[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4322-4325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2210]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf, Western Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas 
Lease Sales 171, 174, 177, and 180

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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Call for Information and Nominations

1. Authority

    This Call is published pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) Lands Act as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, (1994)), and the 
regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR Part 256).

[[Page 4323]]

2. Purpose of Call

    The purpose of the Call is to gather information for the following 
tentatively scheduled OCS Lease Sales in the Western Gulf of Mexico 
(WGOM):

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Sale No.                       Tentative sale date      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
171....................................  Aug. 1998.                     
174....................................  Aug. 1999.                     
177....................................  Aug. 2000.                     
178....................................  Aug. 2001.                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information and nominations on oil and gas leasing, exploration, 
and development and production within the WGOM 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 OCS Lands Act and regulations at 30 CFR 256.
    This is the second issuance of a multisale Call by MMS for proposed 
Gulf of Mexico sales in the 5-year program for 1997-2002. A multisale 
Call for Central Gulf of Mexico (CGOM) sales in the new 5-year program 
was published in August 1996. Responses are requested relative to all 
sales included herein. The MMS has modified its prelease planning and 
decision process for proposed Central and Western Gulf lease sales. 
This multisale process is based on over a dozen years of leasing at an 
annual pace which have shown that the sale proposals in the WGOM and 
the CGOM are very similar from year to year. The multisale process in 
the WGOM will incorporate planning and analysis for four sales: Sales 
171, 174, 177, and 180. (The first WGOM sale in the new 5-year program, 
scheduled for August 1997, was covered in an Environmental Impact 
Statement (EIS) filed in December 1996.) From the initial step in the 
process (the Call for Information and Nominations) through the final 
EIS/Consistency Determination (CD) step, this process will cover 
multiple sale proposals. There will also be complete National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), OCS Lands Act, and Coastal Zone 
Management Act coverage for each sale after the first sale--either an 
Environmental Assessment (EA) or Supplemental EIS and a CD, focusing 
primarily on new issues or changes in a State's federally-approved 
coastal management plan, will be prepared for each subsequent sale. A 
proposed and final Notice of Sale will be prepared for each proposed 
sale.
    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 OCS Lands Act. 
Established departmental procedures will be employed.

3. Description of Area

    The general area of the Call covers the entire WGOM. The WGOM is 
bounded on the west and north by the Federal-State boundary offshore 
Texas; the eastern boundary begins at the offshore boundary between 
Texas and Louisiana and proceeds southeasterly to approximately 28 
degrees North latitude, thence east to approximately 92 degrees West 
longitude, thence south to the provisional maritime boundary with 
Mexico which constitutes the southern boundary of the area. It is 
offshore Texas and, in deeper water, offshore Louisiana. The area 
available for nominations and comments at this time consists of 
approximately 35.9 million acres, of which approximately 28.4 million 
acres are currently unleased.
    A standard Call for Information Map depicting the WGOM 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: 1-800-200-
GULF.

4. Areas Excluded From This Call

    The entire WGOM is proposed for possible leasing except two blocks 
in the vicinity of the East and West Flower Garden Banks (and the 
Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary): High Island Area, East 
Addition, South Extension, Blocks A-375 and A-398; and three blocks 
near Corpus Christi, Texas, which are used by the Navy for mine warfare 
exercises: Mustang Island Area Blocks 793, 799, and 816.

5. 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 1998-2001 Lease Sales 
in the Western Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Comments on the Call for 
Information and Nominations for Proposed 1998-2001 Lease Sales in the 
Western 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 above address.
    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 oil and gas. Respondents are requested to 
indicate interest in the comment on any or all of the Federal acreage 
within the boundaries of the Call area that they wish to have included 
in each of the proposed sales in the WGOM.
    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 required 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 oil and gas 
activities that may result from the proposed sales and State Coastal 
management Programs (CMP). 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

[[Page 4324]]

area in the standard Call for Information Map.

6. Use of Information From Call

    Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for 
several purposes. First, responses will be used to identify the areas 
of potential for oil and gas 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 oil and gas exploration and 
development to the region and the Nation. A third purpose for this Call 
is to use the comments collected in the scoping process for the 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and to develop proposed actions 
and alternatives. Fourth, comments may be used in developing lease 
terms and conditions to ensure safe offshore operations. And, fifth, 
comments may be used to assess potential conflicts between offshore oil 
and gas activities and a State CMP.

