[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 73 (Wednesday, April 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 18670]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9330]



[[Page 18670]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Notice of Preparation of a Programmatic Environmental Assessment 
for Structure Removal Operations in the Gulf of Mexico (2003)

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Preparation of a programmatic environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) will prepare a 
programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to assess the potential 
impacts of explosive and nonexplosive structure removal operations in 
the Gulf of Mexico. Preparation of the PEA is an important step in the 
decision process for future permitting for the removal of offshore 
structures and for further consultation and coordination with other 
Federal agencies.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Mr. T.J. Broussard, telephone (504) 736-3245.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The PEA will focus on the decommissioning 
activities related to the explosive and non-explosive severing of 
seafloor obstructions and facilities (e.g., wellheads, caissons, 
conductors, platforms, mooring devices) and the subsequent salvage 
operations that may be employed. The PEA will examine the potential 
impacts of structure removal operations on marine and socioeconomic 
environments. The geographic area of the proposed action includes all 
water depths of the Central and Western Planning Areas and the 256-
block area currently available for leasing in the Eastern Planning 
Area. The PEA will be used as part of the rulemaking process by the 
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration for incidental 
take regulations under Subpart I of the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
and to initiate consultation for explosive, structure removal 
operations under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Topics of 
primary concern to be addressed in the PEA include removal 
technologies, industry needs related to water depth and location, and 
the potential impacts of structure removal operations on marine and 
socioeconomic environments.
    Public Comments: The MMS requests that affected and/or interested 
parties submit their comments regarding any information or issues that 
should be addressed in the PEA to the 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 enclosed in an 
envelope labeled ``Comments on the Structure Removal Operations PEA.'' 
You may also comment by e-mail to [email protected]. Our practice is 
to make comments, including names and home addresses of respondents, 
available for public review during regular business hours. Individual 
respondents may request that we withhold their home address from the 
rulemaking record, which we will honor to the extent 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. Comments 
must be submitted no later than 30 days from the date of publication of 
this Notice in the Federal Register.

    Dated: March 25, 2003.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 03-9330 Filed 4-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P