Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226, 8525-8530 [2016-03279]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8525-8530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03279]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[MMAA104000]


Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf Oil 
and Gas Lease Sale 226

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

ACTION: Final notice of sale.

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SUMMARY: On Wednesday, March 23, 2016, BOEM will open and publicly 
announce bids for blocks offered in Eastern Planning Area (EPA) Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226 (EPA Sale 226), in 
accordance with the provisions of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA, 43 U.S.C. 
1331-1356, as amended) and the implementing regulations issued pursuant 
thereto (30 CFR parts 550 and 556).

DATES: Date And Time: Public bid reading for EPA Sale 226 will begin at 
9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2016. All times referred to in this 
document are Central Time, unless otherwise specified.
    The EPA Sale 226 Final Notice of Sale (NOS) Package (Final NOS 
Package) contains information essential to potential bidders. Bidders 
are charged with knowing the contents of the documents contained in the 
Final NOS Package.
    Bid Submission Deadline: BOEM must receive all sealed bids between 
8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on normal working days, or from 8:00 a.m. to 
the Bid Submission Deadline of 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 22, 2016, 
the day before the lease sale. For more information on bid submission, 
see Section VII, ``Bidding Instructions,'' of this document.

ADDRESSES: The Mercedes-Benz Superdome, 1500 Sugarbowl Drive, New 
Orleans, Louisiana, 70112. The lease sale will be held in the St. 
Charles Club Room on the second floor (Loge Level). Entry to the 
Superdome will be on the Poydras Street side of the building through 
Gate A on the Ground Level; parking will be available at Garage 6.
    Interested parties, upon request, may obtain a compact disc (CD-
ROM) containing the Final NOS Package by contacting the BOEM Gulf of 
Mexico (GOM) Region at: Gulf of Mexico Region Public Information 
Office, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, 
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, (504) 736-2519 or (800) 200-GULF or 
by visiting the BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov/Sale-226/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents

    This Final NOS includes the following sections:

I. Lease Sale Area
II. Statutes and Regulations
III. Lease Terms and Financial Conditions
IV. Lease Stipulations
V. Information to Lessees
VI. Maps
VII. Bidding Instructions
VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions
IX. Forms
X. The Lease Sale
XI. Delay of Sale

[[Page 8526]]

I. Lease Sale Area

    Blocks Offered for Leasing: BOEM is offering for lease all blocks 
and partial blocks listed in the document ``List of Blocks Available 
for Leasing'' included in this Final NOS Package. All of these blocks 
are shown on the following leasing maps and Official Protraction 
Diagrams (OPDs):

Outer Continental Shelf Official Protraction Diagrams
    NG16-02 Lloyd Ridge (revised February 28, 2007)
    NH16-11 De Soto Canyon (revised February 28, 2007)

    Blocks Not Offered for Leasing: All whole or partial blocks in the 
EPA deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, Public 
Law 109-432.

II. Statutes and Regulations

    Each lease is issued pursuant to OCSLA, and is subject to OCSLA, 
implementing regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and other 
applicable statutes and regulations in existence upon the effective 
date of the lease, as well as those applicable statutes enacted and 
regulations promulgated thereafter, except to the extent that the 
after-enacted statutes and regulations explicitly conflict with an 
express provision of the lease. Each lease also is subject to 
amendments to statutes and regulations, including, but not limited to, 
OCSLA, that do not explicitly conflict with an express provision of the 
lease. The lessee expressly bears the risk that such new or amended 
statutes and regulations (i.e., those that do not explicitly conflict 
with an express provision of the lease) may increase or decrease the 
lessee's obligations under the lease.

