Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA) in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 213 in 2010, 59646-59649 [E8-23975]
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59646
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Notices
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82 West, Sixth Principal Meridian,
Colorado, was accepted on June 25,
2008.
The plat and field notes, in duplicate,
of the dependent resurvey and surveys
in Township 35 North, Ranges 11 and
12 West, of the New Mexico Principal
Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on
August 26, 2008.
The plat (in seven sheets) and field
notes, in duplicate, of the dependent
resurvey and the resurvey of certain
mineral surveys in section 19,
Township 1 North, Range 71 West,
Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado,
were accepted on September 9, 2008.
The plat and field notes, in duplicate,
of the dependent resurvey and section
subdivision in Township 43 North,
Range 10 East, New Mexico Principal
Meridian, Colorado, and the plat (in 3
sheets) and field notes, in duplicate of
the dependent resurvey of a portion of
the north and west boundaries of the
Luis Maria Baca Land Grant No. 4, a
portion of the south boundary of
Township 43 North, Range 11 East, and
the metes-and-bounds survey of the
north, east, and a portion of the west
boundary of the Baca National Wildlife
Refuge within the Luis Maria Baca Land
Grant No. 4, in the state of Colorado
were accepted on September 12, 2008.
The plat and field notes, in duplicate,
of the dependent resurvey and survey,
in section 33, Township 22 South,
Range 69 West, Sixth Principal
Meridian, Colorado, were accepted on
September 16, 2008.
The plat and field notes, in duplicate,
of the dependent resurvey of a portion
of the west boundary and subdivisional
lines and the subdivision of section 7,
in Township 21 South, Range 71 West,
Sixth Principal Meridian, Colorado,
were accepted on September 17, 2008.
The plat and field notes, in duplicate,
of the dependent resurvey and surveys
in Township 50 North, Range 9 West,
New Mexico Principal Meridian,
Colorado, were accepted on September
22, 2008.
The plat and field notes, in duplicate,
of the dependent resurvey and section
subdivision of sections 14, 23 and 26,
Township 45 North, Range 6 East, New
Mexico Principal Meridian, Colorado,
were accepted on September 23, 2008.
Randall M. Zanon,
Chief Cadastral Surveyor for Colorado.
[FR Doc. E8–23875 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–JB–P
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
[UTU–42903, UTU–42913, UTU–42914, UTU–
42916, UTU–42922, UTU–079344, UTU–
087798, and UTU–0105337]
Proposed Continuation of
Withdrawals; Utah
Bureau of Land Management,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Realty
Action.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation
(BOR) proposes that 9 withdrawals for
the Provo River Project be continued for
20 years. The lands are still needed for
the purpose for which they were
withdrawn. The lands would remain
withdrawn as specified in the orders.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before January 7, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be sent to
the Regional Director, BOR, Upper
Colorado Regional Office, 125 South
State Street, Room 6107, Salt Lake City,
Utah 84138–1147, Attn. Dalia
Hernandez.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dalia Hernandez, BOR, at the above
address, 801–524–3763, or
dhernandez@uc.usbr.gov or Rhonda
Flynn, Bureau of Land Management,
Utah State Office, 440 West 200 South,
Suite 500, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101–
1345, 801–539–4132 or
rhonda_flynn@blm.gov.
The BOR
has determined that the lands are still
needed for reclamation purposes. Two
of the Secretarial Orders have the same
date. Copies of the Secretarial Orders
and Public Land Orders containing a
legal description of the lands involved
are available from the BOR at the
address above.
The BOR proposes that the
withdrawals made by the Secretarial
Orders dated June 17, 1905, April 18,
1939, November 19, 1940, January 15,
1942, January 15, 1942, and September
23, 1943; and Public Land Order No.
3163 (28 FR 7986), Public Land Order
No. 3169 (28 FR 7988), and Public Land
Order No. 3170 (28 FR 7988) which
withdrew lands on behalf of the Bureau
of Reclamation for the Provo River
Project be continued for a period of 20
years. The lands would remain
withdrawn as specified in the orders.
