Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Structure-Removal Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf, 9965-9966 [05-3914]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 1, 2005 / Notices & TIMES: The RAC will meet on Wednesday-Thursday, April 27–28, 2005, at the BLM-Winnemucca Field Office, 5100 East Winnemucca Blvd., Winnemucca, Nevada; and on Thursday-Friday, July 28–29, 2005, at the BLM–Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, Nevada. All meetings are open to the public. A general public comment period, where the public may submit oral or written comments to the RAC, will be held on the first day of each two-day meeting at 4 p.m. (April 27 & July 28). A final detailed agenda, with any additions/corrections to agenda topics and the starting and ending times of each meeting, will be determined/ posted at least two weeks before each two-day meeting on the BLM–Nevada State Office Web site at https:// www.nv.blm.gov/rac; hard copies of the agendas can also be mailed or sent via FAX. Individuals who need special assistance such as sign language interpretation or other reasonable accommodations, or who wish a hard copy of the agenda, should contact Mark Struble, Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701, telephone (775) 885–6107, no later than two weeks before each twoday meeting. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Struble, Public Affairs Officer, BLM Carson City Field Office, 5665 Morgan Mill Road, Carson City, NV 89701. Telephone: (775) 885–6107. Email: mstruble@nv.blm.gov DATES Dated: February 22, 2005. Don Hicks, Field Office Manager, BLM–Carson City Field Office. [FR Doc. 05–3888 Filed 2–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–HC–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [CA–180] Cancellation of Scheduled Meeting of the Central California Resource Advisory Council ACTION: Cancellation of public meeting . SUMMARY: The meeting of the Central California Advisory Council scheduled for March 11 and 12, 2005, as announced in the Federal Register on February 15, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 30, Page 7757) is cancelled for logistical reasons, and will be rescheduled for July. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deane Swickard, Field Manager, 63 VerDate jul<14>2003 14:21 Feb 28, 2005 Jkt 205001 Natoma Street, Folsom, CA 95630, telephone (916) 985–4474. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The twelve-member Central California Resource Advisory Council advises the Secretary of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, on a variety of public land issues associated with public land management in Central California. The meeting will be rescheduled for July in the Sacramento region on a date yet unspecified. The rescheduled meeting will be announced in the Federal Register. Charge Code: CA 180–1430–HN. Dated: February 23, 2005. D.K. Swickard, Folsom Field Office Manager. [FR Doc. 05–3890 Filed 2–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–40–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Structure-Removal Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of structure-removal activities on the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The activities analyzed in the EA include vessel and equipment mobilization, structure preparation, nonexplosive- and explosive-severance activities, post-severance lifting and salvage, and site-clearance verification. The impact-producing factors of structure removals considered in the EA include seafloor disturbances, air emissions and water discharges, pressure and acoustic energy from explosive detonations, and space-use conflicts with other OCS users. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, Mr. Dennis Chew, (504) 736–2793. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS requires operators engaged in activities on the OCS, including structure-removal or decommissioning activities, to comply with the OCS Lands Act of 1953, as amended, and its implementing regulations for operations at 30 CFR part PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 9965 250, and with a number of lease stipulations, Notices to Lessees, and other mitigation measures designed to reduce or eliminate impacts to sensitive environmental resources from impactproducing factors such as vessel or aircraft traffic, anchoring, and trash and debris. As part of the impact analyses completed in the Structure-Removal Operations EA, current (the status quo) and additional feasible mitigation measures were considered and evaluated to reduce further the potential for impacts to marine mammals, sea turtles, archaeological artifacts, and sensitive biological features. Based on established significance criteria, the results of the impact analyses are that structure-removal activities are not expected to result in significant adverse impacts to any of the potentially affected resources. Potentially adverse but not significant impacts were identified for marine mammals, and negligible to potentially adverse but not significant impacts were identified for sea turtles. No potentially significant impacts were identified for air and water quality; fish, benthic, and archaeological resources; or other OCS pipeline, navigation, and military uses. The EA has resulted in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Based on this EA, we have concluded that the structure-removal activities evaluated in the EA will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. Preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required. The EA will be included as part of the information package used to petition the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for small ‘‘takes’’ incidental to explosiveseverance activities in the GOM, under the enabling regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Information from the EA will also be used in documentation for a formal consultation with NOAA under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act (50 CFR 402.14). Public Comments: Interested parties may submit comments on this EA/ FONSI within 30 days of this Notice’s publication to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394. Comments may be submitted in one of the following three ways: 1. Comments may be submitted using MMS’s new Public Connect on-line commenting system at https:// ocsconnect.mms.gov. This is the preferred method for commenting. From the Public Connect ‘‘Welcome’’ screen, E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 9966 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 39 / Tuesday, March 1, 2005 / Notices search for ‘‘Programmatic Environmental Assessment of StructureRemoval Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf’’ or select it from the ‘‘Projects Open for Comment’’ menu. 2. Written comments may be enclosed in an envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on Structure-Removal Operations EA/ FONSI’’ and mailed to the above address. 