HomeMy WebLinkAbout20131536.tiffUnited States Forest
USDA Department of Service
Agriculture
Pawnee
National Grassland
660 "0" Street
Greeley, CO 80631
Woe: (970) TDD: (970) 346-5015
Web:: www.fs.nsda.gov/arp
Fast (970.)346.5014.
File Code: 1950/2720
Date: June 6, 2013
Dear Interested Party,
The US Forest Service is requesting public comment regarding a proposed action on the Pawnee
National Grassland (PNG).
Background
The Forest Service proposes to authorize Noble Energy, Inc. (Noble) to construct approximately
2,100 feet (0.40 mile) of buried, 6 -inch steel natural gas pipeline on the PNG to transport. natural
• as to a. pipeline on adjacent private lands. The legal description of the project area is T. S N., R.
60 W., 6th P.M., sec. 4, NI2SE'h..The project area is about 1 mile southwest of Keota, CO..A,
map of the project. area is enclosed'.`
The natural gas would be produced by Badger Federal LF 03-64HN, an authorized oil & gas well
on PNG. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), with Forest Service concurrence; authorized
this well in December 2012.. Tlie Forest Service project for this well was called TWO BADGER
WELLS PROJECT.
As authorized, Noble .will, begin construction of the Badger Federal LF 03.-64FIN dig
location will begin. after July 10, 2013 This well will be drilled before the end of August 2013,
This well will be ready to produce by mid -September 20.13. Noble would like to have, the
proposed pipeline constructed and ready to operate before this well comes on-line so that no
natural gas will be flared after the well goes into production.
Initial disturbance Of National Forest System (NFS) lands during construction of' the buried
pipeline would include approximately I.45 acres (a corridor 30 feet wide along the length of the
pipeline route). An additional 2,800 feetor so (053 mile) ofthe pipeline would be built on
adjacent private lands, also with a 30 -foot wide disturbance corridor. A 30 -foot right-of-way for
operationand maintenance of the pipeline would be authorized on NFS lands.
Noble has proposed to use (iTneeded) some fresh water for dust abatement during construction
of the project. The estimated amount used for the project would be less than 0.1 acre-foot.
The pipeline construction would take less than a month to complete. All ground disturbance
associated with the project would be reclaimed in order to re-establish native vegetation as early
as possible.
Documenting the NEPA Decision
A Forest Service Inter -Disciplinary Team (IDT) has reviewed t1eproposed actionin the context
of the applicable laws, Forest. Service policy, and other guidance, :including the 1997Revision to
the Land and Resource Management Plan for the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and
Pawnee National Grassland. The IDT has determined that the proposed action would comply.
with this direction.
rnmoY\lcarfons Coln [13
Caring for the Land and Serving People
2013-1536
Panted on Recycled Paper tig0
Because Noble hasa valid right to develop the oil and gas resources under an authorized Federal
oil and gas lease granted by the BLM, the Forest Service will not decide whether or.not Noble
can construct the proposed pipeline, but under what circumstances the pipeline may be built.
Therefore,. so long as a Categorical Exclusion may be: applied to the proposed action and a
Decision Memo used to document the decision, a "no -action" alternative will not be considered.
The project activities meet the requirements described in 36 CFR 220;6(e)(3): "Approval,
modification, or continuation of minor special uses of NFS lands that require less than five
contiguous acres of land." Use of this Categorical Exclusion requires a Planning Record and
Decision Memo for documentation.
Glenn Casamassa, Forest Supervisor, is the. Responsible Official and will sign the Decision
Memo and would approve any permit that gould,authorize occupation and use associated with
the project on NFS lands.
Submiittin2 Comments,
Comments on this proposed action may be submitted orally or in writing via letter, fax, or email.
Oral comments may be submitted by calling 970-346-5000, Monday through Friday; between the
hours of 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Mountain Time. Written comments may be mailed toy Badger
Pipeline Project, Pawnee National Grassland, 660 "O" Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Written
comments. may- also be faxed to 970-346-5014:orsubmitted,yia,email to comments-rocky-
mountain-arapaho-roosevelt-pawnee@fs.fecLus: Comments received viaemail should have the
name of the project (Badger Pipeline Project) included in the subject line. For emailed
comments, the sender should receive an automated electronic acknowledgement from the Forest
Service as confirmation of receipt. If the sender does nbt receive this automated reply, it is the
sender's responsibility to ensure timely submission of comments by other means.
This comment period coincides with public scoping and will be the only opportunity to comment
offered. Comments must be submitted per 36 CFR 215. Those who comment may be eligible to
appeal. Comments will be accepted for 30 days after publication -of a legal notice in the Fort
Collins Coloradoan on June 10, 2013:
If you would like additional information about this project, please contact Mary Ann Chambers
at 970-346-5000 or by email at riaachambersafs.fed ns;
Sincerely,
,gez,
LORI A. BELL
District Ranger
cc: Vernon E Koehler,MVlaryA Chambers
Enclosure (project area map)
BADGER PIPELINE PROJECT
Project Area Map
T. 8 Ng R. 60 1, 6th P.M., sec. 4, N1/2SE1/4.
•
cT•
K
LEGEND
==== Interstate Pipeline Corridor
— — Badger Pipeline Proposed Route
33
Badger LF O3-64H.N Drilling Pad
PRIVATE LANDS
NFS LANDS
.
A
Created by Vernon E. Koehler. Updated on 6/6/2013.
34 G• 11er1'aa
9 r .Hi` wit
Jaitl
4961
3,000 4,000 5,000 Feet
I I i
Disclaimer: The US Forest Service uses the most current and
complete data avatabIS: GIS data and product accuracy may
vary. They may be: developed from sources of differing accuracy,
accurate only at certain scales, based on modeling or interpretation,
ihcomplete while being created or revised, etc. Using GIS products
for purposes other than those for which they were created, *ay!
yield inaccurate or misleading results. The U3 Forest Service
reserves the right to correct, update, modify. or replace GIS
products without notification: For more information, contact the
Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National
Grassland at (970) 2956600.
Jennifer Fuller
From:
Sent:
To:
Cc:
Subject:
Attachments:
Chambers, Mary A -FS [machambers@fs.fed.us]
Wednesday, June 12, 2013 3:08 PM
Chambers, Mary A -FS
Koehler, Vernon E -FS; Bell, Lori A -FS
Scoping letter for the Badger Pipeline project on the Pawnee National Grassland attached.
Noble Energy Pipeline.pdf
Attached is the scoping letter for the Badger Pipeline Project. The legal notice for this project
appeared in the Coloradoan on June 10, 2013. You have 30 days after. the date is was published
in the Coloradoan to comment.
Mary Ann Chambers
U5r5
970 5+6-5009
cell 970 690 795+
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