[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48268-48271]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23344]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Alaska Region, Beaufort Sea, Oil 
and Gas Lease Sales 186, 195, and 202 for Years 2003, 2005, and 2007

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations and Notice of Intent 
(Call/NOI) to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The Secretary's preliminary decision to consider three sales 
in the Beaufort Sea planning area in the Draft Proposed OCS Oil and Gas 
Leasing Program for 2002-2007 (DPP) provides for the first sale to be 
held in 2003, with subsequent sales in 2005 and 2007. The MMS has 
modified its prelease planning and decision process for proposed 
Beaufort Sea sales included in the DPP. This Call/NOI reflects that 
change and is in keeping with the Secretary's preliminary decision to 
analyze these three sales in a multi-sale EIS. The sale process for 
this first sale will require a minimum of 2 years to complete. In order 
to meet the requirements of that schedule, we are issuing this Call/NOI 
at this time, recognizing that the final decision on the 2002-2007 5-
year program has not been made and final delineation of the program 
areas and number of sales may change from that included in the DPP.

DATES: Nominations and comments on the Call for Information and 
comments on the Notice of Intent must be received no later than 
November 5, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please call Tom Warren at (907) 271-
6691 in MMS's Alaska OCS Region regarding questions on the Call/NOI.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The multi-sale review process is based on 
over 25 years of leasing in the Beaufort Sea. The process will 
incorporate planning and analysis for three tentatively scheduled 
sales: Sales 186, 195, and 202. From the initial step in the process 
(the Call/NOI) through the final EIS/Consistency Determination step, 
this process will cover multiple sale proposals. However, there will 
also be complete National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), OCS Lands 
Act, and Coastal Zone Management Act coverage for each sale after the 
first sale--either an Environmental Assessment or Supplemental EIS; 
Consistency Determination; and a proposed and final Notice of Sale.
    The environmental analysis and the Consistency Determination for 
subsequent sales (195 and 202) will focus primarily on new issues or 
changes in a State's federally-approved coastal management plan. This 
process will

--Focus the environmental analysis by making impact types and levels 
that change between sales more easily recognizable for all reviewers;
--Result in new issues being more easily highlighted for the public;
--Eliminate issuance and public review of repetitive, voluminous EISs 
for each sale--a practice that has resulted in ``review burnout'' by 
Federal, State, local and tribal governments, and the public; and
--Result in a more efficient and responsive application of NEPA.

    This Call does not indicate a preliminary decision to lease in the 
area described in Call for Information and Nominations, Item 3, 
``Description of Area,'' below. Final delineation of the areas for 
possible leasing will be made at a later date in the presale process 
for each sale in compliance with the final 5-year program and with 
applicable

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laws including all requirements of the NEPA and the OCS Lands Act.

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)), the regulations issued thereunder (30 CFR 
part 256); and in accordance with the Draft Proposed Outer Continental 
Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2002 to 2007.

2. Purpose of Call

    The purpose of the Call is to gather preliminary information for 
the following tentatively scheduled OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales in the 
Beaufort Sea:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Sale No.                        Tentative sale date
------------------------------------------------------------------------
186.......................................  Fall 2003.
195.......................................  Spring 2005.
202.......................................  Spring 2007.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Information and nominations on oil and gas leasing, exploration, 
and development and production within the Beaufort Sea 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.
    Responses are requested relative to all sales included herein. This 
Call/NOI is being issued in accordance with the Draft Proposed Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program 2002 to 2007 (DPP) 
published on July 23, 2001 (66 FR 38314). The DPP chose a three sale 
option for leasing in the Beaufort Sea in the 2002-2007 5-year program.

3. Description of Area

    The area that is the subject of this Call is located offshore the 
State of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea Planning Area. It extends offshore 
from about 3 to approximately 60 nautical miles, in water depths from 
approximately 25 feet to 200 feet. A small portion of the outer limits 
of the sale area north of Harrison Bay drops to approximately 3,000 
feet. This area consists of approximately 1,898 whole and partial 
blocks (about 9.9 million acres). A page size map of the area 
accompanies this Notice. A large scale Call map showing the boundaries 
of the area on a block-by-block basis is available without charge from 
the Records Manager at the address given below, or by telephone request 
at (907) 271-6621. Copies of Official Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) are 
also available for $2 each. Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management 
Service 949 East 36th Avenue, Room 308, Anchorage, Alaska 99508-4302, 
http://www.mms.gov/alaska.

