United States Department ofthe Interior FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex June 15, 2017 Dear Reviewer: This is to provide notification of availability of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Draft Environmental Assessment for review and comment. The Draft Environmental Assessment addresses the issuance of an Operational Permit by the USFWS for two proposed oil and natural gas drilling and production project on the Mcfaddin National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Jefferson County, Texas. The project has been proposed by OLEUM Exploration, LLC ofBrodheadsville, Pennsylvania. The company possesses valid leases to explore and/or develop oil and gas reserves underlying the refuge from the rightful mineral owners. The purpose for the proposed Federal action is to insure that mineral rights holders have reasonable access to develop their non-Federal oil and gas interests and minimize impacts to refuge resources to the extent practicable under the USFWS's 50 CFR Part 29, Subpart D regulations for managing non-Federal oil and gas on USFWS administered lands and waters. Issuance ofthe Operations Permit in the end should protect the human environment in such a way as to further the Refuge's efforts to achieve its established purposes, and the general resource conservation mission ofthe USFWS. Written comments may be mailed to Texas Chenier Plain Refuge Complex at P.O. Box 278, Anahuac, TX 77514. Comments may also be electronically mailed to monique [email protected] with "OLEUM EA Comments" in the subject line. All comments sent must be post marked or electronically sent by June 29th, 2017. If you need additional information, feel free to visit our offices or contact myself, Monique Slaughter, Oil and Gas Specialist for the refuge complex (409) 267-3337 or Refuge Manager Douglas Head at (409) 971-2909. Sincerely Tim Cooper Project Leader DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Issuance of an Operations Permit by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for OLEUM Exploration, LLC’s Exploration and Production Activities within the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge, Texas Prepared for: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service & OLEUM Exploration, LLC Prepared by: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex Anahuac, TX & DESCO Environmental Consultants, LP Magnolia, TX JUNE 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 PURPOSE AND NEED FOR ACTION ........................................................................................... 1 1.1 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ..................................................................................... 1 1.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED FEDERAL ACTION ......................................................... 3 1.3 LEGAL MANDATES AND POLICY GUIDELINES .................................................................... 4 1.4 USACE 404 PERMITTING ............................................................................................................. 4 2.0 ALTERNATIVES .............................................................................................................................. 5 2.1 ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED IN DETAIL ............................................................................. 5 2.1.1 Alternative A. Proposed Action. The USFWS Would Issue an Operations Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ................................................................................. 5 2.1.2 Alternative B. No Action. The USFWS Would Not Issue an Operations Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ................................................................................. 5 2.2 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................................ 6 2.2.1 Proposed Project Area ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.2.2 Equipment and Construction ............................................................................................................ 8 2.2.3 Schedule ............................................................................................................................................... 9 2.3 PROVISIONS AND MITIGATION MEASURES OF THE USFWS OPERATIONS PERMIT .. 10 2.3.1 General Provisions of Drilling and Production Operations Permits ....................................... 11 2.3.2 Mitigation Measures to Protect Migratory Birds, Other Wildlife, and Habitats .................... 12 2.3.3 Mitigation Measures to Protect Cultural Resources ................................................................... 17 2.3.4 Mitigation Measures to Minimize Interference with Public Use of the Refuge ....................... 17 2.3.5 Mitigation Measures to Protect Refuge Facilities and Infrastructure ...................................... 18 2.3.6 Other Mitigation Measures ............................................................................................................. 19 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT .......................................................... 19 3.1 CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ........................................................................................ 21 3.2 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ............................................................................................................... 22 3.3 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY ................................................................................... 23 3.4 VEGETATION AND HABITAT .................................................................................................. 25 3.4.1 Wetland and Aquatic Habitats ........................................................................................................ 27 3.4.2 Uplands .............................................................................................................................................. 30 3.5 FISH AND WILDLIFE .................................................................................................................. 32 3.5.1 Avian Species .................................................................................................................................... 33 3.5.2 Mammals ........................................................................................................................................... 38 3.5.3 Amphibians and Reptiles ................................................................................................................. 39 3.5.4 Fish and Other Aquatic Resources ................................................................................................ 41 3.5.5 Invertebrates ..................................................................................................................................... 41 3.5.6 Threatened and Endangered Species ............................................................................................. 41 3.6 HISTORICAL AND ARCHEOLOGICAL RESOURCES ............................................................ 48 3.7 LAND USE/PUBLIC USE ............................................................................................................ 49 3.8 SOCIOECONOMIC RESOURCES .............................................................................................. 50 4.0 IMPACTS ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................... 50 4.1 CLIMATE AND CLIMATE CHANGE ........................................................................................ 50 4.2 GEOLOGY AND SOILS ............................................................................................................... 51 4.2.1 Alternative A. Proposed Action. The USFWS Would Issue an Operational Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ............................................................................... 52 4.2.2 Alternative B. No Action. The USFWS Would Not Issue an Operational Permit for the Draft - Environmental Assessment - Issuance of an Operations Permit Page i OLEUM Exploration, LLC June 2017 Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ............................................................................... 52 4.3 HYDROLOGY AND WATER QUALITY ............................................................................................. 53 4.3.1 Alternative A. Proposed Action. The USFWS Would Issue an Operational Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ............................................................................... 53 4.3.2 Alternative B. No Action. The USFWS Would Not Issue an Operational Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ............................................................................... 54 4.4 VEGETATION AND HABITAT........................................................................................................... 54 4.4.1 Alternative A. Proposed Action. The USFWS Would Issue an Operational Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ............................................................................... 54 4.4.2 Alternative B. No Action. The USFWS Would Not Issue an Operational Permit for the Proposed Drilling and Production Activities ............................................................................... 55 4.5 FISH AND WILDLIFE ....................................................................................................................... 55 4.5.1 Alternative A. Proposed Action. The USFWS Would Issue