Availability of Record of Decision (ROD) for the Dark Canyon Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Короткий зміст

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM), New Mexico State Office, announces the availability to the public of the ROD for the Final Dark Canyon EIS. The Final Dark Canyon EIS analyzes the impacts on the environment from reasonable foreseeable development of oil and gas resources within Dark Canyon, located in Eddy County, NM. The EIS analyzes seven alternatives, including the no action alternative and the Applicant's (Yates Energy Corporation) proposed action to drill the Diamondback Federal #1 Well on Federal Lease NM-62161. The ROD documents the Bureau's decision to select Alternative G (the Preferred Alternative) of the Final EIS. The Decision approves the Applicant's proposed Diamondback Federal #1 Well, with the location moved 300 meters to the northeast and establishes a ``Cave Protection Zone'' (CPZ) within the EIS Study Area that would prohibit surface occupancy on existing leases. Drilling would be allowed within the EIS Study Area, but outside the CPZ, with enhanced precautionary operations. Future leasing would be denied within the EIS Study Area. By Memorandum of August 13, 1993, the National Park Service (NPS) concurred with the BLM in the selection of the agency's Preferr