[Federal Register: June 29, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 35719-35720]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr29jn07-73]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM),
Proposed Oil and Gas Lease Sale 224, March 2008
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement and Public Hearings.
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SUMMARY: The MMS has prepared a draft supplemental environmental impact
statement (SEIS) on a tentatively scheduled 2008 oil and gas leasing
proposal (Sale 224) in the Eastern GOM, off the States of Louisiana,
Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida. As mandated in the recently enacted
Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) of 2006 (Pub. L. 109-432,
December 20, 2006), the MMS shall offer a portion of the ``181 Area,''
located in the Eastern Planning Area, more than 125 miles from Florida
for oil and gas leasing. The proposed action involves 130 tracts.
Authority: The NOA and notice of public hearings is published
pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1503) under the authority of the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); the Environmental Quality
Improvement Act of 1970, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4371 et seq.);
Section 309 of the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 7609); and
Executive Order 11514 (March 5, 1970, as amended by Executive Order
11991 (May 24, 1977).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The recently enacted GOMESA of 2006 (Pub. L.
109-432, December 20, 2006) mandated MMS to offer a portion of the
``181 Area'' located in the newly defined Eastern Planning Area, more
than 125 miles from Florida and west of the Military Mission Line (86
degrees, 41 minutes 30 seconds West longitude) for oil and gas leasing
``as soon as practicable, but not later than 1 year, after the date of
enactment of this Act.'' The Act mandates offering this area
``notwithstanding the omission of the 181 Area * * * from any OCS
leasing program under section 18 of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands
Act (43 U.S.C. 1344).'' However, this action is not exempted from other
legal requirements, such as NEPA or the Coastal Zone Management Act
(CZMA). The MMS has prepared an SEIS to the original Sale 181 EIS
published in 2001 (which encompassed the lands now being considered for
Sale 224) in order to address these requirements. To meet the 1-year
requirements of GOMESA, this sale should be held no later than December
2007. However, to comply fully with all pertinent laws, rules, and
[[Page 35720]]
regulations, and to allow the public an opportunity to participate in
the NEPA process, the earliest MMS would be able to offer this area for
leasing would be approximately March 2008. Postponing the sale to be
held as ``soon as practicable'' while complying with all applicable
laws is in the best interests of all parties, including the American
public as owners of these resources. It also is more economical and
efficient for the Government and industry to hold this sale in
conjunction with Central GOM Sale 206 at the same time and location.
The area to be offered in Sale 224 is small, approximately 130 tracts,
whereas recent Central Gulf sales have offered over 4,000 tracts. The
logistics of holding a sale are intensive and relatively costly;
therefore, it makes sense to hold the smaller sale in conjunction with
a larger sale. Additionally, holding Sale 224 in conjunction with Sale
206 would help ensure that a sufficient number of companies would be
represented in bidding, which may enhance the number of bids and
possibly the revenue generated by more competitive bidding.
This NOA follows the Call for Information and Nominations and the
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS in the prelease process for the
sale. The draft SEIS associated with this NOA updated the environmental
and socioeconomic analyses in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease
Sale 181, Eastern Planning Area Final EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2001-051),
which addressed the original ``Sale 181 Area.'' The MMS plans to
complete the requirements of NEPA, the OCS Lands Act, and CZMA coverage
for the proposed lease sale.
SEIS Availability: To obtain a single, printed or CD-ROM copy of
the draft SEIS, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, Gulf
of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood
Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-
GULF). An electronic copy of the draft SEIS is available at the MMS
Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html.
Many libraries along the Gulf Coast have been
sent copies of the draft SEIS. To find out which libraries, and their
locations, have copies of the draft SEIS for review, you may contact
the MMS Public Information Office or visit the MMS Internet Web site at
http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/libraries.html.
Public Hearings: The MMS will hold public hearings to receive
comments on the draft SEIS. The public hearings are scheduled as
follows:
July 24, 2007, Larose Civic Center, Larose Regional Park,
Larose, Louisiana, 7 p.m.
July 26, 2007, Florida New World Landing, 600 South
Palafox Street, Pensacola, Florida, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
If you wish to present testimony at a hearing, you should register
one hour prior to the meeting. Each hearing will briefly recess when
all speakers have had an opportunity to speak. If there are no
additional speakers, the hearing will adjourn immediately after the
recess. Written statements submitted at a hearing will be considered
part of the hearing record. If you are unable to attend the hearings,
you may submit written statements.
Comments: Federal, State, and local government agencies, and other
interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the
draft SEIS in one of the following two ways:
1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on
the Lease Sale 224 SEIS'' and mailed (or hand carried) to the Regional
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.
2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov.
Comments should be submitted no later than 45 days from the
publication of this NOA.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Mr.
Dennis Chew, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard,
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, (504) 736-2793.
Dated: June 19, 2007.
James F. Bennett,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. E7-12667 Filed 6-28-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P