6 BLM LIBRARY # t ' 88045398 Draft EIS Draft EIS for the HD Mountains Coalbed Methane Gas Field Development Project U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Interior Forest Service Bureau of Land Management San Juan National Forest San Juan Resource Area Durango, Colorado Montrose District Durango, Colorado TN 844 . S26 . 1991b iv <^o\<cT cV o^' ^ ^ w #r '- •- <«fW< r- i »» 1 -.1' ’-•1 /^r- - n . , /. t - j- i ^ 1 »'£,< - VPO(J^ ol ral- - ' r H iv-'». t Sftiwc •. L . ,. •-ife '«tr» ^»fl.1 t/^Jkh &.i*- f vpi?.r»gj^ . *-j -^*-^ • r*- •> -i >"' -- ' • 'i. ^'bioi-.^rfQ. oCuVi-'ioO '- -:tm. 6 t:?.‘! - yJlU* '4 *'• 9 ’' 1': . . '' TH «»;S - ;l£!f'. •»“ -'> */T . '"ii-*! i , f* t. 'I, *i t i# . «jt. -I. f - •»r- ' "-J. * frjiv*t^ * r*j« . I • } ^0 .7Tr -.J > ^ '< ar*:l : .” ? i 1 . —. 1 .' . .:i -* is '•: 1 t ?LL I -1 r: , -1, i . 1. - .0 «!S i t- • *^4^->-*' •• .d 5-** 4 i f jIH o* f .«i| .' Qtffneia • « •i '1..V »>•* r -Sfl’? iV 1 ' 'f , .. United States Forest San Juan 701 Camino Del Rio, #301 Department of Service National Durango, CO 813OI Agriculture Forest 303-247-^874 REPLY TO: 1950 DATE: February 11, 1991 'O Dear Friend: I have enclosed a copy of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the H.D. Mountains Coalbed Methane Gas Field Development Project on the Pine District of the San Juan National Forest. The Bureau of Land Management is a cooperating agency and has assisted the Forest Service in preparing the DEIS. Three public meetings will be held to provide information about the environmental impact statement process. These meetings will be very similar to "open houses". Locations and dates of the meetings are: February I9 1991 “ 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm , Bayfield Lions Hall Bayfield, Colorado February 20, 1991 “ 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm La Plata County Fairgrounds Extension Building Durango Colorado , February 21, 1991 “ 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm Sky Ute Lodge Ouray Room Ignacio, Colorado The Forest Service invites written comments on the DEIS. Written comments will be accepted at the Pine District Office in Bayfield (367 S. Pearl, Bayfield). There is a 45 day comment period. Written comments must be received by April 8, 1991 Comments submitted in response to the DEIS will be assessed and • considered in the Final EIS to be completed later. Written comments should be mailed to Michael G. Johnson, P.O. Box 439, Bayfield, Colorado 81122. If you have any questions, please contact Dick Bell at (303)884-2512. Also attached is a brief description of the purpose and need for an EIS, the purpose and value of public comment and a description of the chapters of the EIS. Your continued interest in the administration and management of the San Juan National Forest is appreciated. Theink you. Sincerely, Enclosures SUMMARY Purpose and Need for an Environmental Impact Statement Amoco Production Company submitted Applications for Permit to Drill five coalbed methane gas wells on the San Juan National Forest with the Bureau of Land Management. They also expressed an intent to develop and operate an additional 21 other coalbed methane gas wells on leaseholds in the H.D. Mountains on National Forest System lands. These actions demonstrated that the exploratory phase of the operation had been sufficiently completed to begin field development for the coalbed methane gas. Public interest and agency concern indicated possible significant effects to the human environment. The National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires the agencies to prepare Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) to document the results of analysis of a major Federal action that will significantly affect the human environment. The purpose of an EIS is to provide a full and fair discussion of significant environmental impacts of oil and gas development in the H.D.'s and to inform the decision makers and the public of reasonable alternatives which would avoid or minimize adverse impacts or enhance the quality of the human environment. Purpose and Value of Public Input There is often confusion on how public input is used. Some people believe the Forest Service makes decisions about public lands without consideration of citizens opinions, or that the Forest Service pays no more than lip service to public input. Other people feel that the Forest Service should "count votes" and make decisions based on the number of letters and statements received on an issue. Yet others feel that their desires for dramatic changes should be