The lands referenced aggregate
approximately 5,463 acres in Duchesne,
Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, and Wasatch
Counties.
For a period of 90 days from the date
of publication of this notice, all persons
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
PO 00000
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who wish to submit comments,
suggestions, or objections in connection
with the proposed action may present
their views in writing to the BOR
Regional Director, at the address above.
Comments, including names and
street addresses of respondents, and
records relating to the proposed land
transfer will be available for public
review during regular business hours at
the BOR Regional Office at the address
above. Individual respondents may
request confidentiality. 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.
Authority: 43 CFR 2310.3–1.
Dated: October 2, 2008.
Donald R. Banks,
State Director, Acting.
[FR Doc. E8–23969 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MN–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central
Planning Area (CPA) in the Gulf of
Mexico (GOM), Oil and Gas Lease Sale
213 in 2010
Minerals Management Service
(MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Call for Information and
Nominations/Notice of Preparation
(Call/NOP) of an Environmental
Assessment (EA).
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This Call for Information and
Nominations (hereinafter referred to as
the ‘‘Call’’) is the initial step in the
prelease process. The purpose of the
Call is to gather information on oil and
gas leasing, exploration, and
development that might result from an
OCS oil and gas lease sale tentatively
scheduled in early 2010. The purpose of
the NOP is to announce MMS’s intent
to prepare an EA for CPA Sale 213.
DATES: Comments must be received no
later than November 10, 2008 at the
address specified below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on this Call, please contact
Mr. Carrol Williams, Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico
OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Notices
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123–2394, telephone (504) 736–2803.
For information on the NOP, you may
contact Mr. Gary Goeke, Gulf of Mexico
OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123–2394, telephone (504) 736–3233.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July
14, 2008, the President modified an
Executive order, thereby making
additional acreage available for leasing
in the Central Planning Area of the Gulf
of Mexico. The EA associated with this
NOP will update the environmental and
socioeconomic analyses. The MMS
plans to complete National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), OCS
Lands Act (OCSLA), and Coastal Zone
Management Act (CZMA) coverage for
the proposed lease sale.
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to the
OCSLA as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331–
1356), and the regulations issued
thereunder (30 CFR part 256).
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
2. Purpose of Call
The purpose of the Call is to gather
information for the following tentatively
scheduled OCS Lease Sale in the Central
Planning Area.
Lease Sale, OCS Planning Area:
Lease Sale 213, Central Planning
Area.
Tentative Lease Sale Date:
March 2010.
Information and nominations on oil
and gas leasing, exploration,
development and production within
this portion of the CPA is 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 future
decisions in the leasing process
pursuant to the OCSLA and regulations
at 30 CFR part 256.
Final delineation of this area for
possible leasing will be made at a later
date and in compliance with applicable
laws including all requirements of the
NEPA, CZMA and OCSLA. Established
Departmental procedures will be
employed.
3. Description of Area
A Call for the majority of the acreage
in the CPA was issued in April 2006.
This Call encompasses approximately
90,998.2424 acres in that portion of the
CPA made available by the President’s
action. A standard Call for Information
Map depicting this portion of the
Central Planning Area is available
without charge from: Minerals
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Management Service, Public
Information Unit (MS 5034), 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123–2394, or telephone: 1–
800–200–GULF. The map is also
available via the MMS Web site at http:
//www.mms.gov.
4. Instructions on Call
Comments must be received no later
than 30 days following publication of
this document in the Federal Register in
envelopes labeled ‘‘Comments on the
Call for Information and Nominations
for Proposed Lease Sale 213 in 2010,’’
submitted to the Gulf of Mexico
Region’s Leasing Activities Section,
Sales and Support Unit (Attention: Mr.
Carrol Williams) at the previously noted
address.