3. Comments may be sent to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov. All comments received will be considered in the decisionmaking process for structure-removal operations. EA Availability: To obtain a copy of the EA, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394 (1– 800–200–GULF). You my also view the EA on the MMS Web site at https:// www.gomr.mms.gov. Dated: November 22, 2004. Chris C. Oynes, Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. [FR Doc. 05–3914 Filed 2–28–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Environmental Documents Prepared for Proposed Oil and Gas Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior. Notice of the Availability of Environmental Documents. Prepared for OCS Mineral Proposals on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. ACTION: SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with Federal Regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), announces the availability of NEPArelated Site-Specific Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI), prepared by MMS for the following oil and gas activities proposed on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Public Information Unit, Information Services Section at the number below. Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, or by calling 1–800–200–GULF. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: MMS prepares SEAs and FONSIs for proposals that relate to exploration for and the development/production of oil and gas resources on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. These SEAs examine the potential environmental effects of activities described in the proposals and present MMS conclusions regarding the significance of those effects. Environmental Assessments are used as a basis for determining whether or not approval of the proposals constitutes major Federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment in the sense of NEPA Section 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in those instances where MMS finds that approval will not result in significant effects on the quality of the human environment. The FONSI briefly presents the basis for that finding and includes a summary or copy of the SEA. This notice constitutes the public notice of availability of environmental documents required under the NEPA Regulations. This listing includes all proposals for which the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region prepared a FONSI in the period subsequent to publication of the preceding notice. Activity/operator Location Chevron U.S.A., Inc., Supplemental Exploration Plan SEA S– 6495. Viosca Knoll, Block 204, Lease OCS–G 04921 & Block 248, Lease OCS–G 25054, located 31 miles from the nearest Alabama shoreline. East Cameron, Block 220, Lease OCS–G 03323, located 64 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. Located in the central Gulf of Mexico ........................................ Stone Energy Corporation, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04–141. BP Exploration & Production, Inc., Geological & Geophysical Exploration Plan, SEA L04–63. Comstock Offshore, LLC, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04– 138, 04–139, 04–140. NCX Company, LLC, Structure Removal SEA 04–116, 04–117 Shell Exploration & Production Company, Geological & Geophysical Exploration Plan for Western Geco, SEA L04–64. Fugro Multi-Client Services, Inc., Geological & Geophysical Exploration Plan for Fugro GeoTeam AS, SEA T04–20. Comstock Offshore, LLC, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04– 145. J.M. Huber Corporation, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04– 142. Shell Offshore, Inc., Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04–144 ... Southern Natural Gas Company, Structure Removal SEA ES/ SR 04–147. Remington Oil & Gas Corporation, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04–146. TDC Energy, LLC, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04–152 ..... CGG Americas, Inc., Geological & Geophysical Exploration Plan SEA L04–68. Veritas DGC Corporation, Geological & Geophysical Exploration Plan SEA T04–26. Marlin Energy Offshore, LLC, Structure Removal SEA ES/SR 04–148, 04–149. VerDate jul<14>2003 14:21 Feb 28, 2005 Jkt 205001 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Date 10/4/2004 10/6/2004 10/6/2004 Ship Shoal; Blocks 113, 119, 120; Leases OCS 00067, 00069, 00038; located 13 to 17 miles south of Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana. High Island East (South), Block A270, Lease OCS–G 02724, located 85 miles from the nearest Texas shoreline.. Located in the central Gulf of Mexico east of Galveston, Texas 10/12/2004 Located in the central Gulf of Mexico ........................................ 10/20/2004 Ship Shoal, Block 118, Lease OCS–00068, located 18 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. West Cameron, Block 249, OCS–G 03499, located 42 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. Brazos, Block A19, Lease OCS–G 03936, located 38 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. Main Pass (South and East Addition), Block 293, Lease ROW OCS–G 01906, located 26 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. Vermilion, Block 117, Lease OCS–G 22618, located 30 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. South Timbalier, Block 99, Lease OCS–G 10825, located 25 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. Located in the central Gulf of Mexico ........................................ 10/28/2004 Located in the western Gulf of Mexico ...................................... 12/6/2004 South Timbalier, Block 21, Lease OCS–00263, located 5 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline. 12/6/2004 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\01MRN1.SGM 01MRN1 10/6/2004 10/14/2004 10/28/2004 11/1/2004 11/9/2004 11/9/2004 12/1/2004 12/6/2004

