[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 217 (Thursday, November 7, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57698-57700]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-28677]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Environmental Documents Prepared for Proposed Oil and Gas 
Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of environmental documents prepared 
for OCS mineral proposals on the Gulf of Mexico OCS.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with 
Federal Regulations (40 CFR Section 1501.4 and Section 1506.6) that 
implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), announces the 
availability of NEPA-related Site-Specific Environmental Assessments 
(SEA's) and Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI's), prepared by 
the MMS for the following oil and gas activities proposed on the Gulf 
of Mexico OCS. This listing includes all proposals for which the 
FONSI's were prepared by the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region in the period 
subsequent to publication of the preceding notice. The acronym ``NORM'' 
means Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
         Activity/Operator                   Location             Date  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vastar Resources, Inc., NORM        High Island Area, Block A-   6/21/96
 Disposal Operations, NORM No.       23, Lease OCS-G 13330,             
 155A.                               38 miles southeast of              
                                     Chambers County, Texas.            
Vastar Resources, Inc., NORM        Main Pass Area, Block 306    7/02/96
 Disposal Operations, NORM No. 156.  Lease OCS-G 1667, 26               
                                     miles east of                      
                                     Plaquemines Parish,                
                                     Louisiana.                         
Chevron U.S.A., Inc., NORM          Eugene Island Area, Block    9/23/96
 Disposal Operations, NORM No. 96-   238, Lease OCS 0982, 50            
 157.                                miles southeast of                 
                                     Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Union Pacific Resources, NORM       Brazos Area, Block A-2,      9/27/96
 Disposal Operations, NORM No. 158.  Lease OCS-G 9025, 34               
                                     miles southeast of                 
                                     Matagorda County, Texas.           
Oryx Energy Company, Pipeline       High Island Area, East       8/30/96
 Activity, SEA Nos. P-11089 and P-   Addition, South                    
 11090.                              Extension, Blocks A-385            
                                     and A-384, Leases OCS-G            
                                     10311 and 3316, 112                
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline in               
                                     Texas.                             
Oryx Energy Company, Pipeline       High Island Area, East       9/10/96
 Activity, SEA Nos. P-11114          Addition, South                    
 through P-11116.                    Extension, Block A-379,            
                                     Lease OCS-G 13808, 110             
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline in               
                                     Texas.                             
Texaco Pipeline, Inc., Pipeline     High Island Area, East       9/27/94
 Activity, SEA No. G-14299.          Addition, South                    
                                     Extension, Blocks A-397,           
                                     A-380, A-361, A-360, A-            
                                     359, A-546, and A-521,             
                                     Lease G-14299, 106 miles           
                                     southeast of the nearest           
                                     coastline off Texas.               
Poseidon Pipeline Company, L.L.C.,  Garden Banks Area; Blocks    7/12/96
 Pipeline Activity, SEA Nos. G-      72, 28, and 29;                    
 15019A and G-15024A.                Vermilion Area, South              
                                     Addition; Blocks 408,              
                                     407, 392, 393, 394, 395,           
                                     396, 397, 398, and 399;            
                                     South Marsh Island Area,           
                                     South Addition; Blocks             
                                     183, 184, 185, 186, 187,           
                                     188, 193, 192, 205, 190,           
                                     and 191; Eugene Island             
                                     Area, South Addition;              
                                     Blocks 393, 380, 381,              
                                     382, 383, 374, 373, 372,           
                                     371, 370, 369, and 368;            
                                     and Ship Shoal Area;               
                                     Blocks 344, 345, 346,              
                                     347, 348, 360, 359, 358,           
                                     357, 351, 352, 353, 354,           
                                     333, and 322; Leases               
                                     Nos. G-15019 and G-                
                                     15024; 66 to 133 miles             
                                     south of the nearest               
                                     coastline in Louisiana.            
Poseidon Oil Pipeline Company,      Ship Shoal Area; Blocks      6/10/96
 L.L.C., Pipeline Activity, SEA      332, 331, 308, and 307;            
 No. G-16004.                        South Timbalier Area;              
                                     Blocks 272, 271, 244,              
                                     245, 242, 241, 218, 213,           
                                     212, 200, 201, 192, 173,           
                                     164, 145, 108, 103, 94,            
                                     79 and, 70; South Pelto            
                                     Area; Blocks 25, 16, 15,           
                                     6, and 5; and South                
                                     Timbalier Area; Block              
                                     11; Lease G-16004                  
                                     approximately 3 to 63              
                                     miles south of the                 
                                     nearest coastline in               
                                     Louisiana.                         
