Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Beaufort Sea Planning Area, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 242 (Sale 242) MMAA104000, 44060-44064 [2014-17842]

Download as PDF 44060 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 2014 / Notices objects were removed from the Tonto National Forest prior to 1972. This notice is published as part of the National Park Service’s administrative responsibilities under NAGPRA, 25 U.S.C. 3003(d)(3). The determinations in this notice are the sole responsibility of the museum, institution, or Federal agency that has control of the Native American human remains and associated funerary objects. The National Park Service is not responsible for the determinations in this notice. rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Consultation A detailed assessment of the human remains was made by the San Diego Museum of Man professional staff (as the agent of the USDA Tonto National Forest) in consultation with representatives of the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona; and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. History and Description of the Remains Sometime prior to 1972, the cremated skeletal remains of at least one individual were discovered in a cremation pot at an archeological site in the Tonto Basin, AZ, on land under the jurisdiction of the Tonto National Forest. The human remains and the associated funerary object were collected by Mr. Thomas W. Sefton, and donated to the San Diego Museum of Man on December 8, 2003. No known individuals were identified. The associated funerary object is a cremation pot. According to the Museum of Man records, the human remains and associated funerary object are believed to date to approximately 1100 A.D. The cremated bones appear to have been placed in the pot after the cremation, and then both the bones and pot were re-fired. Much of the design of the pot was lost during this process. The human remains and the pot containing them have been determined by the Tonto National Forest to belong to the Hohokam archeological culture. The USDA Forest Service has determined that the cultural affiliation of cultural items associated with or reasonably related to the Hohokam, Salado, or Payson archeological traditions as they are identified on the Tonto National Forest lies with the modern O’odham people, represented by the Four Southern Tribes of Arizona: The Ak Chin Indian Community of the VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:02 Jul 28, 2014 Jkt 232001 Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona (GRIC); Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona (SRPMIC); and the Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona. The USDA Forest Service also recognizes a cultural affiliation with the Hopi Tribe of Arizona and the Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Determinations Made by the Tonto National Forest and the San Diego Museum of Man Officials of the Tonto National Forest and the San Diego Museum of Man have determined that: • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(9), the human remains described in this notice represent the physical remains of one individual of Native American ancestry associated with the Hohokam archeological culture. • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(3)(A), the one object described in this notice is reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony. • Pursuant to 25 U.S.C. 3001(2), there is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the Native American human remains and the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico. Additional Requestors and Disposition Lineal descendants or representatives of any Indian tribe or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice that wish to request transfer of control of these human remains and associated funerary objects should submit a written request with information in support of the request to Scott Wood, Heritage program Manager, Tonto National Forest, 2324 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ 85006, telephone (602) 225–5231, email swood01@fs.fed.us, by August 28, 2014. After that date, if no additional requestors have come forward, transfer of control of the human remains and associated funerary objects to the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River Pima-Maricopa PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, may proceed. The USDA Tonto National Forest is responsible for notifying the Ak Chin Indian Community of the Maricopa (Ak Chin) Indian Reservation, Arizona; Gila River Indian Community of the Gila River Indian Reservation, Arizona; Hopi Tribe of Arizona; Salt River PimaMaricopa Indian Community of the Salt River Reservation, Arizona; Tohono O’odham Nation of Arizona; and Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation, New Mexico, that this notice has been published. Dated: June 26, 2014. David Tarler, Acting Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2014–17745 Filed 7–28–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2014–0017] Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Beaufort Sea Planning Area, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 242 (Sale 242) MMAA104000 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations. AGENCY: This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Call’’) is the initial step in the prelease process for Sale 242 in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. The lease sale presently is scheduled to be held in 2017, as included in the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012–2017 (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Five Year Program’’). The purpose of this Call is to obtain nominations for leasing in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area and information on oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development that might result from an OCS oil and gas lease sale for the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. The area addressed in this Call (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Program Area’’) is located offshore the State of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area (see map included with this Call). As identified in the Five Year Program, the Program Area is a sub-area of the larger Beaufort Sea Planning Area. DATES: All responses to the Call must be received no later than September 12, 2014. