[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 177 (Wednesday, September 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47499-47502]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22918]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central and Western Gulf of 
Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2002-2007

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Call for information and nominations, Notice of intent to 
prepare an environmental impact statement.

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SUMMARY: MMS proposes to adopt a multisale process for the Central and 
Western Gulf of Mexico (GOM) sales in the 2002-2007 OCS Oil and Gas 
Leasing Program. This single multisale process will cover all proposed 
sales in both planning areas. The Call, the initial step in the 
process, will cover ten sales--five Central GOM sales and five Western 
GOM sales. There will also be complete National Environmental Policy 
Act, OCS Lands Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act coverage for each 
sale. We propose to prepare an Environmental Assessment for Sale 184, 
Western GOM, tiering off the previous multisale EIS for Western GOM 
Sales. We propose to prepare one multisale EIS for the remaining nine 
Central and Western GOM sales in the 2002-2007 OCS Leasing Program.

DATES: Nominations and comments must be received no later than October 
12, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the Call for 
Information and Nominations, please contact Ms. Jane Burrell Johnson, 
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood 
Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-
2811. For information on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS, please 
contact, Mr. Joseph Christopher, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2788.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 1996, MMS adopted multisale processes for 
sales in the Central and Western GOM. The multisale process for each 
planning area incorporated prelease planning and analysis steps for all 
sales proposed in the 1997-2002 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program (except 
for the first sale in the Western GOM, which was covered in a previous 
Call and EIS). MMS proposes to adopt a similar process for the Central 
and Western GOM sales in the 2002-2007 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. 
For the Proposed 5-Year Program, a single multisale process will cover 
all proposed sales in both planning areas.

[[Page 47500]]

Call for Information and Nominations

1. Authority

    This Call is published pursuant to the OCS Lands Act as amended (43 
U.S.C. 1331-1356, (1994), and the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR 
part 256).

2. Purpose of Call

    The purpose of the Call is to gather information for the following 
tentatively scheduled OCS Lease Sales in the Central and Western GOM:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Sale, OCS planning area                Tentative sale date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale 184, Western GOM..................  August 2002.
Sale 185, Central GOM..................  March 2003.
Sale 187, Western GOM..................  August 2003.
Sale 190, Central GOM..................  March 2004.
Sale 192, Western GOM..................  August 2004.
Sale 194, Central GOM..................  March 2005.
Sale 196, Western GOM..................  August 2005.
Sale 198, Central GOM..................  March 2006.
Sale 200, Western GOM..................  August 2006.
Sale 201, Central GOM..................  March 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information and nominations on oil and gas leasing, exploration, 
and development and production within the Central and Western GOM are 
sought from all interested parties. This early planning and 
consultation step is important for ensuring that all interests and 
concerns are communicated to the Department of the Interior for future 
decisions in the leasing process pursuant to the OCS Lands Act, and 
regulations at 30 CFR part 256.
    Please note this is the third issuance of a multisale Call by MMS 
and the first Call in the Proposed 5-Year Program for 2002-2007. 
Responses are requested relative to proposed sales in both the Central 
and Western GOM OCS Planning Areas. Eighteen years of experience with 
leasing at an annual areawide pace has shown that the sale proposals in 
the Central and Western GOM are very similar from year to year. This 
makes possible the use of a multisale process, described herein, to 
address decisions for all ten lease sales proposed for both the Central 
and Western GOM Planning Areas. This Call covers five sales in the 
Central Planning Area and five sales in the Western Planning Area. We 
propose to prepare an Environmental Assessment for Sale 184, Western 
GOM, tiering off the previous multisale EIS for Western GOM Sales. We 
propose to prepare one multisale EIS for the remaining nine sales in 
the 2002-2007 OCS Leasing Program. There will be complete NEPA coverage 
for each sale--an EIS, an EA, or a Supplemental EIS focusing primarily 
on new issues. We will prepare a Consistency Determination and proposed 
and final Notices of Sale for each proposed sale in accordance with 
Coastal Zone Management Act and OCS Lands Act requirements.
    This Call does not indicate a preliminary decision to lease in the 
areas described below. Final delineation of each area for possible 
leasing will be made at a later date and in compliance with applicable 
laws including all requirements of the NEPA and OCS Lands Act. 
Established Departmental procedures will be employed.