III. Lease Terms and Financial Conditions

Lease Terms

OCS Lease Form
    BOEM will use Form BOEM-2005 (October 2011) to convey leases 
resulting from this sale. This lease form may be viewed on the BOEM Web 
site at https://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/Procurement-Business-Opportunities/BOEM-OCS-Operation-Forms/BOEM-2005.aspx. The lease form 
will be amended to conform with the specific terms, conditions, and 
stipulations applicable to the individual lease. The terms, conditions, 
and stipulations applicable to this sale are set forth below.
Initial Periods
    Initial periods are summarized in the following table:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Water depth (meters)                    Initial period
------------------------------------------------------------------------
800 to <1,600..........................  Standard initial period is 7
                                          years; the lessee will earn an
                                          additional 3 years (i.e., for
                                          a 10-year extended initial
                                          period) if a well is spudded
                                          during the first 7 years of
                                          the lease.
1,600+.................................  10 years.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (1) The standard initial period for a lease in water depths ranging 
from 800 to less than 1,600 meters issued as a result of this sale will 
be 7 years. The lessee will earn an additional 3 years, resulting in a 
10-year extended initial period, if the lessee spuds a well within the 
first 7 years of the lease.
    In order to earn the 10-year extended initial period, the lessee is 
required to submit to the appropriate Bureau of Safety and 
Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) District Manager, within 30 days after 
spudding a well, a letter providing the well number and spud date, and 
requesting concurrence that the lessee has earned the 10-year extended 
initial period. The BSEE District Manager will review the request and 
make a written determination within 30 days of receipt of the request. 
The BSEE District Manager must concur in writing that the conditions 
have been met by the lessee to earn the 10-year extended initial 
period.
    (2) The standard initial period for a lease in water depths 1,600 
meters or greater issued as a result of this sale will be 10 years.

Financial Conditions

Minimum Bonus Bid Amount
 $100.00 per acre or fraction thereof for all blocks

    BOEM will not accept a bonus bid unless it provides for a cash 
bonus in the amount equal to, or exceeding, the specified minimum bid 
of $100.00 per acre or fraction thereof.
Rental Rate
    Annual rental rates are summarized in the following table:

                Rental Rates per Acre or Fraction Thereof
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Water depth (meters)                Years 1-5     Years 6+
------------------------------------------------------------------------
800+........................................       $11.00        $16.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Royalty Rate
 18.75 percent
Minimum Royalty Rate
 $11.00 per acre or fraction thereof per year

IV. Lease Stipulations

    One or more of the following stipulations may be applied to leases 
issued as a result of this sale. The detailed text of these 
stipulations is contained in the ``Lease Stipulations'' section of the 
Final NOS Package.

(1) Military Areas
(2) Evacuation
(3) Coordination
(4) Protected Species

V. Information to Lessees

    The Information to Lessees (ITL) clauses provide detailed 
information on certain issues pertaining to this oil and gas lease 
sale. The detailed text of these ITL clauses is contained in the 
``Information to Lessees'' section of the Final NOS Package:

(1) Navigation Safety
(2) Ordnance Disposal Areas in the EPA
(3) Existing and Proposed Artificial Reefs/Rigs to Reefs
(4) Lightering Zones
(5) Military Areas in the EPA
(6) Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Inspection 
and Enforcement of Certain Coast Guard Regulations
(7) Air Quality Permits
(8) Notice of Arrival on the Outer Continental Shelf
(9) Bidder/Lessee Notice of Obligations Related to Criminal/Civil 
Charges and Offenses, Suspension, or Debarment; Disqualification Due to 
a Conviction under the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act
(10) Protected Species

VI. Maps

    The maps pertaining to this sale may be found on the BOEM Web site 
at  https://www.boem.gov/Sale-226. The following map also is included in 
the Final NOS Package:

[[Page 8527]]

Lease Terms, Financial Conditions, and Stipulations Map

    The lease terms, financial conditions, stipulations, and the blocks 
to which these terms and conditions apply are shown on the map ``Final, 
Eastern Planning Area, Lease Sale 226, March 23, 2016, Lease Terms, 
Financial Conditions, and Stipulations'' included in the Final NOS 
Package.

VII. Bidding Instructions

    Instructions on how to submit a bid, secure payment of the advance 
bonus bid deposit (if applicable), and what information must be 
included with the bid are as follows:

Bid Form

    For each block bid upon, a separate sealed bid must be submitted in 
a sealed envelope (as described below) and must include the following:
     Total amount of the bid in whole dollars only;
     sale number;
     sale date;
     each bidder's exact name;
     each bidder's proportionate interest, stated as a 
percentage, using a maximum of five decimal places (e.g., 33.33333 
percent);
     typed name and title, and signature of each bidder's 
authorized officer;
     each bidder's qualification number;
     map name and number or Official Protraction Diagram (OPD) 
name and number;
     block number; and
     statement acknowledging that the bidder(s) understand that 
this bid legally binds the bidder(s) to comply with all applicable 
regulations, including payment of one-fifth of the bonus bid amount on 
all apparent high bids.
    The information required on the bid(s) is specified in the document 
``Bid Form'' in this Final NOS Package. A blank bid form will be 
provided therein for convenience and may be copied and completed with 
the necessary information described above.

