BOEMRE Calls for Public Input on
Proposed 2012-2017 Gulf of Mexico Lease Sales
Information to be Used to Prioritize Areas, Avoid Potential Conflicts
NEW ORLEANS
– The Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) today
announced it is seeking information and nominations from all
interested parties regarding proposed oil and gas lease
sales in the Gulf of Mexico Western and Central Planning
Areas for the 2012-2017 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil
and Natural Gas Leasing Program.
BOEMRE will analyze information received in
response to this Call for Information and Nominations
(Call), which will primarily identify and evaluate areas
with potential for oil and gas development, as well as
determine possible environmental effects and potential
conflicts in the Call area. This is in addition to the
information collected through the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA) review process. Comments will be used to
develop lease terms and conditions to ensure safe offshore
operations. Comments will also be used to assess potential
conflicts between offshore oil and gas exploration and
development operations and state coastal management
programs, and to develop proposed actions and alternatives
in the NEPA review process.
“This
early planning and consultation step, in addition to the
NEPA-related reviews we are conducting, will ensure that all
interests and concerns are communicated to us and are
appropriately considered in
decisions regarding the leasing process,” said BOEMRE
Director Michael R. Bromwich. “All area nominations as well
as any information submitted will be fully analyzed and
considered as we prepare for the next 5-year program.”
Ten lease sales are specifically covered by
this Call: five in the Central Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Planning
Area, offshore Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, and five
in the Western GOM Planning Area, offshore Texas. Concurrent
with this Call, BOEMRE is preparing a multi-sale
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering the same
sales.
The Central GOM Planning Area consists of
approximately 66.45 million acres, of which approximately
40.85 million acres are currently unleased. The Western GOM
Planning Area consists of approximately 28.58 million acres,
of which approximately 19.45 million acres are currently
unleased. A map outlining available blocks and those
excluded is posted at: http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/lsesale/callmap-2012-2017.pdf. The
Call is
available for public inspection today through the Federal
Register’s website at:
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/index.html.
Nominations and comments must be received no
later than April 14, 2011 and may be submitted via mail or
email to:
-
Mail: "Nominations
for Proposed 2012-2017 Lease Sales in the Central and
Western Gulf of Mexico" or "Comments on the Call for
Information and Nominations for Proposed 2012-2017 Lease
Sales in the Central and Western Gulf of Mexico,” Mr.
Carrol Williams, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region,
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123-2394.
- E-mail:
carrol.williams@boemre.gov.
Please include “Comments on the Call for Proposed
2012-2017 Lease Sales in the Central and Western Gulf of
Mexico” in the subject line.
Contact:
BOEMRE
Public Affairs-Gulf |