[Federal Register: January 28, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 18)]
[Notices]               
[Page 4462-4463]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28ja99-118]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management
[NM-070-09-1210-04]

 
Notice of Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement on 
Oil and Gas Development Within the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area

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 (BLM), Farmington District 
Office has written a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on 
proposed oil and gas development of two existing leases within the 
Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness Area. The DEIS analyzes three alternatives 
of a proposal by Speerex, Ltd. To drill thirteen wells on leases they 
have held since 1991.
    Copies of the DEIS can be requested by writing the Bureau of Land 
Management, Farmington Field Office, 1235 La Plata Highway, Suite A, 
Farmington, NM 87401, or by calling the Farmington Field Office at 
(505) 599-8900. Individuals, organizations, or companies who had 
previously responsed to the Notice of Intent have been sent the DEIS 
and need not make a requisition.


[[Page 4463]]


DATES: Written comments on the DEIS will be accepted through the close 
of business April 30, 1999. Oral and/or written comments may also be 
presented at three public hearings to be held:

Albuquerque, NM, February 23, 1999, 7:00 p.m., Mountain View Holiday 
Inn, 2020 Menaul Blvd, NE
Santa Fe, NM, February 24, 1999, 7:00 p.m., Santa Fe Community College, 
6401 Richards Ave.
Farmington, NM, February 25, 1999, 7:00 p.m., Jemez Room 1, San Juan 
College, 4601 College Blvd., Room 7103 (Computer Science Lecture Hall)

    A Navajo translator will be available at the Farmington hearing.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to: Lee Otteni, Field Manager; 
Bureau of Land Management, Farmington Field Office; 1235 La Plata 
Highway, Suite A, Farmington, New Mexico 87401. Proprietary data should 
be identified as such to ensure confidentiality.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher V. Barns at the address 
above, or call 505-599-6338.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The existing leases are found in the upper 
portions of Hunter Wash drainage in the Bisti/De-Na-Zin Wilderness 
Area.
    The Proposed Action would approve Applications for Permit to Drill 
(APD's) 13 oil and gas wells (5 Fruitland Coal wells and 8 Gallup 
wells) on two leases and grant 3 off-lease Rights-of-Way (ROW's) on 
Federal surface totalling 8,137 feet.
    Alternative A would approve the APD's but deny the ROW's.
    The No Action Alternative would deny both the APD's and ROW's.
    There is no Preferred Alternative in the DEIS. The anticipated 
impacts to the environment by each alternative are analyzed both in 
terms of severity and duration. Various mitigative measures are 
outlined. Several alternatives that were considered but dropped from 
further consideration also are briefly discussed.
    A Notice of Intent was filed in the Federal Register on January 27, 
1998. Scoping meetings were held in Farmington, NM and Santa Fe, NM on 
February 24 and 25, 1998, respectively. Any comments presented 
throughout the process have been considered.

    Dated: January 19, 1999.
Michelle Chavez,
State Director.
[FR Doc. 99-1988 Filed 1-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-FB-M