Bid Envelope

    Each bid must be submitted in a separate sealed envelope labeled as 
follows:
     ``Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226, not to be 
opened until 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 23, 2016;''
     map name and number or OPD name and number;
     block number for block bid upon; and
     the exact name and qualification number of the submitting 
bidder only.
    The Final NOS Package includes a sample bid envelope for reference.

Mailed Bids

    If bids are mailed, please address the envelope containing the 
sealed bid envelope(s) as follows: Attention: Leasing and Financial 
Responsibility Section, BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.
    Contains Sealed Bids for EPA Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226 Please 
Deliver to Ms. Cindy Thibodeaux or Mr. Carrol Williams, 2nd Floor, 
Immediately

    Please Note: Bidders mailing bid(s) are advised to call Ms. 
Cindy Thibodeaux at (504) 736-2809, or Mr. Carrol Williams at (504) 
736-2803, immediately after putting their bid(s) in the mail. If 
BOEM receives bids later than the Bid Submission Deadline, the BOEM 
Gulf of Mexico Regional Director (RD) will return those bids 
unopened to bidders. Please see ``Section XI. Delay of Sale'' 
regarding BOEM's discretion to extend the Bid Submission Deadline in 
the case of an unexpected event (e.g., flooding or travel 
restrictions) and how bidders can obtain more information on such 
extensions.

Advance Bonus Bid Deposit Guarantee

    Bidders that are not currently an OCS oil and gas lease record 
title holder or designated operator, or those that ever have defaulted 
on a one-fifth bonus bid deposit, by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or 
otherwise, must guarantee (secure) the payment of the one-fifth bonus 
bid deposit prior to bid submission using one of the following four 
methods:
     Provide a third-party guarantee;
     amend an areawide development bond via bond rider;
     provide a letter of credit; or
     provide a lump sum payment in advance via EFT.
    For more information on EFT procedures, see Section X of this 
document entitled, ``The Lease Sale.''

Affirmative Action

    Prior to bidding, each bidder should file Equal Opportunity 
Affirmative Action Representation Form BOEM-2032 (October 2011) and 
Equal Opportunity Compliance Report Certification Form BOEM-2033 
(October 2011) with the BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region Adjudication 
Section. This certification is required by 41 CFR part 60 and Executive 
Order No. 11246, issued September 24, 1965, as amended by Executive 
Order No. 11375, issued October 13, 1967, and by Executive Order 13672, 
issued July 21, 2014. Both forms must be on file for the bidder(s) in 
the GOM Region Adjudication Section prior to the execution of any lease 
contract.

Geophysical Data and Information Statement (GDIS)

    The GDIS is composed of three parts:
    (1) The ``Statement'' page includes the company representatives' 
information and lists of blocks bid on that used proprietary data and 
those blocks bid on that did not use proprietary data;
    (2) the ``Table'' listing the required data about each proprietary 
survey used (see below); and
    (3) the ``Maps'' being the live trace maps for each survey that are 
identified in the GDIS statement and table.
    Every bidder submitting a bid on a block in EPA Sale 226, or 
participating as a joint bidder in such a bid, must submit at the time 
of bid submission all three parts of the GDIS. A bidder must submit the 
GDIS even if a joint bidder or bidders on a specific block also have 
submitted a GDIS. Any speculative data that has been reprocessed 
externally or ``in-house'' is considered proprietary due to the 
proprietary processing and is no longer considered to be speculative.
    The GDIS must be submitted in a separate and sealed envelope, and 
identify all proprietary data; reprocessed speculative data, and/or any 
Controlled Source Electromagnetic surveys, Amplitude Versus Offset 
(AVO), Gravity, or Magnetic data; or other information used as part of 
the decision to bid or participate in a bid on the block. The bidder 
and joint bidder must also include a live trace map (e.g., .pdf and 
ArcGIS shape file) for each proprietary survey that they identify in 
the GDIS illustrating the actual areal extent of the proprietary 
geophysical data in the survey (see the ``Example of Preferred Format'' 
in the Final NOS Package for additional information). The shape file 
must not include cultural information; only the live trace map of the 
survey itself.
    The GDIS statement must include the name, phone number, and full 
address of a contact person and an alternate who are both knowledgeable 
about the information and data listed and who are available for 30 days 
after the sale date. The GDIS statement also must include entries for 
all blocks bid upon that did not use proprietary or reprocessed pre- or 
post-stack geophysical data and information as part of the decision to 
bid or to participate as a joint bidder in the bid. The GDIS statement 
must be submitted even if no proprietary geophysical data and 
information were used in bid preparation for the block.
    The GDIS table should have columns that clearly state the sale 
number; the bidder company's name; the block area and block number bid 
on; the owner of the original data set (i.e., who initially

