Environmental Document Prepared for Proposed Mineral Exploration on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, 72649 [E5-6867]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 233 / Tuesday, December 6, 2005 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Environmental Document Prepared for Proposed Mineral Exploration on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Minerals Management Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice of the availability of environmental document prepared for Outer Continental Shelf mineral exploration. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with Federal regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), announces the availability of a NEPArelated Environmental Assessment (EA) prepared by MMS for proposed oil and gas exploration on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This listing includes the only proposal for which a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was prepared by the Alaska OCS Office in the 3-month period preceding this Notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in reviewing environmental documents for the proposal listed above, or in obtaining information about EAs and FONSIs prepared for activities on the Alaska OCS, are encouraged to contact the Alaska OCS Regional office of MMS. The FONSI and associated EA are available for public inspection between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at: Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, AK 99503–5823, phone: (907) 334–5200 or contact akwebmaster@mms.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposal. The proposal is for a geophysical (seismic) survey of the Cosmopolitan Unit on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in Lower Cook Inlet. During November 2003, MMS filed with the Environmental Protection Agency a multiple-sale EIS assessing the general effects of leasing and exploration activities including seismic surveys in Lower Cook Inlet. This EA tiers from the multiple-sale EIS, incorporating it by reference. The EA examines the potential environmental effects of the specific proposed survey of the Cosmopolitan Unit and of alternatives with additional mitigation. Location: Lower Cook Inlet. EA Number: OCS EIS/EA MMS 2005– 045. FONSI Date: July 20, 2005. The MMS prepares EAs and FONSIs on proposed seismic exploration VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:44 Dec 05, 2005 Jkt 205001 programs. The documents examine the potential environmental effects of the proposed exploration and present MMS conclusions regarding the significance of those effects. The EAs are used for determining whether or not approvals would significantly affect the quality of the human environment in the sense of NEPA 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in those instances where MMS finds that approval would not cause significant effects. The FONSI briefly presents the basis for that finding and includes a summary of the EA. This Notice constitutes the public Notice of Availability of environmental documents required under the NEPA regulations. Dated: November 10, 2005. John Goll, Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service. [FR Doc. E5–6867 Filed 12–5–05; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Sale 199, May 2007 Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Request for information (RFI). AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Secretary’s approved 5Year OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2002–2007 provides for two sales, Sales 191 and 199, to be held in the Cook Inlet planning area. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that covered both sales was prepared. The RFI and a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS for Sales 191 and 199 was published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2001, at 66 FR 67543. The Cook Inlet final EIS for Sales 191 and 199 was released in November 2003 (OCS EIS/EA, MMS 2003–055). The first sale, Sale 191, was held on May 19, 2004; however, the sale received no bids. The RFI/NOI for Sale 199 was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2004, at 69 FR 77265, with a proposed date of sale in May 2006. Since neither comments nor interest were received from the oil and gas industry, the MMS decided to delay the sale until May 2007. The MMS is now asking if industry or others have interest in holding Cook Inlet Sale 199 in May 2007. If bona fide interest from companies is received, we will proceed with the planning for the sale. If no PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 72649 interest is shown, Sale 199 will not be held. Comment Period: Comments on the RFI must be received no later than 30 days following publication of this document in the Federal Register. If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of the following methods: • You may mail comments to the Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, in envelopes labeled ‘‘Attn: Comments on Request for Information for Cook Inlet Sale 199.’’ • You may also comment via e-mail to akrfi@mms.gov. Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also include ‘‘Attn: Comments on Request for Information for Cook Inlet Sale 199’’ and your name and return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the system that we have received your Internet message, contact us via e-mail to: akwebmaster@mms.gov. • You may fax your comments to MMS at (907) 334–5242. • Finally, you may hand-deliver comments weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to the Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Steve Flippen at (907) 334–5268 in MMS’s Alaska OCS Region regarding questions on the RFI. Purpose of Request The purpose of this additional RFI is to gather information for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 199 in the Cook Inlet, scheduled for May 2007. Information on oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development and production within the Cook Inlet are sought from all interested parties. This early planning and consultation step is important for ensuring that all interests and concerns are communicated to the Department of the Interior for decisions in the leasing process. The Call for Information and Nominations published in the Federal Register on December 31, 2001, requested information and nominations from industry for Sales 191 and 199 in the Cook Inlet Planning Area. The RFI/ NOI for Sale 199 was published in the Federal Register on December 27, 2004, at 69 FR 77265, with a proposed date of sale in May 2006. Because no comments or interest were received from the oil and gas industry, the MMS decided to delay the sale until May 2007. Unless E:\FR\FM\06DEN1.SGM 06DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6867]



[[Page 72649]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Environmental Document Prepared for Proposed Mineral Exploration 
on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of environmental document prepared 
for Outer Continental Shelf mineral exploration.

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

SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with Federal 
regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), announces the availability of a NEPA-related Environmental 
Assessment (EA) prepared by MMS for proposed oil and gas exploration on 
the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This listing includes the 
only proposal for which a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was 
prepared by the Alaska OCS Office in the 3-month period preceding this 
Notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in reviewing 
environmental documents for the proposal listed above, or in obtaining 
information about EAs and FONSIs prepared for activities on the Alaska 
OCS, are encouraged to contact the Alaska OCS Regional office of MMS.
    The FONSI and associated EA are available for public inspection 
between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at: 
Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, 
Suite 500, Anchorage, AK 99503-5823, phone: (907) 334-5200 or contact 
akwebmaster@mms.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposal. The proposal is for a geophysical 
(seismic) survey of the Cosmopolitan Unit on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) in Lower Cook Inlet. During November 2003, MMS filed with 
the Environmental Protection Agency a multiple-sale EIS assessing the 
general effects of leasing and exploration activities including seismic 
surveys in Lower Cook Inlet. This EA tiers from the multiple-sale EIS, 
incorporating it by reference. The EA examines the potential 
environmental effects of the specific proposed survey of the 
Cosmopolitan Unit and of alternatives with additional mitigation.
    Location: Lower Cook Inlet.
    EA Number: OCS EIS/EA MMS 2005-045.
    FONSI Date: July 20, 2005.
    The MMS prepares EAs and FONSIs on proposed seismic exploration 
programs. The documents examine the potential environmental effects of 
the proposed exploration and present MMS conclusions regarding the 
significance of those effects. The EAs are used for determining whether 
or not approvals would significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment in the sense of NEPA 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in 
those instances where MMS finds that approval would not cause 
significant effects. The FONSI briefly presents the basis for that 
finding and includes a summary of the EA.
    This Notice constitutes the public Notice of Availability of 
environmental documents required under the NEPA regulations.

    Dated: November 10, 2005.
John Goll,
Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E5-6867 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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