Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Western Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 215 (2010) Environmental Assessment, 17156-17157 [2010-7715]

Download as PDF 17156 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 64 / Monday, April 5, 2010 / Notices Dated: March 31, 2010. S. Elizabeth Birnbaum, Director, Minerals Management Service. [FR Doc. 2010–7719 Filed 4–2–10; 8:45 am] Notice of Preparation published in the Federal Register on September 9, 2009, 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 215 examines the potential environmental effects of the proposed lease sale and its alternatives (excluding unleased whole and partial blocks that are part of Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and whole and partial blocks that lie within the 1.4-nautical-mile buffer zone north of the OCS boundary between the U.S. and Mexico) based on changes and any new relevant information and circumstances regarding potential environmental impacts and issues that were not BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Western Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 215 (2010) Environmental Assessment jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD 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 Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas Lease Sale 215 in the Western Planning Area (WPA) (Lease Sale 215) scheduled for August 2010. The preparation of this EA is an important step in the decision process for Lease Sale 215. The proposal for Lease Sale 215 was identified by the VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:35 Apr 02, 2010 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 available at the time the Supplemental EIS was prepared to determine if preparation of a new supplemental EIS is warranted. No new significant impacts were identified for proposed Lease Sale 215 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. Barry Obiol, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS 5410, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123– 2394. You may also contact Mr. Obiol by telephone at (504) 736–2786. The Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007– 018) addressed WPA Lease Sale 204 in 2007, Sale 207 in 2008, Sale 210 in 2009, Sale 215 in 2010, and Sale 218 in 2011; and Central Planning Area (CPA) Lease 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 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1 EN05AP10.001</GPH> sale; Final NOS, if applicable, will be published in the Federal Register in February 2011. jlentini on DSKJ8SOYB1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 64 / Monday, April 5, 2010 / Notices 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. 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 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 Gulf of Mexico OCS that may contain economically recoverable oil and gas resources. An additional NEPA review (an EA) was conducted for proposed Lease Sale 215 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 three subsequent proposed lease sales. The purpose of these EA’s 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 215 is as follows: CD’s sent to the affected States, March 2010; Proposed NOS sent to the governors of the affected States, March 2010; Final NOS, if applicable, published in the Federal Register, July 2010; and Lease Sale 215, August 2010. EA Availablity: To obtain a copy of this EA and FONNSI, 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 and FONNSI on the MMS Web site at https://www.gomr.mms.gov/ homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/ nepaprocess.html. VerDate Nov<24>2008 16:35 Apr 02, 2010 Jkt 220001 Dated: March 31, 2010. Chris C. Oynes, Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management. 17157 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR (c) H.R. 4036, a bill to authorize the National Mall Liberty Fund DC to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia to honor free persons and slaves who fought for independence, liberty, and justice for all during the American Revolution. III. Consideration of a draft revision to the Commission’s bylaws. National Park Service DATES: National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission; Notice of Public Meeting ADDRESSES: National Building Museum, Room 312, 401 F Street, NW., Washington, DC 20001. [FR Doc. 2010–7715 Filed 4–2–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting. SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission (the Commission) plans to meet at the National Building Museum, Room 312, 401 F Street, NW., Washington, DC, on Wednesday, April 21, 2010, at 1 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public. Persons who wish to file a written statement or testify at the meeting or who want further information concerning the meeting may contact Ms. Nancy Young, Secretary to the Commission. 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. The purpose of the meeting will be to discuss currently authorized and proposed memorials in the District of Columbia and its environs. In addition to discussing general matters and conducting routine business, the Commission will consider the following: I. Design Consultation—Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial. II. Review of Legislation Pending in the 111th Congress: (a) H.R. 4197, A bill to authorize the Gold Star Mothers National Monument Foundation to establish a national monument in the District of Columbia. (b) H.R. 4195, A bill to authorize the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs to commemorate the establishment of the Peace Corps and to honor the ideals upon which it was founded. PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 Wednesday, April 21, 2010. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Nancy Young, Secretary to the Commission, by telephone at (202) 619– 7097, by e-mail at nancy_young@nps.gov, by telefax at (202) 619–7420, or by mail at the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission, 1100 Ohio Drive, SW., Room 220, Washington, DC 20242. The Commission was established by Public Law 99–652, the Commemorative Works Act (40 U.S.C. Chapter 89 et seq.), to advise the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) and the Administrator, General Services Administration, (the Administrator) on policy and procedures for establishment of, and proposals to establish, commemorative works in the District of Columbia and its environs, as well as such other matters as it may deem appropriate concerning commemorative works. The Commission examines each memorial proposal for conformance to the Commemorative Works Act, and makes recommendations to the Secretary and the Administrator and to Members and Committees of Congress. The Commission also serves as a source of information for persons seeking to establish memorials in Washington, DC, and its environs. The members of the Commission are as follows: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Director, National Park Service. Administrator, General Services Administration. Chairman, National Capital Planning Commission. Chairman, Commission of Fine Arts. Mayor of the District of Columbia. Architect of the Capitol. Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission. Secretary of Defense. Dated: March 9, 2010. Peggy O’Dell, Regional Director, National Capital Region. [FR Doc. 2010–7615 Filed 4–2–10; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–70–P E:\FR\FM\05APN1.SGM 05APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 64 (Monday, April 5, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17156-17157]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-7715]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Western Planning Area, 
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 215 (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 Gulf of Mexico 
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas Lease Sale 215 in the Western 
Planning Area (WPA) (Lease Sale 215) scheduled for August 2010. The 
preparation of this EA is an important step in the decision process for 
Lease Sale 215. The proposal for Lease Sale 215 was identified by the 
Notice of Preparation published in the Federal Register on September 9, 
2009, 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 215 examines the potential 
environmental effects of the proposed lease sale and its alternatives 
(excluding unleased whole and partial blocks that are part of Flower 
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary and whole and partial blocks 
that lie within the 1.4-nautical-mile buffer zone north of the OCS 
boundary between the U.S. and Mexico) based on changes and any new 
relevant information and circumstances regarding potential 
environmental impacts and issues that were not available at the time 
the Supplemental EIS was prepared to determine if preparation of a new 
supplemental EIS is warranted. No new significant impacts were 
identified for proposed Lease Sale 215 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. Barry Obiol, Minerals Management 
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, MS 
5410, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. You may also contact Mr. Obiol 
by telephone at (504) 736-2786.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Multisale EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018) 
addressed WPA Lease Sale 204 in 2007, Sale 207 in 2008, Sale 210 in 
2009, Sale 215 in 2010, and Sale 218 in 2011; and Central Planning Area 
(CPA) Lease 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

[[Page 17157]]

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. 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 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 Gulf of Mexico OCS that may contain economically 
recoverable oil and gas resources.
    An additional NEPA review (an EA) was conducted for proposed Lease 
Sale 215 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 three subsequent proposed lease sales. The purpose of 
these EA's 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 215 is as follows: 
CD's sent to the affected States, March 2010; Proposed NOS sent to the 
governors of the affected States, March 2010; Final NOS, if applicable, 
published in the Federal Register, July 2010; and Lease Sale 215, 
August 2010.
    EA Availablity: To obtain a copy of this EA and FONNSI, 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 and FONNSI on the MMS Web site at 
https://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html.

    Dated: March 31, 2010.
Chris C. Oynes,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2010-7715 Filed 4-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.