[Federal Register: February 24, 2010 (Volume 75, Number = 36)] [Notices] =20 [Page 8297-8299] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr24fe10-28] =20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Forest Service =20 Huron-Manistee National Forests, Michigan, USA and State South=20 Branch 1-8 Well AGENCY: Forest Service, USDA. ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Huron-Manistee National Forests (Forest Service) and the=20 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) as a Cooperating Agency will prepare an=20 environmental impact statement (ETS) to assess the environmental=20 impacts of an industry proposal to drill one exploratory natural gas=20 well (the USA & State South Branch 1-8 (SB 1-8) well) on National=20 Forest System lands. The EIS will also assess the impacts of=20 constructing necessary infrastructure including production facility and=20 flowline, to develop the well should it be capable of producing=20 hydrocarbons in commercial quantities. This analysis will allow the=20 agencies to make their respective decisions on this proposal in=20 accordance with Federal regulations. DATES: Comments concerning the scope of the analysis must be received=20 by April 12, 2010. The draft environmental impact statement is expected=20 in December, 2010 and the final environmental impact statement is=20 expected by July 2011. ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Lauri Hogeboom, Interdisciplinary=20 Team Leader, Huron-Manistee National Forests, 1755 S. Mitchell Street,=20 Cadillac, MI, 49601; fax: 231-775-5551. Send electronic comments to:=20 comments-easter= n-huron-manistee@fs.fed.us. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Arbogast, Huron-Manistee National=20 Forests; telephone: 231-775-2421; fax: 231-775-5551. See address above=20 under Addresses. Copies of documents may be requested at the same=20 address. Another means of obtaining information is to visit the Forest=20 Web page at http://= frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=3DleavingFR.html&lo= g=3Dlinklog&to=3Dhttp://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hmnf then click on = ``Project and=20 Planning,'' then ``Mio District,'' and then ``USA and State South=20 Branch 1-8.'' Individuals who use telecommunication devices for the=20 deaf (TTY) may call 1-231-775-3183. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Purpose and Need for Action The purpose for action is to respond to the proponent, Savoy=20 Energy, LP's (Savoy) proposal to exercise its rights under Federal=20 leases to drill for, extract, remove and dispose of all the oil and gas=20 from leased lands. The Huron- [[Page 8298]] Manistee National Forests (Forest Service) and the Bureau of Land=20 Management (BLM) received an Application for Permit to Drill (APD)=20 including a Surface Use Plan of Operation (SUPO) from Savoy. A response to the application is needed because Savoy has lawful=20 oil and gas rights to three State and three Federal leases in a 640=20 acre drilling unit and the Forest Supervisor (FS) and the Milwaukee=20 Field Office Manager (BLM) are required by regulation to evaluate and=20 decide upon operating plans received from industry for exploration and=20 development of Federal leases. The agencies must ensure Savoy's=20 operating plan is consistent with the terms and stipulations of the=20 Federal mineral leases, applicable laws and regulations, the Huron- Manistee's Land and Resource Management Plan, and identify any=20 additional conditions needed to protect Federal resources. The BLM ultimately renders a decision on the APD, and the Forest=20 Service must review and decide upon the SUPO before the BLM can make=20 its APD decision. Proposed Action The Forest Service proposes to authorize Savoy to conduct surface=20 operations associated with accessing, drilling, testing, and completing=20 the USA and State South Branch 1-8 Well, as described in detail under=20 Alternative 2: The Proposed Action and described in the Surface Use=20 Plan of Operations (SUPO) and Application for Permit to Drill (APD)=20 submitted to the BLM. The Forest Service would approve the Surface Use=20 Plan of Operations for the USA and State South Branch 1-8 Well. The BLM proposes to authorize Savoy to conduct operations to drill=20 test and complete the proposed exploratory well on the subject leases=20 and approve the APD submitted for this well. The Forest Service and BLM authorization would include reasonable=20 and necessary mitigation to ensure Savoy's operations would be in=20 compliance with law, regulation, and policy. Savoy holds six subsurface mineral leases included in a 640 acre=20 drilling unit in South Branch Township (T25N, R1W), Crawford County,=20 Michigan, Section 7 E \1/2\, Section 8 W \1/2\. This 640 acre drilling=20 unit includes three State and three Federal oil and gas leases. Savoy=20 is proposing to drill directionally from National Forest System lands=20 within the boundaries of the Huron-Manistee National Forests to the=20 bottomhole located in Federal mineral lease MIES 50521 approximately=20 2,200 feet NW of the surface hole and construct associated=20 infrastructure including a production facility and flowline if Savoy=20 determines the well could produce a commercial product. Savoy's proposal includes: Leveling of the well pad (approximately=20 3.5 acres) for the drilling rig, equipment, and pit, including some=20 minor cut and fill using a bulldozer to level the surface. It also=20 includes the use, reconstruction and maintenance of existing roads for=20 year-round access, including snow plowing along portions of River Lake=20 Road (aka Hickey Creek Road), FSR 4209 (Mason Chapel Road), and FSR=20 4208, to access the well site; construction and maintenance of 50 feet=20 of new road, 14 feet wide with three feet of clearing on each side of=20 the new road (approximately 0.05 acre of disturbance) to access the=20 well pad from FSR 4208; and drilling a water well at the well pad site=20 to provide water for drilling and future well maintenance, if needed.