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The Minerals
Management Service (MMS) announces the availability of six
Environmental Assessments (EA’s) and Findings of No Significant
Impact for processing applications for Suspensions of Production
or Operations for nine units and one non-unitized lease located
on the Pacific OCS. Each EA provides an analysis of activities
that would occur during the suspensions and includes three
alternatives: 1) Grant Suspension(s) (Proposed Action), 2) Deny
Suspension(s), and 3) No Action.
The six
available EA’s are:
1.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspensions of Production for
Aera Energy LLC’s Lease OCS-P 0409, Lion Rock Unit, Purisima Point Unit,
Point Sal Unit, and Santa Maria Unit, Central Santa Maria
Basin, Offshore Northern Santa Barbara County and Southern San
Luis Obispo County, California.
 (approx. 6.5 mb)
2.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for
Plains
Exploration and Production Company’s Bonito Unit, Southern
Santa Maria Basin, Offshore Santa Barbara County, California.
(approx. 2.2 mb)
3.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for
Arguello Inc.’s
Rocky Point Unit, Southern Santa Maria Basin, Offshore Santa
Barbara County, California.
(approx. 1.3 mb)
4.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for
Samedan Oil
Corporation’s Sword Unit, Southern Santa Maria Basin, Offshore
Santa Barbara County, California.
(approx. 1.5 mb)
5.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for
Samedan Oil
Corporation’s Gato Canyon Unit, Western Santa Barbara Channel,
Offshore Southern Santa Barbara County, California.
(approx. 3.2 mb)
6.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Operations for
Venoco Inc.’s
Cavern Point Unit, Eastern Santa Barbara Channel, Offshore
Ventura County, California.
(approx. 1.6 mb)
A decision
by MMS on the suspensions will not take place until after they
have been subject to the consistency review process set forth in
the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) an EA serves as an information document for government
decision makers and the public. Detailed information concerning
NEPA may be found at:
http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/nepanet.htm.
Frequently
asked questions about compliance with the NEPA are provided at:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/faqs/nepa/index.html.
The EA’s can
be accessed through MMS’s web site in a downloadable format.:
http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific
Members of
the public who cannot electronically access the documents can
request a Compact Disc or a hardcopy of the document(s) by
calling the MMS Public Information Office at 800.672.2627 or by
mailing a request to the following address.
Minerals
Management Service
Attn: Suspension EA’s
Office of Environmental Evaluation
770 Paseo Camarillo
Camarillo, CA 93010-6064
Questions
regarding the EA’s should be directed to Maurice Hill
(805.389.7815) and questions concerning the operators’
suspension requests should be directed to Joan Barminski
(805.389.7509). Written questions can be sent to Mr. Hill or Ms.
Barminski at the above address. |
