Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[WY-040-07-1310-00]

Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land Management announces the availability of

the Jonah Field II Natural Gas Development Project (Jonah Field) Draft

Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) which analyzes the environmental

consequences of the Jonah Field proposed natural gas development and

production operation. The Jonah Field project area is approximately 32

miles south of Pinedale, Wyoming, and 28 miles north of Farson,

Wyoming, and located within portions of Townships 28 and 29 North,

Ranges 107, 108, and 109 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, Sublette

County, Wyoming. The project area encompasses a potential natural gas

field of up to 59,600 acres, where 49 wells are presently active or

have been previously analyzed, and where up to 450 additional wells

could be drilled over the next 15 years.

DATES: Comments on the DEIS 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 July 25, 1997.

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

Management, Arlan Hiner, Team Leader, 280 Highway 191 North, Rock

Springs, WY 82901.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: McMurry Oil Company, Snyder Oil Corporation,

Amoco Production Co., and Western Gas Resources, Inc. (Operators)

propose to explore and develop their existing leases within the Jonah

Field project area. The Operators propose to expand the Jonah Field

from 49 current wells by drilling up to 450 additional wells over the

next 15 years. The wells would be drilled on 80-acre spacing (i.e., a

well density of eight wells per 640 acres). The Operators' plans and

drilling schedules would be contingent upon an adequate price for the

gas at the wellhead.

The Jonah Field DEIS analyzes the impacts of the Proposed Action, a

Sensitive Resource Protection Alternative, a Maximum Density of 4 Well

Locations/Section, and the No Action Alternative. Based on the issues

and concerns identified during the scoping process, the DEIS focuses on

the impacts to socio-economics, wildlife, air quality, land use, and

cumulative effects. Key issues include effects upon people and

communities near the project area and the State as a whole; effects to

antelope and antelope habitat, sage grouse and raptor breeding and

nesting; potential reductions in air quality and visibility; potential

reductions in water quality; impacts for surface disturbance; and

transportation planning.

The DEIS, in compliance with Section 7(c) of the Endangered Species

Act (as amended), includes the Biological Assessment for the purpose of

identifying endangered or threatened species which may be affected by

the proposed action.

Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will

be available for public review at the address listed above during

regular

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business hours (7:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except

holidays, and may be published as part of the DEIS. Individual

respondents may request confidentiality. If you wish to withhold your

name or street address from public review or from disclosure under the

Freedom of Information Act, 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, and from individuals identifying themselves as

representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, will be

made available for public inspection in their entirety.

Dated: July 16, 1997.

Alan L. Kesterke,

Associate State Director.

[FR Doc. 97-19845 Filed 7-28-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4310-22-P