[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 106 (Monday, June 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38289-38290]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13787]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment for 
Exploration Activities in the Sale Area of the Eastern Planning Area of 
the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is preparing a 
programmatic environmental assessment (EA) for exploration drilling and 
associated activities in the sale area of the Eastern Planning Area 
(EPA) on the Gulf of Mexico outer continental shelf (OCS). The MMS will 
receive Exploration Plans (EP) from industry operators with valid 
leases within the 256-block area that was offered in Lease Sale 181 
(December 2001), from operators with valid leases acquired prior to 
Lease Sale 181, or from operators with valid leases that may be issued 
in any subsequent lease sales held in this area. This programmatic EA 
is intended to consider the areawide environmental impacts of 
exploration drilling in this area. Subsequent site-specific EA's 
prepared by MMS for an operator's EP can then be tiered from the 
programmatic EA and the analyses can be focused on the specific 
activities proposed. Three mitigation measures in the form of lease 
stipulations are included in the leases issued as result of Lease Sale 
181.
    This programmatic EA implements the tiering process outlined in 40 
CFR 1502.20, which encourages agencies to tier environmental documents, 
eliminating repetitive discussions of the same issue. This programmatic 
EA will be tiered from the recent final environmental impact statement 
(EIS) for Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 181 (MMS 2001-051) 
and the EA (MMS 2001-083) prepared for the reduced area proposed for 
Lease Sale 181.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Mr. Thomas W. Bjerstedt, telephone (504) 736-5743.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In July 2001, the MMS released the final EIS 
for proposed Eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 181. 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 Revised Proposal for Eastern Gulf of Mexico Lease 
Sale 181 was not one of the alternatives evaluated in the final EIS 
because the Revised Proposal was developed after publication of the 
final EIS. An EA was prepared to evaluate potential impacts within the 
area of the Revised Proposal and a finding of no new significant 
impacts was made on September 26, 2001. Only three of the eleven 
proposed lease stipulations evaluated in the final EIS were applicable 
to the reduced area for Lease Sale 181.
    The issues and resources identified for and addressed in the final 
EIS (MMS 2001-051) that were applicable to the Revised Proposal were 
evaluated in the EA (MMS 2001-083). The programmatic EA that is the 
subject of this Notice is being prepared to evaluate the issues and 
potential environmental impacts related to exploratory drilling and 
associated activities in the EPA sale area.

[[Page 38290]]

Public Comments

    The MMS requests interested parties to submit comments regarding 
any new information or issues that should be addressed in the 
programmatic EA to Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS 
Region, Office of Leasing and Environment, Attention: Regional 
Supervisor (MS 5410), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70123-2394. Comments should be submitted no later than 30 
days after the publication of this Notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: May 2, 2002.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 02-13787 Filed 5-31-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P