Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2007 to 2012, 48295-48300 [07-4134]
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48295
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 163 / Thursday, August 23, 2007 / Notices
Activity/Operator
Location
TDC Energy, LLC, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 07–063 .......
High Island, Block 233, Lease OCS–G 22241, located 31 miles
from the nearest Texas shoreline.
Ship Shoal, Block 184, Lease OCS–G 22711, located 24 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Vermilion, Block 221, Lease OCS–G 04424, located 60 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Viosca Knoll, Block 114, Lease OCS–G 16536, located 30
miles from the nearest Mississippi shoreline.
Viosca Knoll, Block 161, Lease OCS–G 06876, located 43
miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
West Cameron (South Addition), Block 492, Lease OCS–G
16195, located 41 miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Ship Shoal, Block 57, Lease OCS–G 22696, located 15 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Chandeleur, Block 25, Lease OCS–G 04494, located 35 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Vermilion, Block 318, Lease OCS–G 04427, located 86 miles
from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.
Hunt Petroleum (AEC), Inc., Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR
07–066.
TDC Energy, LLC, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 07–062 .......
Chevron, U.S.A., Inc., Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 07–038A
Chevron, U.S.A., Inc., Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 07–017A
ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR
07–065.
Newfield Exploration Company, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR
07–034A.
Maritech Resources, Inc., Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 07–
064.
ATP Oil and Gas Corporation, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR
07–060.
Persons interested in reviewing
environmental documents for the
proposals listed above or obtaining
information about SEAs and FONSIs
prepared for activities on the Gulf of
Mexico OCS are encouraged to contact
MMS at the address or telephone listed
in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT section.
Dated: July 11, 2007.
Kevin Karl,
Acting Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region.
[FR Doc. E7–16709 Filed 8–22–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
2007 and is not addressed by this Call.)
Simultaneously with this Call, MMS is
giving notice of its intent to prepare a
multiple-sale EIS for the four sales.
Nominations and comments
must be received no later than 45 days
following publication of this document
in the Federal Register. Submittals
should be labeled ‘‘Nominations for
Proposed Lease Sales in the Beaufort
Sea and Chukchi Sea, 2007–2012’’ or
‘‘Comments on Call for Information and
Nominations for Proposed Lease Sales
in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea,
2007–2012, as appropriate.
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Date
6/26/2007
6/26/2007
6/26/2007
6/26/2007
6/26/2007
6/26/2007
6/27/2007
6/28/2007
6/28/2007
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to the
OCS Lands Act as amended (43 U.S.C.
1331–1356, (1994)) and the regulations
issued thereunder (30 CFR 256); and in
accordance with the proposed final OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2007–
2012.
2. Purpose of Call
The purpose of the Call is to gather
information for the following tentatively
scheduled OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales
in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea:
Lease sale, OCS planning area
Sale
year
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska
OCS Region, Beaufort Sea and
Chukchi Sea, Proposed Oil and Gas
Lease Sales for Years 2007 to 2012
Please contact Fred King at (907) 334–
5271 in MMS’s Alaska OCS Region,
3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste 500,
Anchorage, AK 99503–5823 regarding
questions on the Call/NOI.
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The
multiple-sale review process is based on
more than 30 years of leasing in the
Beaufort Sea and more than 20 years in
the Chukchi Sea. In 2001, MMS
initiated the multiple-sale review
process by issuing a multiple-sale Call
for three sales in the Beaufort Sea (sales
186, 195 and 202), held under the OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2002–
2007. The MMS is now issuing a
multiple-sale Call for the Beaufort Sea
and Chukchi Sea sales in the proposed
final program for 2007–2012.
The final multiple-sale EIS will serve
as the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) and Coastal Zone
Management Act (CZMA) Consistency
Determination (CD) analysis for Beaufort
Sea Sale 209 and Chukchi Sea Sale 212.
MMS will prepare additional NEPA,
CZMA, and Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (OCSLA) documents, as
appropriate.
Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea is not
part of this Call. Sale 193 was initiated
in 2005 (70 FR 6903) as part of the OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2002–
2007, and was carried over to the
Program for 2007–2012 to allow
adequate time to complete necessary
pre-lease steps and environmental
assessment and documentation. Sale
193 is scheduled for February 2008.
Information and nominations on oil and
gas leasing, exploration, and
development and production within the
Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea 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
U.S. Department of the Interior for its
consideration in future decisions in the
leasing process pursuant to the OCS
Lands Act and regulations at 30 CFR
256. Responses are requested for the
four sales listed in the Call proposed in
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
(MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Call for information and
nominations and Notice of Intent (NOI)
to prepare an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This Call for Information and
Nominations (hereinafter referred to as
‘‘Call’’) is the initial step in a multiplesale process that incorporates planning
and analysis for lease sales in the
Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea planning
areas included in the proposed final
OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2007–
2012 (see 72 Federal Register (FR)
24326, May 2, 2007). Four lease sales
are addressed in this Call; two in the
Beaufort Sea (sales 209 and 217) and
two in the Chukchi Sea (sales 212 and
221). (Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea is a
carryover from the Program for 2002–
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209,
212,
217,
221,
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Beaufort Sea ....................
