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6453

Notices Federal Register


Vol. 73, No. 23

Monday, February 4, 2008

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER DATES: Comments concerning new Purpose and Need for Action
contains documents other than rules or information or issues not previously
proposed rules that are applicable to the
The purpose and need for action is to
considered in the leasing analysis must determine whether and to what extent
public. Notices of hearings and investigations, be postmarked no later than 45 days
committee meetings, agency decisions and analysis of new issues and information
from the publication of this notice in the might alter the oil and gas leasing
rulings, delegations of authority, filing of
petitions and applications and agency
Federal Register. The Draft decision as it relates to the 44,720 acres
statements of organization and functions are Supplemental EIS (DSEIS) is expected forwarded to the BLM for competitive
examples of documents appearing in this in May of 2008 and the Final lease sale. This action is needed to
section. Supplemental Environmental Impact address the appropriateness of the
Statement (FSEIS) is expected in previous leasing decisions, to decide the
September of 2008. final disposition of the suspended
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ADDRESSES: Send written comments to existing leases and lease parcels, and to
Stephen Haydon, Forest Minerals Staff, be responsive to the IBLA remand
Forest Service
Bridger-Teton National Forest, 340 N. requiring incorporation of the new
Cache, PO Box 1888, Jackson, WY issues and information in the BLM
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
83001–1888. Send electronic comments decision to lift the suspension of lease
to: comments-intermtn-bridger- parcels and issue oil and gas leases.
Bureau of Land Management
teton@fs.fed.us; with the subject clearly
titled ‘‘Leasing EIS’’. Proposed Action
Notice of Intent To Prepare a
Supplemental Environmental Impact FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The proposed federal action is to lift
Statement Stephen Haydon, Project Leader. the current suspension on the issued
December 2005 and April 2006 leases
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The and to issue those that were sold but not
AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA, and
Bridger-Teton National Forest made an issued from the June and August 2006
Bureau of Land Management, DOI.
oil and gas leasing decision in the forest sales. To do so requires the analysis of
ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare a plan signed in 1990. Subsequent new issues and information not
Supplemental Environmental Impact Environmental Assessments were available to the deciding officials at the
Statement to analyze and disclose new completed in the early 1990s to consider time the leasing decision was made.
information relative to oil and gas the impacts of oil and gas leasing in
leasing of 44,720 acres on the Big Piney various Management Areas throughout Possible Alternatives
Ranger District. the Forest. Since the early 1990s, several The alternatives to be considered may
issues that have some bearing on oil and include continuation of the current
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Land gas leasing have arisen and new leasing decision contained in the forest
Management (BLM), after receiving information has become available. The plan, and the no action alternative, and
nominated oil and gas lease parcels and Forest reviewed those issues and the potentially others identified in scoping.
appropriate lease stipulations from the new information and documented that The no action alternative would involve
Forest Service (FS), sold and issued 12 review in a Supplemental Information not issuing the leases that have been
leases, and sold 23 other leases that Report dated February 25, 2004. The sold but not issued, and the cancellation
have not been issued. An appeal to the Forest Supervisor concluded that the of the leases that were sold. Additional
Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) new issues and information did not alter alternatives may be identified once
resulted in a stay being granted for the the previous leasing decision in the scoping is completed.
12 issued leases. Upon request, the Forest Plan. Subsequently, in 2005 the
appeal was remanded back to the BLM Forest Service sent lease parcels Lead and Cooperating Agencies
for resolution. The IBLA decision held covering 44,720 acres to the BLM for The Forest Service is the lead agency.
that BLM had relied on an inadequate/ competitive lease sale. The BLM offered, The BLM and the State of Wyoming are
stale NEPA analysis in reaching its sold and issued leases on 20,963 acres cooperating agencies.
decision to sell and issue the lease in December 2005 and April 2006, and
parcels. In the case of oil and gas leasing sold but did not issue leases on the Responsible Official
decisions on National Forest system remaining 23,757 acres in June and The Forest Service responsible official
lands, and in conformance with a MOU August 2006. Following protest and for determining if and to what extent the
between the BLM and FS which BLM State Director’s Review, an appeal analysis of new issues and information
identifies the need for BLM to be a to the Interior Board of Land Appeals would alter the oil and gas leasing
cooperating agency, the NEPA analysis (IBLA) was filed for the December and decision contained in the BTNF Forest
that was relied on by BLM to inform April lease sales. The appeal included Plan (36 CFR 228.102(d)) is Kniffy
leasing decisions was adopted from the ‘‘Request for Stay,’’ which the IBLA Hamilton, Forest Supervisor, Bridger-
appropriate and applicable Forest granted. Upon request by the BLM, Teton National Forest, 340 N. Cache
Service NEPA. This supplemental EIS IBLA remanded the appeals back to the (P.O. Box 1888), Jackson, Wyoming
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will address the issues identified by BLM for resolution. This supplemental 83001. The BLM responsible official for
IBLA as inadequately or inappropriately analysis will address the resource issues final decision (43 CFR 3101.7) relative
addressed in previous NEPA analyses and effects analysis concerns identified to the issuance or disposition of the
informing leasing decisions, and other by IBLA and additional issues identified leases and lease parcels is Robert A.
issues identified through scoping. through this scoping effort. Bennett, State Director, BLM—Wyoming

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6454 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2008 / Notices