The standard Call for Information
Map delineates the Call area, all of
which has been identified by the MMS
as having potential for the discovery of
accumulations of oil and gas.
Comments are sought from all
interested parties about particular
geological, environmental (including
natural disasters), biological,
archaeological and socioeconomic
conditions or conflicts, or other
information that might bear upon the
potential leasing and development of
this area. Comments are also sought on
possible conflicts between future OCS
oil and gas activities that may result
from the proposed lease sale and State
Coastal Management Programs (CMP’s).
If possible, these comments should
identify specific CMP policies of
concern, the nature of the conflict
foreseen, and steps that the MMS could
take to avoid or mitigate the potential
conflict. Comments may be in terms of
broad areas or restricted to particular
blocks of concern. Those submitting
comments are requested to list block
numbers or outline the subject area on
the standard Call for Information Map.
5. Use of Information From Call
Information submitted in response to
this Call will be used for several
purposes. First, comments on possible
environmental effects and potential use
conflicts will be used in the analysis of
environmental conditions in and near
the Call area. Comments on
environmental and other use conflicts
will be used to make a preliminary
determination of the potential
advantages and disadvantages of oil and
gas exploration and development to the
region and the Nation. Second,
comments may be used in developing
lease terms and conditions to ensure
environmentally safe offshore
operations, and, third, comments may
be used to assess potential conflicts
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59647
between offshore gas and oil activities
and a State CMP.
6. Existing Information
The MMS routinely assesses the
status of information acquisition efforts
and the quality of the information base
for potential decisions on a tentatively
scheduled lease sale. An extensive
environmental studies program has been
underway in the GOM since 1973. The
emphasis, including continuing studies,
has been on ‘‘environmental analysis’’
of biologically sensitive habitats,
physical oceanography, oceancirculation modeling, ecological effects
of oil and gas activities, and hurricane
impacts on coastal communities and the
environment.
You may obtain a complete listing of
available study reports and information
for ordering copies from the Public
Information Unit referenced above. You
may also order the reports for a fee, from
the U.S. Department of Commerce,
National Technical Information Service,
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield,
Virginia 22161, or telephone (703) 605–
6000 or (800) 553–6847. In addition,
you may obtain a program status report
for continuing studies in this area from
the Chief, Environmental Sciences
Section (MS 5430), Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico
OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123–2394, or telephone (504) 736–
2752, or via the MMS Web site at http:
//www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/
environ/studiesprogram.html.
7. Tentative Schedule
Milestones for Proposed Lease Sale 213
in 2010
NOP for an EA, October 2008.
Call for Information and Nominations,
October 2008.
Comments received on Call/NOP,
November 2008.
Area Identification Decision,
December 2008–January 2009.
NOA/Final EA, September–October
2009.
Proposed Notice and Coastal Zone
Management Consistency
Determination, October 2009.
Final Notice of Sale, February 2010.
Tentative Lease Sale Date, March
2010 (Lease Sale 213).
Notice of Preparation of an
Environmental Assessment
1. Authority
This NOP is published pursuant to
the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7)
implementing the provisions of the
NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq. (1988)).
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 197 / Thursday, October 9, 2008 / Notices
2. Purpose of Notice of Preparation
Pursuant to the regulations
implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA, MMS is announcing its
preparation of an Environmental
Assessment on an oil and gas lease sale
tentatively scheduled in early 2010 in
the CPA offshore the States of
Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida. The MMS is issuing this notice
to facilitate public involvement. The
preparation of this EA is an important
step in the decision process for Lease
Sale 213. The proposal for Lease Sale
213 was analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico
OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009–
2012; Western Planning Area Sales 210,
215, and 218; Central Planning Area
Sales 208, 213, 216, and 222—Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement (Supplemental EIS, OCS EIS/
EA MMS 2008–041). This EA for
proposed Lease Sale 213 will reexamine
the potential environmental effects of
the proposed lease sale and its
alternatives (i.e., excluding the unleased
blocks near biologically sensitive
topographic features; excluding the
unleased blocks within 15 miles of the
Baldwin County, Alabama, Coast; and
no action) based on any new
information regarding potential impacts
and issues that were not available at the
time the Supplemental EIS was
prepared. This EA for proposed Lease
Sale 213 will also examine the potential
environmental effects of the addition of
two small areas within the CPA, located
greater than 100 miles from the coasts
of Alabama and Florida, that were not
previously examined by the
Supplemental EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS
2008–041) or Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/
EA MMS 2007–018), but were included
in the 5-year program.
