[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52149-52150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25747]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Environmental Assessment for Proposed Eastern Gulf of Mexico 
Lease Sale 181

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Availability of the environmental assessment for proposed 
Eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 181.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prepared an 
environmental assessment (EA) on the Revised Proposal for Eastern Gulf 
of Mexico (GOM) Lease Sale 181. The EA was prepared to determine 
whether there are any new significant issues or environmental impacts 
that might occur as a result of offering a reduced-area configuration 
of proposed Eastern Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 181, and 
whether a supplemental environmental impact statement (EIS) should be 
prepared. The EA implements the ``incorporation by reference'' process 
outlined in 40 CFR 1502.21, which encourages agencies to incorporate 
material by reference to ``cut down on the bulk without impeding agency 
and public review of the action.'' Because the recent Final EIS for 
Lease Sale 181 examined the potential environmental impacts of 
activities similar to those projected for the Revised Proposal, the EA 
incorporates much of the material of the Final EIS by reference. The 
EA, used in conjunction with the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease 
Sale 181 Final Environmental Impact Statement, can be used to compare 
the types, intensities, and areal extents of the impacts expected to be 
associated with the original proposed action analyzed in the Final EIS 
to the impacts expected to be associated with the Revised Proposal 
examined in the EA.
    No new significant impacts were identified for the Revised Proposal 
that were not already assessed in the Final EIS for Lease Sale 181. The 
MMS determined that a supplemental EIS is not required and prepared a 
Finding of No New Significant Impact.
    A copy of the EA is available to the public upon request from the 
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: 
Public

[[Page 52150]]

Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, 
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 or by calling 1-800-200-GULF.

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.

    Dated: October 9, 2001.
Carolita U. Kallaur,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 01-25747 Filed 10-11-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P