[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 84 (Tuesday, May 3, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-10489]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: May 3, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
 

Outer Continental Shelf; Central and Western Gulf of Mexico; 
Natural Gas and Oil Lease Sales 157 and 161

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Call for information and nominations, and notice of intent 
(Call/NOI) to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS)

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    1. Authority. This Call is published pursuant to the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, 
(1988))(OCSLA), and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR part 
256).
    The NOI is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) 
implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988))(NEPA).
    2. Purpose of Call. The purpose of the Call is to gather 
information for OCS Lease Sale 157 in the Central Gulf of Mexico 
Planning Area, tentatively scheduled for March 1995, and OCS Lease Sale 
161 in the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area, tentatively scheduled 
for August 1995.
    Information and nominations on gas and oil leasing, exploration, 
and development and production within the Central and Western Gulf of 
Mexico Planning Areas are sought from all interested parties. This 
early planning and consultation step is important for ensuring that all 
interests and concerns are communicated to the Department of the 
Interior for future decisions in the leasing process pursuant to the 
OCSLA, and regulations at 30 CFR part 256. This Call does not indicate 
a preliminary decision to lease in the area described below. Final 
delineation of the area for possible leasing will be made at a later 
date and in compliance with applicable laws including all requirements 
of the NEPA, and the OCSLA. Established departmental procedures will be 
employed.
    3. Description of Area. The general area of this Call covers the 
entire central and western portions of the Gulf of Mexico between 
approximately 88 degrees W. longitude on the east and approximately 97 
degrees W. longitude on the west and extends from the Federal-State 
boundaries seaward to the provisional maritime boundary between the 
United States and Mexico. The entire Call area is offshore the States 
of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This area is divided 
into two planning areas.
    The Central Gulf Planning Area is bounded on the east by 
approximately 88 degrees W. longitude. Its western boundary begins at 
the offshore boundary between Texas and Louisiana and proceeds 
southeasterly to approximately 28 degrees N. latitude, thence east to 
approximately 92 degrees W. longitude, thence south to the provisional 
maritime boundary with Mexico which constitutes the southern boundary 
of the area. The northern part of the area is bounded by the Federal-
State boundary offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The area 
available for nominations and comments consists of about 47.8 million 
acres.
    The Western Gulf Planning Area is bounded on the west and north by 
the Federal-State boundary and on the east by the Central Gulf Planning 
Area. It extends south to the provisional maritime boundary with 
Mexico. It is offshore Texas and, in deeper water, offshore Louisiana. 
The area available for nominations and comments consists of about 35.9 
million acres.
    A standard Call for Information Map depicting each planning area on 
a block-by-block basis is available without charge from: Minerals 
Management Service, Public Information Unit (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood 
Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, Telephone: (504) 
736-2519.
    4. Areas Deferred from this Call (Western Gulf). High Island Area, 
East Addition, South Extension, (Flower Gardens), Block A-375 and Block 
A-398.
    5. Area Under Ongoing Discussions with the Navy (Western Gulf). The 
Navy has requested that two, three block groups in the Mustang Island 
Area be deferred from leasing in the Western Gulf so that they can 
conduct mine warfare operations in those areas. These six blocks are 
not being deferred from this Call. The MMS will continue its review to 
take into account possible changes in nearby oil and gas discovery and 
development patterns and will continue discussions with the Navy and 
industry representatives regarding future activities.
    6. Instructions on Call. Indications of interest and comments must 
be received no later than 45 days following publication of this 
document in the Federal Register in envelopes labeled ``Nominations for 
Proposed 1996 Lease Sales in the Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Comments on the 
Call for Information and Nominations for Proposed 1996 Lease Sales in 
the Gulf of Mexico.'' The standard Call for Information Map and 
indications of interest and/or comments must be submitted to the 
Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment, Gulf of Mexico OCS 
Region, at the address stated above.
    The standard Call for Information Map delineates the Call area, all 
of which has been identified by the MMS as having potential for the 
discovery of accumulations of gas and oil. Respondents are requested to 
indicate interest in and comment on any or all of the Federal acreage 
within the boundaries of the Call area that they wish to have 
considered for inclusion in proposed Sale 157 in the Central Gulf and 
proposed Sale 161 in the Western Gulf.
    Although individual indications of interest are considered to be 
privileged and proprietary information, the names of persons or 
entities indicating interest or submitting comments will be of public 
record. Those indicating such interest are requested to do so on the 
standard Call for Information Map by outlining the areas of interest 
along block lines.
    Respondents should rank areas in which they have expressed interest 
according to priority of their interest (e.g., priority 1 (high), 2 
(medium), or 3 (low)).
    Respondents are encouraged to be specific in indicating blocks by 
priority, as blanket nominations on large areas are not useful in the 
analysis of industry interest. Areas where interest has been indicated 
but on which respondents have not indicated priorities will be 
considered priority 3 (low).
    Respondents may also submit a detailed list of blocks nominated (by 
Official Protraction Diagram and Leasing Map designations) to ensure 
correct interpretation of their nominations. Specific questions may be 
directed to the Chief, Leasing Activities Section at (504) 736-2761. 
Official Protraction Diagrams and Leasing Maps can be purchased from 
the Public Information Unit referred to above.
    Comments are sought from all interested parties about particular 
geological, environmental, biological, archaeological, and 
socioeconomic conditions or conflicts, or other information that might 
bear upon the potential leasing and development of particular areas. 
Comments are also sought on possible conflicts between future OCS gas 
and oil activities that may result from the proposed sales and State 
Coastal Management Programs (CMP's). If possible, these comments should 
identify specific CMP policies of concern, the nature of the conflict 
foreseen, and steps that the MMS could take to avoid or mitigate the 
potential conflict. Comments may either be in terms of broad areas or 
restricted to particular blocks of concern. Those submitting comments 
are requested to list block numbers or outline the subject area on the 
standard Call for Information Map.
    7. Use of Information from Call. Information submitted in response 
to this Call will be used for several purposes. First, responses will 
be used to help identify the areas of potential for gas and oil 
development. Second, comments on possible environmental effects and 
potential use conflicts will be used in the analysis of environmental 
conditions in and near the Call area. This information will be used to 
make a preliminary determination of the potential advantages and 
disadvantages of gas and oil exploration and development to the region 
and the Nation. A third purpose of this Call is to use the comments 
collected to initiate the scoping process for the Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) and to develop a proposed action and alternatives. 
Fourth, comments may be used in developing lease terms and conditions 
to ensure safe offshore operations. Fifth, comments may be used to 
assess potential conflicts between offshore gas and oil activities and 
a State CMP.
    8. Existing Information. Preceding this Call in the sale planning 
process was an Information Base Review (IBR). The purpose of an IBR is 
to evaluate the status of pertinent information and the information 
acquisition efforts. This IBR constituted an assessment of the quality 
and adequacy of the information available which has been found 
sufficient for the decision to proceed with the Call.
    An extensive environmental studies program has been underway in 
this area since 1973. The emphasis, including continuing studies, has 
been on environmental characterization of biologically sensitive 
habitats, physical oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, and 
ecological effects of gas and oil activities. A complete listing of 
available study reports, and information for ordering copies, can be 
obtained from the Public Information Unit referenced above. The reports 
may also be ordered, for a fee, from the U.S. Department of Commerce, 
National Technical Information Service, 5285 Port Royal Road, 
Springfield, Virginia 22161, or telephone (703) 487-4650. In addition, 
a program status report for continuing studies in this area can be 
obtained from the Chief, Environmental Studies Section, Gulf of Mexico 
OCS Region (see address under ``Description of Area''), or telephone 
(504) 736-2896.
    Summary Reports and Indices and technical and geological reports 
are available for review at the MMS, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. Copies 
of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Summary Reports may be obtained from 
the OCS Information Program, Office of Offshore Information and 
Publications, Minerals Management Service, at 381 Elden Street, 
Herndon, Virginia 22070.
    9. Tentative Schedule. The following is a list of tentative 
milestone dates preceding Sale 157 and Sale 161: 

