Encana OCP Committee recommendations released
For the Normally Pressured Lance Natural Gas Development Project in Sublette County, Wyoming
by Pinedale Online!
May 3, 2012
The Operator Committed Practices (OCP) Committee has released their list of recommendations for Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc’s proposed gas field development in the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) Natural Gas Development Project in southern Sublette County. The final report provided to Encana consisted of 151 specific recommendations for consideration during the pre-planning and NEPA analysis phases of the project.
The Operator Committed Practices (OCP) Committee was formed in 2010 in response to a request from Encana Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. to provide enhanced community input regarding the potential effects of, and community concerns related to, the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) project proposal.
The OCP Committee membership, consisting of a group of 16 area residents, represented community interests including small business, elected officials, sportsmen, ranching, the environmental community, and others. These individuals worked together over the course of several months to identify key issues and concerns to be addressed by Encana prior to, and during development of, the NPL Project.
The recommendations included in the report reflected a wide range of major issues including air, water quality, wildlife, reclamation, recreation, cultural and historical resource concerns as well as grazing, socio-economic issues and emergency response needs. Encana has performed a thorough review of the report and has adopted the majority of the recommendations as "Operator Committed Practices".
The final document, with Encana’s comments and commitments, was returned to the OCP Committee. Following review, the final document was forwarded to the BLM for incorporation into the administrative record of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) analysis currently in-progress for the NPL Project.
This new approach provides local residents affected by energy development with enhanced community input into the pre-planning and NEPA analysis processes.
OCP members on the committee were:
Pete Arambel, Rancher and landowner
Linda Baker, Environmental advocate
Wil Gay, Emergency Medical Services
Dave Hanks, Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce
Don Hartley, Area historian
Wally Johnson, Sweetwater County Commissioner
Roger Jones, Area businessman
Andy Nelson, Sublette County Commissioner
Eric Peterson, UW Extension Office
Jim Roscoe, Wyoming State Legislator
Phil Smith, Mayor of Big Piney
Stephen Smith, Mayor of Pinedale
Terrie Swift, Sublette County Chamber of Commerce
Mary Thoman, Sweetwater County Conservation District
Darrell Walker, Sublette County Conservation District
Bob Wharff, Wyoming Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife
Pati Smith, Facilitator for the Committee, said, "Our hope is that this effort will enhance dialogue between the BLM, Encana, and the Sublette and Sweetwater County communities during pre-planning, NEPA analysis, and future development of the Normally Pressured Lance (NPL) Natural Gas Development Project."
For more information about the Operator Committed Practices (OCP) Committee, contact Pati L. Smith, Facilitator, 120 Collier Circle, Green River, WY 82935, (307) 870-7250.
Click on this link for the OCP Report (24-page PDF, 259K)
Related Links:
Committee of local residents guides Encana planned energy development March 28, 2012
Encana public meeting about NPL January 18, 2012
Tour of the Jonah and NPL September 5, 2011 (103 pictures)
Committee of local residents guides Encana planned energy development March 28, 2012
NPL Fact Sheet (PDF)
Encana NPL May 3, 2011
NPL proposes 3,500 new wells April 17, 2011
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