Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska, 17562-17563 [2018-08302]

Download as PDF 17562 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices legislation/generalized-systempreferences. Duty-Free Entry Summaries As of April 22, 2018, filers may resume filing GSP-eligible entry summaries without the payment of estimated duties. Dated: April 18, 2018. Brenda B. Smith, Executive Assistant Commissioner, Office of Trade. GSP Duty Refunds Formal/Informal Entries CBP will automatically liquidate or reliquidate formal and informal entries of GSP-eligible merchandise that were entered on or after January 1, 2018 through April 21, 2018, and filed electronically via the Automated Broker Interface (ABI) using Special Program Indicator (SPI) Code ‘‘A’’ as a prefix to the listed tariff number. Such entry filings will be treated as a conforming request for a liquidation or reliquidation pursuant to section 501(b)(2)(A) of the Act, and no further action by the filer is required to initiate a retroactive GSP duty refund. To avoid confusion, importers should not submit postimportation GSP claims on tariff items filed with the SPI ‘‘A’’ at entry summary. CBP expects to begin processing automatic refunds for these entries shortly after April 22, 2018. CBP will not automatically process GSP duty refunds for formal covered entries that were not filed electronically via ABI, nor for formal and informal covered entries that were filed electronically via ABI with payment of estimated duties, but without inclusion of the SPI Code ‘‘A’’ as a prefix to the listed tariff number. In both situations, requests for liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries must be made no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https:// www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/ trade-agreements/special-tradelegislation/generalized-systempreferences. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES Mail Entries For merchandise that was imported via the mail, addressees must request liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https://www.cbp.gov/trade/ priority-issues/trade-agreements/ special-trade-legislation/generalizedsystem-preferences. Baggage Declarations and Non-ABI Informals For non-ABI informal entries and baggage declarations, travelers/ importers must request liquidation or reliquidation of covered entries no later than September 19, 2018, pursuant to the procedures set forth in https:// www.cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/ trade-agreements/special-trade- VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Apr 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 [FR Doc. 2018–08411 Filed 4–18–18; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 9111–14–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [18X.LLAK930100.L16100000.PN0000] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent. AGENCY: In accordance with Section 20001 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (Tax Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (NEPA) as amended, and in a manner similar to the administration of lease sales under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office, Anchorage, Alaska, intends to prepare a Leasing Environmental Impact Statement (Leasing EIS) to implement an oil and gas leasing program within the area defined as the ‘‘Coastal Plain.’’ DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the Leasing EIS. Comments on issues, impacts and potential alternatives to be analyzed may be submitted in writing until June 19, 2018. The BLM will hold public scoping meetings in Anchorage, Arctic Village, Fairbanks, Kaktovik and ˙ Utqiagvik. The BLM may hold additional public scoping meetings in other communities if there is strong community interest. The dates, times, and locations of scoping meetings will be announced through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM website. SUMMARY: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Website: [insert full URL]. • Email: blm_ak_coastalplain_EIS@ blm.gov. • Mail: BLM, Alaska State Office, Attention—Coastal Plain EIS, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513–7599. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Hayes, 907–271–4354; email blm_ak_coastalplain_EIS@blm.gov; or ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 by mail: Bureau of Land Management, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513–7599. You may also request to be added to the mailing list for the EIS. Documents pertaining to the EIS may be examined at https:// www.blm.gov/alaska. Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to contact the above individual during normal business hours. FRS is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business hours. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The BLM is undertaking a Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing EIS to implement the leasing program pursuant to the Tax Act (Pub. L. 115–97, Dec. 22, 2017). The Leasing EIS will serve to inform BLM’s implementation of the Tax Act, including the requirement to hold not fewer than two lease sales area-wide. It may also inform post-lease activities, including seismic and drilling exploration, development, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal Plain. Specifically, the Leasing EIS will consider and analyze the potential environmental impacts of various leasing alternatives, including the areas to offer for sale, and the terms and conditions (i.e., lease stipulations and best management practices) to be applied to leases and associated oil and gas activities to properly balance oil and gas development with existing uses and conservation of surface resources, and to limit the footprint of production and support facilities on Federal lands to no more than 2,000 surface acres. The area comprising the Coastal Plain includes approximately 1.6 million acres within the approximately 19.3 million-acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine the scope of issues to be addressed and to identify the significant issues related to implementing an oil and gas leasing program within the Coastal Plain. Information received during scoping will influence the development of the proposed action and alternatives and guide the environmental analysis. The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to identify the management decisions best suited to local, regional, and national needs and concerns, as well as to develop a proposed action and alternatives consistent with the following criteria: • The EIS will consider all Federal lands and waters within the area defined