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Sale 157          Sale 161    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comments due on call and notice of    June 1994.......  June 1994.      
 intent (scoping).                                                      
Area Identification.................  July 1994.......  July 1994.      
Draft EIS published.................  March 1995......  March 1995.     
Proposed Notice Issued..............  March 1995......  March 1995.     
Public Hearings.....................  May 1995........  May 1995.       
Governors' Comment due on proposed    June 1995.......  June 1995.      
 notice.                                                                
Final EIS published.................  November 1995...  November 1995.  
Consistency Determination...........  November 1995...  April 1995.     
Final Notice of Sale................  February 1996...  July 1996.      
Sale Date...........................  March 1996......  August 1996.    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    10. Purpose of Notice of Intent (NOI). Pursuant to the regulations 
implementing the provisions of the NEPA, the MMS is announcing its 
intent to prepare an EIS on the gas and oil leasing proposals known as 
Sale 157 in the Central Gulf, and Sale 161 in the Western Gulf, off the 
States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The NOI also 
serves to announce the scoping process that will be followed for this 
EIS. Throughout the scoping process, Federal Agencies and State and 
local governments and other interested parties have the opportunity to 
aid the MMS in determining the significant issues and alternatives to 
be analyzed in the EIS.
    The EIS analysis will focus on the potential environmental effects 
of leasing, exploration, and development of the blocks included in the 
areas defined in the Area Identification procedure as the proposed 
areas of the Federal actions. Alternatives to the proposal which may be 
considered for each sale are to delay the sale, cancel the sale, or 
modify the sale.
    11. Instructions on NOI to Prepare an EIS. Federal Agencies and 
State and local governments and other interested parties are requested 
to send their written comments on the scope of the EIS, significant 
issues which should be addressed, and alternatives that should be 
considered to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, at the address stated under ``Description of Area.'' 
Comments should be enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on the 
NOI to Prepare an EIS on the proposed 1995 Lease Sales in the Gulf of 
Mexico.'' Comments on the NOI should be submitted no later than 45 days 
from publication of this Notice. Scoping meetings will be held in 
appropriate locations to obtain additional comments and information 
regarding the scope of the EIS.
Tom Fry,
Director, Minerals Management Service.

    Dated: April 25, 1994.
Nancy Hayes,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 94-10489 Filed 5-2-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P