Amoco Pipeline Company, Pipeline    Main Pass Area, Blocks       7/12/96
 Activity, SEA No. G-16048E.         225, 248, 247, 246, 245,           
                                     244, 264, 265, 266, 267,           
                                     268, 269, 274, 273, 272,           
                                     145, 144, 143, 142, 141,           
                                     140, 147, 73, 72, 71,              
                                     70, 63, and 69 (Federal/           
                                     State portion), Lease G-           
                                     16048, 4 to 60 miles               
                                     east of the nearest                
                                     coastline off Louisiana.           
Oryx Energy Company, Exploration    High Island Area, East      10/17/95
 Activity, SEA No. N-5114.           Addition, South                    
                                     Extension, Block A-386,            
                                     Lease OCS-G 14925, 117             
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline on               
                                     Galveston Island, Texas.           
Oryx Energy Company, Exploration    High Island Area, East       3/28/96
 Activity SEA No. N-5297A.           Addition, South                    
                                     Extension, Block A-377,            
                                     Lease OCS-G 15821, 114             
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline on               
                                     Galveston Island, Texas.           
Oryx Energy Company, Exploration    High Island Area, East       8/31/95
 Activity, SEA No. 3718U.            Addition, South                    
                                     Extension, Block A-385,            
                                     Lease OCS-G 10311, 116             
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline on               
                                     Galveston Island, Texas.           

[[Page 57699]]

                                                                        
Oryx Energy Company, Development    High Island Area, East       7/25/96
 Activity, SEA No. S-3852UB.         Addition, South                    
                                     Extension Blocks A-385             
                                     and A-397, Leases OCS-G            
                                     10311 and 13809, 116               
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline on               
                                     Galveston Island, Texas.           
Oryx Energy Company, Development    High Island Area, East       8/28/96
 Activity, SEA No. S-4004U.          Addition, South                    
                                     Extension, Block A-379,            
                                     Lease OCS-G 13808, 110             
                                     miles southeast of the             
                                     nearest coastline on               
                                     Galveston Island, Texas.           
Kerr-McGee Corporation, Structure   Eugene Island Area, Block    7/18/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   179, Lease OCS-G 8443,             
 96-02/UC.                           55 miles south of St.              
                                     Mary Parish, Louisiana.            
The Louisiana Land Exploration      Vermilion Area, Block        8/22/96
 Company, Structure Removal          109, Lease OCS-G 6663,             
 Operations, SEA Nos. ES/SR 96-      29 miles south of                  
 035A and 96-036A.                   Vermilion Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
Louisiana Land and Exploration      Vermilion Area, Block        9/09/96
 Company, Structure Removal          109, Lease OCS-G 6663,             
 Operations, SEA Nos. ES/SR 96-      24 miles south of                  
 035B and 96-036B.                   Vermilion Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
Santa Fe Energy Resources, Inc.,    Galveston Area, Block        4/12/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   418, Lease OCS-G 8553,             
 No. ES/SR 96-051.                   22 miles southeast of              
                                     Brazoria County, Texas.            
UNOCAL Corporation, Structure       Vermilion Area, Block 26,    9/16/96
 Removal Operations, SEA Nos. ES/    Lease OCS 0297, 25 miles           
 SR 96-072 and 96-074.               southwest of                       
                                     Intracoastal City,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Union Oil Company of California,    Vermilion Area, Block 39,    5/30/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   Lease OCS 0206, 33 miles           
 No. ES/SR 96-073A.                  southwest of                       
                                     Intracoastal City,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Amerada Hess Corporation,           Vermilion Area, South        8/23/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   Addition, Block 310,               
 No. ES/SR 96-78A.                   Lease OCS-G 3400, 87               
                                     miles south of Vermilion           
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
Amoco Production Company,           Eugene Island Area, Block    7/29/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   76, Leases OCS-G 3571              
 Nos. ES/SR 96-081 and 96-082.       and 4242, 15 to 70 miles           
                                     south of Plaquemines               
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
Amoco Production Company,           East Cameron Area, Block     7/25/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   221, Lease OCS-G 5383,             
 Nos. ES/SR 96-083 and 96-084.       64 miles southwest of              
                                     Vermilion Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
The Louisiana Land and Exploration  Eugene Island Area, Block    8/28/96
 Company, Structure Removal          43, Lease OCS-G 3561, 36           
 Operations, SEA Nos. ES/SR 96-87,   miles southwest of                 
 through 96-89.                      Berwick, Louisiana.                