[[Page 8528]]

acquired the data); the industry's original name of the survey (e.g., E 
Octopus); the BOEM permit number for the survey; whether the data set 
is a fast track version; whether the data is speculative or 
proprietary; the data type (e.g., 2-D, 3-D, or 4-D; pre-stack or post-
stack; and time or depth); migration algorithm (e.g., Kirchhoff 
Migration, Wave Equation Migration, Reverse Migration, Reverse Time 
Migration) of the data and areal extent of bidder survey (i.e., number 
of line miles for 2-D or number of blocks for 3-D). Provide the 
computer storage size, to the nearest gigabyte, of each seismic data 
and velocity volume used to evaluate the lease block in question. This 
will be used in estimating the reproduction costs for each data set, if 
applicable. The availability of reimbursement of production costs will 
be determined consistent with 30 CFR 551.13. The next column should 
state who reprocessed the data (e.g., external company name or ``in-
house'') and when the date of final reprocessing was completed (month 
and year). If the data was sent to BOEM for bidding in a previous lease 
sale, list the date the data was processed (month and year) and 
indicate if AVO data was used in the evaluation. BOEM reserves the 
right to query about alternate data sets, to quality check, and to 
compare the listed and alternative data sets to determine which data 
set most closely meets the needs of the fair market value determination 
process. An example of the preferred format of the table may be found 
in the Final NOS Package, and a blank digital version of the preferred 
table may be accessed on the EPA Sale 226 sale Web page at https://www.boem.gov/Sale-226.
    The GDIS maps are live trace maps (in .pdf and ArcGIS shape files) 
that should be submitted for each proprietary survey that is identified 
in the GDIS table. They should illustrate the actual areal extent of 
the proprietary geophysical data in the survey (see the ``Example of 
Preferred Format'' in the Final NOS Package for additional 
information). As previously stated, the shape file must not include 
cultural information; only the live trace map of the survey itself. 
Pursuant to 30 CFR 551.12 and 30 CFR 556.32, as a condition of the 
sale, the BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD requests that all bidders and joint 
bidders submit the proprietary data identified on their GDIS within 30 
days after the lease sale (unless they are notified after the lease 
sale that BOEM has withdrawn the request). This request only pertains 
to proprietary data that is not commercially available. Commercially 
available data is not required to be submitted to BOEM, and 
reimbursement will not be provided if such data is submitted by a 
bidder. The BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD will notify bidders and joint 
bidders of any withdrawal of the request, for all or some of the 
proprietary data identified on the GDIS, within 15 days of the lease 
sale. Pursuant to 30 CFR part 551 and as a condition of this sale, all 
bidders required to submit data must ensure that the data is received 
by BOEM no later than the 30th day following the lease sale, or the 
next business day if the submission deadline falls on a weekend or 
Federal holiday. The data must be submitted to BOEM at the following 
address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Resource Studies, GM 881A, 
1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70123-2304.
    BOEM recommends that bidders mark the submission's external 
envelope as ``Deliver Immediately to DASPU.'' BOEM also recommends that 
the data be submitted in an internal envelope, or otherwise marked, 
with the following designation: ``Proprietary Geophysical Data 
Submitted Pursuant to EPA 226 and used during  
evaluation of Block .''
    In the event a person supplies any type of data to BOEM, that 
person must meet the following requirements to qualify for 
reimbursement:
    (1) Persons must be registered with the System for Award Management 
(SAM), formerly known as the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). CCR 
usernames will not work in SAM. A new SAM User Account is needed to 
register or update an entity's records. The Web site for registering is 
https://www.sam.gov.
    (2) Persons must be enrolled in the Department of Treasury's 
Internet Payment Platform (IPP) for electronic invoicing. The person 
must enroll in the IPP at https://www.ipp.gov/. Access then will be 
granted to use the IPP for submitting requests for payment. When a 
request for payment is submitted, it must include the assigned Purchase 
Order Number on the request.
    (3) Persons must have a current On-line Representations and 
Certifications Application at https://www.sam.gov.

