[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 34 (Tuesday, February 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 10902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-4037]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Environmental Documents Prepared for Proposed Oil and Gas 
Operations on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the Availability of Environmental Documents Prepared 
for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Mineral Exploration Proposal on the 
Alaska 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 
a NEPA-related Environmental Assessment prepared by the MMS for oil and 
gas exploration activities proposed on the Alaska OCS. This listing 
includes the only proposal for which the Alaska OCS Office prepared a 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) in the 3-month period 
preceding this Notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For matters pertaining to this notice, 
contact Mr. Paul Stang (Alaska OCS Region, Anchorage) at (907) 271-
6045. The FONSI and associated EA are available for public inspection 
between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at: 
Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, Resource Center, 949 
East 36th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4363, phone (907) 271-6070 or 
(907) 271-6621 or toll free at 1-800-764-2627. Request may also be sent 
to MMS at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposal is for exploratory-drilling 
operations that would be conducted in accordance with the OCS Lands 
Act. The purpose of the Environmental Assessment (EA) is to evaluate 
the probable environmental effects of the operations, described in the 
Exploration Plan (EP) for McCovey #1 Well, Beaufort Sea, Alaska, dated 
September 19, 2000. The McCovey drill site would be located 
approximately 12.5 miles northeast of West Dock at Prudhoe Bay, 60 
miles northeast of Nuiqsut, 7 miles northwest of Cross Island, and 110 
miles northwest of Kaktovik in the Beaufort Sea.
    The methods by which the exploratory well would be drilled are 
detailed in the EP and in the associated Environmental Report and Oil 
Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan. Additional details about the 
proposed operations are included in Federal Register Notice 65 FR 60407 
dated October 11, 2000, summarizing Phillip's (Alaska) Inc. application 
for an Incidental Harassment Authorization from the National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
    Location: Lease:OCS-1577; Block: 6515.
    EA Number: AK 00-01.
    FONSI Date: October 19, 2000.
    MMS prepares EA's and FONSI's for proposals which relate to 
exploration for oil and gas resources on the Alaska 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. The EA is used as a basis for determining whether or not 
approvals of the proposals constitute major Federal actions that 
significantly affect the quality of the human environment in accordance 
with NEPA 102(2)(C). A Finding Of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is 
prepared in those instances where 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. Persons 
interested in reviewing environmental documents for the proposal listed 
above, or in obtaining information about EA's and FONSI's prepared for 
activities on the Alaska OCS, are encouraged to contact the Alaska OCS 
Regional Office of MMS.

    Dated: February 13, 2001.
Carolita U. Kallaur,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 01-4037 Filed 2-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P