Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, Cook Inlet Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244, 23295-23297 [2017-10506]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices
may be obtained on the BOEM Web site
at https://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/
under the heading ‘‘Notification of EFT
1⁄5 Bonus Liability’’ after 1:00 p.m. on
the day of the lease sale. 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 the one-fifth
bonus bid deposits for Cook Inlet Sale
244 following detailed instructions
contained on the ONRR Payment
Information Web page at https://
onrr.gov/ReportPay/
payments.htm#EPO. Acceptance of a
deposit does not constitute and shall 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.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
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 documents
contained in the Final NOS Package and
applicable regulations;
(2) the bid submitted 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
regulations, will be rejected and
returned to the bidder. The U.S.
Department of Justice and 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
Cook Inlet Sale 244
To ensure that the U.S. Government
receives a fair return for the issuance of
leases from this lease sale, high bids
will be evaluated in accordance with
BOEM’s bid adequacy procedures,
which are available at https://
www.boem.gov/Bid-AdequacyProcedures/.
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Lease Award
BOEM requires each bidder awarded
a lease to:
(1) Execute all copies of the lease
(Form BOEM–2005 (February 2017), 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 1218.155, 30 CFR 556.520(a)(2) and
30 CFR 556.520(a)(3); and
(3) satisfy the bonding requirements
of 30 CFR part 556, subpart I, as
amended.
ONRR requests that bidders use only
one transaction for payment of the
balance of the bonus bid amount and
first year’s rental.
The BOEM Alaska OCS RD has the
discretion to change any date, time,
and/or location specified in the Final
NOS Package in case of an event the
BOEM Alaska OCS 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 or 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
(907) 334–5200, or access the BOEM
Web site at https://www.boem.gov for
information regarding any changes.
Dated: May 18, 2017.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2017–10509 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM–2014–0001;
MMAA104000]
Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, Cook
Inlet Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease
Sale 244
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a
Record of Decision.
AGENCY:
The Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management is announcing the
availability of the Record of Decision for
the Cook Inlet Planning Area, Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas
Lease Sale 244 (Lease Sale 244). This
Record of Decision identifies the
Bureau’s selected alternative for holding
SUMMARY:
Frm 00126
Fmt 4703
Lease Sale 244, which is analyzed in the
Alaska OCS: Cook Inlet Planning Area
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 in the Cook
Inlet, Alaska; Final Environmental
Impact Statement (FEIS) (OCS/EIS EA
BOEM 2016–069). The Record of
Decision and associated information are
available on BOEM’s Web site at https://
www.boem.gov/Sale-244/.
For
more information on the Record of
Decision, you may contact Sharon
Randall, Chief, Environmental Analysis
Section, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Alaska OCS Region, 3801
Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503, 907–334–
5235.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
The Cook
Inlet Lease Sale Area is located offshore
of the State of Alaska in the northern
portion of the Federal waters of Cook
Inlet and is comprised of 224 OCS
blocks, which encompass an area of
approximately 442,500 hectares or 1.09
million acres. There are currently no
active OCS oil and gas leases in the
Cook Inlet Planning Area. The unleased
OCS blocks within Cook Inlet that
BOEM will offer for lease are listed in
the document entitled, ‘‘List of Blocks
Available for Leasing,’’ which is
included in the Final Notice of Sale for
Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244. The
estimated resource potential of the
Lease Sale is 215 million barrels of oil
and 571 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
XI. Delay of Sale
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23295
Sfmt 4703
Decision
After careful consideration, the
Department of the Interior (DOI) has
selected the Preferred Alternative
identified and analyzed in the Lease
Sale 244 FEIS. In selecting the Preferred
Alternative for Lease Sale 244, BOEM
will offer for lease 224 unleased OCS
blocks subject to mitigation measures
adopted to reduce potential impacts to
sensitive biological resources and other
uses of the OCS, including, but not
limited to, the beluga whales and their
critical habitat and feeding areas, sea
otters and their critical habitat, and the
gillnet fishery. The Preferred Alternative
combines the Proposed Action
(Alternative 1) with several mitigations
analyzed as alternatives in the Lease
Sale 244 FEIS. In holding Lease Sale
244, DOI is implementing Alternative
3B (Beluga Whale Critical Habitat
Mitigation), Alternative 3C (Beluga
Whale Nearshore Feeding Areas
Mitigation), Alternative 4B (Northern
Sea Otter Critical Habitat Mitigation)
and Alternative 5 (Gillnet Fishery
Mitigation), as described in the FEIS.