by Congress as the Coastal Plain; E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 77 / Friday, April 20, 2018 / Notices • The EIS will address oil and gas leasing and will use scoping to identify issues, impacts and potential alternatives to be addressed; • Under the Tax Act, not fewer than two lease sales, each to include not fewer than 400,000 acres area-wide of the areas with the highest potential of hydrocarbons, must occur by December 2024; • The BLM will consider subsistence resources and users, as well as potential actions to minimize adverse impacts to subsistence in accordance with section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA); and • The EIS will appropriately consider the surface management of the Coastal Plain. Future on-the-ground actions requiring subsequent BLM approval, including proposed seismic and exploration plans or development proposals, would require subsequent NEPA analysis based on specific and detailed information about where and what kind of activity is proposed. Additional site-specific terms and conditions may be required by the Authorized Officer prior to authorizing any oil and gas activity. Upon completion of a Record of Decision, the BLM intends to conduct lease sales in accordance with the Tax Act. Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7. Karen E. Mouritsen, Acting State Director, Alaska. [FR Doc. 2018–08302 Filed 4–19–18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–JA–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management [18X LLWO600000.L18200000.XP0000] National Call for Nominations for Resource and Monument Advisory Councils Bureau of Land Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of call for nominations. AGENCY: The purpose of this notice is to request public nominations for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Resource Advisory Councils (RAC) that have members whose terms are scheduled to expire. RACs provide advice and recommendations to the BLM on land use planning and management of the National System of Public Lands within their geographic areas. DATES: All nominations must be received no later than June 4, 2018. sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:44 Apr 19, 2018 Jkt 244001 Nominations and completed applications for RACs should be sent to the appropriate BLM offices listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Twinkle Thompson, BLM Communications, 1849 C Street NW, Room 5645, Washington, DC 20240, telephone: 202–208–7301; email: pseitts@blm.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of lands administered by the BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1739) directs the Secretary to establish 10- to 15-member citizenbased advisory councils that are consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). As required by FACA, RAC membership must be balanced and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands. The rules governing RACs are found at 43 CFR subpart 1784 and include the following three membership categories: Category One—Holders of Federal grazing permits and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, the timber industry, transportation or rights-ofway, developed outdoor recreation, offhighway vehicle use, and commercial recreation; Category Two—Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historic organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations; and Category Three—Representatives of State, county, or local elected office, employees of a State agency responsible for management of natural resources, representatives of Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the council is organized, Alaska Natives as appropriate to the state of Alaska, representatives of academia who are employed in natural sciences, and the public-at-large. Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nominees must be residents of the State in which the RAC has jurisdiction. The BLM will evaluate nominees based on their education, training, experience, and knowledge of the geographic area of the RAC. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decision-making. The following must accompany all nominations: —Letters of reference from represented interests or organizations; ADDRESSES: PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 17563 —A completed Resource Advisory Council application; and —Any other information that addresses the nominee’s qualifications. Simultaneous with this notice, BLM State Offices will issue press releases providing additional information for submitting nominations, with specifics about the number and categories of member positions available for each RAC in the state. Before including any address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in the application, nominees should be aware this information may be made publicly available at any time. While the nominee can ask to withhold the personal identifying information from public review, BLM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so. Nominations and completed applications for RACs should be sent to the appropriate BLM offices listed below: Alaska Alaska RAC Lesli J. Ellis-Wouters, BLM Alaska State Office, 222 West 7th Street, Anchorage, AK 99513, 907–271–4418. Arizona Arizona RAC Amber Cargile, BLM Arizona State Office, One North Central Avenue, Suite 800, Phoenix, AZ 85004, 602–417–9214. California California Desert District Advisory Council Steve Razo, BLM California Desert District, 22835 Calle San Juan De Los Lagos, Moreno Valley, CA 92553, 951– 697–5217. Carrizo Plain National Monument Advisory Committee Serena Baker, BLM Central California District Office, 5152 Hillsdale Circle, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762, 916–941–3146. Central California RAC Serena Baker, BLM Central California District Office, 5152 Hillsdale Circle, El Dorado Hills, CA 95762, 916–941–3146. Northern California RAC Jeff Fontana, BLM Northern California District Office, 2550 Riverside Drive Susanville, CA 96130, 530–252–5332. Colorado Rocky Mountain RAC Amber Iannella, BLM Rocky Mountain District Office, 3028 East ˜ Main Street, Canon City, CO 81212, 719–269–8553. E:\FR\FM\20APN1.SGM 20APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 77 (Friday, April 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17562-17563]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-08302]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Land Management

[18X.LLAK930100.L16100000.PN0000]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Coastal Plain Oil and Gas Leasing Program, Alaska

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent.

