Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central and Western Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2012-2017, 14040-14042 [2011-5953]
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14040
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices
If there is no request for an oral
hearing, or if the appeals officer decides
the appeal can be resolved fairly based
on the documentary evidence alone,
FEMA will review the debt based on the
written administrative record alone (that
is, through a ‘‘paper hearing’’).
Following review by either an oral or
a paper hearing, FEMA will decide the
applicant’s appeal within 90 days after
FEMA receives the applicant’s appeal
letter and will send a final decision in
writing to be included in the
individual’s official record. If the
individual requests an oral hearing and
the request is granted, the time limit
may be extended to complete that
process.
If FEMA determines that the
individual owes no debt to FEMA, the
recoupment will be terminated and
FEMA will reimburse any payments
made on the debt. If FEMA determines
that the individual owes a debt to
FEMA, the individual will be notified of
payment options.
Authority: 31 U.S.C. 3701 et seq.; 6 CFR
part 11.
Dated: February 24, 2011.
W. Craig Fugate,
Administrator, Federal Emergency
Management Agency.
[FR Doc. 2011–6036 Filed 3–14–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–23–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central
and Western Gulf of Mexico, Oil and
Gas Lease Sales for Years 2012–2017
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement (BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Call for information and
nominations.
AGENCY:
This Call for Information and
Nominations (hereinafter referred to as
‘‘Call’’) is the initial step in a single
multisale process covering all lease
sales in the Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico (GOM) Planning Areas to be
included in the OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program for 2012–2017. Ten
lease sales are specifically covered by
this Call: five in the Central GOM
Planning Area and five in the Western
GOM Planning Area. Concurrent with
this Call, BOEMRE is preparing a
multisale Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) covering the same ten
sales in the Central and Western GOM
Planning Areas. For each of the ten
individual lease sales associated with
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SUMMARY:
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this Call, BOEMRE will comply with the
National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), the Outer Continental Shelf
Lands Act (OCSLA), and the Coastal
Zone Management Act (CZMA).
DATES: Nominations and comments
must be received at the address
specified below no later than 30 days
following publication of this document
in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Carrol Williams, Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394,
telephone (504) 736–2803.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
1, 2008, BOEMRE initiated the 5-year oil
and gas leasing program preparation
process with publication of a Request
for Information (RFI) on a program to
cover the 2010–2015 time period, two
years earlier than the usual cycle. On
January 16, 2009, BOEMRE announced
the release of the Draft Proposed
Program (DPP) and Notice of Intent to
Prepare an EIS for 2010–2015. On
February 10, 2009, Secretary Salazar
extended the comment period on the
DPP to September 21, 2009, and later
conducted four regional meetings to
provide additional opportunities for
input by all stakeholders.
On December 1, 2010, the Secretary
announced the OCS Oil and Gas
Strategy as part of President Obama’s
comprehensive energy plan for the
country. This strategy will guide the
next steps in preparation of the new
2012–2017 program. As part of this
strategy, on January 4, 2011, BOEMRE
published a Notice of Scoping Meetings
on the EIS modifying the OCS areas to
be scoped for inclusion in the 5-year EIS
(76 FR 376). The planning areas are the
Western and Central GOM, as well as
the area of the Eastern GOM not
included in the Congressionallymandated drilling moratorium; and the
Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Cook
Inlet, which are located off Alaska.
This multisale Call covers only the
lease sales in the Central and Western
GOM Planning Areas that will be
included in the OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program for 2012–2017. On
February 9, 2011, BOEMRE published a
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS on the
2012–2017 oil and gas leasing proposals
in the Western and Central Planning
Areas of the GOM (76 FR 7228).
This Call is the sixth issuance of a
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region multisale
Call. In 1996, BOEMRE implemented
two multisale Call processes for lease
sales in the Central and Western GOM
Planning Areas, respectively, in
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association with the 1997–2002 OCS Oil
and Gas Leasing Program. In the 2002–
2007 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program,
BOEMRE implemented one multisale
Call process for Central and Western
GOM Planning Areas lease sales and
one multisale Call process for Eastern
GOM Planning Area lease sales.