4. Instructions on Call

    The Call for Information Map and indications of interest and/or 
comments must be submitted to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and 
Environment, at the address under Item 3, ``Description of Area.''
    The Call map delineates the area that is the subject of this Call. 
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 
Beaufort Sea.
    If you wish to comment, you may submit your comments by any one of 
the following methods:
     You may mail comments to the address under Item 3. 
Envelopes should be labeled ``Nominations for Proposed 2002-2007 Lease 
sales in the Beaufort Sea,'' or ``Comments on the Call for Information 
and Nominations for Proposed Lease Sales in the Beaufort Sea,'' as 
appropriate.
     You may also comment via e-mail to [email protected]. Please submit Internet comments as an ASCII file avoiding 
the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Please also 
include ``Attn: Comments on Call for Information and Nominations for 
Proposed 2002-2007 Lease Sales in the Beaufort Sea'' and your name and 
return address in your Internet message. If you do not receive a 
confirmation from the system that we have received your Internet 
message, contact us directly at (907) 271-6621.
     Finally, you may hand-deliver comments to the address 
under Item 3.
    Our practice is to make comments, including names and addresses of 
respondents, available for public review during regular business hours. 
Individual respondents may request that we withhold their address from 
the rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent allowable by 
law. There also may be circumstances in which we would withhold a 
respondent's identity, as allowable by law. If you wish us to withhold 
your name and/or address, you must state this prominently at the 
beginning of your comment. However, we will not consider anonymous 
comments. We will make all submissions from organizations or 
businesses, and from individuals identifying themselves as 
representatives or officials of organizations or businesses, available 
for public inspection in their entirety.
    A. Areas of Interest to the Oil and Gas Industry. Specific 
nominations are being sought regarding the oil and gas industry area(s) 
of interest. MMS is soliciting nominations of blocks that are of 
significant industry interest for exploration and development and 
production.
    Nominations must be depicted on the Call map by outlining the 
area(s) of interest along block lines. Nominators are asked to submit a 
list of whole and partial blocks nominated (by OPD and block number) to 
facilitate correct interpretation of their nominations on the Call map. 
Although the identities of those submitting nominations become a matter 
of public record, the individual nominations are proprietary 
information.
    Nominators also are requested to rank blocks nominated according to 
priority of interest (e.g., priority 1 (high), or 2 (medium)). Blocks 
nominated that do not indicate priorities will be considered priority 3 
(low). Nominators must be specific in indicating blocks by priority and 
be prepared to discuss their range of interest and activity regarding 
the nominated area(s). The telephone number and name of a person to 
contact in the nominator's organization for additional information 
should be included in the response. This person will be contacted to 
set up a mutually agreeable time and place for a meeting with the 
Alaska OCS regional office to present their views regarding the 
company's nominations.
    B. Relation to Coastal Management Plans. Comments also are sought 
on potential conflicts with approved local coastal management plans 
(CMP) that may result from the proposed sale and future OCS oil and gas 
activities. These comments should identify specific CMP policies of 
concern, the nature of the conflicts foreseen, and steps that MMS could 
take to avoid or mitigate the potential conflicts. Comments may be in 
terms of broad areas or restricted to particular blocks of concern. 
Commenters are requested to list block numbers or outline the subject 
area on the large-scale Call map.

5. Use of Information From Call

    Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for 
several purposes. Responses will be used to:

--Help identify areas of potential oil and gas development;
--Identify environmental effects and potential use conflicts;
--Assist in the scoping process for the EIS;

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--Develop possible alternatives to the proposed action;
--Develop lease terms and conditions/mitigating measures; and
--Identify potential conflicts between oil and gas activities and the 
Alaska CMP.

6. Existing Information

    MMS has acquired a substantial amount of information, including 
that gained through the use of traditional knowledge, on the issues and 
concerns related to oil and gas leasing in the Beaufort Sea.
    An extensive environmental, social, and economic studies program 
has been underway in this area since 1975. The emphasis has been on 
geologic mapping, environmental characterization of biologically 
sensitive habitats, endangered whales and marine mammals, physical 
oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, and ecological and socio-
cultural effects of oil and gas activities.
    Information on the studies program, completed studies, and a 
program status report for continuing studies in this area may be 
obtained from the Chief, Environmental Studies Section, Alaska OCS 
Region, by telephone request at (907) 271-6577, or by written request 
at the address stated under ``Description of Area,'' Item 3. A request 
may also be made via the Alaska Region website at www.mms.gov/alaska/ref/pubindex/pubsindex.htm.