Chukchi Sea .....................
Beaufort Sea ....................
Chukchi Sea .....................
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2010
2011
2012
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 163 / Thursday, August 23, 2007 / Notices
the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea
planning areas between 2007 and 2012.
This Call/NOI is being issued in
accordance with the proposed final OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2007–
2012, published on May 2, 2007 (72 FR
24326).
This Call also does not indicate a
preliminary decision to lease in the
areas described below. Final decision
and delineation of each area for possible
leasing will be made at a later date and
in compliance with applicable laws
including all requirements of NEPA and
OCSLA using established departmental
procedures.
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
3. Description of Area
The area that is the subject of this Call
is located offshore the State of Alaska in
the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea
planning areas. The ‘‘program area’’ is
that subarea of the larger planning areas
that may be offered in the OCS Oil and
Gas Leasing Program, 2007–2012. The
Beaufort Sea program area extends
offshore from about 3 nautical miles to
approximately 205 statute miles, in
water depths from approximately 25 feet
to 3,000 feet. This area consists of
approximately 6,045 whole and partial
blocks (about 33 million acres). The
Chukchi Sea program area extends
offshore from 25 to approximately 275
statute miles, in water depths from
approximately 60 to 660 feet (up to
3,000 feet in a portion of the program
area). This area consists of 7,324 whole
or partial blocks (about 40 million
acres). A page size map of each area
accompanies this Call. A large scale Call
map showing the boundaries of the area
on a block-by-block basis is available
without charge from the Records
Manager at the address given below, or
by telephone request at 1–800–764–
2627. Copies of Official Protraction
Diagrams (OPDs) are also available for
$2 each from Alaska OCS Region,
Minerals Management Service, 3801
Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage,
Alaska 99503–5823, https://
www.mms.gov/alaska.
4. Instructions on Call
Nominations and information must be
received no later than 45 days following
publication of this Call in the Federal
Register. Submittals should indicate
‘‘Nominations for Proposed Lease Sales
in the Beaufort and Chukchi Sea, 2007–
2012’’ or ‘‘Comments on the Call for
Information for Proposed Lease Sales in
Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 2007–2012’’
as appropriate. Nominations and
comments may be submitted by any one
the following methods:
• Mail or hand-deliver comments to
the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and
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Environment, Alaska OCS Region,
Minerals Management Service, 3801
Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage,
Alaska 99503–5823.
• Submit comments by Internet
through MMS Public Connect at
https://ocsconnect.mms.gov/
pcs-public/.
• Fax comments to the Regional
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment,
Alaska OCS Region, Minerals
Management Service at (907) 334–5242.
• E-mail comments to
arcticmultisale@mms.gov.
Please submit e-mail or Internet
comments as an ASCII file, avoiding the
use of special characters and any form
of encryption. Please also include your
name and return address in your e-mail
or Internet message. If you do not
receive a confirmation from the system
that we have received your e-mail or
Internet message, contact us directly at
1–800–764–2627.
The Call for Information Map
delineates the Call area, all of which has
been identified by MMS as having
potential for the discovery of
accumulations of oil and gas.
Respondents are requested to indicate
nominations and comment on any or all
of the Federal acreage within the
boundaries of the Call area that they
wish to have included in each of the
proposed sales in the Beaufort Sea and
Chukchi Sea. Although individual
nominations are considered to be
privileged and proprietary information,
the names of persons or entities
indicating interest or submitting
comments will be of public record.
Nominations must be submitted using
the large-scale Call for Information Map
by outlining the areas of interest along
block lines. Respondents should rank
areas in which they have nominated
according to priority of interest; for
example, priority 1 (high), or 2
(medium). Blocks nominated that do not
indicate priorities will be considered
priority 3 (low). Respondents must be
specific in indicating blocks by priority
and be prepared to discuss their range
of interest and activity regarding the
nominated area(s). The telephone
number and name of a person to contact
in the nominator’s organization for
additional information should be
included in the response. The Alaska
OCS Regional Office will contact this
person to set up a mutually agreeable
time and place for a meeting to more
fully review the company’s
nominations. Respondents may also
submit a detailed list of blocks
nominated by Official Protraction
Diagram and Leasing Map designations
to ensure correct interpretation of their
nominations. Official Protraction
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Diagrams and Leasing Maps can be
purchased from the Records Manager
referred to above.