3. Description of Areas

    The general areas of this Call cover the entire Central and Western 
GOM, except for those exclusions listed in Item 4, ``Areas Excluded 
from this Call,'' under the Call for Information and Nominations. The 
Central GOM is bounded on the east by approximately 88 degrees W. 
longitude. Its western boundary begins at the offshore boundary between 
Texas and Louisiana and proceeds southeasterly to approximately 28 
degrees N. latitude, thence east to approximately 92 degrees W. 
longitude, thence south to the continental shelf boundary with Mexico 
as established by the ``Treaty Between The Government Of The United 
States Of America And The Government Of The United Mexican States On 
The Delimitation Of The Continental Shelf In The Western Gulf Of Mexico 
Beyond 200 Nautical Miles,'' which took effect in January 2001, thence 
generally eastward to approximately 88 degrees W. longitude. The 
planning area is bounded on the north by the Federal-State boundary 
offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The area available for 
nominations and comments at this time consists of approximately 47.80 
million acres, of which approximately 25.15 million acres are currently 
unleased.
    The Western GOM is bounded on the west and north by the Federal-
State boundary offshore Texas; the eastern boundary begins at the 
offshore boundary between Texas and Louisiana and proceeds 
southeasterly to approximately 28 degrees N. latitude, thence east to 
approximately 92 degrees W. longitude, thence south to the maritime 
boundary with Mexico as established by the ``Treaty Between The 
Government Of The United States Of America And The Government Of The 
United Mexican States On The Delimitation Of The Continental Shelf In 
The Western Gulf Of Mexico Beyond 200 Nautical Miles,'' which took 
effect in January 2001. The planning area lies offshore Texas and, in 
deeper water, offshore Louisiana. The area available for nominations 
and comments at this time consists of approximately 35.90 million 
acres, of which approximately 13.42 million acres are currently 
unleased.
    A standard Call for Information Map depicting the Central and 
Western GOM on a block-by-block basis is available without charge from: 
Minerals Management Service, Public Information Unit (MS 5034), 1201 
Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, Telephone: 
1-800-200-GULF.

4. Areas Excluded From This Call

    A.The entire Central GOM will be considered for possible leasing 
except:
    1. The following blocks which are beyond the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of 
the Eastern Gap: Lund South (Area NG16-07) Blocks 172 and 173; 213 
through 217; 252 through 261; 296 through 305; and 349.
    2. The following whole and partial blocks which are beyond the 
United States Exclusive Economic Zone in the area formerly known as the 
northern portion of the Western Gap and which lie within the 1.4 
nautical mile buffer zone north of the continental shelf boundary 
between the United States and Mexico:
    Partial blocks: Amery Terrace (Area NG15-09) Blocks 235 through 
238; 273 through 279; 309 through 317; and
    Whole blocks: Amery Terrace (Area NG15-09) Blocks 280, 281; 318 
through 320; and 355 through 359.
    B. The entire Western GOM will be considered for possible leasing 
except:
    1. Two blocks in the High Island Area, East Addition, South 
Extension, Blocks A-375 and A-398 (at the Flower Garden Banks), and the 
portions of other blocks within the boundary of the Flower Garden Banks 
National Marine Sanctuary.
    2. The following whole and partial blocks which are beyond the 
United States Exclusive Economic Zone in the area formerly known as the 
Northern Portion of the Western Gap and which lie within the 1.4 
nautical mile buffer zone north of the continental shelf boundary 
between the United States and Mexico:
    Whole blocks: Sigsbee Escarpment (Area NG15-08) Blocks 11, 57, 103, 
148, 149, 194, 239, 284, and 331 through 341; and
    Partial blocks: Keathley Canyon (Area NG15-05) Blocks 978 through 
980; and Sigsbee Escarpment (Area NG15-08) Blocks 12 through 14; 58 
through 60; 104 through 106; 150, 151, 195, 196, 240, 241; 285 through 
298; and 342 through 349.

