Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 251, 32903-32905 [2018-15181]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 136 / Monday, July 16, 2018 / Notices
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bid(s) to be withdrawn.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. 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 are
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 applied to the whole (rounded up)
acreage. 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 the recommended formats. If
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
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
X. The Lease Sale
Bid Opening and Reading
Sealed bids received in response to
the Final NOS will be opened at the
place, date, and hour specified under
the DATES and ADDRESSES sections of the
Final NOS. The venue will not be open
to the public. Instead, the bid opening
will be available for the public to view
on BOEM’s website at www.boem.gov
via live-streaming. 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
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:31 Jul 13, 2018
Jkt 244001
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
amount may be obtained on the BOEM
website at https://www.boem.gov/Sale251 under the heading ‘‘Notification of
EFT 1/5 Bonus Liability’’ after 1:00 p.m.
on the day of the sale. All payments
must be deposited electronically into an
interest-bearing account in the U.S.
Treasury by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (10
a.m. Central 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 website identified above.
BOEM requires bidders to use EFT
procedures for payment of one-fifth
bonus bid deposits for GOM Regionwide Sale 251 following the detailed
instructions contained on the ONRR
Payment Information web page at https://
www.onrr.gov/ReportPay/
Payments.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
will 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
GOM Region-Wide Sale 251
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
PO 00000
Frm 00072
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
32903
BOEM’s bid adequacy procedures,
which are available at https://
www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-EnergyProgram/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/
Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Bid-AdequacyProcedures.aspx.
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 218.155 and 556.520(a); and
(3) Provide to BOEM the bonding
required by 30 CFR part 556, subpart I.
ONRR requests that bidders use only
one transaction to pay the balance of the
bonus bid amount and the first year’s
rental. When ONRR receives such
payment, the bidder awarded the lease
may not request a refund of the balance
bonus bid amount or first year’s rental
payment.
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 the 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 website at https://
www.boem.gov, for information
regarding any changes.
Dated: July 11, 2018.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2018–15180 Filed 7–13–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM–2018–0035]
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 251
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a
Record of Decision.
AGENCY:
E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM
16JYN1
32904
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 136 / Monday, July 16, 2018 / Notices
The Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) is announcing the
availability of a Record of Decision for
proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM)
regionwide oil and gas Lease Sale 251.
This Record of Decision identifies
BOEM’s selected alternative for
proposed Lease Sale 251, which is
analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico Outer
Continental Shelf Lease Sale: Final
Supplemental Environmental Impact
Statement 2018 (2018 GOM
Supplemental EIS).
ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision is
available on BOEM’s website at https://
www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
more information on the Record of
Decision, you may contact Mr. Greg
Kozlowski, Deputy Regional Supervisor,
Office of Environment, by telephone at
504–736–2512 or by email at
greg.kozlowski@boem.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the
2018 GOM Supplemental EIS, BOEM
evaluated five alternatives in regard to
proposed Lease Sale 251. These
alternatives are summarized below:
Alternative A—Regionwide OCS Lease
Sale: This is BOEM’s preferred
alternative. This alternative would
allow for a proposed GOM regionwide
lease sale encompassing all three
planning areas: The Western Planning
Area (WPA); the Central Planning Area
(CPA); and a small portion of the
Eastern Planning Area (EPA) not under
Congressional moratorium. Under this
alternative, BOEM would offer for lease
all available unleased blocks within the
proposed regionwide lease sale area for
oil and gas operations with the
following exceptions: Whole and
portions of blocks deferred by the Gulf
of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006;
blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the
United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone
in the area known as the northern
portion of the Eastern Gap; whole and
partial blocks within the current
boundary of the Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary; and blocks
where the lease status is currently under
appeal. The unavailable blocks are
listed in Section I of the Final Notice of
Sale for proposed Lease Sale 251 and at
www.boem.gov/Sale-251. The proposed
regionwide lease sale area encompasses
about 91.93 million acres (ac). As of
June 2018, approximately 78.2 million
ac of the proposed regionwide lease sale
area are available for lease. As described
in the Final 2018 GOM Supplemental
EIS, the estimated amounts of resources
projected to be leased, discovered,
developed, and produced as a result of
the proposed regionwide lease sale are
between 0.211 and 1.118 billion barrels
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:31 Jul 13, 2018
Jkt 244001
of oil (BBO) and 0.547 and 4.424 trillion
cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas.