    Please Note: The GDIS Information Table must be submitted 
digitally, preferably as an Excel spreadsheet, on a CD or DVD along 
with the seismic data map(s). If bidders have any questions, please 
contact Ms. Dee Smith at (504) 736-2706, or Mr. John Johnson at 
(504) 736-2455. Bidders should refer to Section X of this document, 
``The Lease Sale: Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids,'' 
regarding a bidder's failure to comply with the requirements of the 
Final NOS, including any failure to submit information as required 
in the Final NOS or Final NOS Package.

Telephone Numbers/Addresses of Bidders

    BOEM requests that bidders provide this information in the 
suggested format prior to or at the time of bid submission. The 
suggested format is included in the Final NOS Package. The form must 
not be enclosed inside the sealed bid envelope.

Additional Documentation

    BOEM may require bidders to submit other documents in accordance 
with 30 CFR 556.46.

VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions

Restricted Joint Bidders

    On November 2, 2015, BOEM published the most recent List of 
Restricted Joint Bidders in the Federal Register at 80 FR 67416. 
Potential bidders are advised to refer to the Federal Register, prior 
to bidding, for the most current List of Restricted Joint Bidders in 
place at the time of the lease sale. Please refer to the joint bidding 
provisions at 30 CFR 556.41 for additional restrictions.

Authorized Signatures

    All signatories executing documents on behalf of bidder(s) must 
execute the same in conformance with the BOEM qualification records. 
Bidders are advised that BOEM considers the signed bid to be a legally 
binding obligation on the part of the bidder(s) to comply with all 
applicable regulations, including payment of one-fifth of the bonus bid 
on all high bids. A statement to this effect must be included on each 
bid form (see the document ``Bid Form'' to be contained in the Final 
NOS Package).

Unlawful Combination or Intimidation

    BOEM warns bidders against violation of 18 U.S.C. 1860, prohibiting 
unlawful combination or intimidation of bidders.

Bid Withdrawal

    Bids may be withdrawn only by written request delivered to BOEM 
prior to the Bid Submission Deadline. The withdrawal request must be on 
company letterhead and must contain the bidder's name, its BOEM 
qualification number, the map name/number, and the block number(s) of 
the bid(s) to be withdrawn. The withdrawal request must be executed in 
conformance with the BOEM qualification records. Signatories must be 
authorized to bind their respective legal business entities (e.g., a 
corporation, partnership, or LLC) and documentation must be on file 
with

[[Page 8529]]

BOEM setting forth this authority to act on the business entity's 
behalf for purposes of bidding and lease execution under OCSLA (e.g., 
business charter or articles, incumbency certificate, or power of 
attorney). The name and title of the authorized signatory must be typed 
under the signature block on the withdrawal request. The BOEM Gulf of 
Mexico RD, or the RD's designee, will indicate their approval by 
signing and dating the withdrawal request.

Bid Rounding

    Minimum bonus bid calculations, including rounding, for all blocks 
will be shown in the document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' 
included in the Final NOS Package. The bonus bid amount must be stated 
in whole dollars. If the acreage of a block contains a decimal figure, 
then prior to calculating the minimum bonus bid, BOEM rounded up to the 
next whole acre. The appropriate minimum rate per acre was then be 
applied to the whole (rounded up) acreage. If this calculation resulted 
in a fractional dollar amount, the minimum bonus bid was rounded up to 
the next whole dollar amount. The bonus bid amount must be greater than 
or equal to the minimum bonus bid in whole dollars.

IX. Forms

    The Final NOS Package includes instructions, samples, and/or the 
preferred format for the following items. BOEM strongly encourages 
bidders to use these formats; should bidders use another format, they 
are responsible for including all the information specified for each 
item in the Final NOS Package.

(1) Bid Form
(2) Sample Completed Bid
(3) Sample Bid Envelope
(4) Sample Bid Mailing Envelope
(5) Telephone Numbers/Addresses of Bidders Form
(6) GDIS Form
(7) GDIS Envelope Form

X. The Lease Sale

Bid Opening and Reading

    Sealed bids received in response to the Final NOS will be opened at 
the ``DATE AND TIME'' and ``LOCATION'' sections of this document. The 
opening of the bids is for the sole purpose of publicly announcing and 
recording the bids received; no bids will be accepted or rejected at 
that time.