Companies and individuals
responding this Call are advised of a
dispute between the United States and
Canada regarding Beaufort Sea Planning
Area blocks in OPD’s NR07–06, NR07–
04, NS07–02, and NS07–08. (See Map
Attachment 4.) While these blocks are
part of the 2007 to 2012 5-Year Program
Area to be considered and evaluated in
the NEPA process, resolution of the
claims dispute may affect the timing,
terms of conditions, and potentially the
issuance of leases in these four OPD’s.
Comments are sought from all
interested parties about particular
geological (including natural hazard
areas), environmental, biological,
archaeological, and socioeconomic
conditions or conflicts, or other
information that might bear upon the
potential leasing and development of
particular areas. Comments are also
sought on possible conflicts between
future OCS oil and gas activities that
may result from the proposed sales and
the standards of the Alaska Coastal
Management Program (ACMP) and the
enforceable policies of an approved
local district coastal management plan.
If possible, these comments should
identify specific Coastal Management
Program (CMP) policies of concern, the
nature of the conflict foreseen, and steps
that MMS could take to avoid or
mitigate the potential conflict.
Comments may be in terms of broad
areas or restricted to particular blocks or
areas of concern. Those submitting
comments are requested to list block
numbers or outline the subject area on
the standard Call for Information Map.
Our practice is to make comments,
including names and addresses of
respondents, available for public review
during regular business hours.
Individual respondents may request that
we withhold their address from the
rulemaking record, which we will honor
to the extent allowable by law. There
also may be circumstances in which we
would withhold a respondent’s identity,
as allowable by law. If you wish us to
withhold your name or address, you
must state this prominently at the
beginning of your comment. However,
we will not consider anonymous
comments. We will make all
submissions from organizations or
businesses, and from individuals
identifying themselves as
representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available
for public inspection in their entirety.
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5. Use of Information from Call
Information submitted in response to
this Call will be used for several
purposes. Responses will be used to:
• Help identify areas of potential oil
and gas development;
• Identify environmental effects and
potential use conflicts;
• Assist in the scoping process for the
EIS;
• Develop possible alternatives to the
proposed action;
• Develop lease terms and
conditions/mitigating measures;
• Identify potential conflicts between
oil and gas activities and the ACMP.
6. Existing Information
The MMS has acquired a substantial
amount of information, including that
gained through the use of traditional
knowledge, on the issues and concerns
related to oil and gas leasing in the
Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea.
An extensive environmental, social,
and economic studies program has been
underway in both areas since 1975. The
emphasis has been on geologic
mapping, environmental
characterization of biologically sensitive
habitats, endangered whales and marine
mammals, physical oceanography,
ocean-circulation modeling, and
ecological and socio-cultural effects of
oil and gas activities.
Information on the studies program,
completed studies, and a program status
report for continuing studies in the
Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea may be
obtained from the Chief, Environmental
Studies Section, Alaska OCS Region, by
telephone request at (907) 334–5281 or
by written request at the address stated
under Description of Area. A request
may also be made via the Alaska Region
Web site at https://www.mms.gov/alaska/
ref/pubindex/pubsindex.htm.
7. Tentative Schedule
The following is a list of tentative
milestone dates applicable to sales
covered by this Call:
Multiple-sale EIS process milestones for proposed Beaufort Sea Sales 209 and 217 and Chukchi Sea Sales 212 and 221
Call/NOI published ...................................................................................................................................................................
Comments due on Call/NOI ....................................................................................................................................................
Area Identification ....................................................................................................................................................................
Draft EIS available ...................................................................................................................................................................
Public Hearings ........................................................................................................................................................................
Final EIS available ...................................................................................................................................................................
August 2007.
September 2007.
November 2007.
July 2008.
August 2008.
March 2009.
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19 Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Beaufort Sea Sale 209
Consistency Determination/Proposed Notice of Sale issued ..................................................................................................
Governor’s Comments due ......................................................................................................................................................
Final Notice of Sale published .................................................................................................................................................
Sale held ..................................................................................................................................................................................
March 2009.
May 2009.
October 2009.
November 2009.
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19 Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Chukchi Sea Sale 212
Consistency Determination/Proposed Notice of Sale issued ..................................................................................................
Governor’s Comments due ......................................................................................................................................................
Final Notice of Sale published .................................................................................................................................................
Sale held ..................................................................................................................................................................................
July 2009.
October 2009.
February 2010.
March 2010.
Multiple-sale NEPA process milestones for proposed Beaufort Sea Sale 217 and Chukchi Sea Sale 221
The Multiple-sale Supplemental EIS or Environmental Assessment for Sales 217 and 221 will commence about 21 months (Spring 2010) before
Sale 217. If a Supplemental EIS is prepared, public hearings will occur approximately a year prior to Sale 217. The Final Supplemental EIS or
EA will be completed and distributed to the public approximately 8 months prior to Sale 217.