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 2014 / Notices rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Rolland, Chief, Leasing Section, BOEM, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503–5823, or at (907) 334–5200. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEM will not consider areawide leasing for this sale; this sale (if held) will be conducted under the targeted leasing model for Alaska, as described in the Five Year Program. This Call differs from the Call for Information and Nominations for the Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 237, issued on September 27, 2013, and found in the Federal Register at 78 FR 59715. Industry should note that for this Call, if nominations are within the BOEM-defined areas of high petroleum potential, the nominating party is not required to provide supporting geological, geophysical, or economic information. However, if industry nominates an area outside of the BOEM defined high petroleum potential area, then the company making such a nomination may be asked by BOEM to support its nomination with geological, geophysical, or economic information. In addition to seeking nominations, this Call requests information concerning: • Geological conditions, including bottom hazards; • archaeological sites on the seabed or nearshore; • multiple uses of the Program Area, including navigation, recreation, and fisheries; and • other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental information, including but not limited to, information regarding oil and gas resource potential, sensitive habitats, subsistence use, unique conditions, and important other uses of the Program Area. After BOEM identifies the area for the proposed lease sale based upon the information and nominations received from this Call, BOEM will initiate an environmental analysis process in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through publication of a Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (NOI/EIS). BOEM will use the information obtained through this Call and the Area Identification in developing the proposed action and possible alternatives to be identified and scoped in the NOI/EIS. Call for Information and Nominations 1. Authority This Call is published pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331– VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:02 Jul 28, 2014 Jkt 232001 1356), and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR part 556). 2. Purpose of This Call The purpose of this Call is to gather information to determine the Area Identification for Sale 242 under 30 CFR 556.26. BOEM seeks information and nominations on oil and gas leasing, exploration, and development and production in the Program Area from all interested parties. This early planning and consultation step is important to ensure that all interests and concerns are communicated to the U.S. Department of the Interior for consideration in future decisions in the leasing process, pursuant to OCSLA and the regulations at 30 CFR part 556. 3. Description of Program Area The Program Area is located offshore the State of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. The Beaufort Sea Planning Area extends from the 3nautical mile (4.8 kilometers [km]) limit of State of Alaska waters northward to latitude 75° N. on the west (west of longitude 148° W.) or to latitude 74° N on the east (east of longitude 148° W.) (see map included with this notice). The planning area extends from longitude 156° W. (roughly north of the village of Barrow) on the west to the Canadian maritime boundary. As depicted on the page-size map accompanying this Call, the Program Area, which is a subset of the planning area, extends offshore from about 3 nautical miles to approximately 280 nautical miles, in water depths from approximately 25 feet to more than 14,000 feet. This area consists of approximately 11,800 whole and partial blocks (about 64.8 million acres, or 26.2 million hectares). A large-scale Call map showing the boundaries and blocks of the Beaufort Sea Program Area is available without charge on the BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov/ak242. Copies of Official Protraction Diagrams also are available without charge on the Web site at https://www.boem.gov/Oiland-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-andData/Alaska.aspx. 4. Nominations on This Call Written nominations must be received no later than September 12, 2014. Submittals should indicate ‘‘Nominations for Beaufort Sea Lease Sale 242.’’ Persons or corporations, or other entities in the oil and gas industry (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘industry’’) submitting nominations, should describe explicitly their interest by ranking the areas nominated according to priority using five interest classifications: (1) Critical interest, (2) PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 44061 high interest, (3) general interest, (4) low interest, or (5) no interest. The area(s) nominated must be described accurately and shown on the large-scale Call map available at https://www.boem.gov/ ak242. Industry nominations within the BOEM-defined areas of high petroleum potential, as identified on Map D in the document Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012– 2017 (available at https://www.boem.gov/ ak242), need not justify the nomination further. However, if the nomination is outside of the BOEM-defined area of high resource potential, the nominating party should be as specific as possible in prioritizing blocks and should be prepared, if called upon, to supply geological, geophysical, or economic information on why such blocks should be included in Sale 242. Industry nominators are requested to provide the telephone number and name of the individual to contact regarding the nominations. A representative from BOEM’s Alaska OCS Regional office may contact this individual to set up a mutually agreeable meeting date and time to review more fully the nomination. To avoid inadvertent release of proprietary information, industry should mark all documents and every page containing such information with ‘‘Confidential—Contains Proprietary Information.’’ To the extent a document contains a mix of proprietary and nonproprietary information, industry should mark clearly which portion of the document is proprietary and which is not. The OCSLA states that the ‘‘Secretary shall maintain the confidentiality of all privileged or proprietary data or information for such period of time as is provided for in this subchapter, established by regulation, or agreed to by the parties’’ (43 U.S.C. 1344(g)). BOEM considers written nominations of specific blocks to be proprietary, and it will not release those nominations to the public. 5. Exclusion Areas and Other Comments BOEM is seeking recommendations on whether to exclude specific blocks or areas from oil and gas leasing (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘proposed exclusion areas’’), or to lease them under special conditions due to conflicting values and environmental concerns. Persons, Federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, and other interested parties (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘commenters’’) should indicate proposed exclusion areas or areas of special concern on the largescale Call map available at https:// www.boem.gov/ak242. Commenters also may use the interactive map tool for the E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 44062 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 2014 / Notices rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Arctic at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-andGas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Five-YearProgram/Lease-Sale-Schedule/ Interactive-Maps.aspx. Commenters are encouraged to be as specific as possible in explaining why the area should be excluded or leased under special conditions, provide supporting information, and be prepared to discuss the proposed exclusion areas with BOEM. Commenters are requested to provide the telephone number and name of the individual to contact regarding comments. A representative from BOEM’s Alaska OCS Regional office may contact this individual to set up a mutually agreeable meeting date and time to review more fully the proposed exclusion areas. BOEM also is seeking comments and information from all interested persons regarding: • Areas that should receive more detailed consideration and analysis; • geological conditions, including bottom hazards; • archaeological sites on the seabed or nearshore; • other uses of the Program Area, including navigation and subsistence; and • other socioeconomic, biological, or environmental information. BOEM received comments on the Program Area as part of the Five Year Program approval process. Those comments included information on the importance of the Boulder Patch, Camden Bay, and the Nuiqsut bowhead whale hunt area near Cross Island. BOEM will consider information submitted previously on the Five Year Program (see section 7. below), but BOEM encourages persons who submitted comments on the Five Year Program to refine their earlier comments and provide greater detail or new information, where appropriate, concerning the importance of these areas or associated activities. 6. Submissions of Nominations, Requests for Exclusion Areas, and Other Comments Industry representatives who are nominating area(s) for inclusion in the sale should send their nominations to: Chief, Leasing Section, BOEM, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503– 5823. Proposals for exclusion areas and areas of special concern, including general information from persons, Federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, and other interested parties, will be accepted only through https://www.regulations.gov, using docket designation BOEM–2014– VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:02 Jul 28, 2014 Jkt 232001 0017. All comments received via this Web site, including names and addresses of the commenter, are public and will be posted for public review. BOEM will not consider anonymous comments. BOEM will make available all nonproprietary submissions in their entirety on https://www.regulations.gov. However, BOEM will remove inappropriate content (i.e., contains vulgar language, personal attacks of any kind, threats, accusations, obscenity, or offensive terms that target specific ethnic or racial groups), or comments that are off-topic (i.e., not pertinent to the information requested in the Call). Groups bundling comments from multiple individuals are encouraged to screen comments for inappropriate content. 