[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 85 (Monday, May 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24568-24570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-11699]


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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 1501.4 and 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.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Activity/Operator                 Location                       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PGS Reservoir (U.S.), Inc., G&G  Green Canyon Area, 130         02/13/98
 Activity, SEA No. L98-3.         miles south of                        
                                  Terrebonne Parish,                    
                                  Louisiana.                            
ARN Pipeline Company, Pipeline   Eugene Island Area,            02/20/98
 Activity, SEA No. G-17713.       Blocks 63, 62, 55, 40,                
                                  34, and 33, Lease OCS-                
                                  G 17713, 63 miles                     
                                  southwest of                          
                                  Terrebonne Parish,                    
                                  Louisiana.                            

[[Page 24569]]

                                                                        
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line   Main Pass Area, South          02/02/98
 Corporation, Pipeline            and East Addition,                    
 Activity, SEA Nos. G-18794A      Blocks 261, 247, 226,                 
 and G-18795.                     216, 195 and 191;                     
                                  Viosca Knoll Area,                    
                                  Blocks 428, 427, 383,                 
                                  339, 295, 251, 207,                   
                                  208, 163, 119, 75, and                
                                  31; Mobile Area,                      
                                  Blocks 999, 955, 954,                 
                                  910, 866, and 822;                    
                                  Leases OCS-G 18794A                   
                                  and 18795; 61 miles                   
                                  south of Dauphin                      
                                  Island, Alabama.                      
Poseidon Oil Pipeline Company,   Garden Banks Area,             01/28/98
 L.L.C., and Amerada Hess         Blocks 260, 259, 215,                 
 Corporation; Pipeline            216, 172, 128, 84, and                
 Activity; SEA Nos. G-18837, G-   85; South Marsh Island                
 18838, and P-11615.              Area, South Addition,                 
                                  Blocks 204 and 205;                   
                                  Leases OCS-G18837,                    
                                  18838, and 7462; 93 to                
                                  110 miles south-                      
                                  Southwest of                          
                                  Terrebonne Parish,                    
                                  Louisiana.                            
Shell Gas Gathering Company,     Viosca Knoll Area,             03/20/98
 Pipeline Activity, SEA No. G-    Blocks 780, 736, and                  
 19668.                           692; Main Pass Area,                  
                                  South and East                        
                                  Addition, Blocks 282                  
                                  and 260; Lease OCS-G                  
                                  19668; 60 to 68 miles                 
                                  south of Mobile                       
                                  County, Alabama.                      
Phillips Petroleum Company,      Ship Shoal Area, South         01/26/98
 Pipeline Activity, SEA Nos. G-   Addition, Blocks 361,                 
 19662 and G-19663.               260, 259, and 349,                    
                                  Leases OCS-G19662 and                 
                                  19663, 69 to 71 miles                 
                                  south of Terrebonne                   
                                  Parish, Louisiana.                    
Texaco Exploration and           Viosca Knoll Area,             03/09/98
 Production, Inc., Pipeline       Blocks 786, 742, 698,                 
 Activity, SEA No. G-19672.       and 697; Main Pass                    
                                  Area, South and East                  
                                  Addition, Blocks 225,                 
                                  256, and 252; Lease                   
                                  OCS-G 19672; 56 to 67                 
                                  miles south of Baldwin                
                                  County, Alabama.                      
Zilkha Energy Company,           High Island Area, East         01/09/98
 Exploration Activity, SEA No.    Addition, South                       
 N-5931A.                         Extension, Block A-                   
                                  355, Lease OCS-G                      
                                  17213, 102 miles                      
                                  southeast of the                      
                                  nearest coastline of                  
                                  Galveston Island,                     
                                  Texas.                                
Amoco Exploration and            Mississippi Canyon             02/05/98
 Production, Development          Area, Blocks 173 and                  
 Activity, SEA No. N-5963A.       217; Desoto Canyon                    
                                  Area, Blocks 133 and                  
                                  177; Leases OCS-G                     
                                  9789, 9790, 10444, and                
                                  10445; 100 miles south                
                                  of Dauphin Island,                    
                                  Alabama.                              
Chevron U.S.A., Exploration      Mobile Area, Block 873,        02/04/98
 Activity, SEA No. N-5997.        Lease OCS-G 16527, 4.7                
                                  miles south of Baldwin                
                                  County, Alabama.                      
Coastal Oil & Gas Corporation,   Garden Banks Area,             12/22/97
 Exploration Activity, SEA No.    Block 139, Lease OCS-G                
 N-5696A.                         17295, 123 miles                      
                                  southeast of Galveston                
                                  Island, Texas.                        
Oryx Energy Company, Temporary   Main Pass Area, South          02/26/98
 Mooring System Request, SEA      and East Addition,                    
 No. TMS-1-98.                    Blocks 284 and 285,                   
                                  Lease OCS-G 16514, 50                 
                                  miles east of                         
                                  Plaquemines Parish,                   
                                  Louisiana.                            
Ensearch Exploration, Inc.,      Garden Banks Area,             02/09/98
 Development Activity, SEA No.    Blocks 344 and 388,                   
 S-4581UA.                        Leases OCS-G 8232 and                 
                                  7486, 125 miles south                 
                                  of Vermilion Parish,                  
                                  Louisiana.                            
Mobil Exploration & Producing    Mobile Area, Block 823,        12/22/97
 U.S. Inc.'s, Development         Lease OCS-G 5057, 4                   
 Activity, SEA No. S-4554U.       miles south of Dauphin                