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19 Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Beaufort Sea Sale 217
Consistency Determination/Proposed Notice of Sale issued ..................................................................................................
Governor’s Comments due ......................................................................................................................................................
Final Notice of Sale published .................................................................................................................................................
Sale 217 held ...........................................................................................................................................................................
Spring 2011.
Spring/Summer 2011.
Fall 2011.
Fall/Winter 2011.
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19 Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Chukchi Sea Sale 221
Consistency Determination/Proposed Notice of Sale issued ..................................................................................................
Governor’s Comments due ......................................................................................................................................................
Final Notice of Sale published .................................................................................................................................................
Sale 221 held ...........................................................................................................................................................................
(NEPA) of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq. (1988)) (NEPA).
1. Authority
ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement
2. Purpose of Notice of Intent
The NOI is published pursuant to the
regulations (40 CFR 1501.7)
implementing the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act
Pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR
1501.7) implementing the procedural
provisions of the NEPA of 1969 (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), MMS is
announcing its intent to prepare a
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Summer 2011.
Fall 2011.
Winter 2011/2012.
Spring 2012.
multiple-sale EIS on four tentatively
scheduled oil and gas lease sales; two in
the Beaufort Sea OCS Planning Area
(sales 209 and 217) and two in the
Chukchi Sea OCS Planning Area (sales
212 and 221). (Sale 193 in the Chukchi
Sea is a carryover from the 5-Year
Program for 2002–2007 and is not the
subject of the NOI.) The EIS analysis
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ebenthall on PRODPC61 with NOTICES
will focus on the potential
environmental effects of four sales and
the exploration and development and
production that could result.
Alternatives to the proposals which may
be considered for each individual sale
are to delay the sale, modify the sale, or
cancel the sale. These and any
additional alternatives developed
through the scoping process would be
considered in the sale-specific decision
process. This Notice of Intent also
serves to announce the initiation of the
scoping process for this EIS. Throughout
the scoping process, Federal, State,
Tribal, and local governments and other
interested parties aid MMS in
determining the alternatives, issues, and
mitigation measures to be analyzed in
the EIS and the possible need for
additional information.
The multiple-sale EIS will serve as the
NEPA document for Beaufort Sea Sale
209 and Chukchi Sea Sale 212. Prior to
Sales 217 (Beaufort Sea) and 221
(Chukchi Sea) MMS will gather and
review the new environmental
information applicable to the Beaufort
Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas.
The MMS will summarize and assess
potential effects based on this
information, including any new
concerns and issues, in either a
Supplemental EIS or an Environmental
Assessment, as appropriate. This NEPA
document will be available to the public
for their review prior to the issuance of
the Proposed Notice of Sale.
The Department of the Interior invites
other Federal, State, Tribal, and local
governments to consider becoming
cooperating agencies in the preparation
of the EIS. We invite qualified
government entities to inquire about
cooperating agency status for this lease
sale EIS. Per guidelines from the
Council of Environmental Quality
(CEQ), qualified agencies and
governments are those with
‘‘jurisdiction by law or special
expertise.’’ Potential cooperating
agencies should consider their authority
and capacity to assume the
responsibilities of a cooperating agency
and to remember that their role in the
environmental analysis neither enlarges
nor diminishes the final decision
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making authority of any other agency
involved in the NEPA process. Upon
request, MMS will provide potential
cooperating agencies with a written
summary of ground rules for
cooperating agencies including time
schedules and critical action dates,
milestones, responsibilities, scope and
detail of cooperating agencies’
contributions, and availability of predecisional information. MMS
anticipates this summary will form the
basis for a Memorandum of
Understanding between the MMS and
each cooperating agency. You should
also consider the ‘‘Factors for
Determining Cooperating Agency
Status’’ in Attachment 1 to CEQ’s
January 30, 2002, Memorandum for the
Heads of Federal Agencies on
Cooperating Agencies in Implementing
the Procedural Requirements of The
National Environmental Policy Act. A
copy of this document is available at:
https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/
cooperating/
cooperatingagenciesmemorandum.html
and https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/
cooperating/
cooperatingagencymemofactors.html.
The MMS, as the lead agency, will not
be providing financial assistance to
cooperating agencies. Even if you are
not a cooperating agency, you will
continue to have opportunities to
provide information and comments to
MMS during the normal public input
phases of the NEPA/EIS process. MMS
will also consult with Tribal
governments on a Government-toGovernment basis. If you would like
further information about cooperating
agencies, please contact Dr. Cleve
Cowles, Regional Supervisor, Leasing
and Environment, at the address noted
above or by phone at (907) 334–5230.