BOEMRE issued one multisale Call
process for Central and Western GOM
Planning Area lease sales in the 2007–
2012 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to
OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) and
implementing regulations (30 CFR part
256).
2. Purpose of Call
The purpose of the Call is to gather
information for the following proposed
OCS Lease Sales in the Central and
Western GOM Planning Areas. Lease
Sale numbers for the last two years of
this 5-year Program have not been
determined and are listed as to be
determined (TBD):
Lease sale, OCS planning area
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
Sale
229, Western GOM ..............
231, Central GOM ................
233, Western GOM ..............
235, Central GOM ................
238, Western GOM ..............
241, Central GOM ................
TBD, Western GOM .............
TBD, Central GOM ..............
TBD, Western GOM .............
TBD, Central GOM ..............
Sale year
2012
2013
2013
2014
2014
2015
2015
2016
2016
2017
BOEMRE seeks information and
nominations on oil and gas leasing,
exploration, development and
production within the Central and
Western GOM Planning Areas from all
interested parties. This early planning
and consultation step ensures that all
interests and concerns are
communicated to the Department of the
Interior for its future decisions in the
leasing process pursuant to section 18 of
OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1344) and
implementing regulations (30 CFR part
256).
BOEMRE requests responses
regarding proposed sales in both the
Central and Western GOM Planning
Areas. Areawide lease sale proposals in
the Central and Western GOM Planning
Areas are very similar. Accordingly, this
multisale process addresses decisions
for all ten lease sales in both the Central
and Western GOM Planning Areas.
Pursuant to section 18 of OCSLA (43
U.S.C. 1344) the Secretary of the Interior
is developing the 5-year Program for
2012–2017; therefore, this Call should
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srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
not be construed as a prejudgment by
the Secretary concerning any area to be
made available for leasing under the
2012–2017 5-year Program.
In addition, this Call does not indicate
a preliminary decision to lease in the
areas described below. Final delineation
of each area for possible leasing will be
made later in compliance with
applicable laws (e.g., NEPA, OCSLA,
CZMA) and established departmental
procedures.
3. Description of Areas
The areas of this Call include the
entire Central and Western GOM
Planning Areas, except for those
exclusions listed below in Item 4 (Areas
Excluded from this Call).
The Central GOM Planning Area is
bounded on the north by the FederalState boundary offshore Louisiana,
Mississippi, and Alabama. The eastern
boundary of the Central GOM Planning
Area begins at the offshore boundary
between Alabama and Florida and
proceeds southeasterly to 26.19 degrees
North latitude, thence southwesterly to
25.6 degrees North latitude. The western
boundary of the Central GOM Planning
Area begins at the offshore boundary
between Texas and Louisiana and
proceeds southeasterly to 28.43 degrees
North latitude, thence south
southwesterly to 27.49 degrees North
latitude, thence south southeasterly to
25.80 degrees North latitude. The
Central GOM Planning Area is bounded
on the south by the maritime boundary
with Mexico as established by the
‘‘Treaty Between The Government of
The United States of America and The
Government of The United Mexican
States on The Delimitation of The
Continental Shelf in The Western Gulf
of Mexico Beyond 200 Nautical Miles,’’
which took effect in January 2001, and
by the limit of the U.S. Exclusive
Economic Zone in the area east of the
continental shelf boundary with
Mexico. The Central GOM Planning
Area available for nominations and
comments at this time consists of
approximately 66.45 million acres, of
which approximately 40.85 million
acres are currently unleased.
The Western GOM Planning Area is
bounded on the west and north by the
Federal/State boundary offshore Texas.
The eastern boundary begins at the
offshore boundary between Texas and
Louisiana and proceeds southeasterly to
28.43 degrees North latitude, thence
south southwesterly to 27.49 degrees
North latitude, thence south
southeasterly to 25.80 degrees North
latitude. The Western GOM Planning
Area is bounded on the south by the
maritime boundary with Mexico as
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established by the ‘‘Treaty Between The
Government of The United States of
America and The Government of The
United Mexican States on The
Delimitation of The Continental Shelf in
The Western Gulf of Mexico Beyond 200
Nautical Miles,’’ which took effect in
January 2001. The Western GOM
Planning Area available for nominations
and comments at this time consists of
approximately 28.58 million acres, of
which approximately 19.45 million
acres are currently unleased.