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Lease Stipulations
The following mitigation measures
will be applied to Lease Sale 244 as
lease stipulations. The full text of the
lease stipulations that will be included
in leases issued as a result of the sale
and the list of blocks to which they
apply are available in the Final Notice
of Sale Package for Lease Sale 244. The
Final Notice of Sale Package is available
on BOEM’s Web site at: https://
www.boem.gov/Sale-244/.
Beluga Whale Critical Habitat
Mitigation: This mitigation measure
applies to 10 OCS blocks that overlap
with the ‘‘Area 2’’ beluga whale critical
habitat at the northern tip of the Lease
Sale Area. Lessees will be prohibited
from conducting on-lease seismic
surveys or exploration drilling from
November 1 through April 1 in the
affected blocks. The Protection of
Beluga Whale Critical Habitat
Stipulation will be included in any
leases issued for those blocks. Beluga
Whale Nearshore Feeding Areas
Mitigation: This mitigation measure
creates temporal restrictions for on-lease
seismic survey activities within the
Lease Sale Area. On all 224 OCS blocks,
no on-lease marine seismic surveys will
be conducted between November 1 and
April 1, when beluga whales are most
likely to be present and distributed
across the Lease Sale Area. The
Protection of Beluga Whales Stipulation
will be included in any leases issued
pursuant to Lease Sale 244.
Additionally, for blocks within 10
miles of major anadromous streams,
lessees are prohibited from conducting
on-lease marine seismic surveys
between July 1 and September 30, when
beluga whales are migrating to and from
their summer feeding areas. The
Protection of Beluga Whale Nearshore
Feeding Areas Stipulation will be
included in any leases issued for these
blocks.
Northern Sea Otter Critical Habitat
Mitigation: This mitigation measure
prohibits lessees from discharging
drilling fluids and cuttings and
conducting seafloor disturbing activities
(including anchoring and placement of
bottom-founded structures) within 1,000
m of areas designated as northern sea
otter critical habitat. The Protection of
Northern Sea Otter Critical Habitat
Stipulation will be included in any
leases issued on the 14 OCS blocks
within 1,000 m of areas designated as
northern sea otter critical habitat.
Gillnet Fishery Mitigation: This
mitigation measure applies to the 117
whole or partial OCS blocks located
north of Anchor Point within the Lease
Sale Area to reduce the potential for
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23:17 May 19, 2017
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conflicts with the drift gillnet fishery.
Lessees are prohibited from conducting
on-lease seismic surveys during the drift
gillnetting season as designated by the
State of Alaska Department of Fish and
Game (ADF&G) (approximately midJune to mid-August). Lessees are
required to notify the United Cook Inlet
Drift Association (UCIDA) of any
temporary or permanent structures
planned during the drift gillnetting
season. Lessees are required to
coordinate with the UCIDA to avoid
conflicts. The Protection of Gillnet
Fishery Stipulation will be included in
any leases issued for these blocks.
The above measures would be
implemented through lease stipulations,
which would apply to some or all of the
OCS blocks offered for lease. For each
of the mitigation measures described
above, lessees may request a waiver or
variance to these lease stipulations at
the time of filing an ancillary activities
notice, an exploration plan, or a
development and production plan with
BOEM’s Alaska Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Plans. Such requests must
identify alternative methods for
providing commensurate protection and
analyze the effectiveness of those
methods.
While not analyzed as specific
alternatives in the FEIS, DOI is
implementing four additional lease
stipulations in the Cook Inlet Lease Sale
244. These stipulations will be added as
lease terms as applicable to all or a
subset of the OCS blocks being offered
for lease, and will therefore be
enforceable as part of the lease.
Protection of Fisheries Stipulation:
Exploration, development, and
production operations must be
conducted in a manner that minimizes
or prevents conflicts with fishing
communities and gear (including, but
not limited to subsistence, sport, and
commercial fishing). The lessee’s
Exploration Plan (EP) and Development
and Production Plan (DPP) must include
a summary of fishing activities in the
area of proposed operations, an
assessment of effects on fishing from the
proposed activity, and measures to be
taken by the lessee/operator to minimize
or prevent conflicts. The assessment of
effects and measures to minimize or
prevent conflicts must be described
under the environmental impact
analysis, as required by 30 CFR 550.227
for EPs and 30 CFR 550.261 for DPPs.
