p m e n t a n d t h e n e e d f o r O p e r a t o r s t o p r o v i d e b a s e l i n e s t u d i e s a n d i n v e n t o r i e s w a s

i d e n t i f i e d a s a B L M f

u n c t i o n t h a t w a s b e i n g t

r a n s f e r r e d t o t h e O p e r a t o r s

. B L M r e s p o n d e d b y “ r e c o g n i z i n g

t h a t p u b l i s h e d r e s e a r c h w a s v o l u n t a r y ” a n d t h a t “ i n v e n t o r i e s w e r e n e c e s s a r y t o e s t a b l i s h b a s e l i n e

c o n d i t i o n s

. ”



## L i v e s t o c k a n d G r a z i n g

O n e c o m m e n t s u g g e s t e d t h a t l o s s o f g r a z i n g p r e f e r e n c e a n d p u r c h a s e o f l a n d s f o r o f f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n c o u l d

r e s u l t i n S u b l e t t e C o u n t y c o m p l e t e l y l o s i n g i t s a g r i c u l t u r a l b a s e a n d t

h e r e b y m a k e t h e c o u n t y d e p e n d e n t o n

t h e o i l a n d g a s i n d u s t r y

. B L M r e s p o n d e d

, “ B L M a d d r e s s e s l o s s o f g r a z i n g p r e f e r e n c e i n t h e F E I S a n d t

h i s

R O D

. L o s s e s w i l l b e m i t i g a t e d t h o u g h a d a p t i v e m a n a g e m e n t

. E f f e c t s t o l i v e s t o c k g r a z i n g a n d l o c a l

s o c i o e c o n o m i c s t r u c t u r e s a r e c o n s i d e r e d i n t h e F E I S

. O u t r i g h t l a n d p u r c h a s e i s n o t c o n t e m p l a t e d a t t h i s

t i m e

. ” F u r t h e r m o r e

, “ T h e i n t e n t o f m i t i g a t i o n o f l o s s o f w i l d l i f e h a b i t a t t h r o u g h c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n

i s n o t t o d i s p l a c e a g r i c u l t u r a l u s e s o r o p e r a t o r s

, i n c l u d i n g t h e g r a z i n g o f l i v e s t o c k

. ”



## C o m p e n s a t o r y M i t i g a t i o n a n d t h e J o n a h I n t e r a g e n c y O f f i c e

S e v e r a l c o m m e n t s s t a t e d t h a t B L M c o u l d n o t r e q u i r e c o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n

. B L M r e s p o n d e d t o t h e s e

c o m m e n t s s i m i l a r t o t h e f o l l o w i n g

, “ C o m p e n s a t o r y m i t i g a t i o n i s a v o l u n t a r y p r o g r a m

, b u t o n c e i n d u s t r y

a g r e e s t h a t t h e y w i l l f

o l l o w t h i s p a t h

, i t d o e s b e c o m e p a r t o f t h e m i t i g a t i o n t h a t i s c o n s i d e r e d p a r t o f t h e

i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e d e c i s i o n s

. ” O t h e r c o m m e n t s s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e J I O d u t i e s a n d p r o c e d u r e s w e r e n o t

f u l l y d e s c r i b e d

, t h a t B L M w a s i m p r o p e r l y d e l e g a t i n g i t s a u t h o r i t y

, a n d t h a t t h e r e w a s n o p l a n f o rE

- 4

d i s s o l v i n g t h e J I O o r o v e r s e e i n g J I O a c t i v i t i e s

. A l l o f t h e s e c o m m e n t s w e r e a d d r e s s e d b y r e f e r r i n g t h e

c o m m e n t e r t o t h e J I O C h a r t e r i n A p p e n d i x F o f t h e F E I S

.

A s i n g l e c o m m e n t r e q u e s t e d t h a t l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t e n t i t i e s b e a l l o w e d t o h a v e a m e m b e r i n c l u d e d i n t h e

J I O s t a f f

. B L M r e s p o n d e d t o t h i s r e q u e s t “ T h e B L M i n t e n d s t o c o n d u c t o u t r e a c h a n d o f f e r r e g u l a r

o p p o r t u n i t i e s f

o r l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s a n d o t h e r g r o u p s t o p a r t i c i p a t e a n d b e i n f o r m e d i n p r o c e e d i n g s a t t h e

J I O

. A d d i t i o n t o o r c o n t r a c t i o n o f t h e o f f i c e m e m b e r s i s n o t s p e c i f

i c a l l y a d d r e s s e d

. ”