7. Existing Information

    The MMS routinely assesses the status of information acquisition 
efforts and the quality of the information base for potential decisions 
on tentatively scheduled lease sales. As a result of this continually 
ongoing assessment, it has been determined that the status of the 
existing data available for planning, analysis, and decisionmaking is 
adequate and extensive.
    An extensive environmental studies program has been underway in the 
WGOM since 1973. The emphasis, including continuing studies, has been 
on environmental characterization of biologically sensitive habitats, 
physical oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, socioeconomic 
effects, and ecological effects of oil and gas activities. A complete 
listing of available study reports and information for ordering copies 
can be obtained from the Public Information Unit referenced above or 
from the MMS homepage on the Internet at http://www.mms.gov. 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 Technical Communication Service, Minerals Management Service, at 
381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170, telephone: (703) 787-1080.

8. Tentative Schedule

    The following is a list of tentative milestone dates applicable to 
sales covered by this Call:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            Multisale process milestones
                                             for proposed 1998-2001 WGOM
                                                        sales           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call/NOI published........................  Jan. 1997.                  
Comments due on Call/NOI..................  March 1997.                 
Area Identification.......................  April 1997.                 
Draft EIS published.......................  Nov. 1997.                  
Public Hearings...........................  Dec. 1997.                  
Final EIS published.......................  May 1998.                   
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Sale-specific process   
                                            milestones for proposed 1998-
                                                   2001 WGOM sales      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information to Begin Sale-      12 months before each sale. 
 Specific Process.                                                      
Environmental Review (EA/FONSI/SEIS)        4 to 7 months before each   
 published.                                  sale.                      
Proposed Notice and Consistency             4 months before each sale.  
 Determination.                                                         
Final Notice of Sale......................  1 month before each sale.   
Tentative Sale Date.......................  August of each year.        
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice of Intent To Preoare an Environmental Impact Statement

1. Authority

    The NOI is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) 
implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969, as amended (42 USC 4321 et seq. (1988)(NEPA).

2. Purpose of Notice of Intent

    Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions 
of the NEPA, the MMS is announcing its intent to prepare a multisale 
EIS on the tentatively scheduled 1998-2001 oil and gas leasing 
proposals in the WGOM, offshore Texas and in deeper water offshore 
Louisiana. 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 proposals which may 
be considered for each sale are to delay the sale, cancel the sale, or 
modify the sale.

3. New EIS Procedure

    MMS is proposing to prepare a single EIS for all four proposed WGOM 
sales from 1998 to 2001. The resource estimates and scenario 
information on which the EIS analyses are based will be presented as a 
range of resources and activities that would encompass any of the four 
proposed sales in the WGOM.
    The proposal will provide several benefits. It will focus the NEPA 
process by making impact types and levels that change between sales 
more easily recognizable. New issues will be more easily highlighted 
for the decisionsmakers and public. For sales after 1998, the process 
will allow for presale planning that spans only 1 year, rather than the 
current 2-year process which causes confusion because of the overlap in 
planning for sales in successive years and makes it difficult for the 
decisionmaker, industry, and the public to keep track of which sale 
process is being referred to for any given decision point. It will also 
eliminate the repetitive issuance of a complete EIS for each sale, a 
practice that has resulted in ``review burnout'' in Federal, State, and 
local governments, and the public.
    The proposed actions analyzed in the EIS will be each of the sales 
on the 5-year schedule for the Western Gulf of Mexico planning area. 
The EIS will include an analysis of the environmental effects of 
holding one sale, a sale ``typical'' of any in the planning area, which 
may be held in the remainder of the 5-year program. The scenario will 
cover a range of resources and activities that will encompass any of 
the four proposed actions. Later sales can then be compared to the 
initial analysis in an environmental assessment or supplemental 
environmental impact statement. Formal consultation with the public 
will be initiated in subsequent years to obtain input to assist in the 
determination of whether or not the information and analyses in the 
original multisale EIS are still valid. An Information Request would be 
issued

[[Page 4325]]

that will specifically describe the action for which we are requesting 
input.

4. Instructions on NOI To Prepare and 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 1998-2001 Lease Sales in the Western 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.

    Dated: January 23, 1997.
Cynthia Quarterman,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. 97-2210 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M