[[Page 47501]]

5. Instructions on Call

    The standard Call for Information Map and indications of interest 
and comments must be submitted to: Ms. Jane Burrell Johnson, Minerals 
Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. Envelopes should be 
labeled ``Nominations for Proposed 2002-2007 Lease Sales in the Central 
and Western Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Comments on the Call for Information 
and Nominations for Proposed 2002-2007 Lease Sales in the Central and 
Western Gulf of Mexico.''
    The standard Call for Information Map delineates the Call area, all 
of which has been identified by MMS as having potential for the 
discovery of accumulations of oil and gas. Respondents are requested to 
indicate interest in and comment on any or all of the Federal acreage 
within the boundaries of the Call area that they wish to have included 
in each of the proposed sales in the Central and Western GOM.
    Although individual indications of interest are considered to be 
privileged and proprietary information, the names of persons or 
entities indicating interest or submitting comments will be of public 
record. Those indicating such interest are required to do so on the 
standard Call for Information Map by outlining the areas of interest 
along block lines.
    Respondents should rank areas in which they have expressed interest 
according to priority of their interest (e.g., priority 1 [high], 2 
[medium], or 3 [low]). Respondents are encouraged to be specific in 
indicating blocks by priority, as blanket nominations on large areas 
are not useful in the analysis of industry interest. Areas where 
interest has been indicated but on which respondents have not indicated 
priorities will be considered priority 3 (low).
    Respondents may also submit a detailed list of blocks nominated (by 
Official Protraction Diagram and Leasing Map designations) to ensure 
correct interpretation of their nominations. Official Protraction 
Diagrams and Leasing Maps can be purchased from the Public Information 
Unit referred to above.
    Comments are sought from all interested parties about particular 
geological, environmental, biological, archaeological and socioeconomic 
conditions or conflicts, or other information that might bear upon the 
potential leasing and development of particular areas. Comments are 
also sought on possible conflicts between future OCS oil and gas 
activities that may result from the proposed sales and State Coastal 
Management Programs. If possible, these comments should identify 
specific Coastal Management Plans policies of concern, the nature of 
the conflict foreseen, and steps that MMS could take to avoid or 
mitigate the potential conflict. Comments may either be in terms of 
broad areas or restricted to particular blocks of concern. Those 
submitting comments are requested to list block numbers or outline the 
subject area on the standard Call for Information Map.

6. Use of Information From Call

    Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for 
several purposes. First, responses will be used to identify the areas 
of potential for oil and gas development. Second, comments on possible 
environmental effects and potential use conflicts will be used in the 
analysis of environmental conditions in and near the Call area. This 
information will be used to make a preliminary determination of the 
potential advantages and disadvantages of oil and gas exploration and 
development to the region and the Nation. A third purpose for this Call 
is to use the comments collected in the scoping process for the EIS and 
to develop proposed actions and alternatives. Fourth, comments may be 
used in developing lease terms and conditions to ensure safe offshore 
operations. And, fifth, comments may be used to assess potential 
conflicts between offshore gas and oil activities and a State Coastal 
Management Plan.

7. Existing Information

    MMS routinely assesses the status of information acquisition 
efforts and the quality of the information base for potential decisions 
on tentatively scheduled lease sales. As a result of this continually 
ongoing assessment, it has been determined that the status of the 
existing data available for planning, analysis, and decisionmaking is 
adequate and extensive.
    An extensive environmental studies program has been underway in the 
GOM since 1973. The emphasis, including continuing studies, has been on 
environmental characterization of biologically sensitive habitats, 
physical oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, and ecological 
effects of oil and gas activities. A complete listing of available 
study reports, and information for ordering copies, can be obtained 
from the Public Information Unit referenced under Item 3, ``Description 
of Area.'' The reports may also be ordered, for a fee, from the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service, 5285 
Port Royal Road, Springfield, Virginia 22161, or telephone (703) 487-
4650. In addition, a program status report for continuing studies in 
this area can be obtained from the Chief, Environmental Sciences 
Section (MS 5430), Gulf of Mexico OCS Region (see address under Item 3, 
``Description of Areas''), or telephone (504) 736-2752.
    Summary Reports and Indices and technical and geological reports 
are available for review at the MMS, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. Copies 
of the Gulf of Mexico OCS Regional Summary Reports may be obtained from 
the Technical Communication Service, Minerals Management Service, 381 
Elden Street, MS 4063, Herndon, Virginia 20170, phone: (703) 787-1080.