Alternative B—Regionwide OCS Lease
Sale Excluding Available Unleased
Blocks in the WPA Portion of the
Proposed Lease Sale Area: This
alternative would offer for lease all
available unleased blocks within the
CPA and EPA portions of the proposed
lease sale area for oil and gas operations,
with the following exceptions: Whole
and portions of blocks deferred by the
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of
2006; and blocks that are adjacent to or
beyond the United States’ Exclusive
Economic Zone in the area known as the
northern portion of the Eastern Gap. The
proposed CPA/EPA lease sale area
encompasses about 63.35 million ac. As
of February 2018, approximately 51.2
million ac of the proposed CPA/EPA
lease sale area are available for lease.
The estimated amounts of resources
projected to be leased, discovered,
developed, and produced as a result of
the proposed lease sale under
Alternative B are 0.185–0.970 BBO and
0.441–3.672 Tcf of gas.
Alternative C—Regionwide OCS Lease
Sale Excluding Available Unleased
Blocks in the CPA and EPA Portions of
the Proposed Lease Sale Area: This
alternative would offer for lease all
available unleased blocks within the
WPA portion of the proposed lease sale
area for oil and gas operations, with the
following exception: Whole and partial
blocks within the current boundary of
the Flower Garden Banks National
Marine Sanctuary. The proposed WPA
lease sale area encompasses about 28.58
million ac. As of February 2018,
approximately 26.2 million ac of the
proposed WPA lease sale area are
available for lease. The estimated
amounts of resources projected to be
leased, discovered, developed, and
produced as a result of the proposed
lease sale under Alternative C are
0.026–0.148 BBO and 0.106–0.752 Tcf
of gas.
Alternative D—Alternative A, B, or C,
with the Option to Exclude Available
Unleased Blocks Subject to the
Topographic Features, Live Bottom
(Pinnacle Trend), and/or Blocks South
of Baldwin County, Alabama,
Stipulations: This alternative could be
combined with any of the Action
alternatives above (i.e., Alternative A, B,
or C) and would allow the flexibility to
offer leases under any alternative with
additional exclusions. Under
Alternative D, the decisionmaker could
exclude from leasing any available
unleased blocks subject to any one and/
or a combination of the following
stipulations: Topographic Features
Stipulation; Live Bottom Stipulation;
PO 00000
Frm 00073
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and Blocks South of Baldwin County,
Alabama, Stipulation (not applicable to
Alternative C). This alternative
considered blocks subject to these
stipulations because these areas have
been emphasized in scoping, can be
geographically defined, and adequate
information exists regarding their
ecological importance and sensitivity to
OCS oil- and gas-related activities.
A total of 207 blocks within the CPA
and 160 blocks in the WPA are affected
by the Topographic Features
Stipulation. There are currently no
identified topographic features
protected under this stipulation in the
EPA. The Live Bottom Stipulation
covers the pinnacle trend area of the
CPA, affecting a total of 74 blocks.
Under Alternative D, the number of
blocks that would become unavailable
for lease represents only a small
percentage of the total number of blocks
to be offered under Alternative A, B, or
C (<4%, even if blocks subject to all
three stipulations were excluded).
Therefore, Alternative D could reduce
offshore infrastructure and activities in
the pinnacle trend area, but Alternative
D also shifts the location of offshore
infrastructure and activities farther from
these sensitive zones and would not
lead to a reduction in overall offshore
infrastructure and activities.
Alternative E—No Action: This
alternative is not holding proposed
regionwide Lease Sale 251 and is
identified as the environmentally
preferred alternative.
Lease Stipulations—The 2018 GOM
Supplemental EIS describes all lease
stipulations, which are included in the
Final Notice of Sale Package. In the
Record of Decision for the 2017–2022
Five-Year Program, the Secretary of the
Interior required the protection of
biologically sensitive underwater
features in all Gulf of Mexico oil and gas
lease sales as programmatic mitigation;
therefore, the application of the
Topographic Features Stipulation and
Live Bottom Stipulation are being
adopted and applied for applicable
designated lease blocks in Lease Sale
251.
The additional eight lease stipulations
for proposed regionwide Lease Sale 251
are the Military Areas Stipulation; the
Evacuation Stipulation; the
Coordination Stipulation; the Blocks
South of Baldwin County, Alabama,
Stipulation; the Protected Species
Stipulation; the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea
Royalty Payment Stipulation; the Below
Seabed Operations Stipulation; and the
Stipulation on the Agreement between
the United States of America and the
United Mexican States Concerning
E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM
16JYN1
32905
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 136 / Monday, July 16, 2018 / Notices
Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs
in the Gulf of Mexico. These eight
stipulations will be added as lease terms
where applicable and will be
enforceable as part of the lease.
