[Federal Register: February 24, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 36)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9167-9168]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe99-89]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service

 
Oil and Gas Management Plan, Draft Environmental Impact 
Statement, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

AGENCY: National Park Service, DOI.

ACTION: Availability of Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Oil 
and Gas Management Plan for Padre Island National Seashore, Texas.

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SUMMARY: Pursuant to section 102(2)(c) of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, the National Park Service (NPS) announces the 
availability of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement and Oil and Gas 
Management Plan (DEIS/OGMP) for Padre Island National Seashore, Texas.

DATES: The DEIS/OGMP will remain available for public review through 
May 12, 1999. If any public meetings are held concerning the DEIS/OGMP, 
they will be announced at a later date.

ADDRESSES: Comments on the DEIS/OGMP should be sent to the 
Superintendent, Padre Island National Seashore, P.O. Box 181300, Corpus 
Christi, Texas 78480-1300. Public reading copies of the DEIS/OGMP will 
be available for review at the following locations:

Office of the Superintendent, Padre Island National Seashore, 20301 
Park Road 22, Corpus Christi, Texas, Telephone: 361-949-8173
Office of Minerals/Oil and Gas Support, Intermountain Support Office-
Santa Fe, National Park Service, 1100 Old Santa Fe Trail, Santa Fe, New 
Mexico 87501, Telephone 505-988-6095
Planning and Environmental Quality, Intermountain Support Office-
Denver, National Park Service, 12795 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 
80228, Telephone: (303) 969-2851
Office of Public Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior, 18th and C Streets NW, Washington, DC 20240, Telephone: (202) 
208-6843

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Oil and Gas Management planning 
objectives are: 1) identify which park resources and values are most 
sensitive to oil and gas exploration and development disturbance, and 
define impact mitigation requirements to protect such resources, 2) 
establish reasonable oil and gas exploration and development 
performance standards to protect park resources and values, and 3) 
provide pertinent information to oil and gas operators that will 
facilitate operations planning and compliance with all applicable 
regulations. Three alternatives are analyzed in the DEIS/OGMP for 
managing surface uses associated with the exploration, development, and 
transportation of nonfederal oil and gas underlying Padre Island 
National Seashore. Under Alternative A: Proposed Action, there would be 
no surface occupancy in some sensitive resource areas that have 
important natural, cultural and visitor use values. Alternative B is 
the No Action/Current Management alternative that provides for the 
continuing evaluation and permitting of operations on a case-by-case 
basis. Under Alternative C: Maximum Protection Alternative there would 
be no access in any sensitive resource area for any type of nonfederal 
oil and gas activity.
    The DEIS/OGMP evaluates the environmental consequences of the 
proposed action and the other alternatives on oil and gas exploration 
and development, soil and water resources, wetlands, cultural 
resources,

[[Page 9168]]

visitor experience, and sensitive resource areas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Superintendent, Padre Island 
National Seashore, at the above address and telephone number.

    Dated: February 26, 1999.
John Gibson,
Acting Superintendent, Padre Island National Seashore.
[FR Doc. 99-4481 Filed 2-23-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-P