Pogo Producing Company, Structure   Ship Shoal Area, Block       9/06/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   256, Lease OCS-G 11990,            
 96-090.                             50 miles south of                  
                                     Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Pogo Producing Company, Structure   Ship Shoal Area, Block       9/16/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   256, Lease OCS-G 11990,            
 96-090A.                            50 miles south of                  
                                     Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Newfield Exploration Company,       West Cameron Area, Block     6/03/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   109, Lease OCS-G 7601,             
 Nos. ES/SR 96-091, 96-092, 96-      18 miles south of                  
 122, and 96-123.                    Cameron Parish,                    
                                     Louisiana.                         
Amoco Production Company,           Eugene Island Area, South    9/18/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   Addition, Block 367,               
 No. ES/SR 96-097.                   Lease OCS-G 2618, 90               
                                     miles south of                     
                                     Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Amoco Production Company,           West Cameron Area, South     9/17/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   Addition, Block 563,               
 No. ES/SR 96-098.                   Lease OCS-G 3284, 104              
                                     miles south of Cameron             
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
Exxon Company, U.S.A., Structure    West Delta Area, Block       7/24/96
 Removal Operations, SEA Nos. ES/    42, Lease OCS-G 1495, 13           
 SR 96-100A and 96-101.              miles south of                     
                                     Plaquemines Parish,                
                                     Louisiana.                         
Samedan Oil Corporation, Structure  Eugene Island Area,          8/01/96
 Removal Operations, SEA Nos. ES/    Blocks 247 and 248,                
 SR 96-104 through 96-106.           Leases OCS-G 1888 and              
                                     5506, 92 miles south of            
                                     St. Mary Parish,                   
                                     Louisiana.                         
Texaco Exploration and Production,  South Marsh Island Area,     7/16/96
 Inc., Structure Removal             Blocks 218 and 219,                
 Operations, SEA Nos. ES/SR 96-111   Lease OCS 0310, 10 miles           
 through 96-113.                     south of Vermilion                 
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
Texaco Inc., Structure Removal      Vermilion Area, Block 31,    9/12/96
 Operations, SEA Nos. ES/SR 96-114   Lease OCS-G2868, 10                
 through 96-119.                     miles south of Vermilion           
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
Amerada Hess Corporation,           Eugene Island Area, Block    8/27/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   10, Lease OCS-G 2892, 10           
 Nos. ES/SR96-131 and 96-132.        miles south of St. Mary            
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
UNOCAL Corporation, Structure       Eugene Island Area, Block    7/24/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   32, Lease OCS 0196, 5              
 96-133.                             miles southwest of St.             
                                     Mary Parish, Louisiana.            
Shell Offshore Inc., Structure      West Cameron Area, Block     8/06/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   367, Lease OCS-G 13841,            
 96-134A.                            59 miles south of                  
                                     Cameron Parish,                    
                                     Louisiana.                         
Shell Offshore, Inc. Structure      Vermilion Area, Block        7/25/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   144, Lease OCS-G 3125,             
 96-141.                             39 miles south of                  
                                     Vermilion Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
Shell Offshore, Inc., Structure     Vermilion Area, Block        8/09/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   144, Lease OCS-G 3125,             
 96-141A.                            39 miles south of                  
                                     Vermilion Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
Chevron U.S.A., Structure Removal   Main Pass Area, Block        8/22/96
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 96-142.   297, Lease OCS-G 5730,             
                                     40 miles east of Venice,           
                                     Louisiana.                         
DelMar Operating, Inc., Structure   Eugene Island Area, Block    7/25/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   343, Lease OCS-G 2320,             
 96-143.                             76 miles southwest of              
                                     Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                     Louisiana.                         
Amerada Hess Corporation,           Breton Sound Area, Block     8/08/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   54, Lease OCS-G 4491, 59           
 No. ES/SR 96-144.                   miles east north-east of           
                                     Fourchon, Louisiana.               
Amoco Production Company,           Ship Shoal Area, Block       7/18/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   176, and Eugene Island             
 Nos. ES/SR 96-145 and 96-146.       Area, Block 186, Leases            
                                     OCS 0589 and OCS-G                 
                                     10735, 40 miles                    
                                     southwest of Terrebonne            
                                     Parish, Louisiana.                 