A standard Call for Information Map
depicting the Central and Western GOM
Planning Areas on a block-by-block
basis is available without charge from:
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement, Public
Information Office (MS 5034), 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123–2394, or telephone: 1–
800–200–GULF. The map is also
available via the BOEMRE Web site at:
https://www.boemre.gov.
4. Areas Excluded From This Call
A. The entire Central GOM Planning
Area will be considered for possible
leasing except:
1. Blocks that were previously
included within the Eastern GOM
Planning Area and are within 100 miles
of the Florida coast.
2. Blocks east of the Military Mission
line (86 degrees, 41 minutes west
longitude) under an existing
moratorium until 2022, as a result of the
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of
2006 (December 20, 2006).
3. Blocks that are beyond the United
States Exclusive Economic Zone in the
area known as the northern portion of
the Eastern Gap.
4. Whole and partial blocks that lie
within the 1.4 nautical mile buffer zone
north of the maritime boundary between
the United States and Mexico.
B. The entire Western GOM Planning
Area will be considered for possible
leasing except:
1. Whole and partial blocks within the
boundary of the Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary.
2. Whole and partial blocks that lie
within the 1.4 nautical mile buffer zone
north of the continental shelf boundary
between the United States and Mexico.
5. Instructions on Call
Indications of interest and comments
must be received no later than 30 days
following publication of this document
in the Federal Register. Comments must
be submitted in envelopes labeled
‘‘Nominations for Proposed 2012–2017
Lease Sales in the Central and Western
Gulf of Mexico’’ or ‘‘Comments on the
Call for Information and Nominations
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14041
for Proposed 2012–2017 Lease Sales in
the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico’’
and submitted to the Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region, Leasing Activities Section,
(Attention: Mr. Carrol Williams), 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard (Mail Stop
5422), New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–
2394. You may also submit comments
on the Call via e-mail to
carrol.williams@boemre.gov. You
should include ‘‘Comments on the Call
for Proposed 2012–2017 Lease Sales’’ in
the subject line of your message.
The standard Call for Information
Map delineates the Call area that has
been identified by BOEMRE as having
potential for the discovery of
accumulations of oil and gas.
Respondents are requested to indicate
interest in 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 lease sales in the Central and
Western GOM Planning Areas.
Indications of interest and/or comments
must be submitted to the Gulf of Mexico
Region’s Leasing Activities Section
(Attention: Mr. Carrol Williams), at the
previously-noted address.
Respondents indicating interest
should outline the areas of interest
along block lines and rank the areas in
which they have expressed interest
according to priority of their interest
(e.g., priority 1 [high], 2 [medium], or 3
[low]), specifically indicating blocks by
priority. Areas where interest has been
indicated, but on which respondents
have not indicated priorities will be
considered priority 3 (low).
Respondents may also submit a 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 Public Information
Office.
Also, BOEMRE seeks comments from
all interested parties about particular
geological, environmental (including
natural disasters), biological,
archaeological and socioeconomic
conditions or conflicts, or other
information that affect the potential
leasing and development of particular
areas, or possible conflicts between
future OCS oil and gas activities that
may result from the proposed sales and
State Coastal Management Programs
(CMPs). These comments should
identify specific CMP policies of
concern, the nature of the conflict
foreseen, and proposed means to avoid
or mitigate potential conflicts.
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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 50 / Tuesday, March 15, 2011 / Notices
Comments may refer to both broad areas
or may refer to particular blocks.
potential conflicts between offshore gas
and oil activities and a State CMP.
6. Information from Call
7. Existing Information
BOEMRE routinely assesses the status
of information acquisition efforts and
the quality of the information base for
potential decisions on tentatively
scheduled lease sales. As a result of this
continually ongoing assessment, it has
been determined that the status of the
existing and extensive data available for
planning, analysis, and decision making
is adequate.
An extensive environmental studies
program has been underway in the GOM
since 1973. The emphasis, including
continuing studies, has been on
environmental characterization of
biologically sensitive habitats, physical
oceanography, ocean-circulation
modeling, and ecological effects of oil
and gas activities.
