Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill Drilling Projects, Sweetwater and Lincoln Counties, WY; Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

[WY-040-05-1310-01]

Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill Drilling Projects, Sweetwater and

Lincoln Counties, WY; Availability of Draft Environmental Impact

Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior--Lead Agency; Bureau of

Reclamation, Interior--Cooperating Agency.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability

of the Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill Drilling Projects Draft EIS which

analyzes the environmental consequences of a proposed natural gas

development and production operation in the Fontenelle II Unit and

Lincoln Road Development Area. The project areas are approximately 30

miles northeast of Kemmerer, Wyoming, and 70 miles northwest of Rock

Springs, Wyoming. The project areas encompass a 179,760-acre natural

gas field, where 1,070 wells are presently active, within portions of

Townships 23, 24, 25, and 26 North, Ranges 109, 110, 111, and 112 West.

DATES: Comments on the draft EIS will be accepted for 45 days following

the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes their

Notice of Availability in the Federal Register. The EPA notice is

expected to be published on April 21, 1995. There are presently no

plans to hold a public hearing on the Fontenelle Natural Gas Infill

Drilling Projects Draft EIS because of apparent lack of unresolved

substantial environmental controversy concerning the proposed project.

Reviewers are encouraged to visit the local BLM offices in Cheyenne and

Rock Springs, Wyoming, and talk with the managers about any concerns.

If enough people indicate a desire to testify by returning the tear-out

sheet provided in the draft EIS, a public hearing(s) will be scheduled.

Information on the hearing(s) will be published in State and local

newspapers and other media sources, and direct mailing to the

recipients of the draft EIS to give the public enough notice.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the draft EIS should be sent to Bureau of Land

Management, Bill McMahan (Project Coordinator), P.O. Box 1869, Rock

Springs, WY 82902-1869.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The draft EIS analyzes a proposed action for

each of two project areas, one development alternative for each of two

project areas, and the no action alternative. DALEN Resources Oil & Gas

Co., (DALEN) proposes to continue to infill drill their company's

existing Fontenelle II Unit and adjacent leased acreage (approximately

25,323 acres); and Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation Presidio Oil Co., and

several other companies (collectively the Lincoln Road Operators)

propose to infill drill their leased acreage within the Lincoln Road

Development Area (approximately 154,437 acres). The Fontenelle II Unit

and the Lincoln Road Development Area are immediately adjacent to each

other. Both proposed actions would be implemented in northeastern

Lincoln and northwestern Sweetwater Counties, Wyoming, in the vicinity

of Fontenelle Reservoir and the Green River. Access to the project

areas is from U.S. Highways 189 and 191, State Highways 372 and 28, and

numerous County, BLM, and operator-maintained roads.

Collectively, the companies' proposal would continue to infill

drill a 179,760-acre natural gas field, where 1,070 wells are presently

active, by drilling up to 1,317 additional wells over the next 10

years. Because of the tight-gas formation, the wells would be drilled

on 160- and 80-acre spacing. A portion of the project area is presently

developed on a 160-acre spacing (four wells per 640 acres). In selected

areas, drilling on 80-acre spacing would increase the well density up

to eight wells per 640 acres. The companies' plans and drilling

schedules would be contingent upon both an increased demand for natural

gas supplies in response to the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990 and an

adequate price for the gas at the wellhead. The draft EIS describes the

physical, biological, cultural, historic, and socioeconomic resources

in and surrounding the project area. The focus for impact analysis was

based upon resource issues and concerns identified during public

scoping. Potential impacts of concern from development were to

recreation associated with the Green River and Fontenelle Reservoir;

antelope migrations and crucial big game winter range; sage grouse and

raptor breeding and nesting; special status plaint and wildlife

species; soil erosion and sediment increases to the Green River;

groundwater contamination; Oregon, Mormon Pioneer, Pony Express, and

California Historic Trails condition and viewshed; changes in livestock

and wild horse management; and cumulative effects.

The draft EIS, in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered

Species Act (as amended), includes the Biological Assessment for the

purpose of identifying any endangered or threatened species which are

likely to be affected by the proposed action.

Dated: April 6, 1995.

Alan R. Pierson,

State Director.

[FR Doc. 95-9132 Filed 4-13-95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-JA-M