[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 155 (Wednesday, August 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43191-43192]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-21582]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for a Notice to 
Lessees To Reduce Nitrogen Oxides Emissions in the Central Planning 
Area of the Gulf of Mexico

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Preparation of an Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service (MMS) is beginning preparation of 
an Environmental Assessment (EA) for a Notice to Lessees (NTL) to 
reduce Nitrogen Oxides (NOX) emissions in the Central 
Planning Area (CPA) of the Gulf of Mexico.

DATES: Comments due to MMS September 7, 1998. Draft EA for public 
review November 16, 1998. The EA completed January 25, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood 
Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, Terry Scholten, 
telephone (504) 736-1720.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS prepares EA's for proposals which 
relate to exploration for and the development/production of oil and gas 
resources on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The EA's 
examine the potential environmental effects of activities described in 
the proposed action, present MMS' conclusions regarding the 
significance of those effects, and are used as a basis for determining 
whether or not approval of the proposal constitutes major Federal 
actions that significantly affect the quality of the human environment 
in the sense of the National Environmental Policy Act, Section 
102(2)(C).
    The proposed action to be analyzed in this EA is a NTL to require 
best available control technology for NOX emissions on all 
facilities in the CPA. The EA will also analyze other alternatives, as 
well as the no action alternative. The analysis in the EA will examine 
the potential environmental effects of the proposal and alternatives 
regarding potential impacts on coastal areas in the CPA.
    The MMS requests interested parties to submit comments regarding 
any information or issues that should be addressed in the EA to Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 by September 7, 1998. 
After completion of the EA, MMS will make a decision on

[[Page 43192]]

NOX controls to be required in the short term.

    Dated: August 6, 1998.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 98-21582 Filed 8-11-98; 8:45 am]
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