3. Supplemental Information
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The Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS
2007–018) addressed CPA lease sales
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Sale 205 in 2007, Sale 206 in 2008, Sale
208 in 2009, Sale 213 in 2010, Sale 216
in 2011, and Sale 222 in 2012; and WPA
lease sales Sale 204 in 2007, Sale 207 in
2008, Sale 210 in 2009, Sale 215 in
2010, and Sale 218 in 2011. However,
the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act
of 2006 repealed the Congressional
moratorium on approximately 5.8
million acres located in the southeastern
part of the Central Planning Area (CPA).
Therefore, it was necessary to prepare
additional NEPA documentation to
address the MMS proposal to expand
the CPA by the 5.8 million acre area.
Federal regulations allow for several
related or similar proposals to be
analyzed in one EIS (40 CFR 1502.4).
Since each proposed lease sale and its
projected activities are very similar each
year for each planning area, a single
Supplemental EIS was prepared for the
remaining seven Western Planning Area
(WPA) and CPA lease sales scheduled in
the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program:
2007–2012 (5-Year Program). In
September 2008, MMS published a
Supplemental EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS
2008–041) that addressed seven
proposed Federal actions that would
offer for lease areas on the GOM OCS
that may contain economically
recoverable oil and gas resources.
After completion of this EA, MMS
will determine whether to prepare a
Finding of No New Significant Impact
(FONNSI) or a Supplemental EIS. The
MMS prepares a Consistency
Determination (CD) to determine
whether the lease sale is consistent with
each affected State’s federally-approved
coastal zone management program.
Finally, MMS will solicit comments via
the Proposed Notice of Sale (PNOS)
from the governors of the affected States
on the size, timing, and location of the
lease sale. The tentative schedule for the
prelease decision process for Lease Sale
213 is as follows: EA/FONNSI or
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Supplemental EIS decision, September–
October 2009; CD’s will be sent to
affected States five months before the
lease sale; PNOS sent to governors of the
affected States, five months before the
lease sale; Final Notice of Sale, if
applicable, published in the Federal
Register, February 2010.
For more information on the EA, you
may contact Gary Goeke, Gulf of Mexico
OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, MS 5410, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123–2394 or e-mail
environment@mms.gov. You may also
contact Mr. Goeke by telephone at (504)
736–3233.
4. Comments
Federal, State, and local government
agencies, and other interested parties
are requested to send their written
comments on the EA, significant issues
that should be addressed, and
alternatives that should be considered
in one of the following three ways:
1. Electronically using MMS’s Public
Connect on-line commenting system at
https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. From the
Public Connect ‘‘Welcome’’ screen,
search for ‘‘Lease Sale 213 EA’’ or select
it from the ‘‘Projects Open for
Comment’’ menu.
2. In written form enclosed in an
envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on the
Lease Sale 213 EA’’ 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.
3. Electronically to the MMS e-mail
address: environment@mms.gov.
Comments should be submitted no
later than 30 days from the publication
of this NOP.
Dated: September 30, 2008.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil
and Gas Lease Sales
AGENCY:
Minerals Management Service,
Interior.