BOEM may restrict lease-related
activities if the Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Plans (RSLP) determines
that the lessee’s/operator’s proposed
measures will not minimize or prevent
conflicts. The RSLP will work with
directly affected parties, if necessary, to
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
ensure that potential conflicts are
identified and efforts are taken to
minimize or prevent these conflicts.
Protection of Biological Resources
Stipulation: If biological populations or
habitats that may require additional
protection are identified by BOEM in
the leased area, the RSLP may require
the lessee/operator to conduct biological
surveys to determine the extent and
composition of such biological
populations or habitats. Based on any
surveys that the RSLP required of the
lessee/operator, or based on other
information available to the RSLP
regarding special biological resources,
the RSLP may require the lessee/
operator to: relocate the site of
operations; establish to the satisfaction
of the RSLP, on the basis of a sitespecific survey, either that such
operations will not have a significant
adverse effect upon the resource
identified or that a special biological
resource does not exist; operate only
during those periods of time, as
established by the RSLP, that do not
adversely affect the biological resources;
and/or modify operations to ensure that
significant biological populations or
habitats deserving protection are not
adversely affected.
If populations or habitats of biological
significance are discovered during the
conduct of any operations on the lease,
the lessee/operator must immediately
report such findings to the RSLP and
make every reasonable effort to preserve
the biological resource and protect it
from damage. The lessee/operator may
take no action that might affect the
biological populations or habitats
surveyed until the RSLP provides
written directions to the lessee/operator
with regard to permissible actions. The
RSLP will provide a written response
outlining permissible actions within 30
days.
Orientation Program Stipulation: An
EP or DPP submitted under 30 CFR
550.211 or 30 CFR 550.241,
respectively, must include a proposed
orientation program for all personnel
involved in the Proposed Action
(including personnel of the lessee’s/
operator’s agents, contractors, and
subcontractors). The program must be
designed in sufficient detail to inform
individuals working on the project of
specific types of environmental, safety,
social, and cultural concerns that relate
to the area that could be affected by the
operation or its personnel. The program
must address the importance of not
disturbing archaeological and biological
resources and habitats, including
endangered species, fisheries, bird
colonies, and marine mammals, and
provide guidance on how to avoid or
E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices
minimize disturbance. The program
must address Safety and Environmental
Management System elements
including, but not limited to: Stop Work
Authority; Ultimate Work Authority;
Employee Participation Program
(Safety); and Reporting Unsafe Working
Conditions. The program must be
designed to increase the sensitivity and
understanding of personnel to
community values, customs, and wayof-life in areas where such personnel
will be operating. The orientation
program also must include information
concerning avoidance of conflicts with
subsistence, sport, and commercial
fishing activities.
Transportation of Hydrocarbons
Stipulation: Pipelines may be required
for transporting produced hydrocarbons
to shore if BOEM determines that: (a)
Pipeline rights-of-way can be
determined and obtained; (b) laying
such pipelines is technologically
feasible and environmentally preferable;
and (c) pipelines can be laid without net
social loss, taking into account any
incremental costs of pipelines over
alternative methods of transportation
and any incremental benefits in the
form of increased environmental
protection or reduced multiple-use
conflicts.
After careful consideration, DOI has
selected the Preferred Alternative in the
FEIS to hold Lease Sale 244, including
the mitigations described above. DOI’s
selection of the preferred alternative
meets the purpose and need for the
Proposed Action, as identified in the
Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244 FEIS, and
reflects an informed decision balancing
orderly resource development with
protection of the human, marine, and
coastal environments while also
ensuring that the public receives fair
market value for these resources and
that free-market competition is
maintained.
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
Authority: This Notice of Availability is
published pursuant to regulations (40 CFR
part 1506) implementing the provisions of
the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq.).
Dated: May 18, 2017.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2017–10506 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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23:17 May 19, 2017
Jkt 241001
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
Notice Pursuant to the National
Cooperative Research and Production
Act of 1993—American Society of
Mechanical Engineers
Notice is hereby given that, on April
10, 2017, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the
National Cooperative Research and
Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301
et seq. (‘‘the Act’’), the American
Society of Mechanical Engineers
(‘‘ASME’’) has filed written notifications
simultaneously with the Attorney
General and the Federal Trade
Commission disclosing additions or
changes to its standards development
activities. The notifications were filed
for the purpose of extending the Act’s
provisions limiting the recovery of
antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages
under specified circumstances.