Bonus Bid Deposit for Apparent High Bids

    Each bidder submitting an apparent high bid must submit a bonus bid 
deposit to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) equal to one-
fifth of the bonus bid amount for each such bid. A copy of the 
notification of the high bidder's one-fifth bonus bid requirement 
deposit may be obtained at the EFT Area outside the Bid Reading Room on 
the day of the bid opening, or it may be obtained on the BOEM Web site 
at https://www.boem.gov/Sale-226/ under the heading ``Notification of 
EFT 1/5 Bonus Liability.'' All payments must be deposited 
electronically into an interest-bearing account in the U.S. Treasury by 
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time the day following the bid reading (no 
exceptions). Account information is provided in the ``Instructions for 
Making Electronic Funds Transfer Bonus Payments'' found on the BOEM Web 
site identified above.
    BOEM requires bidders to use EFT procedures for payment of one-
fifth bonus bid deposits for EPA Sale 226, following the detailed 
instructions contained on the ONRR Payment Information Web page at 
https://www.onrr.gov/FM/PayInfo.htm. Acceptance of a deposit does not 
constitute and will not be construed as acceptance of any bid on behalf 
of the United States.

Withdrawal of Blocks

    The United States reserves the right to withdraw any block from 
this lease sale prior to issuance of a written acceptance of a bid for 
the block.

Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids

    The United States reserves the right to reject any and all bids. No 
bid will be accepted, and no lease for any block will be awarded to any 
bidder, unless:
    (1) The bidder has complied with all requirements of the Final NOS, 
including those set forth in the documents contained in the Final NOS 
Package and applicable regulations;
    (2) the bid is the highest valid bid; and
    (3) the amount of the bid has been determined to be adequate by the 
authorized officer.
    Any bid submitted that does not conform to the requirements of the 
Final NOS and Final NOS Package, OCSLA, or other applicable statute or 
regulation may be rejected and returned to the bidder. The U.S. 
Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission will review the 
results of the lease sale for antitrust issues prior to the acceptance 
of bids and issuance of leases.

Bid Adequacy Review Procedures for EPA Sale 226

    To ensure that the U.S. Government receives a fair return for the 
conveyance of leases from this sale, high bids will be evaluated in 
accordance with BOEM's bid adequacy procedures. A copy of updated Bid 
Adequacy Procedures, can be obtained from the BOEM Gulf of Mexico 
Region Public Information Office, or via the BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region 
Web site at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Bid-Adequacy-Procedures.aspx.
    BOEM published a notification in the Federal Register, 79 FR 62461-
62463 (October 17, 2014), available at https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-10-17/pdf/2014-24727.pdf, proposing the elimination of one of its 
procedural guidelines for bid acceptance, (referred to as the Number of 
Bids Rule), from its bid adequacy procedures. BOEM carefully considered 
the comments submitted in response to the notice and met with industry 
representatives. BOEM believes that none of the submitted comments 
offered a compelling reason to keep the Number of Bids Rule, suggested 
a preferable alternative which BOEM had not considered, or indicated 
that our analysis or rationale was deficient. Therefore, BOEM removed 
the Number of Bids Rule from its bid adequacy procedures. This bid 
adequacy change is in effect and will apply to any bids received for 
the EPA Sale 226.

Lease Award

    BOEM requires each bidder awarded a lease to: (1) Execute all 
copies of the lease (Form BOEM-2005 (October 2011), as amended); (2) 
pay by EFT the balance of the bonus bid amount and the first year's 
rental for each lease issued in accordance with the requirements of 30 
CFR 218.155 and 556.47(f); and (3) satisfy the bonding requirements of 
30 CFR part 556, subpart I, as amended. ONRR requests that only one 
transaction be used for payment of the four-fifths bonus bid amount and 
the first year's rental.

XI. Delay of Sale

    The BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD has the discretion to change any date, 
time, and/or location specified in the Final NOS Package in case of an 
event that the BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD deems may interfere with the 
carrying out of a fair and orderly lease sale process. Such events 
could include, but are not limited to, natural disasters (e.g., 
earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods), wars, riots, acts of terrorism, 
fires, strikes, civil disorder, or other events of a similar nature. In 
case of such events, bidders should call (504) 736-0557, or access the 
BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov, for information

[[Page 8530]]

regarding any changes.

    Dated: February 10, 2016.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-03279 Filed 2-18-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P