[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 72 (Friday, April 14, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19081-19082]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-9209]



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INTERNATIONAL BOUNDARY AND WATER COMMISSION, UNITED STATES AND MEXICO


Finding of no Significant Impact for Quisto Energy Corp.

AGENCY: United States Section, International Boundary and Water 
Commission, United States and Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: Based on an environmental assessment prepared by Quisto Energy 
Corporation (Quisto) to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well 
located on the Main Floodway of the Lower Rio Grande Flood Control 
Project (LRGFCP), the United States Section, International Boundary and 
Water Commission, United States and Mexico (USIBWC) finds that the 
proposed action to issue a license to Quisto for such works is not a 
major federal action that would have a significant adverse effect on 
the quality of the human environment. Therefore, pursuant to section 
102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; the Council 
on Environmental Quality Final Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500 through 
1508); and the U.S. Section's Operational Procedures for Implementing 
Section 102 of NEPA, published in the Federal Register September 2, 
1981 (46 FR 44083-44094); the USIBWC hereby gives notice that an 
environmental impact statement will not be prepared for the proposed 
action.

ADDRESSES: Mr. Yusuf E. Farran, Division Engineer, Environmental 
Management Division, International Boundary and Water Commission, 
United States and Mexico, United States Section, 4171 North Mesa 
Street, C-310, El Paso, Texas 79902-1441. Telephone: 915/534-6704.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Action

    The action proposed is for the USIBWC to issue a license to Quisto 
to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well and install related 
features within Smith-Coates Well #1 Drilling Unit on Lot 2, Block 15 
of John Closer Subdivision, Hidalgo County, Texas. The gas well is 
proposed to be located on privately owned land within the Main Floodway 
of the USIBWC LRGFCP approximately 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of 
Pharr. Access to the drilling site is by way of existing county and 
private roads and a proposed 274-meter (900-foot) long road.

Alternatives Considered

    Three alternatives were considered in the Environmental Assessment 
(EA):
    The Proposed Action Alternative is for Quisto to construct, 
operate, and maintain a gas well in a cultivated field within the Main 
Floodway of the USIBWC LRGFCP. This proposed action will require the 
USIBWC to issue a license to ensure that such works do not cause an 
obstruction to flood flows within the floodway or interfere with the 
operation and maintenance of the LRGFCP.
    The No Action Alternative is for Quisto to not construct, operate, 
and maintain a gas well within the Main Floodway of the LRGFCP. The no 
action alternative will not require the USIBWC to issue a license since 
no work will be done within the LRGFCP. The no action alternative will 
result in the denial of access to the mineral owner to rightfully owned 
minerals, loss of tax revenues to the State of Texas, and result in an 
unrecoverable clean energy source.
    The Directional Well Alternative is for Quisto to drill a well from 
outside the Main Floodway to a depth below the proposed surface 
location. The directional well alternative will not require the USIBWC 
to issue a license since no work will be done within the LRGFCP. The 
directional well alternative is considered not workable because of 
technical problems associated with a bottomhole location some 305 
meters (1,000 feet) or more from the surface location and subsurface 
geological hazards endemic to the area.

Environmental Assessment

    The USIBWC received from Quisto a completed Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for the proposed gas well and related features. The EA 
is currently available for review and comment.

Finding of the Environmental Assessment

    The EA finds that the proposed action for Quisto to construct, 
operate, and maintain a gas well within the Main Floodway of the USIBWC 
LRGFCP (and the USIBWC to issue a license for such work) does not 
constitute a major federal action which would cause a significant 
local, regional, or national adverse impact on the environment based on 
the following facts:
    1. The United States Army Corps of Engineers has determined that no 
waters of the United States including wetlands will be impacted by the 
proposed gas well and related features.
    2. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that 
federally listed endangered or threatened species [[Page 19082]] are 
unlikely to be adversely affected by the proposed gas well and related 
features.
    3. The Texas Historical Commission has determined that no survey is 
required and the project may proceed.
    4. The USIBWC has determined that the proposed gas well and related 
features will have no significant effect upon the flood carrying 
capacity of the Main Floodway.
    On the basis of the Quisto EA, the USIBWC has determined that an 
environmental impact statement is not required for the issuance of a 
license to Quisto to construct, operate, and maintain a gas well and 
install related features within the Main Floodway of the USIBWC LRGFCP 
and hereby provides notice of a finding of no significant impact 
(FONSI). An environmental impact statement will not be prepared unless 
additional information which may affect this decision is brought to our 
attention within the thirty (30) days of the date of this Notice. A 
limited number of copies of the EA and FONSI are available to fill 
single copy requests at the above address.

    Dated: April 3, 1995.
Suzette Zaboroski,
Staff Counsel.
[FR Doc. 95-9209 Filed 4-13-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-03-M