Specifically, since November 11, 2016,
ASME has published one new standard,
established one new consensus
committee, redesignated one consensus
committee, initiated four new standards
activities, withdrawn four standards
activities, and discontinued one
standard activity within the general
nature and scope of ASME’s standards
development activities, as specified in
its original notification. More detail
regarding these changes can be found at
www.asme.org.
On September 15, 2004, ASME filed
its original notification pursuant to
Section 6(a) of the Act. The Department
of Justice published a notice in the
Federal Register pursuant to Section
6(b) of the Act on October 13, 2004 (69
FR 60895).
The last notification was filed with
the Department on November 14, 2016.
A notice was published in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on January 11, 2017 (82 FR 3361).
Patricia A. Brink,
Director of Civil Enforcement, Antitrust
Division.
[FR Doc. 2017–10341 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Antitrust Division
Notice Pursuant to the National
Cooperative Research and Production
Act of 1993—ODVA, Inc.
Notice is hereby given that, on April
20, 2017, pursuant to Section 6(a) of the
National Cooperative Research and
Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301
et seq. (‘‘the Act’’), ODVA, Inc.
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
23297
(‘‘ODVA’’) has filed written notifications
simultaneously with the Attorney
General and the Federal Trade
Commission disclosing changes in its
membership. The notifications were
filed for the purpose of extending the
Act’s provisions limiting the recovery of
antitrust plaintiffs to actual damages
under specified circumstances.
Specifically, Analog Devices, Inc.,
Norwood, MA; Willowglen Systems,
Inc., Edmonton, Alberta, CANADA;
Wipotec Wiege-und Positioniersysteme
GmbH, Kaiserslautern, GERMANY;
Systec Systemtechnik und
Industrieautomation GmbH, BergheimGlessen, GERMANY; KEB America, Inc.,
Shakopee, MN; Dong IL Vision,
Gyeonggi-do, REPUBLIC OF KOREA;
Utthunga Technologies Pvt Ltd.,
Bangalore, INDIA; InterTech
Development Company, Skokie, IL;
Perle Systems Limited, Markham,
Ontario, CANADA; and Criterion NDT,
Inc., Auburn, WA, have been added as
parties to this venture.
Also, PCN Technology, San Diego,
CA; Welding Technology Corporation,
Farmington Hills, MI; Control
Technology Corporation, Hopkinton,
MA; Hiprom Technologies, Randburg,
SOUTH AFRICA; Prozess Technologie,
Inc., St. Louis, MO; ADTEC Plasma
Technology Co., Ltd., Hiroshima,
JAPAN; Shanghai MRDcom Co., Ltd.,
Shanghai, CHINA; and Mencom
Corporation, Oakwood, GA, have
withdrawn as parties to this venture.
No other changes have been made in
either the membership or planned
activity of the group research project.
Membership in this group research
project remains open, and ODVA
intends to file additional written
notifications disclosing all changes in
membership.
On June 21, 1995, ODVA filed its
original notification pursuant to Section
6(a) of the Act. The Department of
Justice published a notice in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on February 15, 1996 (61 FR 6039).
The last notification was filed with
the Department on February 3, 2017. A
notice was published in the Federal
Register pursuant to Section 6(b) of the
Act on March 6, 2017 (82 FR 12638).
Patricia A. Brink,
Director of Civil Enforcement, Antitrust
Division.
[FR Doc. 2017–10356 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23295-23297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10506]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2014-0001; MMAA104000]
Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, Cook Inlet Planning Area, Oil and
Gas Lease Sale 244
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is announcing the
availability of the Record of Decision for the Cook Inlet Planning
Area, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 (Lease
Sale 244). This Record of Decision identifies the Bureau's selected
alternative for holding Lease Sale 244, which is analyzed in the Alaska
OCS: Cook Inlet Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 in the Cook
Inlet, Alaska; Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) (OCS/EIS EA
BOEM 2016-069). The Record of Decision and associated information are
available on BOEM's Web site at https://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Record of
Decision, you may contact Sharon Randall, Chief, Environmental Analysis
Section, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Alaska OCS Region, 3801
Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, 907-334-5235.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Cook Inlet Lease Sale Area is located
offshore of the State of Alaska in the northern portion of the Federal
waters of Cook Inlet and is comprised of 224 OCS blocks, which
encompass an area of approximately 442,500 hectares or 1.09 million
acres. There are currently no active OCS oil and gas leases in the Cook
Inlet Planning Area. The unleased OCS blocks within Cook Inlet that
BOEM will offer for lease are listed in the document entitled, ``List
of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' which is included in the Final
Notice of Sale for Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244. The estimated resource
potential of the Lease Sale is 215 million barrels of oil and 571
billion cubic feet of natural gas.
