Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Central Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 213 (2010) Environmental Assessment, 58976-58977 [E9-27488]
Download as PDF
58976
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 219 / Monday, November 16, 2009 / Notices
primary lease term would extend the
lease term to 10 years). Please address
any comments or questions related to
this matter to Dr. Marshall Rose, MMS,
Chief, Economics Division, at (703) 787–
1536 or marshall.rose@mms.gov within
30 days.
Dated: October 30, 2009.
S. Elizabeth Birnbaum,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E9–27489 Filed 11–13–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental
Shelf, Central Planning Area, Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 213 (2010)
Environmental Assessment
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an
environmental assessment.
SUMMARY: The Minerals Management
Service (MMS) is issuing this notice to
advise the public, pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act of
1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq., that MMS has prepared an
environmental assessment (EA) for
proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
oil and gas Lease Sale 213 in the Central
Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Planning Area
(Lease Sale 213) scheduled for March
2010. The preparation of this EA is an
important step in the decision process
for Lease Sale 213. The proposal for
Lease Sale 213 was identified by the
Call for Information and Nominations
published in the Federal Register on
October 9, 2008, and was analyzed in
the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas
Lease Sales: 2007–2012; Western
Planning Area Sales 204, 207, 210, 215,
and 218; Central Planning Area Sales
205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222—Final
Environmental Impact Statement;
Volumes I and II (Multisale EIS, OCS
EIS/EA MMS 2007–018), and in the Gulf
of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales:
2009–2012; Central Planning Area Sales
208, 213, 216, and 222; Western
Planning Area Sales 210, 215, and
218—Final Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement
(Supplemental EIS, OCS EIS/EA MMS
2008–041).
This EA for proposed Lease Sale 213
analyzed the potential environmental
effects of the proposed lease sale and its
alternatives (excluding the unleased
blocks near biologically sensitive
topographic features; excluding the
unleased blocks within 15 miles of the
VerDate Nov<24>2008
16:41 Nov 13, 2009
Jkt 220001
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 also examined the potential
environmental effects of the addition of
two small areas within the Central
Planning Area (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 that were
included in the OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program: 2007–2012 (5-Year
Program).
No new significant impacts were
identified for proposed Lease Sale 213
that were not already assessed in the
Multisale EIS or Supplemental EIS. As
a result, MMS determined that an
additional Supplemental EIS is not
required and prepared a Finding of No
New Significant Impact (FONNSI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Bruce Baird, Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region,
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS
5410, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–
2394. You may also contact Mr. Baird by
telephone at (504) 731–1489.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April
2007, MMS published a Multisale EIS
that addressed 11 proposed Federal
actions that would offer for lease areas
on the GOM OCS that may contain
economically recoverable oil and gas
resources. 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 EIS
was prepared for the 11 Western
Planning Area (WPA) and CPA lease
sales scheduled in the proposed 5–Year
Program. The Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/
EA MMS 2007–018) addressed WPA
Sale 204 in 2007, Sale 207 in 2008, Sale
210 in 2009, Sale 215 in 2010, and Sale
218 in 2011; and CPA 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. 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
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. A Supplemental EIS
was prepared for the remaining seven
CPA and WPA lease sales scheduled in
PO 00000
Frm 00040
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the 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. An additional NEPA review
(an EA) was conducted for proposed
Lease Sale 213 to address any new
information relevant to the proposed
lease sale. Additional NEPA reviews
will also be conducted prior to
decisions on each of the four subsequent
proposed lease sales. The purpose of
these EAs is to determine whether to
prepare a FONNSI or a Supplemental
EIS. For each proposed lease sale, 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
solicits comments via the Proposed
Notice of Sale (NOS) 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: CDs sent to affected states,
October 2009; Proposed NOS sent to
governors of the affected states,
November 2009; Final NOS published
in the Federal Register, February 2010;
and Lease Sale 213, March 2010.
Public Comments: Within 30 days of
this Notice’s publication, interested
parties are requested to send comments
on this EA/FONNSI. Comments may be
submitted in one of the following two
ways:
1. In written form enclosed in an
envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on CPA
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.
2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail
address: environment@mms.gov.
All comments received will be
considered in the decisionmaking
process for proposed Lease Sale 213.
EA Availablity: To obtain a copy of
this EA, you may contact the Minerals
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico
OCS Region, Attention: Public
Information Office (MS 5034), 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394
(1–800–200–GULF). You may also view
this EA on the MMS Web site at https://
www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/
environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html.
