Plan of Operations, Environmental Assessment, Big Thicket National Preserve, Texas

Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 9.52(b) of Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 9, Subpart B, that the National Park Service (NPS) has received from Cimarex Energy Company (Cimarex), a Plan of Operations to conduct the Rivers Edge 3-D Seismic Survey within the Beaumont, Little Pine Island--Pine Island Bayou Corridor, Lower Neches River Corridor, and Village Creek Corridor Units of Big Thicket National Preserve (Preserve), in Hardin, Jasper, Jefferson, and Orange Counties, Texas. The NPS has prepared an Environmental Assessment of this proposal. The Environmental Assessment evaluates two alternatives: A No Action alternative under which there would be no new impacts, and the NPS preferred alternative under which Cimarex would conduct a 3-D seismic survey within the Preserve using a combination of helicopter-portable and tracked drilling equipment.