Phillips Petroleum Company,         High Island Area, Block      9/12/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   154, Lease OCS-G 2357,             
 Nos. ES/SR 96-147 and 96-148.       23 miles east of                   
                                     Galveston, Texas.                  
Walter Oil and Gas Corporation,     Matagorda Island Area,       8/07/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   Block 557, Lease OCS-G             
 No. ES/SR 96-149.                   4137, 14 miles south of            
                                     Matagorda County, Texas.           
Walter Oil and Gas Corporation,     Matagorda Island Area,       7/31/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   Block 557, Lease OCS-G             
 No. ES/SR 96-150.                   4137, 11 miles southeast           
                                     of Matagorda County,               
                                     Texas.                             
Walter Oil and Gas Corporation,     Eugene Island Area, Block    7/24/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   239, Lease OCS-G 14473,            
 No. ES/SR 96-151.                   54 miles south of St.              
                                     Mary Parish, Louisiana.            
UMC Petroleum Corporation,          High Island Area, Block      8/21/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   93, Lease OCS-G 11352,             
 No. ES/SR 96-152.                   14 miles south-southeast           
                                     from the Texas coastline.          

[[Page 57700]]

                                                                        
Texaco Exploration and Production,  High Island Area, Block      9/06/96
 Inc., Structure Removal             138, Lease OCS-G 2680,             
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 96-153.   22 miles south of                  
                                     Jefferson County, Texas.           
Devon Energy Corporation,           Eugene Island Area, Block    8/15/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   164, lease OCS-G 4864,             
 No. ES/SR 96-154.                   39 miles south of St.              
                                     Mary Parish, Louisiana.            
Texaco Exploration and Production   South Marsh Island Area,     8/12/96
 Inc., Structure Removal             Block 212, Lease OCS               
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 96-155.   0310, 5 miles southwest            
                                     of Iberia Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
Samedan Oil Corporation, Structure  West Delta Area, Block       9/06/96
 Removal Operations, SEA Nos. ES/    33, Lease OCS-G 5670, 10           
 SR 96-156 and 96-157.               miles south of                     
                                     Plaquemines Parish,                
                                     Louisiana.                         
Amerada Hess Corporation,           Main Pass Area, Block        9/18/96
 Structure Removal Operations, SEA   107, Lease OCS-G 12087,            
 No. ES/SR 96-158.                   42 miles northeast of              
                                     Venice, Louisiana.                 
Chevron U.S.A., Structure Removal   South Timbalier Area,        8/27/96
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 96-159.   Block 24, Lease OCS                
                                     0387, 6 miles southeast            
                                     of Lafourche Parish,               
                                     Louisiana.                         
W&T Offshore, Inc., Structure       Brazos Area, Block 507,      9/27/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   Lease OCS-G 13301, 55              
 96-163.                             miles east of Port                 
                                     O'Connor, Texas.                   
Oryx Energy Company, Structure      High Island Area, Block      9/09/96
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/SR   129, Lease OCS-G 1848,             
 96-164.                             28 miles south of                  
                                     Jefferson County, Texas.           
Burlington Resources Offshore       Vermilion Area, Block        9/23/96
 Inc., Structure Removal             172, Lease OCS-G 13884,            
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 96-165.   46 miles south of                  
                                     Vermilion Parish,                  
                                     Louisiana.                         
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    Persons interested in reviewing environmental documents for the 
proposals listed above or obtaining information about EA's and FONSI's 
prepared for activities on the Gulf of Mexico OCS are encouraged to 
contact the MMS office in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Public Information Unit, Information Services Section, Gulf of Mexico 
OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, 
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, Telephone (504) 736-2519.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS prepares EA's and FONSI's for 
proposals which relate to exploration for and the development/
production of oil and gas resources on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. The EA's 
examine the potential environmental effects of activities described in 
the proposals and present MMS conclusions regarding the significance of 
those effects. Environmental Assessments are used as a basis for 
determining whether or not approval of the proposals constitutes major 
Federal actions that significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment in the sense of NEPA Section 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared 
in those instances where the MMS finds that approval will not result in 
significant effects on the quality of the human environment. The FONSI 
briefly presents the basis for that finding and includes a summary or 
copy of the EA. This notice constitutes the public notice of 
availability of environmental documents required under the NEPA 
Regulations.

    Dated: October 30, 1996.
J. Michael Melancon,
Acting Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 96-28677 Filed 11-6-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M