[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 39195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-18815]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Preparation of an Environmental Assessment for Proposed Eastern 
Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 181

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Preparation of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is preparing an 
environmental assessment (EA) for a reduced area configuration of 
proposed Eastern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Lease Sale 181. The MMS proposes 
to offer for lease 256 blocks offshore Alabama in the westernmost 
portion of the Eastern Planning Area of the GOM outer continental shelf 
(OCS). Three mitigation measures in the form of lease stipulations are 
included in the proposed action. This proposed sale is the only Eastern 
GOM sale scheduled during the current 5-Year Oil and Gas Leasing 
Program, and the first proposed sale in the Eastern GOM since 1988. We 
will publish an announcement in the Federal Register when the EA has 
been completed and is available to the public.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Ms. Deborah Cranswick, telephone (504) 736-2744.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 25, 1999, the MMS published the 
Call for Information and Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for 
proposed Eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 181 in the Federal Register 
Scoping meetings in support of the development of the Draft EIS were 
held in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana in July 1999. The Draft EIS was 
released in December 5, 2000, and public hearings on the Draft EIS were 
held in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana in January 2001. The Final EIS 
was released in July 2001. The Final EIS evaluated three sale-area 
configurations and a no action alternative, as well as eleven 
mitigation measures in the form of lease stipulations. The current 
reduced-area proposal was not one of the alternatives evaluated in the 
Final EIS because the reduced-area sale configuration was developed 
after publication of the Final EIS; only three of the proposed lease 
stipulations are applicable to the reduced sale area. The issues and 
resources addressed in the EIS will be addressed in the EA for the 
reduced sale area.
    The reduced lease sale area represents about 25 percent of the 
original proposed Lease Sale area. The reduced Lease Sale 181 area 
encompasses 256 blocks, about 1.5 million acres, located 100 to 200 
miles offshore Alabama in water depths ranging from 1,600 to 3,000 
meters. The proposed Sale area contains 1.25 trillion cubic feet of 
natural gas and 185 million barrels of oil. It is estimated that leases 
issued as a result of this Sale could lead to the production of 0.015 
to 0.115 billion barrels of oil and 0.225 to 0.750 trillion cubic feet 
of gas.

Public Comments

    The MMS requests interested parties to submit comments specific to 
the environmental issues related to the reduced lease sale area. 
Comments should be sent to Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico 
OCS Region, Office of Leasing and Environment, Attention: Regional 
Supervisor (MS 5400), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70123-2394. Your comments must be submitted on or before 
August 27, 2001.

    Dated: July 23, 2001.
Carolita U. Kallaur,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 01-18815 Filed 7-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P