Bureau of Ocean Energy Management May 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

BOEM and BSEE are announcing the availability of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for well stimulation treatments (WSTs) on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This Notice of Availability (NOA) is published pursuant to implement the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended. The PEA evaluates potential environmental effects of WSTs on the Pacific OCS. These activities include: fracturing WSTs (diagnostic fracture injection tests; hydraulic fracturing (e.g., frac pacs); and acid fracturing) and non-fracturing WSTs (matrix acidizing and polymer/surfactant injection). BOEM and BSEE are also issuing a FONSI supported by the analysis in the PEA. The FONSI concludes that the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives, as set forth in the PEA, would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment; therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required.

On March 30, 2016, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) published in the Federal Register a final rule that updates and streamlines the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas and sulfur leasing regulations, which will become effective on May 31, 2016. BOEM wishes to clarify the language in one section of that rule. Therefore, BOEM is proposing to revise that section and give the public an opportunity to comment. The final rule was issued under Docket ID: MMS- 2007-OMM-0069, which has expired and is no longer accessible. Therefore, BOEM is utilizing a new Docket ID for this proposed rule (BOEM-2016-0031).

Pursuant to the joint bidding provisions of 30 CFR 556.511, the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is publishing a List of Restricted Joint Bidders. Each entity within one of the following groups is restricted from bidding with any entity in any of the other following groups at Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held during the bidding period May 1, 2016, through October 31, 2016. This List of Restricted Joint Bidders will cover the period May 1, 2016, through October 31, 2016, and replace the prior list published on November 2, 2015, which covered the period of November 1, 2015, through April 30, 2016. Group I BP America Production Company BP Exploration & Production Inc. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. Group II Chevron Corporation Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Chevron Midcontinent, L.P. Unocal Corporation Union Oil Company of California Pure Partners, L.P. Group III Eni Petroleum Co. Inc. Eni Petroleum US LLC Eni Oil US LLC Eni Marketing Inc. Eni BB Petroleum Inc. Eni US Operating Co. Inc. Eni BB Pipeline LLC Group IV Exxon Mobil Corporation ExxonMobil Exploration Company Group V Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras America Inc. Group VI Shell Oil Company Shell Offshore Inc. SWEPI LP Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc. SOI Finance Inc. Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. Group VII Statoil ASA Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC Statoil USA E&P Inc. Statoil Gulf Properties Inc. Group VIII Total E&P USA, Inc.