Federal Register: December 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 240)
DOCID: FR Doc 03-30878
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Land Management Bureau
ES ID: [ES-020-03-1310-EI]
NOTICE: NOTICES
ACTION: Environmental statements; notice of intent:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare a Planning Analysis/Environmental Assessment.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Notice of Intent To Prepare Planning Analyze/Environmental Assessments
DATES: This notice initiatives the public scoping process. Comments on issues and planning criteria can be submitted in writing to the address listed below. Due to the limited scope of this PA/EA process, public meetings are not scheduled. BLM will, however, consider requests for one or more public meetings.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This document provides notice that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Jackson Field Office, Eastern States intends to prepare Planning Analysis/Environmental Assessment (PA/EA) to consider leasing one tract of Federal mineral estate for oil and gas exploration and development. The PA/EA will fulfill the needs and obligations set forth by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA), and BLM management policies. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions that are best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns.
SUMMARY:
Monroe County, MS.; oil and gas exploration and development,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The BLM has responsibility to consider
nominations to lease Federal mineral estate for oil and gas exploration
and development. An interdisciplinary team will be used in the
preparation of the PA/EA. The preliminary issues associated with
issuance of the lease for Federal Oil and Gas, as identified below, are
subject to change as a result of public input. The issues are: (1)
Potential impacts of oil and gas leasing and the resulting exploration
and development on the surface resources as a result of leasing the
federal minerals and (2) consideration of proposed restrictions (lease
stipulations), involving future development of this lease (lease
rights, surface use, and protection of surface resources). One PA/EA
will be prepared for this tract. Tract location, along with acreage, is listed below.
Mississippi, Monroe County, Huntsville Meridian
T14S, R19W: Sec 15, 320 acres; Tract 113, Lots 2, 3, 4 and 5.
Consideration is being given to the request to lease Federal
Minerals under this Tract. The Corp Of Engineers is the surface
management agency and is requiring a ``No Surface Occupancy Stipulation'', as a condition of consent
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to lease. Operations could be allowed to directionally drill a well
under the tract, but will not result in surface disturbance on the
tract. However, surface disturbance could occur on lands adjacent to this proposed lease.
Bruce Dawson,
Field Manager, Jackson Field Office.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
John Reiss, Lead for PA/EA, Jackson Field Office, (6019775400).