considered without explaining the basis for these desires. These perceptions raise an important question: How does the Forest Service use public input in making decisions? Forest Service decisions are based on five factors: (1) the law, (2) technical information, 3 resource capability, 4 professional judgement, and 5 ( ) ( ) ( ) public input. Public input enters into the decision making process when there is room for interpretation in any of the first four factors. Public input, for example, would not be a factor in citing a violator of Federal regulations, but it does influence decisions about where Forest management could emphasize one use versus another. Use of public comment is not merely a vote-counting process, however. The decision-maker must consider each comment against legal, technical, and professional judgement constraints. Comments need to be substantive, with specific reasons and rationale to back-up any recommendations or suggestions by the commentor. Summary Description of the EIS Chapter Contents The contents of the EIS displays the following information. Chapter 1 is the introduction, beginning with a description of the proposal, describing why action is needed, the environmental analysis process, land and legal status, specific organizational responsibility, issues and concerns and opportunities. Chapter 2 displays the three alternatives and also includes proposed construction, operation and facility descriptions. It also displays the alternatives considered but not analyzed in detail. Chapter 3 contains a description of the affected environment by specific resources present. Chapter 4 discloses the environmental consequences by alternative for each of the specific resources. Chapter 5 contains a comparison of the direct, indirect and cumulative impacts expected from implementation of each alternative, the irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources and the relationship between local short-term uses of the environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity. Chapter 6 has a description of measures recommended for mitigation and monitoring. Chapter 7 describes the consultation and coordination which includes public participation and involvement and a listing of the preparers of the document. Chapter 8 lists the references used. There are three appendicies: the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management Standard Stipulations and mitigation measures; an explanation of the exclusion area in the H.D. Mountains; and the technical appendices. 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MOUNTAINS COALBED METHANE GAS FIELD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT PINE DISTRICT, SAN JUAN NATIONAL FOREST Archuleta and La Plata Counties, Colorado Type of Action: Administrative Lead Agency: USDA - Forest Service ' Cooperating Agency: USDI - Bureau of Land Management Responsible Officials: William T. Sexton, Forest Supervisor Sally Wisely, Area Manager San Juan National Forest San Juan Resource Area 701 Camino Del Rio Montrose District Durango, Colorado 813OI 701 Camino Del Rio (303)247-4874 Durango, Colorado 813OI (303)247-4082 For Further Information Contact: Michael G.Johnson, District Ranger Pine District, San Juan National Forest P.O. Box 439 Bayfield, Colorado 81122 (303)884-2512 Abstract: Three alternatives for the H.D. Mountains Coalbed Methane Gas Field Development Project for the 56,910 acre study area within the boundary of the San Juan National Forest are described and evaluated. The alternatives are: Alternative A, the ”No Action Alternative” emphasis is on opportunities to complete and operate the existing wells; Alternative B, the "Proposal” emphasis is on opportunities to develop and operate 3^ additional coalbed methane gas wells within the study area; and Alternative C, the "Current Direction Alternative” emphasis is on opportunities to develop and operate a total of II5 new coalbed methane gas wells within the study area. Comments must be received by: Please retain your copy of this draft EIS. Unless the extent of public comment is such as to require that it be substantially revised, the final EIS is anticipated to be a supplement to this draft statement. — 1u <3 I'WlOi I'. « I ;*1• ’V -•I H A t ''•J.N >.* i *s taniisft 1ft 0(gf[ t AiP^J # • •< % % rj’-w' *- 4Jr nev*>£ ftftlXJUM ft*^ •'it=r.w. - .* / ^ cu— • .i f10 oribiM) ^ iOeil Dim- w-,V»- J S»6Uf" '-'u tro0 rtn-.4«atc»''aj ft '*‘?*j v-i*’ WA'aV .tf -iftOL 4Pb8 ^ I^XaJt badl*^ tAV* MviJftrsfts* J» tUlbMNf aMjIv 3 ft ‘- sftw •«!? *- on A »*t ‘ i»lUrK9«iQ Mr ?li Lm.*€.J m rSF:: 8