3. New NEPA Procedure
As described above, the multiple-sale
EIS will encompass the Beaufort Sea
OCS Planning Area and the Chukchi Sea
OCS Planning Area. The preparation of
a multiple-sale, multiple-planning area
EIS is a new approach for the MMS
Alaska OCS Region, although it has
been used for sales in the Gulf of
Mexico Region. Federal offshore leasing
in the Beaufort Sea began in 1978 and
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in the Chukchi Sea in 1988 with the
potential effects of ten out of the
thirteen sales analyzed by an individual
EIS. Starting with the Program for 2002
to 2007, the Alaska OCS Region
prepared a multiple-sale EIS for the
three sales held in the Beaufort Sea OCS
Planning Area. For the proposed final
Program for 2007 to 2012, we extend
this approach by preparing a multiplesale, multiple-planning area EIS.
This approach will provide several
benefits. It will thoroughly describe the
effects of individual proposed actions
(the four lease sales) and cumulative
effects of reasonably-foreseeable future
actions within and across the two areas.
It will focus the NEPA process by
making impact types and levels that
change between the first and second
sale in each planning area more easily
recognizable. New issues will be more
easily highlighted for the
decisionmakers and the public. It will
also eliminate the repetitive issuance of
a complete EIS for each sale, a practice
that has resulted in ‘‘review burnout’’ in
Federal, State, tribal, and local
governments, and the public.
4. Instructions on Notice of Intent
Federal, State, tribal, and local
governments and other interested
parties are requested to send their
written comments on the scope of the
EIS, including the alternatives, issues,
and mitigation measures that should be
addressed in the EIS, to the Regional
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment,
Alaska OCS Region, at the address
stated under Instructions on Call above.
Comments should be enclosed in an
envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on the
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS on
Proposed Chukchi and Beaufort Sea
Lease Sales included in the Program,
2007–2012.’’ Comments are due no later
than 45 days from publication of this
Notice. Scoping meetings will be held in
appropriate locations to obtain
additional comments and information
regarding the scope of this EIS.
Dated: August 8, 2007.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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[FR Doc. 07–4134 Filed 8–22–07; 8:45 am]
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 163 (Thursday, August 23, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48295-48300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-4134]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Beaufort Sea
and Chukchi Sea, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2007 to
2012
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Call for information and nominations and Notice of Intent (NOI)
to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter
referred to as ``Call'') is the initial step in a multiple-sale process
that incorporates planning and analysis for lease sales in the Beaufort
Sea and Chukchi Sea planning areas included in the proposed final OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2007-2012 (see 72 Federal Register (FR)
24326, May 2, 2007). Four lease sales are addressed in this Call; two
in the Beaufort Sea (sales 209 and 217) and two in the Chukchi Sea
(sales 212 and 221). (Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea is a carryover from
the Program for 2002-2007 and is not addressed by this Call.)
Simultaneously with this Call, MMS is giving notice of its intent to
prepare a multiple-sale EIS for the four sales.
DATES: Nominations and comments must be received no later than 45 days
following publication of this document in the Federal Register.
Submittals should be labeled ``Nominations for Proposed Lease Sales in
the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea, 2007-2012'' or ``Comments on Call for
Information and Nominations for Proposed Lease Sales in the Beaufort
Sea and Chukchi Sea, 2007-2012, as appropriate.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Fred King at (907) 334-
5271 in MMS's Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste 500,
Anchorage, AK 99503-5823 regarding questions on the Call/NOI.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The multiple-sale review process is based on
more than 30 years of leasing in the Beaufort Sea and more than 20
years in the Chukchi Sea. In 2001, MMS initiated the multiple-sale
review process by issuing a multiple-sale Call for three sales in the
Beaufort Sea (sales 186, 195 and 202), held under the OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program, 2002-2007. The MMS is now issuing a multiple-sale Call
for the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea sales in the proposed final
program for 2007-2012.
The final multiple-sale EIS will serve as the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA)
Consistency Determination (CD) analysis for Beaufort Sea Sale 209 and
Chukchi Sea Sale 212. MMS will prepare additional NEPA, CZMA, and Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) documents, as appropriate.
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to the OCS Lands Act as amended (43
U.S.C. 1331-1356, (1994)) and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR
256); and in accordance with the proposed final OCS Oil and Gas Leasing
Program, 2007-2012.
2. Purpose of Call
The purpose of the Call is to gather information for the following
tentatively scheduled OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales in the Beaufort Sea
and Chukchi Sea:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale
Lease sale, OCS planning area year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale 209, Beaufort Sea......................................... 2009
Sale 212, Chukchi Sea.......................................... 2010
Sale 217, Beaufort Sea......................................... 2011
Sale 221, Chukchi Sea.......................................... 2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea is not part of this Call. Sale 193 was
initiated in 2005 (70 FR 6903) as part of the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing
Program, 2002-2007, and was carried over to the Program for 2007-2012
to allow adequate time to complete necessary pre-lease steps and
environmental assessment and documentation. Sale 193 is scheduled for
February 2008. Information and nominations on oil and gas leasing,
exploration, and development and production within the Beaufort Sea and
Chukchi Sea 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 U.S. Department of the Interior for
its consideration in future decisions in the leasing process pursuant
to the OCS Lands Act and regulations at 30 CFR 256. Responses are
requested for the four sales listed in the Call proposed in
[[Page 48296]]
the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea planning areas between 2007 and 2012.