List of Restricted Joint Bidders.
sroberts on PROD1PC70 with NOTICES
ACTION:
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority
vested in the Director of the Minerals
Management Service by the joint
bidding provisions of 30 CFR 256.41,
each entity within one of the following
groups shall be restricted from bidding
with any entity in any other of the
following groups at Outer Continental
Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held
during the bidding period November 1,
2008 through April 30, 2009. The List of
Restricted Joint Bidders published in
the Federal Register April 22, 2008, and
the correction published in the Federal
Register on June 27, 2008, covered the
period May 1, 2008 through October 31,
2008.
Group I
Exxon Mobil Corporation
ExxonMobil Exploration Company
VerDate Aug<31>2005
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Group II
Shell Oil Company
Shell Offshore Inc
SWEPI LP
Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc.
Shell Consolidated Energy Resources
Inc.
Shell Land & Energy Company
Shell Onshore Ventures Inc.
Shell Offshore Properties and Capital II,
Inc.
Shell Rocky Mountain Production LLC
Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc.
Group III
BP America Production Company
BP Exploration & Production Inc.
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.
Group IV
TOTAL E&P USA, Inc.
Group VI
ConocoPhillips Company
ConocoPhillips Alaska, Inc.
ConocoPhillips Petroleum Company
Phillips Pt. Arguello Production
Company
Frm 00054
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Group VII
Eni Petroleum Co. Inc.
Eni Petroleum US LLC
Eni Oil US LLC
Eni Marketing Inc.
Eni BB Petroleum Inc.
Eni US Operating Co. Inc.
Eni BB Pipeline LLC
Group VIII
Group V
Chevron Corporation
Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
Chevron Midcontinent, L.P.
Unocal Corporation
Union Oil Company of California
Pure Partners, L.P.
PO 00000
Burlington Resources Oil & Gas
Company LP
Burlington Resources Offshore Inc.
The Louisiana Land and Exploration
Company
Inexeco Oil Company
Petrobras America Inc.
Group IX
StatoilHydro ASA
Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC
StatoilHydro USA E&P, Inc.
StatoilHydro Gulf Properties Inc.
Dated: September 24, 2008.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E8–23976 Filed 10–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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59649
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 197 (Thursday, October 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59646-59649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23975]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA) in the
Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 213 in 2010
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations/Notice of Preparation
(Call/NOP) of an Environmental Assessment (EA).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter
referred to as the ``Call'') is the initial step in the prelease
process. The purpose of the Call is to gather information on oil and
gas leasing, exploration, and development that might result from an OCS
oil and gas lease sale tentatively scheduled in early 2010. The purpose
of the NOP is to announce MMS's intent to prepare an EA for CPA Sale
213.
DATES: Comments must be received no later than November 10, 2008 at the
address specified below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on this Call, please
contact Mr. Carrol Williams, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park
[[Page 59647]]
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2803.
For information on the NOP, you may contact Mr. Gary Goeke, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-3233.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On July 14, 2008, the President modified an
Executive order, thereby making additional acreage available for
leasing in the Central Planning Area of the Gulf of Mexico. The EA
associated with this NOP will update the environmental and
socioeconomic analyses. The MMS plans to complete National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), and Coastal
Zone Management Act (CZMA) coverage for the proposed lease sale.
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to the OCSLA as amended (43 U.S.C.
1331-1356), and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR part 256).
2. Purpose of Call
The purpose of the Call is to gather information for the following
tentatively scheduled OCS Lease Sale in the Central Planning Area.
Lease Sale, OCS Planning Area:
Lease Sale 213, Central Planning Area.
Tentative Lease Sale Date:
March 2010.
Information and nominations on oil and gas leasing, exploration,
development and production within this portion of the CPA is 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 future decisions in
the leasing process pursuant to the OCSLA and regulations at 30 CFR
part 256.
Final delineation of this area for possible leasing will be made at
a later date and in compliance with applicable laws including all
requirements of the NEPA, CZMA and OCSLA. Established Departmental
procedures will be employed.