7. Tracking Table and Interactive Map In the Five Year Program, BOEM established a mitigation/program tracking table (hereinafter referred to as ‘‘Table’’), which is designed to track the history and treatment of suggestions for inclusion or exclusion of acreage, temporal deferrals, and/or mitigation from the Five Year Program stage through the lease sale stage to the plan stage. The Table will allow commenters to see how and where their concerns are considered. The Table also will ensure that a reasonable concern not suitable for consideration during one stage will be considered at an appropriate subsequent stage. The Table may be viewed at https://www.boem.gov/Oiland-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/FiveYear-Program/Lease-Sale-Schedule/ Tracking-Table.aspx. Appropriate suggestions collected during the comment period on this Call will be added to the Table and tracked throughout the process. Additionally, BOEM has created an interactive map through the MarineCadastre.gov Web site for Alaska at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-GasEnergy-Program/Leasing/Five-YearProgram/Lease-Sale-Schedule/ Interactive-Maps.aspx. MarineCadastre.gov is an integrated marine information system that provides a more comprehensive look at geospatial data and ongoing activities and studies occurring in the area being considered. If persons believe that a data layer should be added for consideration, they should provide this information by following the commenting instructions above. Questions about the interactive map may be addressed to: Chief, Leasing Section, BOEM, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503–5823, or by calling (907) 334–5200. PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 8. Use of Information From This Call BOEM is undertaking a strategy of targeted leasing, whereby the BOEM Director will use the information provided in response to this Call to make an Area Identification decision under 30 CFR 556.26. BOEM will consider nominations, proposed exclusion areas, and areas proposed to receive special consideration and analysis, in light of resource estimates, information regarding exploratory drilling, environmental reviews, and other relevant information. Using this information, BOEM plans to target leasing by proactively determining which specific portions of the Program Area offer greater resource potential, while minimizing potential conflicts with environmental and subsistence considerations. Information submitted in response to this Call also will be used to: • Develop potential lease terms and conditions; • identify potential use conflicts; and • assist in the NEPA scoping process. 9. Existing Information An extensive Environmental Studies Program, including environmental, social, and economic studies in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area, has been underway in the BOEM Alaska OCS Region since 1976. The emphasis has been on environmental characterization of biologically sensitive habitats, marine mammals, physical oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, subsistence uses, and ecological and sociocultural effects of oil and gas activities. Information on the BOEM Environmental Studies Program, completed studies, and a program status report for continuing studies in this area is available on the BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov/akstudies, or it may be obtained from the Chief, Environmental Sciences Management Section, Alaska OCS Region, by telephone request at (907) 334–5200. NEPA analyses were prepared for previous OCS lease sales held in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. Previous NEPA analyses for Beaufort Sea lease sales and other actions are available at https://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/ BOEM-Regions/Alaska-Region/ Environment/Environmental-Analysis/ Environmental-Impact-Statementsand—Major-EnvironmentalAssessments.aspx. Currently, 147 active OCS oil and gas leases exist in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area, encompassing an area of approximately 760,000 acres (308,000 hectares). Information on the leases and other lease-related activities is available at E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 0 CEAN Sfmt 4725 E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1 1:::]2012-2017 Program Area CJ Official Protraction Diagram BOEM-Regions/Alaska-Region/Leasingand-Plans/Index.aspx. Fmt 4703 i2 BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P Frm 00064 NR04-02 Walter D. Cruickshank, Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. PO 00000 . Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 2014 / Notices Jkt 232001 NS05-06 15:02 Jul 28, 2014 44063 EN29JY14.000</GPH> Chukclii Sea https://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/ VerDate Mar<15>2010 Legend Beaufort Sea Planning Area Call for Information and Nominations Lease Sale 242 OCS Lease Blocks NS05:-05 NS06-07 NS05"08 NS05~07 NS04-08 NS05-04 NS04-06 NS05:-03 NS04-04 145"\N 150"W 160"W 44064 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 145 / Tuesday, July 29, 2014 / Notices [FR Doc. 2014–17842 Filed 7–28–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–C DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Parole Commission Sunshine Act Meeting Record of Vote of Meeting Closure (Public Law 94–409) (5 U.S.C. Sec. 552b) I, Cranston Mitchell, of the United States Parole Commission, was present at a meeting of said Commission, which started at approximately 12:00 p.m., on Wednesday, July 23, 2014 at the U.S. Parole Commission, 90 K Street NE., Third Floor, Washington, DC 20530. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss one original jurisdiction case pursuant to 28 CFR Section 2.27. Four Commissioners were present, constituting a quorum when the vote to close the meeting was submitted. Public announcement further describing the subject matter of the meeting and certifications of the Acting General Counsel that this meeting may be closed by votes of the Commissioners present were submitted to the Commissioners prior to the conduct of any other business. Upon motion duly made, seconded, and carried, the following Commissioners voted that the meeting be closed: Cranston, Mitchell, Patricia K. Cushwa, J. Patricia Wilson Smoot and Charles T. Massarone. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I make this official record of the vote taken to close this meeting and authorize this record to be made available to the public. 1. On page 42833, in the first column, in the ADDRESSES section, the hyperlink should read: https://www.copyright.gov/ docs/musiclicensingstudy. 2. On page 42833, in the second column, in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, the hyperlink on lines 29–31 should read: https:// www.copyright.gov/docs/ musiclicensingstudy/comments/ Docket2014_3/. 3. On page 42833, in the second column, in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, the hyperlink on lines 44–45 should read: https:// www.copyright.gov/docs/ musiclicensingstudy/comments/ Docket2014_3/. [FR Doc. C1–2014–17354 Filed 7–28–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 1505–01–D NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION [NRC–2014–0001] Sunshine Act Meeting Notice Weeks of July 28, August 4, 11, 18, 25, September 1, 2014. PLACE: Commissioners’ Conference Room, 11555 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland. STATUS: Public and Closed. DATE: Week of July 28, 2014 Tuesday, July 29, 2014 [FR Doc. 2014–17909 Filed 7–25–14; 11:15 am] 9:30 a.m. Briefing on Human Capital and Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) (Public Meeting) (Contact: Kristin Davis, 301–287– 0707). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address—https://www.nrc.gov/. 1:00 p.m. Briefing on Project Aim 2020 (Closed—Ex. 2). BILLING CODE 4410–31–P Week of September 1, 2014—Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the week of September 1, 2014. * * * * * The schedule for Commission meetings is subject to change on short notice. To verify the status of meetings, call Rochelle Bavol, 301–415–1651. * * * * * The NRC Commission Meeting Schedule can be found on the Internet at: https://www.nrc.gov/public-involve/ public-meetings/schedule.html. * * * * * The NRC provides reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities where appropriate. If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in these public meetings, or need this meeting notice or the transcript or other information from the public meetings in another format (e.g. braille, large print), please notify Kimberly Meyer, NRC Disability Program Manager, at 301–287–0727, or by email at Kimberly.Meyer-Chambers@ nrc.gov. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis. * * * * * Members of the public may request to receive this information electronically. If you would like to be added to the distribution, please contact the Office of the Secretary, Washington, DC 20555 (301–415–1969), or send an email to Darlene.Wright@nrc.gov. Thursday, July 31, 2014 Dated: July 23, 2014. Cranston Mitchell, Vice Chairman, U.S. Parole Commission. 9:00 a.m. Briefing on the Status of Lessons Learned from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Accident (Public Meeting) (Contact: Kevin Witt, 301–415–2145). This meeting will be webcast live at the Web address—https://www.nrc.gov/. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS U.S. Copyright Office [Docket No. 2014–03] Music Licensing Study: Second Request for Comments Week of August 4, 2014—Tentative U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress. ACTION: Notice of Inquiry. There are no meetings scheduled for the week of August 4, 2014. Correction There are no meetings scheduled for the week of August 11, 2014. AGENCY: rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Week of August 25, 2014—Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the week of August 25, 2014. In notice document 2014–17354 appearing on pages 42833 through 42835 in the issue of Wednesday, July 23, 2014, make the following correction: VerDate Mar<15>2010 15:02 Jul 28, 2014 Jkt 232001 Week of August 11, 2014—Tentative Week of August 18, 2014—Tentative There are no meetings scheduled for the week of August 18, 2014. PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: July 24, 2014. Rochelle C. Bavol, Policy Coordinator, Office of the Secretary. [FR Doc. 2014–17864 Filed 7–25–14; 11:15 am] BILLING CODE 7590–01–P OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL Strategy for American Innovation Notice of Request for Information. ACTION: The Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Economic Council request public comments to provide input into an upcoming update of the Strategy for American Innovation, which helps to guide the Administration’s efforts to promote lasting economic growth and competitiveness through policies that support transformative American SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\29JYN1.SGM 29JYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 145 (Tuesday, July 29, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44060-44064]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17842]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2014-0017]


Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska OCS Region, Beaufort Sea 
Planning Area, Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 242 (Sale 242) 
MMAA104000

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations.

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

SUMMARY: This Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter 
referred to as ``Call'') is the initial step in the prelease process 
for Sale 242 in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. The lease sale 
presently is scheduled to be held in 2017, as included in the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 
(hereinafter referred to as ``Five Year Program''). The purpose of this 
Call is to obtain nominations for leasing in the Beaufort Sea Planning 
Area and information on oil and gas leasing, exploration, and 
development that might result from an OCS oil and gas lease sale for 
the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. The area addressed in this Call 
(hereinafter referred to as ``Program Area'') is located offshore the 
State of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area (see map included 
with this Call). As identified in the Five Year Program, the Program 
Area is a sub-area of the larger Beaufort Sea Planning Area.

DATES: All responses to the Call must be received no later than 
September 12, 2014.

[[Page 44061]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael S. Rolland, Chief, Leasing 
Section, BOEM, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5823, or at (907) 334-5200.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEM will not consider areawide leasing for 
this sale; this sale (if held) will be conducted under the targeted 
leasing model for Alaska, as described in the Five Year Program. This 
Call differs from the Call for Information and Nominations for the 
Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 237, issued on September 27, 2013, and found in 
the Federal Register at 78 FR 59715. Industry should note that for this 
Call, if nominations are within the BOEM-defined areas of high 
petroleum potential, the nominating party is not required to provide 
supporting geological, geophysical, or economic information. However, 
if industry nominates an area outside of the BOEM defined high 
petroleum potential area, then the company making such a nomination may 
be asked by BOEM to support its nomination with geological, 
geophysical, or economic information.
    In addition to seeking nominations, this Call requests information 
concerning:
     Geological conditions, including bottom hazards;
     archaeological sites on the seabed or nearshore;
     multiple uses of the Program Area, including navigation, 
recreation, and fisheries; and
     other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental 
information, including but not limited to, information regarding oil 
and gas resource potential, sensitive habitats, subsistence use, unique 
conditions, and important other uses of the Program Area.
    After BOEM identifies the area for the proposed lease sale based 
upon the information and nominations received from this Call, BOEM will 
initiate an environmental analysis process in accordance with the 
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) through publication of a 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (NOI/
EIS). BOEM will use the information obtained through this Call and the 
Area Identification in developing the proposed action and possible 
alternatives to be identified and scoped in the NOI/EIS.

Call for Information and Nominations

1. Authority

    This Call is published pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356), and the 
regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR part 556).

2. Purpose of This Call

    The purpose of this Call is to gather information to determine the 
Area Identification for Sale 242 under 30 CFR 556.26. BOEM seeks 
information and nominations on oil and gas leasing, exploration, and 
development and production in the Program Area from all interested 
parties. This early planning and consultation step is important to 
ensure that all interests and concerns are communicated to the U.S. 
Department of the Interior for consideration in future decisions in the 
leasing process, pursuant to OCSLA and the regulations at 30 CFR part 
556.

3. Description of Program Area

    The Program Area is located offshore the State of Alaska in the 
Beaufort Sea Planning Area. The Beaufort Sea Planning Area extends from 
the 3-nautical mile (4.8 kilometers [km]) limit of State of Alaska 
waters northward to latitude 75[deg] N. on the west (west of longitude 
148[deg] W.) or to latitude 74[deg] N on the east (east of longitude 
148[deg] W.) (see map included with this notice). The planning area 
extends from longitude 156[deg] W. (roughly north of the village of 
Barrow) on the west to the Canadian maritime boundary. As depicted on 
the page-size map accompanying this Call, the Program Area, which is a 
subset of the planning area, extends offshore from about 3 nautical 
miles to approximately 280 nautical miles, in water depths from 
approximately 25 feet to more than 14,000 feet. This area consists of 
approximately 11,800 whole and partial blocks (about 64.8 million 
acres, or 26.2 million hectares). A large-scale Call map showing the 
boundaries and blocks of the Beaufort Sea Program Area is available 
without charge on the BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov/ak242. 
Copies of Official Protraction Diagrams also are available without 
charge on the Web site at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-and-Data/Alaska.aspx.

