Final environmental impact statement, oil and gas development on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation : CO-SJFO-01-001EIS PDF
Preview Final environmental impact statement, oil and gas development on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation : CO-SJFO-01-001EIS
88067737 United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management San Juan Public Lands Center, Durango, Colorado Bureau of Indian Affairs Southwest Regional Office, Albuquerque, New Mexico Southern Ute Indian Tribe Oil and Gas Development on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation Final Environmental Impact Statement July 2002 Volume 2 MISSION STATEMENT The Bureau of Land Management is responsible for the stewardship of our public lands. It is committed to manage, protect, and improve these lands in a manner to serve the needs of the American people for all times. Management is based upon the the principles of multiple use and sustained yield of our nation’s resources within a framework of environmental responsibility and scientific technology. These resources include recreation, rangelands, timber, minerals, watershed, fish and wildlife, wilderness, air and scenic, scientific, and cultural values. ■kD a.Hi ■cc V.^ % 9l t e. ^ V*. 'r .--s c^.- ^ '"i^ 9*- % CHAPTER 5 - CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ITEM Has been digitized ITEM HAS BEEN DIGITIZED July 2002 CHAPTER 5—CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION 5.1 INTRODUCTION In accordance with requirements set forth in NEPA, Title 40 CFR, Part 1506.3(c) and the Council of Environmental Quality, a consultation and coordination program was developed and implemented for the preparation of the EIS. The purpose of the program was to ensure that appropriate members of the public and federal, state, and local agencies were contacted, consulted, and given an adequate opportunity to be involved in the environmental analysis and EIS process. This section describes the public and agency scoping process, consultation and coordination program, and issues and concerns identified from public and agency comments and the EIS review process. 5.2 PUBLIC AND AGENCY SCOPING PROCESS Soliciting comments from various federal, state, county, and local agencies as well as interested organizations and individuals is the first step in the EIS preparation process. Scoping is an information gathering process conducted early in the course of the EIS preparation to identify the range, or scope, of issues to be addressed during the environmental studies and in the EIS, and is required under NEPA 40 CFR 1501.7, 1506.6, and 1508.25. The scoping process for this EIS began September 15,1995 with publication of a Notice of Intent to prepare an EIS and conduct a public scoping meeting in the Federal Register. This began the 30-day comment period. Also, a news release announcing the scoping meeting was sent to local papers and news media (Durango Herald. Southern Ute Drum, and Southern Ute radio station KSUT). A scoping meeting was held on September 26, 1995 at the Rolling Thunder Hall at Sky Ute Casino Lodge and Dining in Ignacio, Colorado. Meeting attendees were asked to sign an attendance sheet and were provided with a handout containing project information. The meeting began with an opening statement by the BLM. Meeting topics included purpose of the EIS, EIS process, meeting objectives, EIS scope and alternatives, potential public concerns, and opportunities for public comment. A comment period allowed meeting participants the opportunity to voice their questions and concerns. The comment period was followed by an information breakout session. Agency participants included BLM, BIA, and SUIT. A total of 38 individuals attended the scoping meeting. Oral comments provided at the meeting were recorded. Eight comment letters were submitted to the BLM during the comment period. 5.3 SCOPING SUMMARY A scoping summary report was prepared that documented the scoping process and included copies of attendance sheets; a record of verbal comments; copies of written comment letters; and list of the Oil and Gas Development Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation 5-1 Chapter 5 - Consultation and Coordination July 2002 key issues, questions, concerns, and comments received. The scoping summary report is available for review and inspection at the BLM office in Durango, Colorado and SUIT office in Ignacio, Colorado. Some of the major issues identified during scoping are presented below (refer to Table 1-1 in Chapter 1 for detailed listing of scoping issues). ■ increase the overall scope of the EIS to include oil and gas development in the entire San Juan Basin; ■ evaluate the nature and effects of increased production by CBM infill development and/or enhanced recovery by nitrogen/carbon dioxide injection; ■ evaluate the cumulative and synergistic impacts of development; ■ evaluate the nature and effect of gas migration; ■ assess the potential impacts on public health, safety, and welfare; ■ describe the environment and analysis of impacts (groundwater, socioeconomic, vegetation, and wildlife resources were most commonly identified); ■ determine the effects of nitrogen injection on neighboring wells; ■ assess potential air quality impacts, particularly in Class I airsheds (Weminuche Wilderness Area and Mesa Verde National Park); ■ assess impacts on surface and groundwater quality; ■ address jurisdiction and ensure compliance with rules, regulations, and other land use decisions; ■ address impacts on roads and traffic safety concerns; ■ determine techniques and effectiveness of long-term reclamation; ■ evaluate noise impacts; ■ evaluate interim reclamation and maintenance of development sites; and ■ general questions about the EIS preparation, process, and content. Oil and Gas Development Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation 5-2 Chapter 5 - Consultation and Coordination July 2002 5.4 CORE TEAM At the start of the preparation of this EIS, the BLM, BIA, and SUIT formed a steering committee that has directed the preparation of this EIS. This group is known as the “Core Team” and is composed of representatives from BLM, BIA, and SUIT. The primary purpose of the Core Team is to coordinate all matters of project management, to provide relevant data for analysis to the EIS contractor, to provide statements of purpose and need for action, to define the alternatives to be considered, and to review and comment on the methods used for each stage of the environmental analysis process (e.g., inventory, impact assessment, and comparison of alternatives). Also, the Core Team reviews the results of each stage of the environmental analysis process (e.g., EIS report sections). The Core Team will continue to manage and direct the preparation of the EIS through the final EIS (FEIS) and the Record of Decision. 