# Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Wyodak Coalbed Methane Project > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-12211 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Notice - **Published:** May 14, 1999 - **Citation:** 64 FR 26436 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [WY-070-1310-00] Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Wyodak Coalbed Methane Project AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing regulations, and other applicable statutes, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announces the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analyzing the potential impacts and cumulative effects of proposed coalbed methane (CBM) development on Federal lands and minerals for areas north and south of the city of Gillette, Campbell County, Wyoming. BLM anticipates that an additional 3,000 CBM wells may be drilled and developed by numerous lessees and operators on Federal and non-Federal lands north and south of Gillette by the year 2007 if development success continues. This Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will also serve as a planning analysis to evaluate the reasonably foreseeable development scenario in the Buffalo Resource Management Plan (RMP). DATES: Written comments on the DEIS will be accepted for 45 days following the date that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes their notice of availability of the DEIS in the Federal Register. We expect EPA will publish that notice on May 14, 1999. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Richard Zander, Bureau of Land Management, Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, WY 82834. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Zander, phone 307-684-1161. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Information from five prior environmental analyses of coalbed methane development in the project area--four Environmental Assessments (EA) (Pistol Point, Marquiss, Lighthouse, and North Gillette) and one EIS (Gillette South)--was used to develop the proposed action and alternatives in this DEIS. When preparation of the Gillette South CBM EIS began in June of 1996, the BLM had developed a proposed action to analyze a total of 640 CBM wells. That proposed action was based on the best available information BLM had from industry at that time. It took into account potential development based on depth to coal and what industry knew at that time about the potential to produce methane from the coal. The proposed action also included the prior Marquiss and Lighthouse CBM projects to address developmental changes which had occurred since these two projects had been analyzed in EAs. When the Gillette South CBM EIS was completed in October of 1997, the apparent success of the coalbed methane play was drawing additional operators into the basin. BLM held a meeting with CBM companies on November 19, 1997, to discuss the implications of the recently signed Record of Decision for the Gillette South EIS. This meeting covered the mitigation steps that would be required of those operators developing Federal minerals. Specifically covered were monitoring requirements, use of the Water Well Agreement, and the formation of a groundwater monitoring group similar to the coal industry's Gillette Area Groundwater Monitoring Organization (GAGMO) Group. CBM companies indicated that an additional 2,600 to 3,000 CBM wells north and south of Gillette could be developed by the year 2007 if development success continues as it has been. With this information and the results of a public scoping meeting held on February 5, 1998, in Gillette, Wyoming, BLM [[Page 26437]] decided a new EIS would be necessary to address this additional interest. Project issues include: loss of hydraulic head of groundwater associated with the coal seam; lowering of water levels and increased pumping costs; effects of coalbed methane development on air quality; possible hazardous emissions and pollutants from compressors; erosion and weed infestations from disposal of produced water; royalties on past venting of methane; water table drawdown and other potential hydrologic impacts; cumulative impacts of CBM development; potential impacts to threatened and endangered species, raptors, and fisheries; and potential impacts to ranching and agriculture. Comments, including names and street addresses of respondents, will be available for public review at the Bureau of Land Management, Buffalo Field Office, 1425 Fort Street, Buffalo, Wyoming, during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.), Monday through Friday, except holidays, and may be published as part of the final EIS. 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 of officials of organizations or businesses, will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. Dated: May 7, 1999. Alan L. Kesterke, Associate State Director. [FR Doc. 99-12211 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-22-P --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A99-12211. Public record. Not legal advice.