4. Nominations on This Call

    Written nominations must be received no later than September 12, 
2014. Submittals should indicate ``Nominations for Beaufort Sea Lease 
Sale 242.''
    Persons or corporations, or other entities in the oil and gas 
industry (hereinafter referred to as ``industry'') submitting 
nominations, should describe explicitly their interest by ranking the 
areas nominated according to priority using five interest 
classifications: (1) Critical interest, (2) high interest, (3) general 
interest, (4) low interest, or (5) no interest. The area(s) nominated 
must be described accurately and shown on the large-scale Call map 
available at https://www.boem.gov/ak242. Industry nominations within the 
BOEM-defined areas of high petroleum potential, as identified on Map D 
in the document Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing 
Program for 2012-2017 (available at https://www.boem.gov/ak242), need 
not justify the nomination further. However, if the nomination is 
outside of the BOEM-defined area of high resource potential, the 
nominating party should be as specific as possible in prioritizing 
blocks and should be prepared, if called upon, to supply geological, 
geophysical, or economic information on why such blocks should be 
included in Sale 242. Industry nominators are requested to provide the 
telephone number and name of the individual to contact regarding the 
nominations. A representative from BOEM's Alaska OCS Regional office 
may contact this individual to set up a mutually agreeable meeting date 
and time to review more fully the nomination.
    To avoid inadvertent release of proprietary information, industry 
should mark all documents and every page containing such information 
with ``Confidential--Contains Proprietary Information.'' To the extent 
a document contains a mix of proprietary and nonproprietary 
information, industry should mark clearly which portion of the document 
is proprietary and which is not. The OCSLA states that the ``Secretary 
shall maintain the confidentiality of all privileged or proprietary 
data or information for such period of time as is provided for in this 
subchapter, established by regulation, or agreed to by the parties'' 
(43 U.S.C. 1344(g)). BOEM considers written nominations of specific 
blocks to be proprietary, and it will not release those nominations to 
the public.

5. Exclusion Areas and Other Comments

    BOEM is seeking recommendations on whether to exclude specific 
blocks or areas from oil and gas leasing (hereinafter referred to as 
``proposed exclusion areas''), or to lease them under special 
conditions due to conflicting values and environmental concerns. 
Persons, Federal agencies, state and local governments, tribes, and 
other interested parties (hereinafter referred to as ``commenters'') 
should indicate proposed exclusion areas or areas of special concern on 
the large-scale Call map available at https://www.boem.gov/ak242. 
Commenters also may use the interactive map tool for the

[[Page 44062]]

Arctic at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Five-Year-Program/Lease-Sale-Schedule/Interactive-Maps.aspx. Commenters are 
encouraged to be as specific as possible in explaining why the area 
should be excluded or leased under special conditions, provide 
supporting information, and be prepared to discuss the proposed 
exclusion areas with BOEM. Commenters are requested to provide the 
telephone number and name of the individual to contact regarding 
comments. A representative from BOEM's Alaska OCS Regional office may 
contact this individual to set up a mutually agreeable meeting date and 
time to review more fully the proposed exclusion areas.
    BOEM also is seeking comments and information from all interested 
persons regarding:
     Areas that should receive more detailed consideration and 
analysis;
     geological conditions, including bottom hazards;
     archaeological sites on the seabed or nearshore;
     other uses of the Program Area, including navigation and 
subsistence; and
     other socioeconomic, biological, or environmental 
information.
    BOEM received comments on the Program Area as part of the Five Year 
Program approval process. Those comments included information on the 
importance of the Boulder Patch, Camden Bay, and the Nuiqsut bowhead 
whale hunt area near Cross Island. BOEM will consider information 
submitted previously on the Five Year Program (see section 7. below), 
but BOEM encourages persons who submitted comments on the Five Year 
Program to refine their earlier comments and provide greater detail or 
new information, where appropriate, concerning the importance of these 
areas or associated activities.