=20 Following these activities drilling equipment would be moved in and=20 rigged up. Drilling and well completion would be expected to take 45 days.=20 Drilling operations would be restricted to a time period of December 1=20 to April 15. The well pad would be approximately 3.5 acres in size.=20 Standard and accepted drilling techniques and practices would be used=20 and must comply with mininum operating standards approved by Michigan=20 Department of Natural Resouces and Environment and the BLM. This=20 includes a casing program, pressure control equipment, and proposed=20 drilling fluids program. Hazardous materials, including stimulation and=20 completion fluids, would be contained in steel tanks and disposed of by=20 a licensed waste hauler. Additional actions proposed if the well is productive include:=20 construction of a production facility located in SE, Section 9, T25N,=20 Ri W, (approximately 1.5 miles from the well pad) on approximately 2.0=20 acres, including intallation of a gas/water separator, oil and brine=20 tanks, dehydrator, compressor, volume bottle, and measurement=20 (monitoring) equipment; installation of flowlines from the well site to=20 the production facility site, buried along side the road bed and a=20 pipeline to the Michigan Consolidated Gas transmission line, totaling=20 approximately 1.7 miles, and reclamation of the well pad, following=20 drilling and completion, leaving \1/3\ acre used for well operations. If the well is not capable of commercial production, the operator=20 plug and abandon the well under applicable State and BLM rules.=20 Reclamation of the site according to the reclamation plan included with=20 the SUPO would occur within six months of completion of well plugging.=20 This would include: Recontouring and stabilizing all excavations,=20 topsoil removed during leveling will be spread evenly over the site=20 except the roads; the site would be seeded with a Forest Service=20 approved mix; the flowline route would be restored and the 50 foot=20 access road would be obliterated. Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment's Water=20 Management Practices on Forest Land will be used to manage the roads.=20 Additionally, prior to reconstructing FSR 4209, approximately 150 feet=20 of silt fence would be placed per FS direction adjacent to the south=20 side of the road for wetland protection. The operator would maintain a dike around the condensate and brine=20 tanks at the production facility of sufficient size and height so as to=20 contain 150% of the total capacity of the tanks. The width of the reconstucted roads would not exceed 14 feet. An=20 additional 3 feet of clearing would be done on each side of the road.=20 Clearing width would not exceed 20 feet. Soil disturbed with the placement of the flowline/pipeline would be=20 seeded with mix specified by the Forest Service. Roads into the well pad and production facility would be gated and=20 locked. Road design and construction would take into account visual=20 quality. Minimization of noise is to be emphasized during drilling,=20 completion, and production operations. Hospital-type engine mufflers=20 would be used on drilling, completion, and work over rigs, mud pumps,=20 and compressors. No pumps or motors would be placed on the surface of=20 the well or at the well site. The total sound level for the production=20 facility would not exceed 36 dBA at 1,320 feet if more than one well is=20 being processed. If the production facility is processing gas from one=20 well, the sound level would not exceed 33 dBA at 1,320 feet. The=20 production facility would be constructed to meet these sound levels. Off-road equipment would be inspected by a Forest Service=20 representative and washed if needed to prevent introduction of non- native invasive plants that are not already present in the project=20 area. Protection will be provided for Endangered, Threatened and=20 Sensitive Species in accordance with law, regulation and policy. The Forest Service, the BLM, and MDNRE will coordinate inspections=20 to ensure compliance with requirements. [[Page 8299]] Possible Alternatives No Action alternative: The Forest Service would not approve the=20 SUPO and br the BLM would not approve the APD. Current direction would=20 continue to guide management of the project area. The USA and State=20 South Branch 1-8 well would not be drilled, no flow lines would be=20 installed, and no production facility would be constructed. Alternative 2: Modification of Savoy's Proposal--The Forest Service=20 would approve the SUPO and the BLM would approve the APD subject to=20 additional conditions of approval necessary for resource protection.