No. Mitigation Measures
Gulf of Mexico beach of up to 12 hours may be required during nesting, documentation of nests, or excavation
of nests.
12
If an unknown cultural resource is discovered during well pluggings, work will immediately cease in the
immediate area until the park determines the significance of the discovery and provides guidance on how to
13
Wells will be plugged in compliance with the NPS Well Plugging Guide for Nonfederal Oil and Gas Wells in
the State of Texas and Railroad Commission of Texas requirements. The NPS Well Plugging Guide addresses
how the NPS follows the BLM’s Onshore Order No. 2, Section III(G), regarding well plugging. The NPS has
adopted the minimum standards of the
Department of the Interior’s Onshore Oil and Gas Order Number 2,
Section III.G., Drilling Abandonment for plugging wells in plarks.
14
All ATV operators will be required to wear personal safety equipment identical to that which is required of all
NPS staff. This includes helmet, gloves, orange safety vest, closed-
toe shoes that cover the ankle, eye
protection, long sleeve shirt, and long pants. Non-NPS staff will provide the park
with proof that these
individuals have completed a current ATV safety Rider Course prior to operating an ATV in the park.
15
In preparation for a hurricane event, all surface and sub-surface equipment in accordance within the Padre
Island National Seashore Hurricane Preparedness Plan.
Fire suppression equipment will be maintained in serviceable condition at all times.
17
Access roads from the Gulf beach through the primary dunes may need to be re-opened to provide access to
the wells. Vehicles will not be driven off the designated access routes and into undisturbed habitats. The use
of bull rock will not be allowed on roads within Padre Island National Seashore.
18
Unused equipment or debris will not be stored at wellsites. Any unused or surplus equipment will be removed
from the park immediately. Debris such as cardboard boxes, garbage, buckets, etc. must not be stored at the
well sites and must be brought in on an as needed basis.
19
Heavy equipment is limited to 20 vehicles per each approved plan of operations each day, a speed limit of
15 mph or less, no traveling at night, and shall be scheduled in a manner that facilitates caravanning and
minimizes truck trips. The contract crew will utilize an operator-provided shuttle service to transport crews to
and from the site to decrease vehicular traffic on the beach.
Night time driving hours for heavy equipment shall be based on the U.S. Naval Observatory sunrise/sunset
table (enclosed). This table is available online at http://aa.usno.navy.mil/data/docs/RS_OneYear.php and then
completing FORM A. Be sure t
o add one hour to all times in the table when Daylight Savings Time is being
observed (second Sunday in March through first Sunday in November). All heavy equipment travel on the
beach must be completed between the rise and set hours listed on the table. If this is not possible (i.e. a vehicle
can make it to a site but not back to pavement prior to the official sunset time), then the vehicle(s) and
equipment will remain at a staging area outside the park, or on a pad location within the park, until daylight
travel hours begin. The night time driving ban will be strictly enforced by park law enforcement personnel due
to increasing concerns over visitor and employee safety and for the protection of wildlife such as nesting
shorebirds, sea turtles, and other resources.
20
The possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages or illegal drugs is not permitted within Padre Island
National Seashore.
All equipment will be washed off and cleaned of mud/soils/plant debris before entering the park to reduce
potential introduction of non-native seed/pests into the park.
Determination of No Measurable Impacts: An NPS interdisciplinary team consisting of natural and cultural resource
specialists determined that the proposed abandoned well plugging project would result in no measurable impacts, meaning
there would be minor effects or less. Because there would be no measurable effects, the project qualifies under a categorical
exclusion under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). An Environmental Screening Form is attached.
Interdisciplinary Team:
• Travis Clapp, Project Coordinator, Padre Island National Seashore
• James Lindsay, Chief of Resource Management, Padre Island National Seashore
• Linda Dansby, Energy and Minerals Coordinator, Intermountain Region, Santa Fe, NM