Appendix B of the Gulf of Mexico OCS
Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2017–2022;
Gulf of Mexico Lease Sales 249, 250,
251, 252, 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, and
261; Final Multisale Environmental
Impact Statement provides a list and
description of standard post-lease
conditions of approval that may be
required by BOEM or the Bureau of
Safety and Environmental Enforcement
as a result of plan and permit review
processes for the Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region.
After careful consideration, BOEM
has selected the preferred alternative
(Alternative A) in the 2018 GOM
Supplemental EIS for proposed Lease
Sale 251. BOEM’s selection of the
preferred alternative meets the purpose
and need for the proposed action, as
identified in the 2018 GOM
Supplemental EIS, and provides for
orderly resource development with
protection of the human, marine, and
coastal environments while also
ensuring that the public receives an
equitable return for these resources and
that free-market competition is
maintained.
Authority: This Notice of Availability of a
Record of Decision is published pursuant to
the regulations (40 CFR part 1505)
implementing the provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Dated: July 11, 2018.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2018–15181 Filed 7–13–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
INTERNATIONAL TRADE
COMMISSION
[Investigation No. 731–TA–1374–1376
(Final)]
Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts
From Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Determination
On the basis of the record 1 developed
in the subject investigations, the United
States International Trade Commission
(‘‘Commission’’) determines, pursuant
to the Tariff Act of 1930 (‘‘the Act’’),
that an industry in the United States is
materially injured by reason of imports
1 The
record is defined in sec. 207.2(f) of the
Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (19
CFR 207.2(f)).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:31 Jul 13, 2018
Jkt 244001
of citric acid and certain citrate salts
from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand
that have been found by the U.S.
Department of Commerce (‘‘Commerce’’)
to be sold in the United States at less
than fair value (‘‘LTFV’’).2 3 4
Background
2 Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts from
Thailand: Affirmative Final Determination of Sales
at Less Than Fair Value and Final Affirmative
Determination of Critical Circumstances in Part, 82
FR 25998, June 5, 2018; Citric Acid and Certain
Citrate Salts from Belgium: Affirmative Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value, 82
FR 26001, June 5, 2018; Citric Acid and Certain
Citrate Salts from Colombia: Affirmative Final
Determination of Sales at Less Than Fair Value and
Final Negative Determination of Critical
Circumstances, 82 FR 26002, June 5, 2018.
3 The Commission also finds that imports subject
to Commerce’s affirmative critical circumstances
determination are not likely to undermine seriously
the remedial effect of the antidumping duty order
on Thailand.
4 Commissioner Jason E. Kearns did not
participate in these investigations.
Frm 00074
By order of the Commission.
Issued: July 10, 2018.
Lisa Barton,
Secretary to the Commission.
[FR Doc. 2018–15067 Filed 7–13–18; 8:45 am]
The Commission, pursuant to section
735(b) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)),
instituted these investigations effective
June 2, 2017, following receipt of a
petition filed with the Commission and
Commerce by Archer Daniels Midland
Company, Decatur, Illinois; Cargill,
Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minnesota;
and Tate & Lyle Ingredients Americas,
LLC, Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The
Commission scheduled the final phase
of the investigations following
notification of a preliminary
determination by Commerce that
imports of citric acid and certain citrate
salts from Belgium, Colombia, and
Thailand were being sold at LTFV
within the meaning of section 733(b) of
the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673b(b)). Notice of
the scheduling of the final phase of the
Commission’s investigation and of a
public hearing to be held in connection
therewith was given by posting copies
of the notice in the Office of the
Secretary, U.S. International Trade
Commission, Washington, DC, and by
publishing the notice in the Federal
Register of February 2, 2018 (83 FR
4922). The hearing was held in
Washington, DC, on May 14, 2018, and
all persons who requested the
opportunity were permitted to appear in
person or by counsel.
The Commission made these
determinations pursuant to section
735(b) of the Act (19 U.S.C. 1673d(b)).
It completed and filed its
determinations in these investigations
on July 10, 2018. The views of the
Commission are contained in USITC
Publication 4799 (July 2018), entitled
Citric Acid and Certain Citrate Salts
from Belgium, Colombia, and Thailand:
PO 00000
Investigation Nos. 731–TA–1374–1376
(Final).
