[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Page 45851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-17401]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Geological and 
Geophysical Exploration for Mineral Resources on the Gulf of Mexico 
Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prepared an 
environmental assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental 
impacts of geological and geophysical (G&G) activities in the Gulf of 
Mexico. The activities analyzed in the EA include seismic surveys, 
deep-tow side-scan surveys, electromagnetic surveys, geological and 
geochemical sampling, and remote-sensing surveys. The impact-producing 
factors considered in the EA include seismic survey noise, vessel and 
aircraft noise, seafloor disturbance, and space-use conflicts with 
seismic arrays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Dr. Richard Defenbaugh, (504) 736-2759.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS currently requires operators engaged 
in activities on the OCS, including G&G activities, to comply with a 
number of lease stipulations, Notices to Lessees, and other mitigation 
measures designed to reduce or eliminate impacts to sensitive 
environmental resources from impact-producing factors such as vessel or 
aircraft traffic, anchoring, and trash and debris. As part of the 
impact analyses completed in the G&G EA, current protective and 
mitigation measures were evaluated. Additional feasible mitigation 
measures were also considered, as were potential restrictions on 
concurrent operations within close proximity to one another, as viable 
alternatives to further reduce the potential for impacts to marine 
mammals. Based on established significance criteria, the results of the 
impact analyses are that G&G activities are not expected to result in 
significant adverse impacts to any of the potentially affected 
resources. Potentially adverse but not significant impacts were 
identified for marine mammals (except the manatee) and commercial and 
recreational fishing; negligible to potentially adverse but not 
significant impacts were identified for sea turtles, fish, and benthic 
communities; and negligible impacts were identified for coastal and 
marine birds and the manatee. The EA has resulted in a Finding of No 
Significant Impact. Based on this EA, we have concluded that the G&G 
activities evaluated in the EA will not significantly affect the 
quality of the human environment. Preparation of an environmental 
impact statement is not required. The EA will be included as part of 
the information package used to petition the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration for small ``takes'' incidental to seismic 
surveys in the Gulf of Mexico, under the enabling regulations of the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act.
    EA Availability: To obtain a copy of the EA, you may contact the 
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Attention: 
Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 
114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF). You may also 
view the EA on the MMS Web site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov.

    Dated: June 23, 2004.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 04-17401 Filed 7-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P