7. Tentative Schedule

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Multi-sale process
                                            milestones for proposed 2002-
                                             2007 Beaufort Sea Sale 186
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call/NOI published........................  September 2001.
Comments due on Call/NOI..................  October 2001.
Area Identification.......................  November 2001.
Draft EIS published.......................  May 2002.
Public Hearings...........................  July 2002.
Final EIS/Consistency Determination/        February 2003.
 Proposed Notice of Sale issued.
Governor's Comments due (Sale 186)........  May 2003.
Final Notice of Sale published (Sale 186).  August 2003.
Sale 186..................................  September 2003.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Sale-specific process
                                            milestones for proposed 2002-
                                            2007 Beaufort Sea Sales 195,
                                                         202
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request for Information to Begin Sale-      18 months before each sale.
 Specific Process.
Area Identification.......................  15 months before each sale.
NEPA Review published.....................  6 to 8 months before each
                                             sale.
Proposed Notice and Consistency             6 months before each sale.
 Determination.
Final Notice of Sale......................  45 days before each sale.
Tentative Sale Date.......................  March.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement

1. Authority

    The NOI is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) 
implementing the provisions of the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 
4321 et seq. (1988)).

2. Purpose of Notice of Intent

    Pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) implementing the 
procedural provisions of the NEPA of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), MMS 
is announcing its intent to prepare a multi-sale EIS on the tentatively 
scheduled oil and gas lease sales in the Beaufort Sea off Alaska for 
the 5-year program period of July 2002 through June 2007. The EIS 
analysis will focus on the potential environmental effects of three 
sales, and exploration and development and production of the areas 
defined in the Area Identification procedure as the proposed areas of 
the Federal actions. Alternatives to the proposals which may be 
considered for each individual sale are to delay the sale, modify the 
sale, or cancel the sale. These and any additional alternatives 
developed through the process for each individual sale will be 
considered in the sale-specific decision process. This Notice of Intent 
also serves to announce the initiation of the scoping process for this 
EIS. Throughout the scoping process, Federal, State, tribal, and local 
governments and other interested parties aid MMS in determining the 
significant issues and alternatives to be analyzed in the EIS and the 
possible need for additional information.

3. New EIS Procedure

    The MMS is proposing to prepare a single EIS for all three proposed 
Beaufort Sea sales from 2002 to 2007. The resource estimates and 
scenario information on which the EIS analysis are based will be 
presented as a range of resources and activities that would encompass 
any of the three proposed sales in the Beaufort Sea.
    This proposal will provide several benefits. It will focus the NEPA 
process by making impact types and levels that change between sales 
more easily recognizable. New issues will be more easily highlighted 
for the decisionmakers and the public. It will also eliminate the 
repetitive issuance of a complete EIS for each sale, a practice that 
has resulted in ``review burnout in Federal, State, tribal, and local 
governments, and the public.
    The proposed actions analyzed in the EIS will be each of the sales 
on the 5-year schedule for the Beaufort Sea planning area. The EIS will 
include an analysis of the environmental effects of holding three 
sales. The scenario will cover a range of resources and activities that 
will encompass any of the three proposed actions. Later sales can then 
be compared to the initial analysis in an Environmental Assessment or 
supplemental EIS. Formal consultation with the public will be initiated 
in subsequent years to obtain input to assist in the determination of 
whether or not the information and analyses in the original multi-sale 
EIS are still valid. A sale-specific Information Request will be issued 
that will specifically describe the action for which we are requesting 
input.

4. Instructions on Notice of Intent

    Federal, state, tribal, and local governments and other interested 
parties are requested to 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, Alaska OCS Region, at the address stated under Call for 
Information and Nominations, Item 4, ``Instructions on Call.'' Comments 
should be enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on the Notice of 
Intent to Prepare an EIS on Proposed Beaufort Sea Lease Sales Included 
in the 5-Year Program, 2002-2007.'' Scoping meetings will be held in 
appropriate locations to obtain additional comments and information 
regarding the scope of this EIS.

    Dated: August 27, 2001.
Thomas R. Kitsos,
Acting Director, Minerals Management Service.

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[FR Doc. 01-23344 Filed 9-18-01; 8:45 am]
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