A complete listing of available study
reports, and information for ordering
Information submitted in response to
this Call will be used for several
purposes, including identifying and
prioritizing areas with potential for oil
and gas development as well as
determining possible environmental
effects and potential conflicts in the Call
area. The areas nominated in the
proposed sales, their respective
rankings, and comments will be
analyzed to make a preliminary
determination of the potential
advantages and disadvantages of oil and
gas exploration and development to the
region and the Nation. Comments
collected will be used to develop
proposed actions and alternatives in the
EIS scoping process, to develop lease
terms and conditions to ensure safe
offshore operations, and to assess
copies, can be obtained from the Public
Information Office referenced above.
The reports may also be ordered, for a
fee, from the U.S. Department of
Commerce, National Technical
Information Service, 5301 Shawnee
Road, Springfield, Virginia 22312, or
telephone (703) 605–6000 or (800) 553–
6847. In addition, a program status
report for continuing studies in this area
can be obtained from the Chief,
Environmental Sciences Section (MS
5430), Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and
Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394, or
telephone (504) 736–2752, or via the
BOEMRE Web site at: https://
www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/
regulate/environ/studiesprogram.html.
8. Tentative Schedule
MILESTONES FOR MULTISALE EIS FOR PROPOSED 2012–2017 CENTRAL AND WESTERN GOM PLANNING AREA SALES
Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a Multisale EIS ........................................................................................................................
Call for Information and Nominations ...........................................................................................................................................
Comments received on NOI .........................................................................................................................................................
Comments received on Call ..........................................................................................................................................................
Area Identification Decision ..........................................................................................................................................................
Draft EIS published .......................................................................................................................................................................
Public Hearings on Draft EIS ........................................................................................................................................................
Final EIS ........................................................................................................................................................................................
February 2011.
March 2011.
March/April 2011.
April 2011.
May/June 2011.
Summer 2011.
Fall 2011.
Spring 2012.
9. Sale Milestones
The following is a list of tentative
milestone dates applicable to lease sales
covered by this Call:
SALE-SPECIFIC MILESTONES FOR PROPOSED 2012–2017 CENTRAL AND WESTERN GOM PLANNING AREA SALES
Request for Information to Begin Lease Sale Specific Process ..............................................................
Environmental Review Completed ............................................................................................................
Proposed Notice and CZM Consistency Determination ...........................................................................
Final Notice of Sale ...................................................................................................................................
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Finally, the tentative months for GOM
lease sales during 2012–2017 are:
Central GOM Sales: March of each
year.
Western GOM Sales: November
2012. August of each year thereafter.
Dated: February 28, 2011.
Michael R. Bromwich,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy,
Management, Regulation and Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011–5953 Filed 3–14–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Fish and Wildlife Service
[FWS–R6–R–2011–N014]; 60138–1265–
6CCP–S3]
San Luis Valley National Wildlife
Refuge Complex, Alamosa, CO;
Comprehensive Conservation Plan and
Environmental Impact Statement
Fish and Wildlife Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of intent; request for
comments.
AGENCY:
We, the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service (Service), intend to
SUMMARY:
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12 months before each lease sale.
5 to 7 months before each lease sale.
5 months before each lease sale.
1 month before each lease sale.
prepare a Comprehensive Conservation
Plan (CCP) and an Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS) for the San Luis
Valley National Wildlife Refuge
Complex (Complex) in Alamosa,
Colorado. The Complex comprises Baca,
Monte Vista, and Alamosa National
Wildlife Refuges (NWRs).We provide
this notice in compliance with our CCP
policy to advise other Federal and State
agencies, Tribes, and the public of our
intentions, and to obtain suggestions
and information on the scope of issues
to consider in the planning process.
DATES: To ensure consideration, please
send your written comments by April
29, 2011. Submit comments by one of
the methods under ADDRESSES. We will
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 50 (Tuesday, March 15, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14040-14042]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-5953]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2012-2017
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
(BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Call for information and nominations.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter
referred to as ``Call'') is the initial step in a single multisale
process covering all lease sales in the Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico (GOM) Planning Areas to be included in the OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program for 2012-2017. Ten lease sales are specifically covered
by this Call: five in the Central GOM Planning Area and five in the
Western GOM Planning Area. Concurrent with this Call, BOEMRE is
preparing a multisale Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering the
same ten sales in the Central and Western GOM Planning Areas. For each
of the ten individual lease sales associated with this Call, BOEMRE
will comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), and the Coastal Zone
Management Act (CZMA).