State Office, 5353 Yellowstone (P.O. mule deer migration routes in the area (Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1508.22;
Box 1828), Cheyenne, Wyoming 82009. and fragment habitat. Forest Service Handbook 1909.15, Section
21)
Nature of Decision To Be Made Comment Requested Dated: January 25, 2008.
The Forest Service will determine if This notice of intent initiates the Kniffy Hamilton,
and how the current Forest Plan oil and scoping process which guides the Forest Supervisor, Bridger-Teton National
gas leasing decision, as it relates to the development of the supplemental Forest.
44,720 acres, should be changed based environmental impact statement. Jane D. Darnell,
on new information. If a new decision Early Notice of Importance of Public Acting Wyoming State Director, Bureau of
is determined not to be needed Participation in Subsequent Land Management.
following preparation of the Environmental Review: A Supplemental [FR Doc. 08–472 Filed 2–1–08; 8:45 am]
Supplemental environmental impact DEIS will be prepared for comment. The BILLING CODE 3410–11–M
statement, that determination is not comment period on the SDEIS will be
subject to appeal in accordance with 36 for a perod of 45 days from the date the
CFR 215.12. The BLM will then decide Environmental Protection Agency DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
whether or not the revised FS NEPA publishes the notice of availability in
analysis is adequate, and subsequently the Federal Register. Forest Service
whether to lift the suspension on the The Forest Service believes, at this
existing leases and whether or not to Clearwater National Forest, ID; Travel
early stage, it is important to give
issue leases on the other lease parcels. Management Plan
reviewers notice of several court rulings
Scoping Process related to public participation in the AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA.
environmental review process. First, ACTION: Revised notice; intent to
Scoping for a supplemental statement reviewers of a DEIS must structure their prepare an environmental impact
is not required (40 CFR 1502.9(c)(4)), participation in the environmental statement. The original notice was
but due to the length of time since review of the proposal so that it is published in the Federal Register Vol.
scoping associated with the current meaningful and alerts an agency to the 72, No. 228, November 28, 2007/
leasing decision was conducted, the reviewer’s position and contentions. Notices, pages 67268–67270. A revised
agencies are soliciting comments Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Corp. v. notice was published in the Federal
specific to new issues or information. NRDC, 435 U.S. 519, 553 (1978). Also, Register Vol. 72, No. 243, December 19,
Letters will be sent to the forest mailing environmental objections that could be 2007/Notices, pages 71874–71876.
list of known interested parties. Public raised at the DEIS stage but that are not
meetings held in 2006 in association raised until after completion of the final SUMMARY: On November 28, 2007, the
with forest plan revision efforts environmental impact statement may be USDA Forest Service announced its
generated issues relative to oil and gas waived or dismissed by the courts. City intent to prepare a travel planning
leasing. Comments received during of Angoon v. Hodel, 803 F.2d 1016, environmental impact statement (EIS).
those meetings will be considered in 1022 (9th Cir. 1986) and Wisconsin The proposed action would designate a
this supplemental analysis. The scoping Heritages, Inc. v. Harris, 490 F. Supp. site-specific transportation system and
process will assist the agencies in 1334, 1338 (E.D. Wis. 1980). Because of prohibit indiscriminate cross-country
identifying specific issues to be these court rulings, it is very important traffic. The EIS will analyze the effects
addressed related to the purpose and that those interested in this proposed of the proposed action and alternatives.
need and the scope of the decision. Mail action participate by the close of the 45- A Revised Notice was published to
comments to the addresses given above day comment period so that substantive extend the due date for scoping
for further information. Ongoing comments and objections are made comments to January 11, 2008. This
information related to the proposed available to the Forest Service at a time Revised Notice is being published
action and related analysis will be when it can meaningfully consider them because the due date for scoping
posted on the Bridger-Teton National and respond to them in the final comments has been extended to
Forest Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/ environmental impact statement. To February 29, 2008. The Clearwater
btnf. assist the Forest Service in identifying National Forest invites comments and
and considering issues and concerns on suggestions on the issues to be
Preliminary Issues addressed. The agency gives notice of
the proposed action, comments on the
Preliminary issues associated with the DEIS should be as specific as possible. the National Environmental Policy Act
proposed action include: It is also helpful if comments refer to (NEPA) analysis and decision-making
(1) The drilling and production of specific pages or chapters of the draft process on the proposal so interested
wells subsequent to leasing could statement. Comments may also address and affected members of the public may
impact air quality and air quality related the adequacy of the DEIS or the merits participate and contribute to the final
values, with emphasis on cumulative of the alternatives formulated and decision.
effects due to extensive development in discussed in the statement. Reviewers DATES: Comments concerning the scope
the Pinedale area. may wish to refer to the Council on of the analysis must be received by
(2) The T&E listed Lynx, or its habitat, Environmental Quality Regulations for February 29, 2008. A 45-day public
could be impacted by subsequent implementing the procedural provisions comment period will follow the release
exploration and development activities. of the National Environmental Policy of the draft environmental impact
(3) Impacts to water quality due to Act at 40 CFR 1503.3 in addressing statement that is expected in June 2008.
subsequent surface disturbing activities these points. The final environmental impact
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES

could adversely affect the Colorado Comments received, including the statement is expected in January 2009.
River Cutthroat Trout. names and addresses of those who ADDRESSES: Send written or electronic
(4) The development of a comment, will be considered part of the comments to: Lochsa Ranger District,
transportation system to support field public record on this proposal and will Kamiah Ranger Station; Attn: Lois
development could adversely affect be available for public inspection. Foster, Interdisciplinary Team Leader;

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