Decision
After careful consideration, the Department of the Interior (DOI)
has selected the Preferred Alternative identified and analyzed in the
Lease Sale 244 FEIS. In selecting the Preferred Alternative for Lease
Sale 244, BOEM will offer for lease 224 unleased OCS blocks subject to
mitigation measures adopted to reduce potential impacts to sensitive
biological resources and other uses of the OCS, including, but not
limited to, the beluga whales and their critical habitat and feeding
areas, sea otters and their critical habitat, and the gillnet fishery.
The Preferred Alternative combines the Proposed Action (Alternative 1)
with several mitigations analyzed as alternatives in the Lease Sale 244
FEIS. In holding Lease Sale 244, DOI is implementing Alternative 3B
(Beluga Whale Critical Habitat Mitigation), Alternative 3C (Beluga
Whale Nearshore Feeding Areas Mitigation), Alternative 4B (Northern Sea
Otter Critical Habitat Mitigation) and Alternative 5 (Gillnet Fishery
Mitigation), as described in the FEIS.
[[Page 23296]]
Lease Stipulations
The following mitigation measures will be applied to Lease Sale 244
as lease stipulations. The full text of the lease stipulations that
will be included in leases issued as a result of the sale and the list
of blocks to which they apply are available in the Final Notice of Sale
Package for Lease Sale 244. The Final Notice of Sale Package is
available on BOEM's Web site at: https://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/.
Beluga Whale Critical Habitat Mitigation: This mitigation measure
applies to 10 OCS blocks that overlap with the ``Area 2'' beluga whale
critical habitat at the northern tip of the Lease Sale Area. Lessees
will be prohibited from conducting on-lease seismic surveys or
exploration drilling from November 1 through April 1 in the affected
blocks. The Protection of Beluga Whale Critical Habitat Stipulation
will be included in any leases issued for those blocks. Beluga Whale
Nearshore Feeding Areas Mitigation: This mitigation measure creates
temporal restrictions for on-lease seismic survey activities within the
Lease Sale Area. On all 224 OCS blocks, no on-lease marine seismic
surveys will be conducted between November 1 and April 1, when beluga
whales are most likely to be present and distributed across the Lease
Sale Area. The Protection of Beluga Whales Stipulation will be included
in any leases issued pursuant to Lease Sale 244.
Additionally, for blocks within 10 miles of major anadromous
streams, lessees are prohibited from conducting on-lease marine seismic
surveys between July 1 and September 30, when beluga whales are
migrating to and from their summer feeding areas. The Protection of
Beluga Whale Nearshore Feeding Areas Stipulation will be included in
any leases issued for these blocks.
Northern Sea Otter Critical Habitat Mitigation: This mitigation
measure prohibits lessees from discharging drilling fluids and cuttings
and conducting seafloor disturbing activities (including anchoring and
placement of bottom-founded structures) within 1,000 m of areas
designated as northern sea otter critical habitat. The Protection of
Northern Sea Otter Critical Habitat Stipulation will be included in any
leases issued on the 14 OCS blocks within 1,000 m of areas designated
as northern sea otter critical habitat.
Gillnet Fishery Mitigation: This mitigation measure applies to the
117 whole or partial OCS blocks located north of Anchor Point within
the Lease Sale Area to reduce the potential for conflicts with the
drift gillnet fishery. Lessees are prohibited from conducting on-lease
seismic surveys during the drift gillnetting season as designated by
the State of Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) (approximately
mid-June to mid-August). Lessees are required to notify the United Cook
Inlet Drift Association (UCIDA) of any temporary or permanent
structures planned during the drift gillnetting season. Lessees are
required to coordinate with the UCIDA to avoid conflicts. The
Protection of Gillnet Fishery Stipulation will be included in any
leases issued for these blocks.
The above measures would be implemented through lease stipulations,
which would apply to some or all of the OCS blocks offered for lease.
For each of the mitigation measures described above, lessees may
request a waiver or variance to these lease stipulations at the time of
filing an ancillary activities notice, an exploration plan, or a
development and production plan with BOEM's Alaska Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Plans. Such requests must identify alternative methods for
providing commensurate protection and analyze the effectiveness of
those methods.