DATES: Nominations and comments must be received at the address
specified below no later than 30 days following publication of this
document in the Federal Register.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carrol Williams, Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394,
telephone (504) 736-2803.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 1, 2008, BOEMRE initiated the 5-
year oil and gas leasing program preparation process with publication
of a Request for Information (RFI) on a program to cover the 2010-2015
time period, two years earlier than the usual cycle. On January 16,
2009, BOEMRE announced the release of the Draft Proposed Program (DPP)
and Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for 2010-2015. On February 10,
2009, Secretary Salazar extended the comment period on the DPP to
September 21, 2009, and later conducted four regional meetings to
provide additional opportunities for input by all stakeholders.
On December 1, 2010, the Secretary announced the OCS Oil and Gas
Strategy as part of President Obama's comprehensive energy plan for the
country. This strategy will guide the next steps in preparation of the
new 2012-2017 program. As part of this strategy, on January 4, 2011,
BOEMRE published a Notice of Scoping Meetings on the EIS modifying the
OCS areas to be scoped for inclusion in the 5-year EIS (76 FR 376). The
planning areas are the Western and Central GOM, as well as the area of
the Eastern GOM not included in the Congressionally-mandated drilling
moratorium; and the Beaufort Sea, Chukchi Sea, and Cook Inlet, which
are located off Alaska.
This multisale Call covers only the lease sales in the Central and
Western GOM Planning Areas that will be included in the OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program for 2012-2017. On February 9, 2011, BOEMRE published a
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS on the 2012-2017 oil and gas leasing
proposals in the Western and Central Planning Areas of the GOM (76 FR
7228).
This Call is the sixth issuance of a Gulf of Mexico OCS Region
multisale Call. In 1996, BOEMRE implemented two multisale Call
processes for lease sales in the Central and Western GOM Planning
Areas, respectively, in association with the 1997-2002 OCS Oil and Gas
Leasing Program. In the 2002-2007 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program,
BOEMRE implemented one multisale Call process for Central and Western
GOM Planning Areas lease sales and one multisale Call process for
Eastern GOM Planning Area lease sales. BOEMRE issued one multisale Call
process for Central and Western GOM Planning Area lease sales in the
2007-2012 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program.
Call for Information and Nominations
1. Authority
This Call is published pursuant to OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.)
and implementing regulations (30 CFR part 256).
2. Purpose of Call
The purpose of the Call is to gather information for the following
proposed OCS Lease Sales in the Central and Western GOM Planning Areas.
Lease Sale numbers for the last two years of this 5-year Program have
not been determined and are listed as to be determined (TBD):
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease sale, OCS planning area Sale year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale 229, Western GOM...................... 2012
Sale 231, Central GOM...................... 2013
Sale 233, Western GOM...................... 2013
Sale 235, Central GOM...................... 2014
Sale 238, Western GOM...................... 2014
Sale 241, Central GOM...................... 2015
Sale TBD, Western GOM...................... 2015
Sale TBD, Central GOM...................... 2016
Sale TBD, Western GOM...................... 2016
Sale TBD, Central GOM...................... 2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOEMRE seeks information and nominations on oil and gas leasing,
exploration, development and production within the Central and Western
GOM Planning Areas from all interested parties. This early planning and
consultation step ensures that all interests and concerns are
communicated to the Department of the Interior for its future decisions
in the leasing process pursuant to section 18 of OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1344)
and implementing regulations (30 CFR part 256).
BOEMRE requests responses regarding proposed sales in both the
Central and Western GOM Planning Areas. Areawide lease sale proposals
in the Central and Western GOM Planning Areas are very similar.
Accordingly, this multisale process addresses decisions for all ten
lease sales in both the Central and Western GOM Planning Areas.
Pursuant to section 18 of OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1344) the Secretary of
the Interior is developing the 5-year Program for 2012-2017; therefore,
this Call should
[[Page 14041]]
not be construed as a prejudgment by the Secretary concerning any area
to be made available for leasing under the 2012-2017 5-year Program.