3. Description of Area
A Call for the majority of the acreage in the CPA was issued in
April 2006. This Call encompasses approximately 90,998.2424 acres in
that portion of the CPA made available by the President's action. A
standard Call for Information Map depicting this portion of the Central
Planning Area is available without charge from: Minerals Management
Service, Public Information Unit (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, or telephone: 1-800-200-
GULF. The map is also available via the MMS Web site at http: //
www.mms.gov.
4. Instructions on Call
Comments must be received no later than 30 days following
publication of this document in the Federal Register in envelopes
labeled ``Comments on the Call for Information and Nominations for
Proposed Lease Sale 213 in 2010,'' submitted to the Gulf of Mexico
Region's Leasing Activities Section, Sales and Support Unit (Attention:
Mr. Carrol Williams) at the previously noted address.
The standard Call for Information Map delineates the Call area, all
of which has been identified by the MMS as having potential for the
discovery of accumulations of oil and gas.
Comments are sought from all interested parties about particular
geological, environmental (including natural disasters), biological,
archaeological and socioeconomic conditions or conflicts, or other
information that might bear upon the potential leasing and development
of this area. Comments are also sought on possible conflicts between
future OCS oil and gas activities that may result from the proposed
lease sale and State Coastal Management Programs (CMP's). If possible,
these comments should identify specific CMP policies of concern, the
nature of the conflict foreseen, and steps that the MMS could take to
avoid or mitigate the potential conflict. Comments may be in terms of
broad areas or restricted to particular blocks of concern. Those
submitting comments are requested to list block numbers or outline the
subject area on the standard Call for Information Map.
5. Use of Information From Call
Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for
several purposes. First, comments on possible environmental effects and
potential use conflicts will be used in the analysis of environmental
conditions in and near the Call area. Comments on environmental and
other use conflicts will be used to make a preliminary determination of
the potential advantages and disadvantages of oil and gas exploration
and development to the region and the Nation. Second, comments may be
used in developing lease terms and conditions to ensure environmentally
safe offshore operations, and, third, comments may be used to assess
potential conflicts between offshore gas and oil activities and a State
CMP.
6. Existing Information
The MMS routinely assesses the status of information acquisition
efforts and the quality of the information base for potential decisions
on a tentatively scheduled lease sale. An extensive environmental
studies program has been underway in the GOM since 1973. The emphasis,
including continuing studies, has been on ``environmental analysis'' of
biologically sensitive habitats, physical oceanography, ocean-
circulation modeling, ecological effects of oil and gas activities, and
hurricane impacts on coastal communities and the environment.
You may obtain a complete listing of available study reports and
information for ordering copies from the Public Information Unit
referenced above. You may also order the reports for a fee, from the
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service,
5285 Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, or telephone (703)
605-6000 or (800) 553-6847. In addition, you may obtain a program
status report for continuing studies in this area from the Chief,
Environmental Sciences Section (MS 5430), Minerals Management Service,
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123-2394, or telephone (504) 736-2752, or via the MMS Web
site at http: //www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/
studiesprogram.html.
7. Tentative Schedule
Milestones for Proposed Lease Sale 213 in 2010
NOP for an EA, October 2008.
Call for Information and Nominations, October 2008.
Comments received on Call/NOP, November 2008.
Area Identification Decision, December 2008-January 2009.
NOA/Final EA, September-October 2009.
Proposed Notice and Coastal Zone Management Consistency
Determination, October 2009.
Final Notice of Sale, February 2010.
Tentative Lease Sale Date, March 2010 (Lease Sale 213).
Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Assessment
1. Authority
This NOP is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7)
implementing the provisions of the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq. (1988)).
