[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50205-50206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24585]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service (MMS)


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

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of dates and locations of scoping meetings for the 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

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SUMMARY: The MMS is proposing to prepare a single EIS (multisale EIS) 
for the nine areawide oil and gas lease sales in the Central and 
Western Planning Areas (CPA and WPA) scheduled for

[[Page 50206]]

2003-2007 in the draft proposed Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leasing Program: 2002-2007. The MMS will be soliciting information from 
States, local governments, the oil and gas industry, Federal Agencies, 
environmental and other interested organizations, and the public 
regarding issues and alternatives that should be evaluated in the EIS. 
The scoping meetings will provide information for the development of 
appropriate alternatives and mitigating measures, as well as to 
identify significant issues, to be considered in the draft EIS. 
Respondents are requested to focus their comments on the significant 
environmental issues attendant to OCS oil and gas leasing and 
development in the CPA and WPA and on alternative options for the size, 
timing, and location of sales.

DATES: The scoping meetings will be held on the following dates and at 
the times and locations indicated. Monday, October 15, 2001, The 
Victorian Condo-Hotel and Conference Center, 6300 Seawall Boulevard, 
Galveston, Texas, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2001, 
Houston Airport Marriott, 18700 Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 1:00 
p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Thursday, October 18, 2001, Ramada Plaza Hotel, 600 
S. Beltline Highway, Mobile, Alabama, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday, 
October 22, 2001, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the scoping 
meetings or the multisale 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-
2774.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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, the MMS is preparing a multisale EIS for the nine CPA 
and WPA lease sales. The multisale approach is intended to focus the 
NEPA/EIS process on new issues and information for the annual 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. 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 
in the CPA and WPA. 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 (CMP). If 
possible, these comments should identify specific CMP policies of 
concern, the nature of the conflict foreseen, and steps that the MMS 
could take to avoid or mitigate the potential conflict.

    Dated: September 10, 2001.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 01-24585 Filed 10-1-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P