This Call/NOI is being issued in accordance with the proposed final OCS
Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2007-2012, published on May 2, 2007 (72 FR
24326).
This Call also does not indicate a preliminary decision to lease in
the areas described below. Final decision and delineation of each area
for possible leasing will be made at a later date and in compliance
with applicable laws including all requirements of NEPA and OCSLA using
established departmental procedures.
3. Description of Area
The area that is the subject of this Call is located offshore the
State of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea planning areas. The
``program area'' is that subarea of the larger planning areas that may
be offered in the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program, 2007-2012. The
Beaufort Sea program area extends offshore from about 3 nautical miles
to approximately 205 statute miles, in water depths from approximately
25 feet to 3,000 feet. This area consists of approximately 6,045 whole
and partial blocks (about 33 million acres). The Chukchi Sea program
area extends offshore from 25 to approximately 275 statute miles, in
water depths from approximately 60 to 660 feet (up to 3,000 feet in a
portion of the program area). This area consists of 7,324 whole or
partial blocks (about 40 million acres). A page size map of each area
accompanies this Call. A large scale Call map showing the boundaries of
the area on a block-by-block basis is available without charge from the
Records Manager at the address given below, or by telephone request at
1-800-764-2627. Copies of Official Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) are also
available for $2 each from Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management
Service, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-
5823, https://www.mms.gov/alaska.
4. Instructions on Call
Nominations and information must be received no later than 45 days
following publication of this Call in the Federal Register. Submittals
should indicate ``Nominations for Proposed Lease Sales in the Beaufort
and Chukchi Sea, 2007-2012'' or ``Comments on the Call for Information
for Proposed Lease Sales in Beaufort and Chukchi Seas, 2007-2012'' as
appropriate. Nominations and comments may be submitted by any one the
following methods:
Mail or hand-deliver comments to the Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Environment, Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management
Service, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-
5823.
Submit comments by Internet through MMS Public Connect at
https://ocsconnect.mms.gov/pcs-public/.
Fax comments to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and
Environment, Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service at (907)
334-5242.
E-mail comments to arcticmultisale@mms.gov.
Please submit e-mail or Internet comments as an ASCII file,
avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
Please also include your name and return address in your e-mail or
Internet message. If you do not receive a confirmation from the system
that we have received your e-mail or Internet message, contact us
directly at 1-800-764-2627.
The Call for Information Map delineates the Call area, all of which
has been identified by MMS as having potential for the discovery of
accumulations of oil and gas. Respondents are requested to indicate
nominations and comment on any or all of the Federal acreage within the
boundaries of the Call area that they wish to have included in each of
the proposed sales in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea. Although
individual nominations are considered to be privileged and proprietary
information, the names of persons or entities indicating interest or
submitting comments will be of public record.
Nominations must be submitted using the large-scale Call for
Information Map by outlining the areas of interest along block lines.
Respondents should rank areas in which they have nominated according to
priority of interest; for example, priority 1 (high), or 2 (medium).
Blocks nominated that do not indicate priorities will be considered
priority 3 (low). Respondents must be specific in indicating blocks by
priority and be prepared to discuss their range of interest and
activity regarding the nominated area(s). The telephone number and name
of a person to contact in the nominator's organization for additional
information should be included in the response. The Alaska OCS Regional
Office will contact this person to set up a mutually agreeable time and
place for a meeting to more fully review the company's nominations.
Respondents may also submit a detailed list of blocks nominated by
Official Protraction Diagram and Leasing Map designations to ensure
correct interpretation of their nominations. Official Protraction
Diagrams and Leasing Maps can be purchased from the Records Manager
referred to above.
Companies and individuals responding this Call are advised of a
dispute between the United States and Canada regarding Beaufort Sea
Planning Area blocks in OPD's NR07-06, NR07-04, NS07-02, and NS07-08.
(See Map Attachment 4.) While these blocks are part of the 2007 to 2012
5-Year Program Area to be considered and evaluated in the NEPA process,
resolution of the claims dispute may affect the timing, terms of
conditions, and potentially the issuance of leases in these four OPD's.
