[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 113 (Monday, June 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36841-36842]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-14738]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Completion of an Environmental Assessment on Exploration, 
Development, and Production Operations and Activities in the Deepwater 
Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Completion of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has completed an 
environmental assessment (EA) on exploration, development, and 
production activities in the deepwater areas (generally beyond 1,000 
feet water depth) of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS). The MMS is mandated to manage the development of OCS oil and 
natural gas resources, while also ensuring safe operations and 
protection of the human and natural environment. To meet these 
objectives, MMS has used the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 
process as a planning tool to assist in managing these activities and 
assure appropriate environmental reviews. The findings of the EA are 
summarized below.
    Based on the information and analyses in the EA, MMS has determined 
that a programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on regional 
deepwater activities on the Gulf of Mexico OCS is not required. Most 
deepwater operations and activities are substantially the same as those 
associated with conventional operations and activities on the 
continental shelf. These deepwater components and activities include 
anchoring, mooring, stationkeeping, most drilling and well completion 
activities (the exceptions are discussed below), well test and cleanup 
operations, flaring/burning, facility installation and production 
operations, host facilities, pipeline installation and operations, 
alternative transportation options, operational emissions, routine 
produced-water discharges, support service activities, decommissioning, 
and site clearance. Existing NEPA documents, established project-
specific and programmatic NEPA review

[[Page 36842]]

processes, and established mitigation measures are fully sufficient to 
address these deepwater components and associated activities.
    Specific deepwater operations and activities that are substantially 
different from those associated with conventional operations and 
activities on the continental shelf have been addressed by requiring 
specific mitigation measures, initiating a more in-depth EA, and 
initiating an EIS.
    Seafloor discharges from pre-riser and riserless drilling 
operation, and the discharge of synthetic-based drilling fluids (SBF) 
and cuttings wetted with SBF may pose potentially significant localized 
impacts to chemosynthetic communities. An appropriate mitigation 
measure has been developed to avoid or reduce the potential for 
significant impacts from these factors. Deepwater wells must be at 
least 1,000 ft away from any potential high-density chemosynthetic 
communities. Notice to Lessees (NTL) 98-11 is being modified to include 
this 1,000 ft buffer zone around all deepwater well sites. As the NTL 
goes through the formal review and implementation process, this 
mitigation is currently being applied on a site-by-site basis. 
Accidental spills of chemical products and the subsea release of oil 
are low-probability events. Extensive mitigation measures for spill 
prevention and response are currently required.
    Deepwater seismic surveying operations are essentially the same as 
seismic surveying operations on the continental shelf. Historically, 
the potential impacts of noise associated with seismic surveying have 
been considered insignificant, and the EA supports this view. As this 
position has recently become controversial, the potential impacts of 
geological and geophysical (G&G) activities, including seismic 
surveying operations, on the GOM OCS are currently being analyzed in 
detail in a separate EA. The decision on the need to prepare an EIS on 
seismic surveying operations is pending completion of the G&G EA.
    The use of floating production, storage, and offloading (FPSO) 
systems represents new and unusual technology for the GOM OCS and may 
pose potentially significant impacts to the marine and coastal 
environments. The need for an EIS was recognized early during the 
preparation of this EA. A Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS was 
published in the Federal Register on June 10, 1999.
    Copies of the EA are available from the Public Information Office 
(MS 5034), Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 
Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 by asking for 
publication MMS 2000-001. Copies of the Technical Report (OCS Report 
MMS 2000-015) prepared in support of the EA will also be available in 
mid-July 2000. Both the EA and the Technical Report will eventually be 
available on CD and will be placed on the MMS website http://www.mms.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions regarding the EA should be directed 
to Ms. Deborah Cranswick, Leasing and Environment, at (504) 736-2744. 
Questions regarding deepwater operations should be directed to Mr. Jim 
Regg, Field Operations, at (504) 736-2843. The mailing address is 
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood 
Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.

    Dated: June 6, 2000.
J. Hammond Eve,
Acting Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 00-14738 Filed 6-9-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-U