                                  Island, Alabama.                      
Chevron U.S.A., Exploration      Viosca Knoll Area,             03/04/98
 Activity, SEA No. S-4619.        Block 69, Lease OCS-G                 
                                  7877, 20 miles south                  
                                  of Gulf Island                        
                                  National Seashore,                    
                                  Jackson County,                       
                                  Mississippi.                          
Exxon Company, U.S.A.,           West Delta Area, Block         03/18/98
 Development Activity, SEA No.    30, Lease OCS 026, 9                  
 R-3182.                          miles south of                        
                                  Plaquemines Parish,                   
                                  Louisiana.                            
Texaco Exploration and           Green Canyon Area,             03/12/98
 Production, Inc., Exploration,   Blocks 416 and 460,                   
 Exploration Activity, SEA No.    Leases OCS-G 9932 and                 
 R-3189.                          9934, 104 miles south                 
                                  of Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                  Louisiana.                            
Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Structure   South Timbalier Area,          02/12/98
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/  Block 24, Lease OCS                   
 SR 98-003.                       0387, 10 miles                        
                                  offshore the Louisiana                
                                  coast.                                
North Central Oil Corporation,   South Timbalier Area,          02/05/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    Block 136, Lease OCS-G                
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-008.            8720, 33 miles                        
                                  offshore the Louisiana                
                                  coast.                                
Murphy Exploration & Producing   Matagorda Island Area,         01/28/98
 Co., Structure Removal           Block 604, Lease OCS-                 
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 98-    G6037, 18 miles                       
 009.                             southeast of Calhoun                  
                                  County, Texas.                        
Chevron U.S.A. Inc., Structure   Viosca Knoll Area,             03/19/98
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/  Block 24, Lease OCS-G                 
 SR 98-010.                       8763, 18 miles south                  
                                  of Jackson County,                    
                                  Mississippi.                          
Vastar Resources, Inc.,          South Marsh Island             02/23/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    Area, Block 24, Lease                 
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-013.            OCS-G 14437, 46 miles                 
                                  south of the Louisiana                
                                  coast.                                
Walter Oil & Gas Corporation,    Galveston Area, Blocks         03/27/98
 Structure Removal Operation,     350 and 228, Leases                   
 SEA Nos. ES/SR 98-011 and 98-    OCS-G 4721 and 9040,                  
 012.                             38 miles south of                     
                                  Galveston County,                     
                                  Texas.                                
The Houston Exploration          Eugene Island Area,            02/19/98
 Company, Structure Removal       Block 48, Lease OCS-G                 
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 98-    7727, 28 miles south                  
 014.                             of the Louisiana coast.               
Kerr-McGee Corporation,          Main Pass Area, Block          03/05/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    90, Lease OCS-G 9704,                 
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-015.            6 miles east of                       
                                  Brenton National                      
                                  Wildlife Refuge and                   
                                  Wilderness Area, south                
                                  of the state of                       
                                  Mississippi.                          
Kerr-McGee Corporation,          High Island Area, Block        03/27/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    34, Lease OCS-G 6137,                 
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-016.            9 miles south of                      
                                  Jefferson County,                     
                                  Texas.                                
Samedan Oil Corporation,         East Cameron Area,             04/13/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    Block 226, Lease OCS-G                
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-026.            10633, 66 miles south                 
                                  of Cameron Parish,                    
                                  Louisiana.                            
Linder Oil Company, Structure    Eugene Island Area,            03/30/98
 Removal Operations, SEA No. ES/  Block 133, Lease OCS-G                
 SR 98-029.                       4445, 32 miles South-                 
                                  southwest of                          
                                  Terrebonne Parish,                    
                                  Louisiana.                            
Walter Oil & Gas Corporation,    West Cameron Area,             04/13/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    Block 254, Lease OCS-G                
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-030.            7608, 52 miles south                  
                                  of Cameron Parish,                    
                                  Louisiana.                            

[[Page 24570]]

                                                                        
Taylor Energy Company,           South Marsh Island             04/02/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    Area, Block 69, Lease                 
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-031.            OCS-G 1201, 52 miles                  
                                  south of St. Mary                     
                                  Parish, Louisiana.                    
LL&E, Structure Removal          Eugene Island Area,            04/02/98
 Operations, SEA Nos. ES/SR 98-   Blocks 108 and 364,                   
 032 and 98-033.                  Leases OCS-G 3811 and                 
                                  9600, 68 miles south                  
                                  of Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                  Louisiana.                            
Kerr-McGee Corporation,          Ship Shoal Area, Block         04/14/98
 Structure Removal Operations,    241, Lease OCS-G                      
 SEA No. ES/SR 98-034.            14505, 40 miles south                 
                                  of Terrebonne Parish,                 
                                  Louisiana.                            
Burlington Resources Offshore,   Euguene Island Area,           04/03/98
 Inc., Structure Removal          Block 93, Lease OCS                   
 Operations, SEA No. ES/SR 98-    0228, 37 miles                        
 037.                             southwest of St. Mary                 
                                  Parish, Louisiana.                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: 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.
J. Michael Melancon,
Acting Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 98-11699 Filed 5-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M