Comments are sought from all interested parties about particular
geological (including natural hazard areas), environmental, biological,
archaeological, and socioeconomic conditions or conflicts, or other
information that might bear upon the potential leasing and development
of particular areas. Comments are also sought on possible conflicts
between future OCS oil and gas activities that may result from the
proposed sales and the standards of the Alaska Coastal Management
Program (ACMP) and the enforceable policies of an approved local
district coastal management plan. If possible, these comments should
identify specific Coastal Management Program (CMP) policies of concern,
the nature of the conflict foreseen, and steps that MMS could take to
avoid or mitigate the potential conflict. Comments may be in terms of
broad areas or restricted to particular blocks or areas of concern.
Those submitting comments are requested to list block numbers or
outline the subject area on the standard Call for Information Map.
Our practice is to make comments, including names and addresses of
respondents, available for public review during regular business hours.
Individual respondents may request that we withhold their address from
the rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by
law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a
respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold
your name or address, you must state this prominently at the beginning
of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous comments. We
will make all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from
individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of
organizations or businesses, available for public inspection in their
entirety.
[[Page 48297]]
5. Use of Information from Call
Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for
several purposes. Responses will be used to:
Help identify areas of potential oil and gas development;
Identify environmental effects and potential use
conflicts;
Assist in the scoping process for the EIS;
Develop possible alternatives to the proposed action;
Develop lease terms and conditions/mitigating measures;
Identify potential conflicts between oil and gas
activities and the ACMP.
6. Existing Information
The MMS has acquired a substantial amount of information, including
that gained through the use of traditional knowledge, on the issues and
concerns related to oil and gas leasing in the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi
Sea.
An extensive environmental, social, and economic studies program
has been underway in both areas since 1975. The emphasis has been on
geologic mapping, environmental characterization of biologically
sensitive habitats, endangered whales and marine mammals, physical
oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, and ecological and socio-
cultural effects of oil and gas activities.
Information on the studies program, completed studies, and a
program status report for continuing studies in the Beaufort Sea and
Chukchi Sea may be obtained from the Chief, Environmental Studies
Section, Alaska OCS Region, by telephone request at (907) 334-5281 or
by written request at the address stated under Description of Area. A
request may also be made via the Alaska Region Web site at https://
www.mms.gov/alaska/ref/pubindex/pubsindex.htm.
7. Tentative Schedule
The following is a list of tentative milestone dates applicable to
sales covered by this Call:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multiple-sale EIS process milestones for proposed Beaufort Sea Sales 209
and 217 and Chukchi Sea Sales 212 and 221
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call/NOI published.................. August 2007.
Comments due on Call/NOI............ September 2007.
Area Identification................. November 2007.
Draft EIS available................. July 2008.
Public Hearings..................... August 2008.
Final EIS available................. March 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19
Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Beaufort Sea Sale 209
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination/Proposed March 2009.
Notice of Sale issued.
Governor's Comments due............. May 2009.
Final Notice of Sale published...... October 2009.
Sale held........................... November 2009.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19
Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Chukchi Sea Sale 212
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination/Proposed July 2009.
Notice of Sale issued.
Governor's Comments due............. October 2009.
Final Notice of Sale published...... February 2010.
Sale held........................... March 2010.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Multiple-sale NEPA process milestones for proposed Beaufort Sea Sale 217
and Chukchi Sea Sale 221
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Multiple-sale Supplemental EIS or Environmental Assessment for Sales
217 and 221 will commence about 21 months (Spring 2010) before Sale
217. If a Supplemental EIS is prepared, public hearings will occur
approximately a year prior to Sale 217. The Final Supplemental EIS or
EA will be completed and distributed to the public approximately 8
months prior to Sale 217.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19
Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Beaufort Sea Sale 217
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination/Proposed Spring 2011.
Notice of Sale issued.
Governor's Comments due............. Spring/Summer 2011.
Final Notice of Sale published...... Fall 2011.
Sale 217 held....................... Fall/Winter 2011.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination, Proposed Notice of Sale, Section 19
Consultation, and Notice of Sale for Chukchi Sea Sale 221
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consistency Determination/Proposed Summer 2011.
Notice of Sale issued.
Governor's Comments due............. Fall 2011.
Final Notice of Sale published...... Winter 2011/2012.
Sale 221 held....................... Spring 2012.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement
1. Authority
The NOI is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7)
implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)) (NEPA).
2. Purpose of Notice of Intent
Pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) implementing the
procedural provisions of the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), MMS
is announcing its intent to prepare a multiple-sale EIS on four
tentatively scheduled oil and gas lease sales; two in the Beaufort Sea
OCS Planning Area (sales 209 and 217) and two in the Chukchi Sea OCS
Planning Area (sales 212 and 221). (Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea is a
carryover from the 5-Year Program for 2002-2007 and is not the subject
of the NOI.) The EIS analysis
[[Page 48298]]
will focus on the potential environmental effects of four sales and the
exploration and development and production that could result.