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
BILLING CODE 7020–02–P
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Drug Enforcement Administration
[Docket No. DEA–392]
Bulk Manufacturer of Controlled
Substances Application: Siegfried
USA, LLC
ACTION:
Notice of application.
Registered bulk manufacturers of
the affected basic classes, and
applicants therefore, may file written
comments on or objections to the
issuance of the proposed registration on
or before September 14, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Written comments should
be sent to: Drug Enforcement
Administration, Attention: DEA Federal
Register Representative/DRW, 8701
Morrissette Drive, Springfield, Virginia
22152.
DATES:
The
Attorney General has delegated his
authority under the Controlled
Substances Act to the Administrator of
the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA), 28 CFR 0.100(b). Authority to
exercise all necessary functions with
respect to the promulgation and
implementation of 21 CFR part 1301,
incident to the registration of
manufacturers, distributors, dispensers,
importers, and exporters of controlled
substances (other than final orders in
connection with suspension, denial, or
revocation of registration) has been
redelegated to the Assistant
Administrator of the DEA Diversion
Control Division (‘‘Assistant
Administrator’’) pursuant to section 7 of
28 CFR part 0, appendix to subpart R.
In accordance with 21 CFR
1301.33(a), this is notice that on
November 2, 2017, Siegfried USA, LLC,
33 Industrial Park Rd., Pennsville, NJ
08070 applied to be registered as a bulk
manufacturer for the basic classes of
controlled substances:
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Controlled
substance
Gamma Hydroxybutyric Acid.
Dihydromorphine ....
Hydromorphinol ......
E:\FR\FM\16JYN1.SGM
16JYN1
Drug code
Schedule
2010
I
9145
9301
I
I
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 136 (Monday, July 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32903-32905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15181]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2018-0035]
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Oil and Gas Lease
Sale 251
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[[Page 32904]]
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing the
availability of a Record of Decision for proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM)
regionwide oil and gas Lease Sale 251. This Record of Decision
identifies BOEM's selected alternative for proposed Lease Sale 251,
which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf Lease
Sale: Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 2018 (2018 GOM
Supplemental EIS).
ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision is available on BOEM's website at
https://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Record of
Decision, you may contact Mr. Greg Kozlowski, Deputy Regional
Supervisor, Office of Environment, by telephone at 504-736-2512 or by
email at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the 2018 GOM Supplemental EIS, BOEM
evaluated five alternatives in regard to proposed Lease Sale 251. These
alternatives are summarized below:
Alternative A--Regionwide OCS Lease Sale: This is BOEM's preferred
alternative. This alternative would allow for a proposed GOM regionwide
lease sale encompassing all three planning areas: The Western Planning
Area (WPA); the Central Planning Area (CPA); and a small portion of the
Eastern Planning Area (EPA) not under Congressional moratorium. Under
this alternative, BOEM would offer for lease all available unleased
blocks within the proposed regionwide lease sale area for oil and gas
operations with the following exceptions: Whole and portions of blocks
deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006; blocks that
are adjacent to or beyond the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone in
the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap; whole and
partial blocks within the current boundary of the Flower Garden Banks
National Marine Sanctuary; and blocks where the lease status is
currently under appeal. The unavailable blocks are listed in Section I
of the Final Notice of Sale for proposed Lease Sale 251 and at
www.boem.gov/Sale-251. The proposed regionwide lease sale area
encompasses about 91.93 million acres (ac). As of June 2018,
approximately 78.2 million ac of the proposed regionwide lease sale
area are available for lease. As described in the Final 2018 GOM
Supplemental EIS, the estimated amounts of resources projected to be
leased, discovered, developed, and produced as a result of the proposed
regionwide lease sale are between 0.211 and 1.118 billion barrels of
oil (BBO) and 0.547 and 4.424 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas.
Alternative B--Regionwide OCS Lease Sale Excluding Available
Unleased Blocks in the WPA Portion of the Proposed Lease Sale Area:
This alternative would offer for lease all available unleased blocks
within the CPA and EPA portions of the proposed lease sale area for oil
and gas operations, with the following exceptions: Whole and portions
of blocks deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006;
and blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the United States' Exclusive
Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern
Gap. The proposed CPA/EPA lease sale area encompasses about 63.35
million ac. As of February 2018, approximately 51.2 million ac of the
proposed CPA/EPA lease sale area are available for lease. The estimated
amounts of resources projected to be leased, discovered, developed, and
produced as a result of the proposed lease sale under Alternative B are
0.185-0.970 BBO and 0.441-3.672 Tcf of gas.
