Availability of Record of Decision (ROD) for the Dark Canyon Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[NM-920-04-4110-03]

Availability of Record of Decision (ROD) for the Dark Canyon

Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of the ROD for the Final Dark Canyon

EIS.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), New Mexico State Office,

announces the availability to the public of the ROD for the Final Dark

Canyon EIS. The Final Dark Canyon EIS analyzes the impacts on the

environment from reasonable foreseeable development of oil and gas

resources within Dark Canyon, located in Eddy County, NM. The EIS

analyzes seven alternatives, including the no action alternative and

the Applicant's (Yates Energy Corporation) proposed action to drill the

Diamondback Federal #1 Well on Federal Lease NM-62161.

The ROD documents the Bureau's decision to select Alternative G

(the Preferred Alternative) of the Final EIS. The Decision approves the

Applicant's proposed Diamondback Federal #1 Well, with the location

moved 300 meters to the northeast and establishes a ``Cave Protection

Zone'' (CPZ) within the EIS Study Area that would prohibit surface

occupancy on existing leases. Drilling would be allowed within the EIS

Study Area, but outside the CPZ, with enhanced precautionary

operations. Future leasing would be denied within the EIS Study Area.

By Memorandum of August 13, 1993, the National Park Service (NPS)

concurred with the BLM in the selection of the agency's Preferred

Alternative.

The Dark Canyon EIS Study Area encompasses approximately 8,320

acres and lies about 20 miles southwest of the city of Carlsbad, NM.

The EIS Study Area is in the BLM's Carlsbad Resource Area and totally

encompasses the Dark Canyon Special Management Area, noted for its

rugged and scenic landscape as well as cave resources.

The BLM was the lead agency for preparation of the EIS, because the

BLM is responsible for permitting oil and gas exploration on federal

mineral estate. The NPS, Southwest Region, was a cooperating agency for

preparation of the EIS because the Study Area borders Carlsbad Caverns

National Park to the south, and because the alternatives described in

the EIS could affect NPS cave resources, particularly Lechuguilla Cave.

ADDRESSES: Questions or concerns on this ROD can be directed to: BLM,

New Mexico State Office, ATTN: Joe Incardine (NM-911), P.O. Box 27115,

Santa Fe, NM 87502-0115. A limited number of copies of the ROD and the

Final EIS are also available from the BLM Roswell District Office, 1717

W. Second St., P.O. Box 1397, Roswell, NM 88202-1397 and from the BLM

Carlsbad Resource Area Office, 620 E. Greene, Carlsbad, NM 88220.

Copies of the ROD have been mailed to those addresses on the mailing

list for the Final Dark Canyon EIS.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Incardine, EIS Team Leader, at

(505) 438-7458 or Don Boyer, Assistant Team Leader, at (505) 438-7439

at the above New Mexico State Office address.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Draft Dark Canyon EIS was filed with the

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and released for public review on

September 18, 1992. A formal public hearing was held on the Draft EIS

to receive oral and written comments on the adequacy of the Draft EIS

and the merits of the alternatives discussed in Carlsbad, NM, on

October 22, 1992. The public comment period for the Draft EIS closed on

November 20, 1992. The Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS was

published in the Federal Register on September 18, 1992.

Following issuance of the Draft EIS to the public, over 1,000

comments were received by the BLM and were analyzed and considered in

the preparation of the Final EIS. During preparation of the Final EIS,

additional formal and informal meetings were held with interested

publics and agencies to develop additional information and new

alternatives for the proposal based on the public comment received on

the Draft EIS. These meetings included an informal open house and

public meeting held in Carlsbad, NM, on May 27, 1993, to inform the

public of the progress on the project, including development of two

additional alternatives and additional scientific data to be used in

the analysis of impacts and development of mitigation measures. The

Final EIS was released to the public and filed with EPA on December 17,

1993, with over 800 copies mailed out to agencies, organizations and

the general public.

Following the end of the 30-day availability period for the Final

EIS, the ROD was prepared and signed by the BLM New Mexico Acting State

Director on January 31, 1994.

Dated: January 27, 1994.

William C. Calkins,

Acting State Director.

[FR Doc. 94-2327 Filed 2-3-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M