## L a w s

, R e g u l a t i o n s a n d P o l i c i e s

N u m e r o u s c o m m e n t s s t a t e d t h a t t h e F E I S w a s i n a d e q u a t e

, o r d i d n o t p r o p e r l y f o l l o w t h e l a w

. T h e s e

c o m m e n t s a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n o f B L M m a n d a t e s u n d e r t h e F e d e r a l L a n d P o l i c y a n d M a n a g e m e n t A c t

( F L P M A )

, i n a d e q u a t e r a n g e o f a l t e r n a t i v e s

, f a i l u r e t o p r o v i d e f

o r m u l t i p l e u s e o f t h e p u b l i c l a n d s

, i n c o m p l e t e c u m u l a t i v e i m p a c t s a n a l y s i s

, a n d i n a d e q u a t e p r e v e n t i o n o f u n d u e a n d u n n e c e s s a r y d e g r a d a t i o n

. B L M d o e s n o t b e l i e v e t h a t t h e s e c o m m e n t s a r e v a l i d a n d f u r t h e r t h a t t h e a g e n c y h a s c o m p l i e d w i t h t h e

p u b l i c l a n d l a w s a n d p o l i c e s i n a l l c a s e s

.



## R e s e r v o i r M a n a g e m e n t

B L M r e c e i v e d t w o c o m m e n t s t h a t t h e r e c o v e r a b l e r e s e r v e l o s s c a l c u l a t i o n i n t h e F E I S

, a s a r e s u l t o f

r e q u i r i n g d i r e c t i o n a l d r i l l i n g

, w a s i n e r r o r

. B L M r e s p o n d e d t o b o t h c o m m e n t s t h a t “ B L M b e l i e v e s t h e

c o m m e n t e r ’ s a n a l y s i s i s f l a w e d

. B L M t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t s h a v e r e v i e w e d a n d c o n c u r w i t h t h e r e c o v e r y

n u m b e r s u s e d i n t h e F E I S

, b a s e d o n a v a i l a b l e d a t a

. ” O t h e r c o m m e n t s w e r e r e c e i v e d o n c l o s e d l o o p d r i l l i n g

s y s t e m s a n d o n m i t i g a t i o n r e q u i r e m e n t s u n d e r t h e E n e r g y P o l i c y C o n s e r v a t i o n A c t

.



## S o c i o e c o n o m i c s

O n e c o m m e n t q u e s t i o n e d t h e e f f e c t s o f J I D P d e v e l o p m e n t o n l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s ’ i n f r a s t r u c t u r e c a p a c i t y

. T h e B L M m a i n t a i n s i t h a s p r o p e r l y d i s c l o s e d a n d a n a l y z e d s o c i o e c o n o m i c i m p a c t s o f t h e v a r i o u s

a l t e r n a t i v e s i n t h e F E I S

.



## W i l d l i f e

S e v e r a l c o m m e n t s w e r e r e c e i v e d t h a t a l l e g e d v i o l a t i o n o f F L P M A f o r f a i l u r e t o d i s c l o s e i m p a c t s t o

w i l d l i f e

. B L M d i s a g r e e s w i t h t h e c o m m e n t s t h a t a s s e r t i m p r o p e r a p p l i c a t i o n o f p u b l i c l a n d l a w s

, i n c l u d i n g

F L P M A

. T h e B L M a l s o “ r e c o g n i z e s t h a t t h e d e n s i t y o f d e v e l o p m e n t u n d e r w a y a n d p r o p o s e d f o r t h e J o n a h

F i e l d r e s u l t s i n i m p a c t s t h a t c a n n o t b e m i t i g a t e d w i t h i n t h e f i e l d

, ” s o t h a t o f

f

- s i t e m i t i g a t i o n i s t h e p r i m a r y

o p t i o n f o r w i l d l i f e m i t i g a t i o n

. A g a i n

, t h e J I O w i l l h e l p t o o v e r s e e m o n i t o r i n g a n d m i t i g a t i o n e f f o r t s a n d

p r o v i d e g u i d a n c e f

o r t h e d e v e l o p m e n t

. O n e c o m m e n t r e q u e s t e d t h a t t h e U

. S

. F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e

L e t t e r o f C o n c u r r e n c e b e i n c l u d e d i n t h e R O D

. T h i s h a s b e e n d o n e

.