8. Tentative Schedule

    The following is a list of tentative milestone dates applicable to 
sales covered by this Call:

Multisale Process Milestones for Proposed 2002-2007 Central and Western 
GOM Sales

Call/NOI
    September 2001
Comments received on Call/NOI
    October 2001
Area Identification Decision for 10 sales (5 Western GOM and 5 
Central GOM)
    October 2001
EA completed for Western GOM Sale 184
    March 2002
Draft EIS published for 9 sales (5 Central GOM and 4 Western GOM)
    April 2002
Public Hearings on Draft EIS
    June 2002
Final EIS for 9 sales (5 Central GOM and 4 Western GOM)
    November 2002

Sale-specific Process Milestones for Proposed 2002-2007 Central and 
Western GOM Sales

Request for Information to Begin Sale-Specific Process
    12 months before each sale
Environmental Review (EA/Finding of No Significant Impact/
Supplemental EIS (EA/FONSI/SEIS)) published
    4 to 7 months before each sale
Proposed Notice and Consistency Determination
    4 months before each sale
Final Notice of Sale
    1 month before each sale
Tentative Sale Dates
    March (Central GOM) and August (Western GOM) of each year

Notice of Intent To Prepare an EIS

1. Authority

    The Notice of Intent is published pursuant to the regulations (40 
CFR 1501.7) implementing the provisions of

[[Page 47502]]

the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)).

2. Purpose of Notice of Intent

    Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural provisions 
of the NEPA, MMS is announcing its intent to prepare an EIS on the 
tentatively scheduled 2002-2007 oil and gas leasing proposals in the 
Central and Western GOM, off the States of Texas, Louisiana, 
Mississippi, and Alabama. The NOI also serves to announce the scoping 
process for this EIS. Throughout the scoping process, Federal, State, 
and local government agencies, and other interested parties have the 
opportunity to aid MMS in determining the significant issues and 
alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS.
    The EIS analysis will focus on the potential environmental effects 
of oil and natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and 
production in the areas identified through the Area Identification 
procedure as the proposed lease sale areas. Alternatives that may be 
considered for each sale are to delay the sale, cancel the sale, or 
modify the sale.
    Federal regulations allow for several proposals to be analyzed in 
one EIS (40 CFR 1502.4). Since each sale proposal and projected 
activities are very similar each year for each planning area, MMS is 
proposing to prepare a single EIS (multisale EIS) for the nine Central 
and Western Planning Area lease sales scheduled for 2002-2007 in the 
draft proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program: 
2002-2007. The multisale approach is intended to focus the NEPA/EIS 
process on differences between the proposed sales and on new issues and 
information. The multisale EIS will eliminate the repetitive issuance 
of complete draft and final EISs for each planning area. The resource 
estimates and scenario information for the EIS analyses will be 
presented as a range that would encompass the resources and activities 
estimated for any of the nine proposed lease sales. At the completion 
of this EIS process, decisions will be made only for proposed Sales 185 
and 187, scheduled to be held in 2003. Subsequent to these first sales 
in the planning areas, a NEPA review will be conducted for each of the 
other proposed lease sales in the 2002-2007 Leasing Program. Formal 
consultation with other Federal Agencies, the affected States, and the 
public will be carried out to assist in the determination of whether or 
not the information and analyses in the original multisale EIS are 
still valid. These consultations and NEPA reviews will be completed 
before decisions are made on the subsequent sales.

3. Comments

    We request that Federal, State, local government agencies, and 
other interested parties send their written comments on the scope of 
the EIS, significant issues that should be addressed, and alternatives 
that should be considered to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and 
Environment, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, 
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2788 or 1-800-
200-GULF. Please enclose your comments in an envelope labeled 
``Comments on the Multisale EIS.'' MMS will hold scoping meetings in 
appropriate locations to obtain additional comments and information 
regarding the scope of the EIS. We will announce the scoping meetings 
in the Federal Register and advertise the meetings in local community 
newspapers.

    Dated: August 29, 2001.
Thomas R. Kitsos,
Acting Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. 01-22918 Filed 9-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P