[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 37 (Friday, February 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 7016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-4102]



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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service


Public Hearings on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 1997 to 2002

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, DOI.

ACTION: Notice of dates and locations of public hearings on the draft 
environmental impact statement for the proposed Outer Continental Shelf 
Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 1997 to 2002.

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    On February 9, 1996, the Minerals Management Service announced in 
the Federal Register (Notice 61 FR 28) the availability of the draft 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the ``Proposed Outer 
Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 1997 to 2002.'' The 
notice indicated that the dates, times, and locations of public 
hearings on the draft EIS would be announced at a later date. This 
notice provides that information.
    The purpose of these hearings is to receive specific comments on 
the adequacy of the draft EIS and to provide the Secretary of the 
Interior with additional information from both public and private 
sectors to help evaluate fully the potential environmental effects of 
the proposed program.
    The public hearings are scheduled for the following dates and times 
at the following locations:

March 21, 1996

Borough Assembly Chambers, Barrow, Alaska, 7:00 p.m., Contact: Robin 
Cacy--(907) 271-6070 or 1-800-764-2627

    A teleconference will be held with the villages of Pt. Hope, Point 
Lay, Wainwright, Kaktovik, and Nuiqsut simultaneously with the Barrow 
Hearing.

March 26, 1996

Wyndham Warwick Hotel, 5701 Main Street, Houston, Texas, 7:00 to 9:00 
p.m., Contact: Janet Diaz--(504) 736-2540

March 27, 1996

MMS Gulf of Mexico Regional Office, 1201 Elmwood Park Blvd., Rm. 115, 
New Orleans, Louisiana, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., Contact: Janet Diaz--(504) 
736-2540

March 28, 1996

Adam's Mark Hotel, 64 South Water Street, Mobile, Alabama, 7:00 to 
10:00 p.m., Contact: Janet Diaz--(504) 736-2540

March 28, 1996

City Council Chambers, Homer Alaska, 7:00 p.m., Contact: Robin Cacy--
(907) 271-6070 or 1-800-764-2627

April 3, 1996

Yakutat High School Auditorium, Yakutat, Alaska, 7:00 p.m., Contact: 
Robin Cacy--(907) 271-6070 or 1-800-764-2627

April 9, 1996

MMS Alaska Region Conference Room, 949 East 36th Avenue, Anchorage, 
Alaska, 12:00 noon, Contact: Robin Cacy--(907) 271-6070 or 1-800-764-
2627.

    A teleconference will be held with the communities of Cordova 
Kenai/Soldotna, Ninilchik, Port Graham/Nanwalek, and Seldovia 
simultaneously with the Anchorage Hearing.

April 11, 1996

City Hall, Kivalina, Alaska, 1:00 p.m., Contact: Robin Cacy--(907) 271-
6070 or 1-800-764-2627.

    Interested individuals, representatives of organizations, and 
public officials who wish to testify at the hearings are requested to 
contact the person listed above for the particular location at least 5 
days prior to the hearings. A hearing officer will be in charge at each 
hearing site. Time limitations may make it necessary to limit the 
length of each oral presentation to 10 minutes or less. An oral 
statement may be supplemented, however, by a more complete statement 
which should be submitted to the hearing officer at the time of the 
oral presentation. After the presentation of oral statements by those 
who have preregistered, if time is still available during the period of 
time listed for the hearings, other individuals will be given an 
opportunity to be heard. Each hearing will begin at the specified time 
and will recess when all speakers have had an opportunity to testify. 
If there are no additional speakers, the hearing will adjourn 
immediately after the recess.
    Written comments on the draft EIS, including comments from 
individuals unable to present oral statements or to attend the 
hearings, will be accepted until May 9, 1996. All written comments 
should be mailed to Director, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden 
Street, MS-4320, Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817, Attention: Richard 
Wildermann. Hand deliveries to the Department of the Interior may be 
made to Room 4227 Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, NW., 
Washington, D.C. 20240. Envelopes or packages should be marked ``1997-
2002 Oil and Gas Program draft EIS.''
    After the public hearing testimony and written comments on the 
draft EIS have been reviewed and analyzed, a final EIS will be 
prepared. The comment period for the draft EIS closes May 9, 1996.

    Dated: February 20, 1996.
Thomas Gernhofer,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 96-4102 Filed 2-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P