DECISION MEMO Samson Lonestar, Limited Partnership Mineral Proposal Betty #1-H Compartment 21 USDA FOREST SERVICE REGION 8 NATIONAL FORESTS AND GRASSLANDS IN TEXAS SABINE NATIONAL FOREST ANGELINA/SABINE RANGER DISTRICT Tract S-1a-II John Haley Survey A-291 & Sebastian Francois Survey A-207 Shelby County, Texas
DECISION I have decided to authorize the Surface Use Plan of Operations for Samson Lone Star Limited Partnership to conduct surface operations associated with accessing, drilling, testing, and completing the Betty #1-H gas well including intallation and contruction of the associated access road and pipeline. The Surface Use Plan of operations is a binding part of the Application for Permit to Drill authorized by the Bureau of Land Management. The location for the Betty #1-H gas well is within administrative Compartment 21 on the Sabine National Forest, Shelby County, approximately 12 miles east of Shelbyville, Texas. Operations would occur pursuant to Federal oil and gas lease TXNM-86605 and include the following performed by the Operator:
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Clearing and leveling a 3.92 acre site for the drill pad. Constructing a 972’ X 42’ (0.94 ac) access road right-of-way to access the site. Moving in and rigging up drilling equipment. Conducting drilling operations for approximately 2 months until the well is drilled to the target horizon. Testing for production capability. Installing 972 feet of pipeline in the top of the back slope of the access road. Installation of production facility including tank battery and compressor. Reduction of well pad size to accommodate production and re-vegetation of reduced area Plugging of well and rehabilitation of all disturbed areas if well is not producible.
If the well would prove to be potentially capable of production, Samson would cement the casing in the well and prepare it for additional testing under applicable BLM and State requirements. Depending on results of production testing, production equipment could be installed on the well site or the well could be plugged and the site rehabilitated.
NEPA Project Samson L. P. – Betty #1-H Well and Pipeline
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To prevent the introduction of non native invasive species (NNIS) to the project area, during rehabilitation efforts, an agency approved seeding mixture will be used that excludes NNIS. When mulching is required, only straw or weed free certified hay is to be used. The project area will be monitored for infestations of non native invasive plant species during and following implementation of the proposed activities. Monitoring would conform to that which is being conducted as part of the Plan direction and 2008 Non Native Invasive Plant Species (NNIPS) Environmental Assessment (EA). Any NNIPS discovered would be removed following direction in the 2008 National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (NFGT) NNIPS EA. Inventories for new infestations as a result of the proposed activities would be conducted every growing season. The monitoring and inventories would be conducted by qualified invasive species, range, and/or botany personnel on the NFGT. This project is categorically excluded from documentation in an environmental assessment (EA) or an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the following reasons (36 CFR 220.6 (a)): 1) Past projects, which are similar to the proposed action, have had no significant effects, individually or cumulatively, and no extraordinary circumstances exist in this proposal that might cause the action to have significant effects upon the human environment. 2) This proposal is consistent with and similar to the categories of action which may be excluded from documentation in an EIS or an EA as described in (36 CFR 220.6 (e)(17)). No wilderness, special areas, sensitive resources, or research projects are involved in the proposed project area (36 CFR 220.6 (b)). As indicated by the project specific biological evaluation (BE), the proposed action would have a “not likely to adversely affect” determination for federally listed or proposed threatened or endangered species. For Forest Service sensitive species, this project’s actions “may impact individuals but is not likely to cause a trend to federal listing or loss viability”. The visual resource will be minimally impacted. As indicated in the Heritage Resources Survey, project DETAC#245, the proposed action will not affect heritage resources (sites) that are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or any site that has not been evaluated for NRHP eligibility. Soil disturbance and effects on the water quality will be minimal. Disturbed or exposed soil will be revegetated with a native or non persistent seed mixture recommended by the Forest Botanist. In relation to air quality, the proposed action will not cause the National Ambient Air Quality Standards or Class II Areas to be violated. No base floodplains or jurisdictional wetlands are involved in this proposal. PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT A scoping letter was mailed to the current list of potentially interested or affected parties on May 29, 2008. This project is denoted as Samson Lone Star Limited Partnership – Betty #1-H Well and Pipeline on the Schedule of Proposed Actions. One response was received from the public during the scoping period. The response stated concern for the loss of stop-over habitat for Neotropical migratory land birds and that an alternate method such as indirect drilling from existing well pads to minimize destruction of forest cover would be favored. Information concerning effects of the project on species of concern is included in the biological evaluation. When feasible, drilling a new well in existing open areas or on existing well pads is preferred.
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However, feasibility is dictated in part to geologic formation and spacing requirements set by regulatory agencies and the lessee has lease rights to develop their mineral. This information did not result in a change of the project Decision. Documentation of public involvement is on file at the District Office in Hemphill, Texas. FINDING REQUIRED BY OTHER LAWS This project is consistent with the management direction, including standards and guidelines, in the 1996 Revised Land and Resource Management Plan for the National Forests and Grasslands in Texas (the Plan) as amended. IMPLEMENTATION Implementation of this decision may begin on or after the date of the signature of the Deciding Official below. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW OR APPEAL OPPORTUNITIES This action does not fall within the category of actions covered under the Federal Court decision in Earth Island Institute v. Ruthenbeck and therefore, is categorically excluded from notice, comment, and appeal pursuant to 36 CFR 215.12(f). For further information on this decision contact, William E. Taylor at (409) 625-1940 or Holly Erimias, 415 South First Street, Suite 110, Lufkin, Texas, 75901-3801, (936) 639-8598.
Signature: __/s/ William e. Taylor, jr WILLIAM E. TAYLOR, JR. Angelina/Sabine District Ranger Sabine National Forest 5050 Highway 21 East Hemphill, TX 75948
_11/10/2008____ Date
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual's income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or 202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
NEPA Project Samson L. P. – Betty #1-H Well and Pipeline
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