E:\FR\FM\16NON1.SGM
16NON1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 219 / Monday, November 16, 2009 / Notices
Dated: October 30, 2009.
Chris C. Oynes,
Associate Director for Offshore Energy and
Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. E9–27488 Filed 11–13–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Applicant: Pauline L. Kamath,
University of California at Berkeley,
Berkeley, CA, PRT-218825
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R9–IA–2009–N247]
[96300–1671–0000–P5]
Receipt of Applications for Permit
AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of receipt of applications
for permit.
SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, invite the public to
comment on the following applications
for permits to conduct certain activities
with endangered species and/or marine
mammals. Both the Endangered Species
Act and the Marine Mammal Protection
Act require that we invite public
comment on these permit applications.
DATES: Written data, comments or
requests must be received by
December 16, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Documents and other
information submitted with these
applications are available for review,
subject to the requirements of the
Privacy Act and Freedom of Information
Act, by any party who submits a written
request for a copy of such documents
within 30 days of the date of publication
of this notice to: U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Division of Management
Authority, 4401 North Fairfax Drive,
Room 212, Arlington, Virginia 22203;
fax 703/358–2281.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Division of Management Authority,
telephone 703/358–2104.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on DSKH9S0YB1PROD with NOTICES
Endangered Species
The public is invited to comment on
the following applications for a permit
to conduct certain activities with
endangered species. This notice is
provided pursuant to Section 10(c) of
the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as
amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.).
Submit your written data, comments, or
requests for copies of the complete
applications to the address shown in
ADDRESSES.
Applicant: Ricardo E. Longoria, Encinal,
TX, PRT-192403
The applicant request renewal and
amendment of his permit authorizing
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:00 Nov 13, 2009
Jkt 220001
take, interstate and foreign commerce to
include Elds deer (Recurvus eldii), red
lechwe (Kobus leche) and Arabian oryx
(Oryx leucoryx) from his captive herd
for the purpose of enhancement of the
survival of the species. This notification
covers activities conducted by the
applicant over a 5–year period.
The applicant requests a permit to
import biological samples from Black
rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) from
Etosha Ecological Institute, Okaukuejo,
Namibia, for the purpose of scientific
research. This notification covers
activities conducted by the applicant
over a 5–year period.
Applicant: Molly M. Hedgecock, High
Point, NC, PRT-220671
The applicant requests a permit to
import the sport-hunted trophy of one
leopard (Panthera pardus) taken from
the wild in the Central African
Republic, for the purpose of
enhancement of the survival of the
species.
Applicant: Brooks J. Puckett, Plano, TX,
PRT-226347
The applicant requests a permit to
import the sport-hunted trophy of one
male black-footed cat (Felis nigripes)
taken from the wild in the Republic of
South Africa, for the purpose of
enhancement of the survival of the
species.
Applicant: David K. Reinke, Crawford,
CO, PRT-229051
The applicant requests a permit to
import the sport-hunted trophy of one
male black Rhinoceros (Diceros
bicornis) taken from the wild in
Namibia, for the purpose of
enhancement of the survival of the
species.
Applicant: National Zoological Park,
Smithsonian Institution, Washington,
D.C., PRT-231152
The applicant requests a permit to
export one male and one female captiveborn Clouded leopard (Neofelis
nebulosa) to Howletts Wild Animal
Park, United Kingdom, for the purpose
of enhancement of the survival of the
species.
Applicant: Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester,
NY, PRT-231594
The applicant requests a permit to
export one male bred-in-captivity
Brazilian ocelot (Leopardus pardalis
mitis) to the Granby Zoo, Quebec,
PO 00000
Frm 00041
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
58977
Canada, for the purpose of enhancement
of the survival of the species.
The following applicants each request
a permit to import the sport-hunted
trophy of one male scimitar-horned oryx
(Oryx dammah) culled from a captive
herd in the Republic of South Africa, for
the purpose of enhancement of the
survival of the species.
Applicant: Wilson W. Crook III,
Kingwood, TX, PRT-223349
Applicant: Jorge L. Medina, Hawthorne,
CA, PRT-228690
The following applicants each request
a permit to import the sport-hunted
trophy of one male bontebok
(Damaliscus pygargus pygargus) culled
from a captive herd maintained under
the management program of the
Republic of South Africa, for the
purpose of enhancement of the survival
of the species.
