San Juan Plan Revision Update
Supplement to Draft EIS for the San Juan Plan Revision Available August 26, 2011
Background: During the public comment period for the Draft Land Management Plan and Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft LMP/EIS), the San Juan Public Lands Center (SJPLC) received comments suggesting that our Reasonable Foreseeable Development (RFD) scenario for oil and gas development projections in the Paradox Basin were low because we did not consider the development potential of the Gothic Shale Gas Play (GSGP), a potential new shale gas play underlying portions of Montezuma and Dolores counties and small portions of La Plata and San Miguel counties. We also received comments on the Draft LMP/EIS suggesting that the type of air quality model we used in our analysis was inappropriate for the scale of the plan and that we had exceeded the capabilities of that particular model.
We considered all of this information, and through further technical evaluation, we determined that, 1) the GSGP was a high potential play that should be evaluated; and 2) a more detailed air quality model and analysis was needed and should include the new development projections for the GSGP area. We also determined that a Supplement to the Draft EIS was needed in order to incorporate this new information and analysis into the Draft LMP/EIS.
The two primary reasons for the Supplement to the Draft EIS are: 1) to update the shale gas development projections (i.e., number of wells, well pads, road miles, and acres of disturbance) and analysis of resource impacts associated with developing the GSGP area, and 2) to disclose the results from the recently completed air quality model based on the new development projections.
The Supplement to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) for the San Juan Plan Revision will be available for review and comment on August 26, 2011. Written comments will be accepted during the 90-day comment period (Aug. 26 - Nov. 25, 2011).
Review the Supplement: The Supplement & supporting documents (e.g., the revised Reasonable Foreseeable Development scenario and air quality technical support document) will be posted on this web page on August 26, 2011. Hard copies and CDs are available upon request by calling Elysia 970-385-1253 or emailing emretzlaff@fs.fed.us. Please include your name and the mailing address of where we should send the document and/or CD.
Open Houses: The San Juan Public Lands Center will be hosting open houses to provide an overview of the Supplement, explain how it relates to the Draft LMP/EIS and forthcoming Final LMP/EIS, and to answer questions. We welcome you to attend an open house to learn more:
- Thurs, Sept. 1: Norwood Community Center, 1670 Naturita St., Norwood
- Wed, Sept. 7: Durango Public Library, 1900 E. 3rd Ave., Durango
- Thurs, Sept. 8: Dove Creek Community Center, 225 W. 7th, Dove Creek
- Wed, Sept. 14: Montezuma County Annex Building, 103 N. Chestnut St., Cortez
* All open houses will be held 6-8 pm
When can comments on the Supplement be submitted and how?
The Notice of Availability (NOA) for the Supplement was printed in the Federal Register on 08/26/11. The published NOA initiates the 90-day public review and comment period. Comments must be postmarked by November 25, 2011 to be considered in the Final EIS and Proposed LMP. Comments will only be accepted on the information in the Supplement to the Draft EIS during this comment period.
Comments may be made via:
Email: comments-planrevision-sanjuan@fs.fed.us
Mail: SJPL Supplement Comments, Attn: Shannon Manfredi, 15 Burnett Court, Durango, CO 8130
Fax: Attn: SJPL Supplement Comments and Shannon Manfredi, 970-375-2331
For more information about the Supplement, the open houses, or about the plan revision in general, contact:
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