[Federal Register: November 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 226)]
[Notices]               
[Page 66193-66194]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24no99-79]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Fish and Wildlife Service

 
Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Wolf Lake 
Area Natural Gas Project

AGENCY: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: This notice advises the public that the Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Wolf Lake Area Natural Gas Project is 
available for public review. During the 60-day review and comment 
period, there will be two public hearings on the DEIS as described 
below. The DEIS evaluates the potential environmental impacts of 
constructing a natural gas pipeline, related production facilities, and 
additional anticipated natural gas development in the Wolf Lake area of 
the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska. This 
notice is being furnished pursuant to Section 102(2)(C) of the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

DATES: The public hearing dates are:
    1. November 30, 1999, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Washington, DC.
    2. December 15, 1999, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Soldotna, Alaska.
    Written comments must be received by January 19, 2000.

ADDRESSES: The public hearing locations are:
    1. Washington, DC--Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, NW, 
Washington, DC.
    2. Soldotna--Soldotna Senior Center, 197 W. Park Avenue, Soldotna, 
Alaska.
    Comments should be addressed to: Regional Director, Region 7, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, 1011 E. Tudor Road, Anchorage, Alaska 99503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian L. Anderson (907) 786-3379.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Marathon Oil Company has applied to the U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for a right-of-way grant to construct 
a natural gas pipeline and associated production facilities upon lands 
of the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, a Conservation System Unit 
established by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act 
(ANILCA) (Sec. 303, Pub. L. 96-487, 16 U.S.C. 668dd). The right-of-way 
application is being evaluated under regulations (43 CFR 36) 
implementing Title XI of ANILCA: Transportation and Utility Systems in 
and Across, and Access into, Conservation System Units in Alaska.
    The proposed project would be located in the northwest section of 
the Kenai Peninsula, generally between Beaver Lake and the Swanson 
River Road (T7N, R10W and T7N, R9W, Seward Meridian, Alaska). The 
surface estate within the project area is owned by the United States 
and is managed by the USFWS. The subsurface oil, gas and coal mineral 
estate is owned by Cook Inlet Region Incorporated (CIRI), an Alaska 
Corporation established under the provisions of the Alaska Native 
Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) (Sec 7, Pub. L. 92-203, 43 U.S.C. 1601 et 
seq.). Under Title XI, CIRI is entitled to adequate and feasible access 
to their valid inholding for economic and other purposes, subject to 
reasonable regulations necessary to protect the natural and other 
values of the refuge.
    As an operator under lease to CIRI, Marathon Oil Company proposes 
to develop natural gas production from two or more well sites including 
the existing Wolf Lake #2 well site, and Galena well site. Development 
would include construction of a gas gathering pipeline connecting the 
well sites to existing production facilities at Marathon's Beaver Creek 
gas field. The applicant's proposed pipeline right-of-way is 
approximately 5.5 miles long, and would include primary and secondary 
products pipelines, a water disposal pipeline, and communications and 
electric power lines, all of which would be buried. Pipeline 
construction would take place during the 2000/2001 winter season and is 
anticipated to take 30 to 40 days. No maintained roads would be 
constructed within the pipeline right-of-way, and the area will be 
allowed to revegetate naturally. Existing roads would be used for 
access to the well sites. Several small gas conditioning units and 
process/control buildings would be located at each well site. The DEIS 
also addresses the potential impacts of anticipated future gas well 
development in the vicinity that would utilize the proposed pipeline.
    The environmental review is being conducted in accordance with the 
requirements of NEPA (Public Law 91-190, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4371 et 
seq.) as implemented by the Council on Environmental Quality 
regulations at 40 CFR 1500-1508, and the pertinent regulations of the 
USFWS. Concurrently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is evaluating the 
proposed project under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 
1344), the public

[[Page 66194]]

notice of which is included as an appendix to the DEIS.
David B. Allen,
Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 99-30650 Filed 11-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P