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9965-9966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3914]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Structure-Removal 
Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service has prepared an environmental 
assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of 
structure-removal activities on the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS). The activities analyzed in the EA include 
vessel and equipment mobilization, structure preparation, nonexplosive- 
and explosive-severance activities, post-severance lifting and salvage, 
and site-clearance verification. The impact-producing factors of 
structure removals considered in the EA include seafloor disturbances, 
air emissions and water discharges, pressure and acoustic energy from 
explosive detonations, and space-use conflicts with other OCS users.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Mr. Dennis Chew, (504) 736-2793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS requires operators engaged in 
activities on the OCS, including structure-removal or decommissioning 
activities, to comply with the OCS Lands Act of 1953, as amended, and 
its implementing regulations for operations at 30 CFR part 250, and 
with a number of lease stipulations, Notices to Lessees, and other 
mitigation measures designed to reduce or eliminate impacts to 
sensitive environmental resources from impact-producing factors such as 
vessel or aircraft traffic, anchoring, and trash and debris. As part of 
the impact analyses completed in the Structure-Removal Operations EA, 
current (the status quo) and additional feasible mitigation measures 
were considered and evaluated to reduce further the potential for 
impacts to marine mammals, sea turtles, archaeological artifacts, and 
sensitive biological features. Based on established significance 
criteria, the results of the impact analyses are that structure-removal 
activities are not expected to result in significant adverse impacts to 
any of the potentially affected resources. Potentially adverse but not 
significant impacts were identified for marine mammals, and negligible 
to potentially adverse but not significant impacts were identified for 
sea turtles. No potentially significant impacts were identified for air 
and water quality; fish, benthic, and archaeological resources; or 
other OCS pipeline, navigation, and military uses. The EA has resulted 
in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Based on this EA, we 
have concluded that the structure-removal activities evaluated in the 
EA will not significantly affect the quality of the human environment. 
Preparation of an environmental impact statement is not required. The 
EA will be included as part of the information package used to petition 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for small 
``takes'' incidental to explosive-severance activities in the GOM, 
under the enabling regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 
Information from the EA will also be used in documentation for a formal 
consultation with NOAA under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
(50 CFR 402.14).
    Public Comments: Interested parties may submit comments on this EA/
FONSI within 30 days of this Notice's publication to the Regional 
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Gulf of Mexico OCS 
Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New 
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. Comments may be submitted in one of the 
following three ways:
    1. Comments may be submitted using MMS's new Public Connect on-line 
commenting system at https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. This is the preferred 
method for commenting. From the Public Connect ``Welcome'' screen,

[[Page 9966]]

search for ``Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Structure-Removal 
Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf'' or select it 
from the ``Projects Open for Comment'' menu.
    2. Written comments may be enclosed in an envelope labeled 
``Comments on Structure-Removal Operations EA/FONSI'' and mailed to the 
above address.
    3. Comments may be sent to the MMS e-mail address: 
environment@mms.gov. All comments received will be considered in the 
decisionmaking process for structure-removal operations.
    EA Availability: To obtain a copy of the EA, you may contact the 
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: 
Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 
114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF). You my also 
view the EA on the MMS Web site at https://www.gomr.mms.gov.

    Dated: November 22, 2004.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 05-3914 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

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