Bureau of Ocean Energy Management March 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This Notice of Availability (NOA) is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR part 1503 and 43 CFR part 46) implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)). BOEM has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential environmental effects of multiple Geological and Geophysical (G&G) activities in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas of the OCS. These activities include, but are not limited to, seismic surveys, sidescan-sonar surveys, electromagnetic surveys, geological and geochemical sampling, and remote sensing. The Draft PEIS considers G&G activities for the three program areas managed by BOEM: (1) Oil and gas exploration and development; (2) renewable energy; and (3) marine minerals. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the PEIS was published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009, and scoping comments were received during a comment period that closed on March 23, 2009. Scoping was reopened by publication of a Federal Register Notice on April 2, 2010, that announced a 45-day scoping period and meeting locations in April 2010. The comment period closed on May 17, 2010.

The Proposed OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Proposed Program) identifies Sale 244 as a potential special interest sale for the Cook Inlet Planning Area in Alaska. While industry interest in the Federal OCS offshore area has been limited in the past decade, recently there has been renewed interest in exploring for and developing additional hydrocarbon resources in the south-central region of the state, as evidenced by acreage leased in state sales and announced discoveries of natural gas on state-managed lands, both offshore and onshore. This RFI seeks to determine the level of industry interest in a possible Sale 244 in 2013 in the Cook Inlet Planning Area, whether focused on a few blocks or prospects, or on a larger portion of the program area. BOEM is also seeking comments from tribal, local, and state governments, Federal agencies, and the general public to evaluate whether the agency should proceed with further evaluations pursuant to the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), and all other applicable laws and regulations. BOEM will consider the level of industry interest and other issues and concerns reflected in comments in its determination on how to proceed. BOEM will then decide on whether to proceed with further evaluation of this special interest sale. This RFI does not indicate a decision to include Sale 244 in the Proposed Final OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Final Program) or to lease in the Cook Inlet Planning Area.