5.5 AGENCY AND ORGANIZATION CONTACTS During the preparation of the DEIS, the Core Team and the EIS contractor communicated with and received information and input from various federal, state, and local agencies and private organizations. Table 5-1 lists the agencies and organization that were contacted through letters meetings and telephone by the Core Team or its contractors. TABLE 5-1 Agencies and Organizations Consulted During the EIS Process Federal Agencies Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service • J.P. Pannel, Soil Scientist • Chuck Betz, Soil Scientist San Juan National Forest • Jim Powers • Sharon Hatch, Archaeologist Oil and Gas Development Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation 5-3 Chapter 5 - Consultation and Coordination July 2002 TABLE 5-1 Agencies and Organizations Consulted During the EIS Process Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs • Fred Ellenbecker, Range Resource specialist • Jim Freidley, Forester • Bruce Harrill, Archaeologist • Jay Herrera, Roads Engineer • Lee Maytubby, Area Realty Specialist • Dee Olguin, Realty Officer • Tony Recker, Forester • Wayne Wood, Chief of Conservation Department • Ken Young, Petroleum Engineer, EIS Core Team • A1 Sedik, Area Environmental Coordinator Bureau of Land Management, Colorado State Office • Harley Armstrong, Regional Paleontologist • Jim Rhett, Geologist, Cultural Resource Advisor Bureau of Land Management, National Science and Technology Center • Scott Archer, Senior Air Resources Specialist Bureau of Land Management, Montrose District • Roger Alexander, Natural Resource Specialist • Jerry Jones, Physical Resource Advisor Bureau of Land Management, San Juan Resource Area • Kent Hoffman, Assistant Area Manager • Kristie Arrington, Archaeologist • Ilyse Auringer, Minerals Team Supervisor • Don Englishman, Environmental Protection Specialist, EIS Core Team • Terry Galloway, Petroleum Engineering Technician • Jim Lovato, Minerals Staff Chief • Leon Lujan, Archaeologist • Jeff Olson, Geologist • Dan Rabinowitz, Petroleum Engineer • Pat Roddy, Petroleum Engineer Bureau of Land Management, San Juan Resource Area (continued) • Dave Suanson, Physical Scientist • Loren Wickstrom, Geologist Bureau of Reclamation • Warren Hurley, Archaeologist Oil and Gas Development Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation 5-4 Chapter 5 - Consultation and Coordination July 2002 TABLE 5-1 Agencies and Organizations Consulted During the EIS Process Fish and Wildlife Service • Terry Ireland, Ecological Services, Grand Junction • Gary Patton, Ecological Services, Denver • Keith Rose, Ecological Services, Grand Junction • Mark Wilson, Ecological Services, Albuquerque Geological Survey, Water Resource Division • John Turk, Water Quality Specialist Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality Division • Gordon Macrae, Air Quality Monitoring Specialist, Region VIII • Robert Wilson, Air Quality Permitting Specialist, Region X Water Quality Division • Dan Jackson, Water Quality Specialist Minerals Management Service • Claire Schaefer, Management Assistant • Steve Rawlings, Analyst Indian Tribes and Nations Southern Ute Indian Tribe Tribal Council • Clement J. Frost, Chairman • Marvin E. Cook, Vice Chairman • Vida B. Peabody, Council Member/Treasurer • Leonard C. Burch, Council Member • Pearl E. Casias, Council Member • Byron Red, Council Member • Howard Richards, Council Member Maynes Bradford Shipps & Sheftel (Attorneys to the Tribal council) • Sam Maynes • Sam Maynes, Jr. • Tom Shipps Executive Office • Eugene Naranjo, Executive Officer • Debbie Garner, Assistant to Executive Officer Community Action Programs • Donna Young, Executive Director Cultural Preservation Committee • Alden Naranjo, Chairman Oil and Gas Development Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation 5-5 Chapter 5 - Consultation and Coordination July 2002 TABLE 5-1 Agencies and Organizations Consulted During the EIS Process Department of Economic Development • Jim Owen, Director Department of Energy • Robert Santistevan, Director • Bob Zahradnik, Manager of Exploration and Production • Dick Baughman, Geologist, EIS Core Team • Jerry Bruner, Gas Marketing • Rex Richardson, Land • Rob Voorhees, Engineering Manager • Robert Jefferson, Red Willow Production Company Operations Manager • Barbara Wickman, Economist/Geologist, EIS Project Management • David Gilmore, EIS Project Management • Karen Anderson, Accounting • Carl Beal, Severance Tax Administrator Engineering Department • Tom Brown, Engineer Environmental Programs • Mike Frost, Director • Cheryl Wiescamp, Environmental Quality Specialist • Cindy Crist, Water Quality Specialist • Fran King Brown, Water Quality Specialist • Virgil Frazier, Air Quality Specialist Department of Finance • Larry Beck, Director Natural Resources Division • James M. Olguin, Director • Wayne Wood, Conservation Division Manager Agricultural Ojfice • Latitia Tayor, Agriculture Division Head • Jim Oglesby, Soil Conservationist • Don Wickman, Soil Conservationist Forestry Department • Buff Jebsen-Ross, Forestry Lands Branch • Howard Richard, Sr., Chief • Pathimi Goodtracks, Lands Division Head Oil and Gas Development Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Southern Ute Indian Reservation 5-6 Chapter 5 - Consultation and Coordination
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