Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 224, March 2008, 35719-35720 [E7-12667]

Download as PDF mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 125 / Friday, June 29, 2007 / Notices applications of herbicide and other types of vegetation treatment methods (mechanical, fire, biological, etc). DATES: The document will be available for July 30, 2007. ADDRESSES: The Final Programmatic EIS and associated documents will be available for review in either hard copy or on compact disks (CDs) at all BLM State, District, and Field Office public rooms. The entire document can also be reviewed or downloaded at the BLM National Web site https://www.blm.gov. Written comments should be sent to Project Manager, National Vegetation EIS, BLM Nevada State Office, P.O. Box 12000, Reno, NV 89520–0006. Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Amme, Project Manager at (775) 861–6645 or e-mail: brian_amme@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Final Programmatic EIS provides a comprehensive analysis of the BLM’s use of chemical herbicides in its various vegetation treatment programs related to hazardous fuels reduction, invasive terrestrial and aquatic plant species management, noxious weeds, and resource rehabilitation following catastrophic fires, and other disturbances. In addition, an accompanying environmental report for vegetation provides an assessment of the expected effects of the use of herbicides, in addition to other vegetation treatment methods (fire, mechanical, manual, and biological) on up to approximately 5,030,000 acres of public lands per year. Together, these documents: • Consider reasonably foreseeable activities, particularly hazardous fuels reduction treatments, emergency stabilization and rehabilitation efforts, noxious weeds, and invasive terrestrial plant species management. • Address human health and ecological risk for proposed use of chemical herbicides on public lands. • Provide a cumulative impact analysis for the use of chemical herbicides in conjunction with other treatment methods. The Final Programmatic EIS is neither a land-use plan nor a land-use plan VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:20 Jun 28, 2007 Jkt 211001 amendment. The Final Programmatic EIS and Environmental Report will provide a comprehensive, programmatic NEPA document and environmental report that allows effective tiering and incorporation by reference, environmental effects and baseline cumulative impact assessments for other new, revised, or existing land use and activity level plans and implementation projects that involve vegetation modification or maintenance. This Final Programmatic EIS does not affect the status of the herbicide court injunction in Oregon. The analysis area includes only surface estate public lands administered by 11 BLM State offices: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana (North Dakota/South Dakota), New Mexico (Oklahoma/Texas/ Nebraska), Nevada, Oregon (Washington), Utah, and Wyoming. The BLM issued a Notice of Availability of the Draft Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Draft Programmatic Environmental Report on November 10, 2005. The BLM held ten public hearings in late 2005, and extended the public comment period an additional 30 days to February 10, 2006. The BLM responded to over 3,000 individual public comments during the Draft Programmatic EIS public review period. Comment responses and resultant changes in the impact analysis are documented in this Final Programmatic EIS and Environmental Report per requirements under 40 CFR 1503.4. Additional information and analysis is included in the Final Programmatic EIS addressing comments related to chemical degradates, use of surfactants and risks associated with endocrine disrupting chemicals. In addition, the Final Programmatic EIS contains subsistence analysis required under Section 801(a) of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). The BLM will prepare a Record of Decision (ROD) for the EIS after July 30, 2007. Bud Cribley, Deputy Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning. [FR Doc. E7–12533 Filed 6–28–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–84–P PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 35719 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 224, March 2008 Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Public Hearings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The MMS has prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) on a tentatively scheduled 2008 oil and gas leasing proposal (Sale 224) in the Eastern GOM, off the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. As mandated in the recently enacted Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) of 2006 (Pub. L. 109–432, December 20, 2006), the MMS shall offer a portion of the ‘‘181 Area,’’ located in the Eastern Planning Area, more than 125 miles from Florida for oil and gas leasing. The proposed action involves 130 tracts. Authority: The NOA and notice of public hearings is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1503) under the authority of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Environmental Quality Improvement Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.); Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7609); and Executive Order 11514 (March 5, 1970, as amended by Executive Order 11991 (May 24, 1977). The recently enacted GOMESA of 2006 (Pub. L. 109–432, December 20, 2006) mandated MMS to offer a portion of the ‘‘181 Area’’ located in the newly defined Eastern Planning Area, more than 125 miles from Florida and west of the Military Mission Line (86 degrees, 41 minutes 30 seconds West longitude) for oil and gas leasing ‘‘as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the date of enactment of this Act.’’ The Act mandates offering this area ‘‘notwithstanding the omission of the 181 Area * * * from any OCS leasing program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344).’’ However, this action is not exempted from other legal requirements, such as NEPA or the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). The MMS has prepared an SEIS to the original Sale 181 EIS published in 2001 (which encompassed the lands now being considered for Sale 224) in order to address these requirements. To meet the 1-year requirements of GOMESA, this sale should be held no later than December 2007. However, to comply fully with all pertinent laws, rules, and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1 mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES 35720 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 125 / Friday, June 29, 2007 / Notices regulations, and to allow the public an opportunity to participate in the NEPA process, the earliest MMS would be able to offer this area for leasing would be approximately March 2008. Postponing the sale to be held as ‘‘soon as practicable’’ while complying with all applicable laws is in the best interests of all parties, including the American public as owners of these resources. It also is more economical and efficient for the Government and industry to hold this sale in conjunction with Central GOM Sale 206 at the same time and location. The area to be offered in Sale 224 is small, approximately 130 tracts, whereas recent Central Gulf sales have offered over 4,000 tracts. The logistics of holding a sale are intensive and relatively costly; therefore, it makes sense to hold the smaller sale in conjunction with a larger sale. Additionally, holding Sale 224 in conjunction with Sale 206 would help ensure that a sufficient number of companies would be represented in bidding, which may enhance the number of bids and possibly the revenue generated by more competitive bidding. This NOA follows the Call for Information and Nominations and the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the prelease process for the sale. The draft SEIS associated with this NOA updated the environmental and socioeconomic analyses in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 181, Eastern Planning Area Final EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2001–051), which addressed the original ‘‘Sale 181 Area.’’ The MMS plans to complete the requirements of NEPA, the OCS Lands Act, and CZMA coverage for the proposed lease sale. SEIS Availability: To obtain a single, printed or CD–ROM copy of the draft SEIS, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394 (1–800–200– GULF). An electronic copy of the draft SEIS is available at the MMS Internet Web site at https://www.gomr.mms.gov/ homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/ nepaprocess.html. Many libraries along the Gulf Coast have been sent copies of the draft SEIS. To find out which libraries, and their locations, have copies of the draft SEIS for review, you may contact the MMS Public Information Office or visit the MMS Internet Web site at https:// www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/ environ/libraries.html. Public Hearings: The MMS will hold public hearings to receive comments on VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:20 Jun 28, 2007 Jkt 211001 the draft SEIS. The public hearings are scheduled as follows: • July 24, 2007, Larose Civic Center, Larose Regional Park, Larose, Louisiana, 7 p.m. • July 26, 2007, Florida New World Landing, 600 South Palafox Street, Pensacola, Florida, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. If you wish to present testimony at a hearing, you should register one hour prior to the meeting. Each hearing will briefly recess when all speakers have had an opportunity to speak. If there are no additional speakers, the hearing will adjourn immediately after the recess. Written statements submitted at a hearing will be considered part of the hearing record. If you are unable to attend the hearings, you may submit written statements. Comments: Federal, State, and local government agencies, and other interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the draft SEIS in one of the following two ways: 1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on the Lease Sale 224 SEIS’’ and mailed (or hand carried) to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394. 2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov. Comments should be submitted no later than 45 days from the publication of this NOA. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Mr. Dennis Chew, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, (504) 736–2793. Dated: June 19, 2007. James F. Bennett, Acting Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management. [FR Doc. E7–12667 Filed 6–28–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams Minerals Management Service, Interior. ACTION: Availability of revised North American Datum of 1927 (NAD 27) Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams. AGENCY: following NAD 27-based Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams, with revision dates as indicated, are available for information only, in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Office, New Orleans, Louisiana. Copies are also available for download at https://www.mms.gov/ld/ maps.htm. The Minerals Management Service in accordance with its authority and responsibility under Title 43, Code of Federal Regulations, is updating the basic record used for the description of mineral and oil and gas lease sales in the geographic areas they represent. Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams in the Central and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas Description/Date NH16–05 (Pensacola)—February 28, 2007. NH16–08 (Destin Dome)—February 28, 2007. NH16–11 (De Soto Canyon)— February 28, 2007. NG16–02 (Lloyd Ridge)—February 28, 2007. NG16–05 (Henderson)—February 28, 2007. NG16–08 (Florida Plain)—February 28, 2007. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of Official Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) and Leasing Maps are $2.00 each. These may be purchased from the Public Information Unit, Information Services Section, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, Telephone (504) 736–2519 or (800) 200– GULF. Official Protraction Diagrams and Leasing Maps may be obtained in two digital formats: gra files for use in ARC/INFO and .pdf files for viewing and printing in Adobe Acrobat. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Dated: May 29, 2007. Chris C. Oynes, Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management. [FR Doc. E7–12579 Filed 6–28–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that effective with this publication, the PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM 29JNN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 125 (Friday, June 29, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35719-35720]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12667]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM), 
Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 224, March 2008

