Notice of Availability of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for
Structure-Removal Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS EIS/EA MMS 2005-013)

The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prepared a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of structure-removal activities in all water depths in the Central and Western Planning Areas and the current sale area available in the Eastern Planning Area of the Gulf of Mexico (that is, the area where Sales 181 and 189 were held). The activities analyzed in the PEA include vessel and equipment mobilization, structure preparation, nonexplosive- and explosive-severance activities, post-severance lifting and salvage, and site-clearance verification. The impact-producing factors of structure removals considered in the PEA include seafloor disturbances, air emissions and water discharges, pressure and acoustic energy from explosive detonations, and space-use conflicts with other OCS users. No potentially significant impacts were identified for air and water quality; marine mammals and sea turtles; fish, benthic, and archaeological resources; or other OCS pipeline, navigation, and military uses. On the basis of this PEA, MMS determined that an environmental impact statement (EIS) was not required and prepared a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

To obtain a copy of this PEA, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF). You may also view this EA on the MMS website at http://www.gomr.mms.gov.

Interested parties are requested to send comments on this PEA/FONSI within 30 days of this notice in one of the following three ways: (1) in written form enclosed in an envelope labeled "Comments on Structure-Removal Operations PEA" 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 using MMS’s Public Connect on-line commenting system at https://ocsconnect.mms.gov; or (3) electronically to the MMS e-mail address: environment@mms.gov. All comments received will be considered in the decision-making process for future site-specific, structure-removal applications.

The Minerals Management Service is the federal bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages the nation’s oil, natural gas and other mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in federal offshore waters.  Currently, about 30 percent of the oil and 23 percent of the gas produced domestically comes from these federal waters.  The bureau also collects, accounts for, and disburses mineral revenues from Federal and American Indian lands.  MMS disbursed approximately $8 billion in Fiscal Year 2004 and more than $143 billion since it was created in 1982.  Nearly $1 billion from those revenues go into the Land and Water Conservation Fund annually for the acquisition and development of state and federal park and recreation lands.