[[Page 59648]]
2. Purpose of Notice of Preparation
Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions
of NEPA, MMS is announcing its preparation of an Environmental
Assessment on an oil and gas lease sale tentatively scheduled in early
2010 in the CPA offshore the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama,
and Florida. The MMS is issuing this notice to facilitate public
involvement. The preparation of this EA is an important step in the
decision process for Lease Sale 213. The proposal for Lease Sale 213
was analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009-
2012; Western Planning Area Sales 210, 215, and 218; Central Planning
Area Sales 208, 213, 216, and 222--Final Supplemental Environmental
Impact Statement (Supplemental EIS, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-041). This EA
for proposed Lease Sale 213 will reexamine the potential environmental
effects of the proposed lease sale and its alternatives (i.e.,
excluding the unleased blocks near biologically sensitive topographic
features; excluding the unleased blocks within 15 miles of the Baldwin
County, Alabama, Coast; and no action) based on any new information
regarding potential impacts and issues that were not available at the
time the Supplemental EIS was prepared. This EA for proposed Lease Sale
213 will also examine the potential environmental effects of the
addition of two small areas within the CPA, located greater than 100
miles from the coasts of Alabama and Florida, that were not previously
examined by the Supplemental EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-041) or Multisale
EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018), but were included in the 5-year program.
3. Supplemental Information
The Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018) addressed CPA lease
sales Sale 205 in 2007, Sale 206 in 2008, Sale 208 in 2009, Sale 213 in
2010, Sale 216 in 2011, and Sale 222 in 2012; and WPA lease sales Sale
204 in 2007, Sale 207 in 2008, Sale 210 in 2009, Sale 215 in 2010, and
Sale 218 in 2011. However, the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of
2006 repealed the Congressional moratorium on approximately 5.8 million
acres located in the southeastern part of the Central Planning Area
(CPA). Therefore, it was necessary to prepare additional NEPA
documentation to address the MMS proposal to expand the CPA by the 5.8
million acre area. Federal regulations allow for several related or
similar proposals to be analyzed in one EIS (40 CFR 1502.4). Since each
proposed lease sale and its projected activities are very similar each
year for each planning area, a single Supplemental EIS was prepared for
the remaining seven Western Planning Area (WPA) and CPA lease sales
scheduled in the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 2007-2012 (5-Year
Program). In September 2008, MMS published a Supplemental EIS (OCS EIS/
EA MMS 2008-041) that addressed seven proposed Federal actions that
would offer for lease areas on the GOM OCS that may contain
economically recoverable oil and gas resources.
After completion of this EA, MMS will determine whether to prepare
a Finding of No New Significant Impact (FONNSI) or a Supplemental EIS.
The MMS prepares a Consistency Determination (CD) to determine whether
the lease sale is consistent with each affected State's federally-
approved coastal zone management program. Finally, MMS will solicit
comments via the Proposed Notice of Sale (PNOS) from the governors of
the affected States on the size, timing, and location of the lease
sale. The tentative schedule for the prelease decision process for
Lease Sale 213 is as follows: EA/FONNSI or Supplemental EIS decision,
September-October 2009; CD's will be sent to affected States five
months before the lease sale; PNOS sent to governors of the affected
States, five months before the lease sale; Final Notice of Sale, if
applicable, published in the Federal Register, February 2010.
For more information on the EA, you may contact Gary Goeke, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS 5410, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123-2394 or e-mail environment@mms.gov. You may also
contact Mr. Goeke by telephone at (504) 736-3233.
4. Comments
Federal, State, and local government agencies, and other interested
parties are requested to send their written comments on the EA,
significant issues that should be addressed, and alternatives that
should be considered in one of the following three ways:
1. Electronically using MMS's Public Connect on-line commenting
system at https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. From the Public Connect
``Welcome'' screen, search for ``Lease Sale 213 EA'' or select it from
the ``Projects Open for Comment'' menu.
2. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on
the Lease Sale 213 EA'' 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.
3. Electronically to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov.
Comments should be submitted no later than 30 days from the
publication of this NOP.
Dated: September 30, 2008.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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[FR Doc. E8-23975 Filed 10-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