Alternatives to the proposals which may be considered for each
individual sale are to delay the sale, modify the sale, or cancel the
sale. These and any additional alternatives developed through the
scoping process would be considered in the sale-specific decision
process. This Notice of Intent also serves to announce the initiation
of the scoping process for this EIS. Throughout the scoping process,
Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and other interested
parties aid MMS in determining the alternatives, issues, and mitigation
measures to be analyzed in the EIS and the possible need for additional
information.
The multiple-sale EIS will serve as the NEPA document for Beaufort
Sea Sale 209 and Chukchi Sea Sale 212. Prior to Sales 217 (Beaufort
Sea) and 221 (Chukchi Sea) MMS will gather and review the new
environmental information applicable to the Beaufort Sea and Chukchi
Sea Planning Areas. The MMS will summarize and assess potential effects
based on this information, including any new concerns and issues, in
either a Supplemental EIS or an Environmental Assessment, as
appropriate. This NEPA document will be available to the public for
their review prior to the issuance of the Proposed Notice of Sale.
The Department of the Interior invites other Federal, State,
Tribal, and local governments to consider becoming cooperating agencies
in the preparation of the EIS. We invite qualified government entities
to inquire about cooperating agency status for this lease sale EIS. Per
guidelines from the Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ), qualified
agencies and governments are those with ``jurisdiction by law or
special expertise.'' Potential cooperating agencies should consider
their authority and capacity to assume the responsibilities of a
cooperating agency and to remember that their role in the environmental
analysis neither enlarges nor diminishes the final decision making
authority of any other agency involved in the NEPA process. Upon
request, MMS will provide potential cooperating agencies with a written
summary of ground rules for cooperating agencies including time
schedules and critical action dates, milestones, responsibilities,
scope and detail of cooperating agencies' contributions, and
availability of pre-decisional information. MMS anticipates this
summary will form the basis for a Memorandum of Understanding between
the MMS and each cooperating agency. You should also consider the
``Factors for Determining Cooperating Agency Status'' in Attachment 1
to CEQ's January 30, 2002, Memorandum for the Heads of Federal Agencies
on Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the Procedural Requirements of
The National Environmental Policy Act. A copy of this document is
available at: https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/cooperating/
cooperatingagenciesmemorandum.html and https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/
cooperating/cooperatingagencymemofactors.html.
The MMS, as the lead agency, will not be providing financial
assistance to cooperating agencies. Even if you are not a cooperating
agency, you will continue to have opportunities to provide information
and comments to MMS during the normal public input phases of the NEPA/
EIS process. MMS will also consult with Tribal governments on a
Government-to-Government basis. If you would like further information
about cooperating agencies, please contact Dr. Cleve Cowles, Regional
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment, at the address noted above or by
phone at (907) 334-5230.
3. New NEPA Procedure
As described above, the multiple-sale EIS will encompass the
Beaufort Sea OCS Planning Area and the Chukchi Sea OCS Planning Area.
The preparation of a multiple-sale, multiple-planning area EIS is a new
approach for the MMS Alaska OCS Region, although it has been used for
sales in the Gulf of Mexico Region. Federal offshore leasing in the
Beaufort Sea began in 1978 and in the Chukchi Sea in 1988 with the
potential effects of ten out of the thirteen sales analyzed by an
individual EIS. Starting with the Program for 2002 to 2007, the Alaska
OCS Region prepared a multiple-sale EIS for the three sales held in the
Beaufort Sea OCS Planning Area. For the proposed final Program for 2007
to 2012, we extend this approach by preparing a multiple-sale,
multiple-planning area EIS.
This approach will provide several benefits. It will thoroughly
describe the effects of individual proposed actions (the four lease
sales) and cumulative effects of reasonably-foreseeable future actions
within and across the two areas. It will focus the NEPA process by
making impact types and levels that change between the first and second
sale in each planning area more easily recognizable. New issues will be
more easily highlighted for the decisionmakers and the public. It will
also eliminate the repetitive issuance of a complete EIS for each sale,
a practice that has resulted in ``review burnout'' in Federal, State,
tribal, and local governments, and the public.
4. Instructions on Notice of Intent
Federal, State, tribal, and local governments and other interested
parties are requested to send their written comments on the scope of
the EIS, including the alternatives, issues, and mitigation measures
that should be addressed in the EIS, to the Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Environment, Alaska OCS Region, at the address stated under
Instructions on Call above. Comments should be enclosed in an envelope
labeled ``Comments on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS on
Proposed Chukchi and Beaufort Sea Lease Sales included in the Program,
2007-2012.'' Comments are due no later than 45 days from publication of
this Notice. Scoping meetings will be held in appropriate locations to
obtain additional comments and information regarding the scope of this
EIS.
Dated: August 8, 2007.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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