=20 Alternative 2 would be the same as the proposed action except with=20 additional conditions of approval to the SUPO and APD based on=20 mitigation developed to respond to the issues raised. Lead and Cooperating Agencies The BLM and the Forest Service entered into an Memorandum of=20 Understanding (MOU) in April 2006 ``to establish procedures for the=20 coordinated dministration of oil and gas operations on Federal leases=20 within the National Forest System (NFS).'' The MOU identifies the=20 responsibilities of the agencies to provide efficient, effective=20 adherence to rules and regulations for each. Specifically, the MOU=20 states, ``111A3. `* * * the Forest Service has the full responsibility=20 and authority to approve and regulate all suface -disturbing=20 activities associated with oil and gas exploration and development=20 through analysis and approval of the SUPO component of an APD.' ''=20 VB] Forest Service will: Serve as lead agency for oil and gas * * *=20 environmental analyses required for APD: * * *'' ``111A2. The BLM has the authority and responsibility to provide=20 final approval of all APDs, including those for operations on=20 Federals leases on NFS lands * * * The BLM has the authority and=20 responsibility to regulate all down-hole operations and directly=20 related surface activities and use, and provide approval of the=20 drilling plan and final approval of the APD on NFS lands.'' This MOU is consistent with the NEPA regulations, 40 CFR 1501.5=20 Lead Agency and 1501.6 Cooperating Agencies, identifying the Forest=20 Service as the lead agency and the BLM as the cooperating agency. Responsible Official for Lead Agency Barry Paulson, Forest Supervisor, Huron-Manistee National Forests,=20 1755 S. Mitchell Street, Cadillac, MI 49601. Responsible Official for Cooperating Agency Mark Storzer, Field Manager, Bureau of Land Management, Milwaukee=20 Field Office, 626 E Wisconsin Ave. Suite 200, Milwaukee, WI 53202-46=20 17. Nature of Decision To Be Made The Forest Supervisor of the Huron-Manistee National Forests will=20 issue a decision on whether to approve, approve subject to specified=20 conditions, or disapprove for stated reasons, the proposed Surface Use=20 Plan of Operations or development of the well and construction and=20 operation of the flowline/pipeline and production facilities.=20 Similarly, the BLM Field Manager in Milwaukee will issue a decision on=20 whether to approve the Application for Permit to Drill as submitted,=20 approve subject to appropriate modifications or conditions, or=20 disapprove for stated reasons. Preliminary Issues We expect issues to include possible effects of noise, odor and=20 changes to the visual quality from the project on anglers and visitors=20 to the Semi-Primitive Nonmotorized area and Mason Tract, as well as the=20 possible effects of the project on tourism in the county. Permits and Licenses Required Savoy will be required to obtain a State permit for drilling from=20 the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment. Scoping Process This notice of intent initiates the scoping process, which guides=20 the development of the environmental impact statement. The Forest=20 Service plans to scope for information by contacting persons and=20 organizations interested or potentially affected by the proposed action=20 by using mailings, public announcements, and personal contacts. It is important that reviewers provide their comments at such times=20 and in such manner that they are useful to the agency's preparation of=20 the environmental impact statement. Therefore, comments should be=20 provided prior to the close of the comment period and should clearly=20 articulate the reviewer's concerns and contentions. The submission of=20 timely and specific comments can affect a reviewer's ability to=20 participate in subsequent administrative appeal or judicial review. We are especially interested in information that might identify a=20 specific undesired result of implementing the proposed action. Comments=20 will be used to help formulate alternatives to the proposed action.=20 Please make your written comments as specific as possible as they=20 relate to the proposed action, and include your name, address, and if=20 possible, telephone number and e-mail address. Comments received in response to this solicitation, including names=20 and addresses of those who comment, will be considered part of the=20 public record on this proposed action and will be available for public=20 inspection. Comments submitted anonymously will be accepted and=20 considered; however, those who submit anonymous comments will not have=20 standing to appeal the subsequent decisions under 36 CFR part 215.=20 Additionally, pursuant to 7 CFR 1.27(d), any persons may request the=20 agency to withhold a submission from the public record by showing how=20 the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) permits such confidentiality.=20 Persons requesting such confidentiality should be aware that under FOIA=20 confidentiality may be granted in only very limited circumstances, such=20 as to protect trade secrets. The Forest Service will inform the=20 requester of the agency's decision regarding the request for=20 confidentiality and, should the request be denied, return the=20 submission and notify the requester that the comments may be=20 resubmitted with or without name and address within 90 days. Dated: February 16, 2010. Barry Paulson, Forest Supervisor. [FR Doc. 2010-3587 Filed 2-23-10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3410-11-M