Alternative C--Regionwide OCS Lease Sale Excluding Available
Unleased Blocks in the CPA and EPA Portions of the Proposed Lease Sale
Area: This alternative would offer for lease all available unleased
blocks within the WPA portion of the proposed lease sale area for oil
and gas operations, with the following exception: Whole and partial
blocks within the current boundary of the Flower Garden Banks National
Marine Sanctuary. The proposed WPA lease sale area encompasses about
28.58 million ac. As of February 2018, approximately 26.2 million ac of
the proposed WPA lease sale area are available for lease. The estimated
amounts of resources projected to be leased, discovered, developed, and
produced as a result of the proposed lease sale under Alternative C are
0.026-0.148 BBO and 0.106-0.752 Tcf of gas.
Alternative D--Alternative A, B, or C, with the Option to Exclude
Available Unleased Blocks Subject to the Topographic Features, Live
Bottom (Pinnacle Trend), and/or Blocks South of Baldwin County,
Alabama, Stipulations: This alternative could be combined with any of
the Action alternatives above (i.e., Alternative A, B, or C) and would
allow the flexibility to offer leases under any alternative with
additional exclusions. Under Alternative D, the decisionmaker could
exclude from leasing any available unleased blocks subject to any one
and/or a combination of the following stipulations: Topographic
Features Stipulation; Live Bottom Stipulation; and Blocks South of
Baldwin County, Alabama, Stipulation (not applicable to Alternative C).
This alternative considered blocks subject to these stipulations
because these areas have been emphasized in scoping, can be
geographically defined, and adequate information exists regarding their
ecological importance and sensitivity to OCS oil- and gas-related
activities.
A total of 207 blocks within the CPA and 160 blocks in the WPA are
affected by the Topographic Features Stipulation. There are currently
no identified topographic features protected under this stipulation in
the EPA. The Live Bottom Stipulation covers the pinnacle trend area of
the CPA, affecting a total of 74 blocks. Under Alternative D, the
number of blocks that would become unavailable for lease represents
only a small percentage of the total number of blocks to be offered
under Alternative A, B, or C (<4%, even if blocks subject to all three
stipulations were excluded). Therefore, Alternative D could reduce
offshore infrastructure and activities in the pinnacle trend area, but
Alternative D also shifts the location of offshore infrastructure and
activities farther from these sensitive zones and would not lead to a
reduction in overall offshore infrastructure and activities.
Alternative E--No Action: This alternative is not holding proposed
regionwide Lease Sale 251 and is identified as the environmentally
preferred alternative.
Lease Stipulations--The 2018 GOM Supplemental EIS describes all
lease stipulations, which are included in the Final Notice of Sale
Package. In the Record of Decision for the 2017-2022 Five-Year Program,
the Secretary of the Interior required the protection of biologically
sensitive underwater features in all Gulf of Mexico oil and gas lease
sales as programmatic mitigation; therefore, the application of the
Topographic Features Stipulation and Live Bottom Stipulation are being
adopted and applied for applicable designated lease blocks in Lease
Sale 251.
The additional eight lease stipulations for proposed regionwide
Lease Sale 251 are the Military Areas Stipulation; the Evacuation
Stipulation; the Coordination Stipulation; the Blocks South of Baldwin
County, Alabama, Stipulation; the Protected Species Stipulation; the
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Royalty Payment
Stipulation; the Below Seabed Operations Stipulation; and the
Stipulation on the Agreement between the United States of America and
the United Mexican States Concerning
[[Page 32905]]
Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. These eight
stipulations will be added as lease terms where applicable and will be
enforceable as part of the lease. Appendix B of the Gulf of Mexico OCS
Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2017-2022; Gulf of Mexico Lease Sales 249,
250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, and 261; Final Multisale
Environmental Impact Statement provides a list and description of
standard post-lease conditions of approval that may be required by BOEM
or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as a result of
plan and permit review processes for the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the preferred
alternative (Alternative A) in the 2018 GOM Supplemental EIS for
proposed Lease Sale 251. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative
meets the purpose and need for the proposed action, as identified in
the 2018 GOM Supplemental EIS, and provides for orderly resource
development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal
environments while also ensuring that the public receives an equitable
return for these resources and that free-market competition is
maintained.
Authority: This Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision
is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR part 1505)
implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act
of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
Dated: July 11, 2018.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-15181 Filed 7-13-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