Applicant: Edward D. Pylman, Byron
Center, MI, PRT-230602
Applicant: Robert B. Spencer, Gilmer,
TX, PRT-231522
Marine Mammals
The public is invited to comment on
the following application for a permit to
conduct certain activities with marine
mammals. The application was
submitted to satisfy requirements of the
Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972,
as amended (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and
the regulations governing marine
mammals (50 CFR Part 18). Submit your
written data, comments, or requests for
copies of the complete applications or
requests for a public hearing on these
applications to the address shown in
ADDRESSES. If you request a hearing,
give specific reasons why a hearing
would be appropriate. The holding of
such a hearing is at the discretion of the
Director.
Applicant: David E. Clapham, M.D.,
Ph.D, Department of Cardiology,
Children’s Hospital Boston, MA, PRT227386
The applicant requests a permit to
import tissue samples and biological
specimens created from tissue samples
collected from wild polar bears (Ursus
maritimus) for the purpose of scientific
research.
Concurrent with publishing this
notice in the Federal Register, we are
forwarding copies of the above
applications to the Marine Mammal
Commission and the Committee of
Scientific Advisors for their review.
E:\FR\FM\16NON1.SGM
16NON1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 219 (Monday, November 16, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58976-58977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27488]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Central Planning Area,
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 213 (2010) Environmental Assessment
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is issuing this notice
to advise the public, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., that MMS has
prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for proposed Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas Lease Sale 213 in the Central Gulf
of Mexico (GOM) Planning Area (Lease Sale 213) scheduled for March
2010. The preparation of this EA is an important step in the decision
process for Lease Sale 213. The proposal for Lease Sale 213 was
identified by the Call for Information and Nominations published in the
Federal Register on October 9, 2008, and was analyzed in the Gulf of
Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007-2012; Western Planning Area
Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218; Central Planning Area Sales 205,
206, 208, 213, 216, and 222--Final Environmental Impact Statement;
Volumes I and II (Multisale EIS, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018), and in the
Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009-2012; Central Planning
Area Sales 208, 213, 216, and 222; Western Planning Area Sales 210,
215, and 218--Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
(Supplemental EIS, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-041).
This EA for proposed Lease Sale 213 analyzed the potential
environmental effects of the proposed lease sale and its alternatives
(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 also examined the potential environmental effects of the addition
of two small areas within the Central Planning Area (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 that were
included in the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 2007-2012 (5-Year
Program).
No new significant impacts were identified for proposed Lease Sale
213 that were not already assessed in the Multisale EIS or Supplemental
EIS. As a result, MMS determined that an additional Supplemental EIS is
not required and prepared a Finding of No New Significant Impact
(FONNSI).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Bruce Baird, Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS
5410, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. You may also contact Mr. Baird
by telephone at (504) 731-1489.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April 2007, MMS published a Multisale EIS
that addressed 11 proposed Federal actions that would offer for lease
areas on the GOM OCS that may contain economically recoverable oil and
gas resources. 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 EIS was prepared for the 11
Western Planning Area (WPA) and CPA lease sales scheduled in the
proposed 5-Year Program. The Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018)
addressed WPA Sale 204 in 2007, Sale 207 in 2008, Sale 210 in 2009,
Sale 215 in 2010, and Sale 218 in 2011; and CPA 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. 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 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. A Supplemental
EIS was prepared for the remaining seven CPA and WPA lease sales
scheduled in the 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. An
additional NEPA review (an EA) was conducted for proposed Lease Sale
213 to address any new information relevant to the proposed lease sale.
Additional NEPA reviews will also be conducted prior to decisions on
each of the four subsequent proposed lease sales. The purpose of these
EAs is to determine whether to prepare a FONNSI or a Supplemental EIS.
For each proposed lease sale, 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 solicits comments via the Proposed Notice of Sale (NOS)
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: CDs sent to affected
states, October 2009; Proposed NOS sent to governors of the affected
states, November 2009; Final NOS published in the Federal Register,
February 2010; and Lease Sale 213, March 2010.
Public Comments: Within 30 days of this Notice's publication,
interested parties are requested to send comments on this EA/FONNSI.
Comments may be submitted in one of the following two ways:
1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on
CPA 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.
2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov.
All comments received will be considered in the decisionmaking
process for proposed Lease Sale 213.
EA Availablity: To obtain a copy of this EA, you may contact the
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention:
Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room
114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF). You may also
view this EA on the MMS Web site at http:[sol][sol]www.gomr.mms.gov/
homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html.
[[Page 58977]]
Dated: October 30, 2009.
Chris C. Oynes,
Associate Director for Offshore Energy and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. E9-27488 Filed 11-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P