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement and Public Hearings.

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

SUMMARY: The MMS has prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact 
statement (SEIS) on a tentatively scheduled 2008 oil and gas leasing 
proposal (Sale 224) in the Eastern GOM, off the States of Louisiana, 
Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. As mandated in the recently enacted 
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-432, 
December 20, 2006), the MMS shall offer a portion of the ``181 Area,'' 
located in the Eastern Planning Area, more than 125 miles from Florida 
for oil and gas leasing. The proposed action involves 130 tracts.

    Authority: The NOA and notice of public hearings is published 
pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1503) under the authority of the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Environmental Quality 
Improvement Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.); 
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7609); and 
Executive Order 11514 (March 5, 1970, as amended by Executive Order 
11991 (May 24, 1977).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The recently enacted GOMESA of 2006 (Pub. L. 
109-432, December 20, 2006) mandated MMS to offer a portion of the 
``181 Area'' located in the newly defined Eastern Planning Area, more 
than 125 miles from Florida and west of the Military Mission Line (86 
degrees, 41 minutes 30 seconds West longitude) for oil and gas leasing 
``as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the date of 
enactment of this Act.'' The Act mandates offering this area 
``notwithstanding the omission of the 181 Area * * * from any OCS 
leasing program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1344).'' However, this action is not exempted from other 
legal requirements, such as NEPA or the Coastal Zone Management Act 
(CZMA). The MMS has prepared an SEIS to the original Sale 181 EIS 
published in 2001 (which encompassed the lands now being considered for 
Sale 224) in order to address these requirements. To meet the 1-year 
requirements of GOMESA, this sale should be held no later than December 
2007. However, to comply fully with all pertinent laws, rules, and

[[Page 35720]]

regulations, and to allow the public an opportunity to participate in 
the NEPA process, the earliest MMS would be able to offer this area for 
leasing would be approximately March 2008. Postponing the sale to be 
held as ``soon as practicable'' while complying with all applicable 
laws is in the best interests of all parties, including the American 
public as owners of these resources. It also is more economical and 
efficient for the Government and industry to hold this sale in 
conjunction with Central GOM Sale 206 at the same time and location. 
The area to be offered in Sale 224 is small, approximately 130 tracts, 
whereas recent Central Gulf sales have offered over 4,000 tracts. The 
logistics of holding a sale are intensive and relatively costly; 
therefore, it makes sense to hold the smaller sale in conjunction with 
a larger sale. Additionally, holding Sale 224 in conjunction with Sale 
206 would help ensure that a sufficient number of companies would be 
represented in bidding, which may enhance the number of bids and 
possibly the revenue generated by more competitive bidding.
    This NOA follows the Call for Information and Nominations and the 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the prelease process for the 
sale. The draft SEIS associated with this NOA updated the environmental 
and socioeconomic analyses in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease 
Sale 181, Eastern Planning Area Final EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2001-051), 
which addressed the original ``Sale 181 Area.'' The MMS plans to 
complete the requirements of NEPA, the OCS Lands Act, and CZMA coverage 
for the proposed lease sale.
    SEIS Availability: To obtain a single, printed or CD-ROM copy of 
the draft SEIS, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, Gulf 
of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood 
Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-
GULF). An electronic copy of the draft SEIS is available at the MMS 
Internet Web site at https://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/
nepa/nepaprocess.html. Many libraries along the Gulf Coast have been 
sent copies of the draft SEIS. To find out which libraries, and their 
locations, have copies of the draft SEIS for review, you may contact 
the MMS Public Information Office or visit the MMS Internet Web site at 
https://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/libraries.html.
    Public Hearings: The MMS will hold public hearings to receive 
comments on the draft SEIS. The public hearings are scheduled as 
follows:
     July 24, 2007, Larose Civic Center, Larose Regional Park, 
Larose, Louisiana, 7 p.m.
     July 26, 2007, Florida New World Landing, 600 South 
Palafox Street, Pensacola, Florida, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
    If you wish to present testimony at a hearing, you should register 
one hour prior to the meeting. Each hearing will briefly recess when 
all speakers have had an opportunity to speak. If there are no 
additional speakers, the hearing will adjourn immediately after the 
recess. Written statements submitted at a hearing will be considered 
part of the hearing record. If you are unable to attend the hearings, 
you may submit written statements.
    Comments: Federal, State, and local government agencies, and other 
interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the 
draft SEIS in one of the following two ways:
    1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on 
the Lease Sale 224 SEIS'' and mailed (or hand carried) to the Regional 
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Minerals Management 
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New 
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.
    2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov.
    Comments should be submitted no later than 45 days from the 
publication of this NOA.

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

    Dated: June 19, 2007.
James F. Bennett,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
 [FR Doc. E7-12667 Filed 6-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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