Comment deadline was October 30, 2014

Overview:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is seeking comments from the public on an application to discharge gravel fill in wetlands from ConocoPhillips Alaska (CPAI) to support the development of the Greater Mooses Tooth Unit 1 (GMT1) drill site in the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska (NPR-A).

The project is 14 miles west of the Alpine field. The GMT1 drill site would be operated and maintained by Alpine staff and supported by existing Alpine infrastructure. The GMT1 pad would have a capacity for up to 33 production wells and is located on a federal oil and gas lease previously issued by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). CPAI proposes the placement of 628,050 cubic yards of clean fill material into 72.7 acres of waters of the U.S., including wetlands to construct a 7.7 mile-long access road (59.2 acres), including bridges and abutments, as well as an 11.8-acre drill pad at (GMT1).

The project proposes to access resources owned by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and Kuukpik Corporation as well as federal oil and gas resources. The proposed development was originally analyzed in the BLM’s 2004 Alpine Satellite Development Plan (ASDP) and is also subject to the 2012 NPR-A Integrated Activity Plan (IAP).

The BLM is finalizing a Supplemental EIS (SEIS) for the GMT1 Development Project to
re-evaluate the proposed GMT1 project. The Draft SEIS was issued in February 2014 to address changes to the proposed development plan from the 2004 ASDP Record of Decision, evaluate relevant new circumstances and information, and provide opportunities for public participation in accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements.

To view the permit application, visit:
http://www.poa.usace.army.mil//Portals/34/docs/regulatory/publicnotices/2014_PN/POA-2013-461,%20Colville%20River_PN.pdf

Action Requested:

RDC members are encouraged to submit written comments in support of the permit and Alternative A, the CPAI Proposed Project. Written comments must include the project Reference Number POA-2013-461 and be received by Thursday, October 30, 2014.

Email: harry.a.baij@usace.army.mil

Fax: 907-753-5567

Mail:
Mr. Harry A. Baij
Regulatory Division, CEPOA-RD
P.O. Box 6898
JBER, Alaska 99506-0898

Points to consider in your comments:

• Peak production from GMT1 is estimated at approximately 30,000 barrels of oil per day and would help offset declining North Slope production.
• Development would provide benefits to local, state, and national economies through local hire for jobs created during construction and operations, tax revenues, royalties, and new resources to help meet domestic energy demand.
• Development will also provide significant economic benefit to Alaska Natives on the North Slope as well as throughout the state through direct payment of royalties and revenue sharing among the Alaska Native Regional Corporations.
• Alternative A will have the least impact to the wetland environment. CPAI’s proposed project, Alternative A, has been modified to reduce environmental impacts and lower the overall footprint.
• The overall gravel footprint of Alternative A is the smallest of all the options. Alternative D, the aircraft and ice road access alternative, has a larger gravel footprint than Alternative A because of the need to construct an airstrip and a larger gravel pad to accommodate more equipment and a camp.
• Alternative A has the lowest estimated emissions because it requires the least amount of new infrastructure and eliminates the need for airplane support.
• The Project incorporates extensive subsistence mitigation in the project design in support of subsistence resources and access, the proposed project drill site location was moved out of the Fish Creek buffer to provide additional protection to this area. Road access will avoid the need for air traffic to the drill site, which is the number one complaint of subsistence hunters.
• Pipeline design standards are of a minimum of seven feet and separation from the road were developed to ensure caribou movement is protected for subsistence hunting.
• The project has incorporated three pull-outs to support safety and subsistence access on the GMT1 road.
• The currently proposed GMT1 project (formerly CD6) is essentially the same as that approved for permitting in 2004.
• A review of new data and information shows there are no appreciable changes in the physical, biological, or social resources associated with the project study area. New data includes multi-year studies on hydrology, birds, and caribou.
• The road is needed for emergency spill and safety response.
• As proposed in Alternative A, GMT1 will include a gravel road connection to the main Alpine facilities. The road is necessary to insure that the operator can respond to any environmental and safety issues in an adequate and timely manner. Alternative D, the aircraft and ice road access alternative, would not allow adequate access (on bad weather days, there would be no access) to emergency response resources and creates significant environmental and safety risk.

Comment deadline was October 30, 2014