[Federal Register: May 31, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 104)]
[Notices]
[Page 30955-30956]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31my06-128]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS) for an Oil and Gas Management Plan (O&GMP) Big South Fork
National River and Recreation Area (BISO), and Obed Wild and Science
River (OBRI)
AGENCY: National Park Service.
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given in accordance with the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4332 and Council on
Environmental Quality regulation 40 CFR 1506.6, that the U.S.
Department of the Interior, National Park Service (NPS), is preparing
an EIS for an O&GMP for BISO and OBRI.
The BISO/OBRI O&GMP/EIS will:
Identify resources impacted by oil and gas operations, and
provide a comprehensive framework to remedy the resulting environmental
problems.
Allow for exploration and development of the private
mineral estate.
Facilitate operator planning by setting park-specific
operating standards.
Provide educational outreach to operators, including
guidance on the regulatory process for bringing operations into
compliance with applicable legal requirements.
Enhance coordination with State natural resource agencies
to better manage and enforce oil and gas operations according to State
standards.
Evaluate the potential for NEPA streamlining for plugging
and reclaiming orphaned or exhausted oil and gas operations.
Evaluate public use of oil and gas access roads.
Address visitor safety issues related to oil and gas
operations.
Provide for a range of reasonable alternatives for
managing oil and gas operations, and assess potential impacts on park
resoures such as threatened and endangered species, soils, wetlands,
wildlife, cultural resources, and public safety, while allowing for the
exercise of oil and gas rights.
Provide the framework to achieve sound decision-making and
resource protection at BISO and OBRI for the next 15 to 20 years.
A scoping brochure will be available summarizing the purpose, need
and objectives of the O&GMP/EIS. Copies of that information may be
obtained by visiting the NPS public comment and planning Web site at
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/biso, or from the Office of the
Superintendent, Big South
[[Page 30956]]
Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, telephone
number 423-569-9778.
DATES: To determine the scope of issues to be addressed in the O&GMP
and EIS and to identify significant issues related to the management of
oil and gas operations at BISO and OBRI, the NPS will conduct public
scoping meetings in mid-summer/early fall in both Tennessee and
Kentucky. Representatives of the NPS will be available to discuss
issues, resource concerns, and the planning process at each of the
public meetings. When public scoping meetings have been scheduled,
their locations, dates, and times will be published in local newspapers
and posted on the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC)
Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/biso. To be most helpful to the
scoping process, comments should be received within 30 days of the
beginning of the public comment period.
ADDRESSES: If you wish to comment on the scoping brochure or on any
other issues associated with the BISO/OBRI O&GMP/EIS, you may submit
your comments by any one of several methods. Comments may be entered
on-line in the NPS Planning, Environment and Public Comment System
(PEPC) Web site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/biso. To comment using
PEPC, select the Big South Fork O&GMP/EIS project, select documents,
select this Notice of Intent, and then select Comment and enter your
comments (enter comments related to the OBRI here as well). You may
also mail comments to Superintendent, Big South Fork NRRA, 4564
Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, (BISO O&GMP Public Scoping)
and your name and return address. Finally, you may hand-deliver
comments to Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida,
Tennessee 37841.
It is the practice of the NPS to make all comments, including names
and addresses of respondents who provide that information, available
for public review following the conclusion of the NEPA process.
Individuals may request that the NPS withhold their name and/or address
from public disclosure. If you wish to do this, you must state this
prominently at the beginning of your comment. Commentators using the
Web site can make such a request by checking the box ``keep my contact
information private.'' NPS will honor such requests to the extent
allowable by law, but you should be aware that NPS may still be
required to disclose your name and address pursuant to the Freedom of
Information Act.
Information will also be available for public review and comment in
the Office of the Superintendent, Big South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood
Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841, telephone: 423-569-9778; and in the
Office of the Unit Manager, Obed Wild and Scenic River, 208 North
Maiden St., Wartburg, Tennessee 37887, telephone: 423-346-6294.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The following purpose and need statements
related to the management of non-Federal oil and gas operations at BISO
and OBRI were developed at an internal scoping meeting of NPS staff.
The purpose of the Draft O&GMP/EIS for BISO and OBRI is to analyze
alternative approaches, clearly define a strategy, and provide guidance
for the next 15 to 20 years to ensure that activities undertaken by
owners and operators of private oil and gas rights are conducted in a
manner that protects park resources and values, visitor use and
experience, and human health and safety. The plan is strategic in
nature and will not establish any rights or obligations; NPS authorizes
actual operations on a site-specific basis.
There are over 300 private oil and gas operations within the BISO
and OBRI. Many of the past and existing oil and gas operations in these
NPS units are adversely impacting resources and values, human health
and safety, and visitor use and experience; most are not in compliance
with Federal and State regulations, most notably, the NPS regulations
governing non-Federal oil and gas rights, 36 CFR part 9, subpart B. In
addition, future oil and gas operations have the potential to damage
park resources and values. The plan is needed to provide an efficient
and effective strategy for park managers to ensure the units are
protected for the enjoyment of future generations. There is also a need
for park-specific guidance to help oil and gas operators in their
planning efforts.
The following objectives are proposed for the management of non-
Federal oil and gas operations at BISO and OBRI:
General
Provide owners and operators of private oil and gas rights
reasonable access for exploration, production, maintenance, and surface
reclamation.
Bring existing operations into compliance with Federal and
State requirements.
Identify and protect resources that could be adversely
affected by impacts from oil and gas operations.
Water Resources
Protect and enhance water resources.
Threatened and Endangered Species
Protect species of management concern from unacceptable
adverse impacts resulting from oil and gas operations.
Protect critical habitat from adverse modification
resulting from oil and gas operations.
Visitor Experience, Conflicts, and Safety
Prevent, minimize, or mitigate conflicts between oil and
gas operations and visitor use.
Protect human health and safety from oil and gas
operations.
Cultural Resources
Protect cultural resources, including those on or eligible
for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Park Management and Operations
Provide pertinent guidance to operators to facilitate
planning and compliance with NPS regulations.
Establish an efficient process under NEPA for plugging and
reclaiming orphaned or exhausted oil and gas operations.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Reed E. Detring, Superintendent, Big
South Fork NRRA, 4564 Leatherwood Road, Oneida, Tennessee 37841,
telephone: 423-569-9778.
Authority: The authority for publishing this notice is 40 CFR
1506.6.
The responsible official for this O&GMP/EIS is Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region, National Park Service, 100 Alabama
Street, SW., 1924 Building, Atlanta, Georgia 30303.
Dated: March 28, 2006.
Patricia A. Hooks,
Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 06-4951 Filed 5-30-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M