In addition, this Call does not indicate a preliminary decision to
lease in the areas described below. Final delineation of each area for
possible leasing will be made later in compliance with applicable laws
(e.g., NEPA, OCSLA, CZMA) and established departmental procedures.
3. Description of Areas
The areas of this Call include the entire Central and Western GOM
Planning Areas, except for those exclusions listed below in Item 4
(Areas Excluded from this Call).
The Central GOM Planning Area is bounded on the north by the
Federal-State boundary offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
The eastern boundary of the Central GOM Planning Area begins at the
offshore boundary between Alabama and Florida and proceeds
southeasterly to 26.19 degrees North latitude, thence southwesterly to
25.6 degrees North latitude. The western boundary of the Central GOM
Planning Area begins at the offshore boundary between Texas and
Louisiana and proceeds southeasterly to 28.43 degrees North latitude,
thence south southwesterly to 27.49 degrees North latitude, thence
south southeasterly to 25.80 degrees North latitude. The Central GOM
Planning Area is bounded on the south by the maritime boundary with
Mexico as established by the ``Treaty Between The Government of The
United States of America and The Government of The United Mexican
States on The Delimitation of The Continental Shelf in The Western Gulf
of Mexico Beyond 200 Nautical Miles,'' which took effect in January
2001, and by the limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the area
east of the continental shelf boundary with Mexico. The Central GOM
Planning Area available for nominations and comments at this time
consists of approximately 66.45 million acres, of which approximately
40.85 million acres are currently unleased.
The Western GOM Planning Area is bounded on the west and north by
the Federal/State boundary offshore Texas. The eastern boundary begins
at the offshore boundary between Texas and Louisiana and proceeds
southeasterly to 28.43 degrees North latitude, thence south
southwesterly to 27.49 degrees North latitude, thence south
southeasterly to 25.80 degrees North latitude. The Western GOM Planning
Area is bounded on the south by the maritime boundary with Mexico as
established by the ``Treaty Between The Government of The United States
of America and The Government of The United Mexican States on The
Delimitation of The Continental Shelf in The Western Gulf of Mexico
Beyond 200 Nautical Miles,'' which took effect in January 2001. The
Western GOM Planning Area available for nominations and comments at
this time consists of approximately 28.58 million acres, of which
approximately 19.45 million acres are currently unleased.
A standard Call for Information Map depicting the Central and
Western GOM Planning Areas on a block-by-block basis is available
without charge from: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, or telephone: 1-800-200-
GULF. The map is also available via the BOEMRE Web site at: https://www.boemre.gov.
4. Areas Excluded From This Call
A. The entire Central GOM Planning Area will be considered for
possible leasing except:
1. Blocks that were previously included within the Eastern GOM
Planning Area and are within 100 miles of the Florida coast.
2. Blocks east of the Military Mission line (86 degrees, 41 minutes
west longitude) under an existing moratorium until 2022, as a result of
the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (December 20, 2006).
3. Blocks that are beyond the United States Exclusive Economic Zone
in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap.
4. Whole and partial blocks that lie within the 1.4 nautical mile
buffer zone north of the maritime boundary between the United States
and Mexico.
B. The entire Western GOM Planning Area will be considered for
possible leasing except:
1. Whole and partial blocks within the boundary of the Flower
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
2. Whole and partial blocks that lie within the 1.4 nautical mile
buffer zone north of the continental shelf boundary between the United
States and Mexico.
5. Instructions on Call
Indications of interest and comments must be received no later than
30 days following publication of this document in the Federal Register.
Comments must be submitted in envelopes labeled ``Nominations for
Proposed 2012-2017 Lease Sales in the Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico'' or ``Comments on the Call for Information and Nominations for
Proposed 2012-2017 Lease Sales in the Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico'' and submitted to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Leasing
Activities Section, (Attention: Mr. Carrol Williams), 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard (Mail Stop 5422), New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. You may
also submit comments on the Call via e-mail to
carrol.williams@boemre.gov. You should include ``Comments on the Call
for Proposed 2012-2017 Lease Sales'' in the subject line of your
message.