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

SUMMARY: In accordance with Section 20001 of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act 
of 2017 (Tax Act), and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
(NEPA) as amended, and in a manner similar to the administration of 
lease sales under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976, 
as amended, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Alaska State Office, 
Anchorage, Alaska, intends to prepare a Leasing Environmental Impact 
Statement (Leasing EIS) to implement an oil and gas leasing program 
within the area defined as the ``Coastal Plain.''

DATES: This Notice initiates the public scoping process for the Leasing 
EIS. Comments on issues, impacts and potential alternatives to be 
analyzed may be submitted in writing until June 19, 2018. The BLM will 
hold public scoping meetings in Anchorage, Arctic Village, Fairbanks, 
Kaktovik and Utqia[gdot]vik. The BLM may hold additional public scoping 
meetings in other communities if there is strong community interest. 
The dates, times, and locations of scoping meetings will be announced 
through local news media, newspapers, and the BLM website.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Website: [insert full URL].
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: BLM, Alaska State Office, Attention--Coastal Plain 
EIS, 222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, AK 99513-7599.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicole Hayes, 907-271-4354; email 
[email protected]; or by mail: Bureau of Land Management, 
222 West 7th Avenue, #13, Anchorage, Alaska 99513-7599. You may also 
request to be added to the mailing list for the EIS. Documents 
pertaining to the EIS may be examined at https://www.blm.gov/alaska.
    Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may 
call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to contact the 
above individual during normal business hours. FRS is available 24 
hours a day, 7 days a week, to leave a message or question with the 
above individual. You will receive a reply during normal business 
hours.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The BLM is undertaking a Coastal Plain Oil 
and Gas Leasing EIS to implement the leasing program pursuant to the 
Tax Act (Pub. L. 115-97, Dec. 22, 2017). The Leasing EIS will serve to 
inform BLM's implementation of the Tax Act, including the requirement 
to hold not fewer than two lease sales area-wide. It may also inform 
post-lease activities, including seismic and drilling exploration, 
development, and transportation of oil and gas in and from the Coastal 
Plain. Specifically, the Leasing EIS will consider and analyze the 
potential environmental impacts of various leasing alternatives, 
including the areas to offer for sale, and the terms and conditions 
(i.e., lease stipulations and best management practices) to be applied 
to leases and associated oil and gas activities to properly balance oil 
and gas development with existing uses and conservation of surface 
resources, and to limit the footprint of production and support 
facilities on Federal lands to no more than 2,000 surface acres. The 
area comprising the Coastal Plain includes approximately 1.6 million 
acres within the approximately 19.3 million-acre Arctic National 
Wildlife Refuge.
    The purpose of the public scoping process is to determine the scope 
of issues to be addressed and to identify the significant issues 
related to implementing an oil and gas leasing program within the 
Coastal Plain. Information received during scoping will influence the 
development of the proposed action and alternatives and guide the 
environmental analysis.
    The BLM will work collaboratively with interested parties to 
identify the management decisions best suited to local, regional, and 
national needs and concerns, as well as to develop a proposed action 
and alternatives consistent with the following criteria:
     The EIS will consider all Federal lands and waters within 
the area defined by Congress as the Coastal Plain;

[[Page 17563]]

     The EIS will address oil and gas leasing and will use 
scoping to identify issues, impacts and potential alternatives to be 
addressed;
     Under the Tax Act, not fewer than two lease sales, each to 
include not fewer than 400,000 acres area-wide of the areas with the 
highest potential of hydrocarbons, must occur by December 2024;
     The BLM will consider subsistence resources and users, as 
well as potential actions to minimize adverse impacts to subsistence in 
accordance with section 810 of the Alaska National Interest Lands 
Conservation Act (ANILCA); and
     The EIS will appropriately consider the surface management 
of the Coastal Plain.
    Future on-the-ground actions requiring subsequent BLM approval, 
including proposed seismic and exploration plans or development 
proposals, would require subsequent NEPA analysis based on specific and 
detailed information about where and what kind of activity is proposed. 
Additional site-specific terms and conditions may be required by the 
Authorized Officer prior to authorizing any oil and gas activity.
    Upon completion of a Record of Decision, the BLM intends to conduct 
lease sales in accordance with the Tax Act.

    Authority: 40 CFR 1501.7.

Karen E. Mouritsen,
Acting State Director, Alaska.
[FR Doc. 2018-08302 Filed 4-19-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-JA-P

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