[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 248 (Thursday, December 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66921-66922]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-31758]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NMNM 106570]


Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a 
Proposed Pipeline Right-of-Way Across Federal Land in Lea, Eddy, 
Chaves, Lincoln, Guadalupe, Torrance, Sandoval, McKinley and San Juan 
Counties, NM; Ector and Winkler Counties, TX

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) and conduct EIS scoping meetings for the conversion of an 
existing pipeline and construction of new pipeline and above ground 
structures for the transportation of refined petroleum products from 
Odessa, Texas to Bloomfield, New Mexico.

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SUMMARY: Equilon Pipeline Company, LLC, proposes a pipeline about 500 
miles in length, from Odessa, Texas to Bloomfield, New Mexico, carrying 
refined petroleum products (gasoline, diesel, aviation fuel). 
Approximately 400 miles of the 500-mile system uses an existing 
pipeline formerly used to move crude oil from the Four Corners area to 
West Texas. Approximately 100 miles of new pipeline will be constructed 
in two segments; one linking Odessa, Texas to the existing pipeline at 
Jal, New Mexico, and the other connecting the north end of the existing 
pipeline near Bisti to

[[Page 66922]]

Bloomfield, New Mexico. The existing pipeline will be reconditioned.
    Pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969, the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State 
Office, will be the lead agency directing the preparation of an EIS on 
the impacts of proposed transportation of refined petroleum products 
through pipelines located on public lands in New Mexico and Texas, 
including BLM, National Forest System and State as well as private 
lands.

Preliminary Issues

    Potential issues identified at this time include: biological and 
visual resources; soils, water, safety, social and economic concerns in 
association with refined petroleum products pipeline construction and 
operation. Other issues and concerns may be identified through scoping 
and the public participation development of this public notification 
process.

Responsible Official

    The responsible official is Michelle Chavez, the BLM New Mexico 
State Director, 1474 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico, 87505.

Decisions To Be Made

    The purpose of the EIS is to disclose to the public and permitting 
agencies the environmental impacts of constructing and operating the 
proposed pipeline. If approved, the BLM, as lead agency, would sign the 
necessary Record of Decision (ROD) for the issuance of right-of-way 
grants under the Mineral Leasing Act for the pipeline proposal.

Tentative Project Schedule

    The tentative project schedule is as follows:

Begin Public Comment Period
    January 2002
Scoping Meetings
    January 2002
Scoping Comment Period Ends
    February 2002
Publish Draft EIS
    June 2002
Draft EIS Public Meetings
    July 2002
Publish Final EIS
    October 2002
Record of Decision
    November 2002

Public Scoping Meetings

    Public Scoping meetings are tentatively scheduled for the week of 
January 14, 2002 in Moriarty, Jal and Placitas, New Mexico. Open houses 
will also be held in Odessa, Texas and Bloomfield, NM.

Public Input Requested

    Comments concerning the Proposed Action and EIS should address 
environmental issues to be considered, feasible alternatives to 
examine, possible mitigation and information relevant to or bearing on 
the Proposed Action.
    Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will 
be available for public review at the BLM Albuquerque Field Office and 
will be subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act 
(FOIA). They may be published as part of the EIS and other related 
documents. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. If you 
wish to withhold your name or street address from public review and 
disclosure under the FOIA, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your written comment. Such requests will be honored to the 
extent allowed by law. All submissions from organizations or businesses 
will be made available for public inspection in their entirety.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to Joseph Jaramillo, Project 
Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Albuquerque Field Office, 435 
Montano Road, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107-4935.

    Dated: December 6, 2001.
Edwin J. Singleton,
BLM, Albuquerque Field Manager.
[FR Doc. 01-31758 Filed 12-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-AG-P