6. Submissions of Nominations, Requests for Exclusion Areas, and Other 
Comments

    Industry representatives who are nominating area(s) for inclusion 
in the sale should send their nominations to: Chief, Leasing Section, 
BOEM, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, 
Alaska 99503-5823.
    Proposals for exclusion areas and areas of special concern, 
including general information from persons, Federal agencies, state and 
local governments, tribes, and other interested parties, will be 
accepted only through https://www.regulations.gov, using docket 
designation BOEM-2014-0017. All comments received via this Web site, 
including names and addresses of the commenter, are public and will be 
posted for public review. BOEM will not consider anonymous comments. 
BOEM will make available all nonproprietary submissions in their 
entirety on https://www.regulations.gov. However, BOEM will remove 
inappropriate content (i.e., contains vulgar language, personal attacks 
of any kind, threats, accusations, obscenity, or offensive terms that 
target specific ethnic or racial groups), or comments that are off-
topic (i.e., not pertinent to the information requested in the Call). 
Groups bundling comments from multiple individuals are encouraged to 
screen comments for inappropriate content.

7. Tracking Table and Interactive Map

    In the Five Year Program, BOEM established a mitigation/program 
tracking table (hereinafter referred to as ``Table''), which is 
designed to track the history and treatment of suggestions for 
inclusion or exclusion of acreage, temporal deferrals, and/or 
mitigation from the Five Year Program stage through the lease sale 
stage to the plan stage. The Table will allow commenters to see how and 
where their concerns are considered. The Table also will ensure that a 
reasonable concern not suitable for consideration during one stage will 
be considered at an appropriate subsequent stage. The Table may be 
viewed at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Five-Year-Program/Lease-Sale-Schedule/Tracking-Table.aspx. Appropriate 
suggestions collected during the comment period on this Call will be 
added to the Table and tracked throughout the process.
    Additionally, BOEM has created an interactive map through the 
MarineCadastre.gov Web site for Alaska at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Five-Year-Program/Lease-Sale-Schedule/Interactive-Maps.aspx. MarineCadastre.gov is an integrated marine 
information system that provides a more comprehensive look at 
geospatial data and ongoing activities and studies occurring in the 
area being considered. If persons believe that a data layer should be 
added for consideration, they should provide this information by 
following the commenting instructions above. Questions about the 
interactive map may be addressed to: Chief, Leasing Section, BOEM, 
Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 
99503-5823, or by calling (907) 334-5200.

8. Use of Information From This Call

    BOEM is undertaking a strategy of targeted leasing, whereby the 
BOEM Director will use the information provided in response to this 
Call to make an Area Identification decision under 30 CFR 556.26. BOEM 
will consider nominations, proposed exclusion areas, and areas proposed 
to receive special consideration and analysis, in light of resource 
estimates, information regarding exploratory drilling, environmental 
reviews, and other relevant information. Using this information, BOEM 
plans to target leasing by proactively determining which specific 
portions of the Program Area offer greater resource potential, while 
minimizing potential conflicts with environmental and subsistence 
considerations.
    Information submitted in response to this Call also will be used 
to:
     Develop potential lease terms and conditions;
     identify potential use conflicts; and
     assist in the NEPA scoping process.

9. Existing Information

    An extensive Environmental Studies Program, including 
environmental, social, and economic studies in the Beaufort Sea 
Planning Area, has been underway in the BOEM Alaska OCS Region since 
1976. The emphasis has been on environmental characterization of 
biologically sensitive habitats, marine mammals, physical oceanography, 
ocean-circulation modeling, subsistence uses, and ecological and 
sociocultural effects of oil and gas activities. Information on the 
BOEM Environmental Studies Program, completed studies, and a program 
status report for continuing studies in this area is available on the 
BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov/akstudies, or it may be obtained 
from the Chief, Environmental Sciences Management Section, Alaska OCS 
Region, by telephone request at (907) 334-5200.
    NEPA analyses were prepared for previous OCS lease sales held in 
the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. Previous NEPA analyses for Beaufort Sea 
lease sales and other actions are available at https://www.boem.gov/
About-BOEM/BOEM-Regions/Alaska-Region/Environment/Environmental-
Analysis/Environmental-Impact-Statements-and_Major-Environmental-
Assessments.aspx. Currently, 147 active OCS oil and gas leases exist in 
the Beaufort Sea Planning Area, encompassing an area of approximately 
760,000 acres (308,000 hectares). Information on the leases and other 
lease-related activities is available at

[[Page 44063]]

https://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/BOEM-Regions/Alaska-Region/Leasing-and-Plans/Index.aspx.
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN29JY14.000


[[Page 44064]]


[FR Doc. 2014-17842 Filed 7-28-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-C
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