Federal Register: November 1, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 211)
DOCID: fr01no07-75 FR Doc E7-21512
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Indian Affairs Bureau
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr01no07-75
ACTION: Environmental statements; notice of intent:
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Riverton Dome Coal Bed Natural Gas and Conventional Gas Development, Wind River Indian Reservation, Fremont County, WY
DATES: Written comments on the DEIS must arrive by January 2, 2008.
The public hearing will be held November 28, 2007, starting at 7 p.m. and continuing until all those who register to make statements have been heard.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
This notice advises the public that the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, in cooperation with the Joint Business Council of the Eastern
Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes (JBC), Bureau of Land Management
and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), intends to file a Draft
Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) at EPA for the proposed coal bed
natural gas and conventional gas development project, and that the DEIS is now
[[Page 61897]]
available for public review. The purpose of the proposed action is to
meet the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes' need to maximize
their economic benefit from this trust resource. This notice also
announces a public hearing to receive comments on the DEIS.
SUMMARY:
Wind River Indian Reservation, Fremont County, WY; Riverton Dome coal bed natural gas and conventional gas development project,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The Riverton Dome Project Area is located on the Wind River Indian Reservation, approximately five miles southeast of Riverton, Wyoming, in Township 1S, Range 4E, Sections 13, 14, 23, 24, 25, 26, 35, and 36; Township 2S, Range 4E, Sections 1, 2, 11 and 12; Township 1S, Range 5E, Sections 17, 18, 19, 20, 29, 30, 31 and 32; and Township 2S, Range 5E, Sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, in Fremont County, Wyoming. The Project Area comprises approximately 13,804 acres, of which 12,656 acres of surface and minerals belong to the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes and approximately 1,148 acres (surface and minerals) are privately owned. Devon Energy Production Company, L.P. is the lessee and project proponent.
The DEIS analyzes three alternatives, the proposed action (Alternative A), Devon's existing leases (Alternative B), and no action (Alternative C). Under Alternative A, Devon would develop coal bed natural gas (CBNG) wells and conventional gas wells on its existing leases and on additional leases it has formally requested from the JBC. If development is implemented at 40acre spacing, a maximum of 326 CBNG wells and 20 conventional gas wells may be drilled. However, Devon anticipates that 40acre spacing may only be necessary under certain circumstances, and that 80acre spacing is more likely, where up to 163 CBNG wells and 20 conventional gas wells may be drilled. Construction of wells, roads, pipelines, compressor stations and power lines would disturb approximately 1,511 surface acres. After interim reclamation, approximately 680 acres would remain disturbed throughout the 20 to 40 year life of the project.
Under Alternative B, a maximum of 151 CBNG wells and 20 conventional gas wells at 40acre spacing, or a maximum of 70 CBNG wells and 20 conventional gas wells at 80acre spacing, may be drilled. Construction of wells, roads, pipelines, compressor stations and power lines would disturb approximately 858 surface acres. After interim reclamation, approximately 373 acres would remain disturbed throughout the 20 to 40year life of the project.
Under Alternative C, wells would only be developed on fee surface and minerals, through individual permits issued by the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, on a casebycase basis. Devon estimates that under this no action alternative, a maximum of 24 CBNG wells at 40acre spacing and two conventional gas wells may be drilled on private minerals. If 80acre spacing is utilized, a total of 12 CBNG wells and two conventional gas wells may be drilled.
The DEIS analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of the proposed action and alternatives on geology, paleontology, minerals, climate, air quality, soil, surface water and groundwater, land use, range resources, vegetation, wetlands, noxious weeds, wildlife and fisheries, threatened and endangered species, recreation, cultural resources, socioeconomics, environmental justice, transportation, visual resources, health and safety, noise, and fire management.
Public Comment Availability
Comments, including names and addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the mailing address shown in the ADDRESSES section during regular business hours, 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. Individual respondents may request confidentiality. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire commentincluding your personal identifying informationmay be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.
Authority
This notice is published in accordance with section 1503.1 of the
Council on Environmental Quality regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500 through
1508) implementing the procedural requirements of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
and the Department of Interior Manual (516 DM 16), and is in the
exercise of authority delegated to the Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs by 209 DM 8.1.
Dated: October 19, 2007.
Carl J. Artman,
Assistant SecretaryIndian Affairs.
[FR Doc. E721512 Filed 103107; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310W7P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ray Nation, (307) 332-3718.