The standard Call for Information Map delineates the Call area that
has been identified by BOEMRE as having potential for the discovery of
accumulations of oil and gas. Respondents are requested to indicate
interest in 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 lease sales in the Central and Western GOM Planning Areas.
Indications of interest and/or comments must be submitted to the Gulf
of Mexico Region's Leasing Activities Section (Attention: Mr. Carrol
Williams), at the previously-noted address.
Respondents indicating interest should outline the areas of
interest along block lines and rank the areas in which they have
expressed interest according to priority of their interest (e.g.,
priority 1 [high], 2 [medium], or 3 [low]), specifically indicating
blocks by priority. Areas where interest has been indicated, but on
which respondents have not indicated priorities will be considered
priority 3 (low).
Respondents may also submit a 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 Public Information Office.
Also, BOEMRE seeks comments from all interested parties about
particular geological, environmental (including natural disasters),
biological, archaeological and socioeconomic conditions or conflicts,
or other information that affect the potential leasing and development
of particular areas, or possible conflicts between future OCS oil and
gas activities that may result from the proposed sales and State
Coastal Management Programs (CMPs). These comments should identify
specific CMP policies of concern, the nature of the conflict foreseen,
and proposed means to avoid or mitigate potential conflicts.
[[Page 14042]]
Comments may refer to both broad areas or may refer to particular
blocks.
6. Information from Call
Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for
several purposes, including identifying and prioritizing areas with
potential for oil and gas development as well as determining possible
environmental effects and potential conflicts in the Call area. The
areas nominated in the proposed sales, their respective rankings, and
comments will be analyzed to make a preliminary determination of the
potential advantages and disadvantages of oil and gas exploration and
development to the region and the Nation. Comments collected will be
used to develop proposed actions and alternatives in the EIS scoping
process, to develop lease terms and conditions to ensure safe offshore
operations, and to assess potential conflicts between offshore gas and
oil activities and a State CMP.
7. Existing Information
BOEMRE routinely assesses the status of information acquisition
efforts and the quality of the information base for potential decisions
on tentatively scheduled lease sales. As a result of this continually
ongoing assessment, it has been determined that the status of the
existing and extensive data available for planning, analysis, and
decision making is adequate.
An extensive environmental studies program has been underway in the
GOM since 1973. The emphasis, including continuing studies, has been on
environmental characterization of biologically sensitive habitats,
physical oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, and ecological
effects of oil and gas activities.
A complete listing of available study reports, and information for
ordering copies, can be obtained from the Public Information Office
referenced above. The reports may also be ordered, for a fee, from the
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service,
5301 Shawnee Road, Springfield, Virginia 22312, or telephone (703) 605-
6000 or (800) 553-6847. In addition, a program status report for
continuing studies in this area can be obtained from the Chief,
Environmental Sciences Section (MS 5430), Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201
Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, or telephone
(504) 736-2752, or via the BOEMRE Web site at: https://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/studiesprogram.html.
8. Tentative Schedule
Milestones for Multisale EIS for Proposed 2012-2017 Central and Western
GOM Planning Area Sales
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice of Intent (NOI) to Prepare a February 2011.
Multisale EIS.
Call for Information and Nominations........ March 2011.
Comments received on NOI.................... March/April 2011.
Comments received on Call................... April 2011.
Area Identification Decision................ May/June 2011.
Draft EIS published......................... Summer 2011.
Public Hearings on Draft EIS................ Fall 2011.
Final EIS................................... Spring 2012.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. Sale Milestones
The following is a list of tentative milestone dates applicable to
lease sales covered by this Call:
Sale-specific Milestones for Proposed 2012-2017 Central and Western GOM Planning Area Sales
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information to Begin Lease Sale 12 months before each lease sale.
Specific Process.
Environmental Review Completed..................... 5 to 7 months before each lease sale.
Proposed Notice and CZM Consistency Determination.. 5 months before each lease sale.
Final Notice of Sale............................... 1 month before each lease sale.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Finally, the tentative months for GOM lease sales during 2012-2017
are:
Central GOM Sales: March of each year.
Western GOM Sales: November 2012. August of each year thereafter.
Dated: February 28, 2011.
Michael R. Bromwich,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulation and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011-5953 Filed 3-14-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