While not analyzed as specific alternatives in the FEIS, DOI is
implementing four additional lease stipulations in the Cook Inlet Lease
Sale 244. These stipulations will be added as lease terms as applicable
to all or a subset of the OCS blocks being offered for lease, and will
therefore be enforceable as part of the lease.
Protection of Fisheries Stipulation: Exploration, development, and
production operations must be conducted in a manner that minimizes or
prevents conflicts with fishing communities and gear (including, but
not limited to subsistence, sport, and commercial fishing). The
lessee's Exploration Plan (EP) and Development and Production Plan
(DPP) must include a summary of fishing activities in the area of
proposed operations, an assessment of effects on fishing from the
proposed activity, and measures to be taken by the lessee/operator to
minimize or prevent conflicts. The assessment of effects and measures
to minimize or prevent conflicts must be described under the
environmental impact analysis, as required by 30 CFR 550.227 for EPs
and 30 CFR 550.261 for DPPs. BOEM may restrict lease-related activities
if the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Plans (RSLP) determines that
the lessee's/operator's proposed measures will not minimize or prevent
conflicts. The RSLP will work with directly affected parties, if
necessary, to ensure that potential conflicts are identified and
efforts are taken to minimize or prevent these conflicts.
Protection of Biological Resources Stipulation: If biological
populations or habitats that may require additional protection are
identified by BOEM in the leased area, the RSLP may require the lessee/
operator to conduct biological surveys to determine the extent and
composition of such biological populations or habitats. Based on any
surveys that the RSLP required of the lessee/operator, or based on
other information available to the RSLP regarding special biological
resources, the RSLP may require the lessee/operator to: relocate the
site of operations; establish to the satisfaction of the RSLP, on the
basis of a site-specific survey, either that such operations will not
have a significant adverse effect upon the resource identified or that
a special biological resource does not exist; operate only during those
periods of time, as established by the RSLP, that do not adversely
affect the biological resources; and/or modify operations to ensure
that significant biological populations or habitats deserving
protection are not adversely affected.
If populations or habitats of biological significance are
discovered during the conduct of any operations on the lease, the
lessee/operator must immediately report such findings to the RSLP and
make every reasonable effort to preserve the biological resource and
protect it from damage. The lessee/operator may take no action that
might affect the biological populations or habitats surveyed until the
RSLP provides written directions to the lessee/operator with regard to
permissible actions. The RSLP will provide a written response outlining
permissible actions within 30 days.
Orientation Program Stipulation: An EP or DPP submitted under 30
CFR 550.211 or 30 CFR 550.241, respectively, must include a proposed
orientation program for all personnel involved in the Proposed Action
(including personnel of the lessee's/operator's agents, contractors,
and subcontractors). The program must be designed in sufficient detail
to inform individuals working on the project of specific types of
environmental, safety, social, and cultural concerns that relate to the
area that could be affected by the operation or its personnel. The
program must address the importance of not disturbing archaeological
and biological resources and habitats, including endangered species,
fisheries, bird colonies, and marine mammals, and provide guidance on
how to avoid or
[[Page 23297]]
minimize disturbance. The program must address Safety and Environmental
Management System elements including, but not limited to: Stop Work
Authority; Ultimate Work Authority; Employee Participation Program
(Safety); and Reporting Unsafe Working Conditions. The program must be
designed to increase the sensitivity and understanding of personnel to
community values, customs, and way-of-life in areas where such
personnel will be operating. The orientation program also must include
information concerning avoidance of conflicts with subsistence, sport,
and commercial fishing activities.
Transportation of Hydrocarbons Stipulation: Pipelines may be
required for transporting produced hydrocarbons to shore if BOEM
determines that: (a) Pipeline rights-of-way can be determined and
obtained; (b) laying such pipelines is technologically feasible and
environmentally preferable; and (c) pipelines can be laid without net
social loss, taking into account any incremental costs of pipelines
over alternative methods of transportation and any incremental benefits
in the form of increased environmental protection or reduced multiple-
use conflicts.
After careful consideration, DOI has selected the Preferred
Alternative in the FEIS to hold Lease Sale 244, including the
mitigations described above. DOI's selection of the preferred
alternative meets the purpose and need for the Proposed Action, as
identified in the Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244 FEIS, and reflects an
informed decision balancing orderly resource development with
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments while also
ensuring that the public receives fair market value for these resources
and that free-market competition is maintained.
Authority: This Notice of Availability is published pursuant to
regulations (40 CFR part 1506) implementing the provisions of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Dated: May 18, 2017.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2017-10506 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
