[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 7966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3004]



[[Page 7966]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Pacific Region, Environmental 
Documents Prepared for Granting Suspensions of Production or Operations 
for Nine Units and One Non-Unitized Lease Located on the Federal OCS 
Offshore California

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTIONS: Notice of Availability of Environmental Assessments (EAs) and 
Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI).

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

SUMMARY: The MMS prepared six EAs for processing applications for 
Suspensions of Production or Operations for nine units and one non-
unitized lease located on the Pacific OCS and issued a FONSI for each 
EA pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA). These environmental documents are available on MMS's Web 
site at http://www.mms.gov/omm/pacific.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Pacific 
OCS Region, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Camarillo, California 93010, Mr. 
Maurice Hill, telephone (805) 389-7815.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A suspension is defined as a deferral of the 
requirement to produce or to conduct leaseholding operations. The 
length of the suspensions analyzed in the EAs varies by application to 
allow unit/lease operators time to conduct the activities described in 
their suspension applications. Each EA provides an analysis of 
activities that would occur during the suspensions and includes three 
alternatives: (1) Grant Suspension(s) (Proposed Action), (2) Deny 
Suspension(s), and (3) No Action. A decision by MMS on the suspensions 
will not take place until after they have been subject to the 
consistency review process set forth in the Coastal Zone Management 
Act.
    The MMS prepares NEPA documents for Federal OCS oil and gas 
exploration and development activities and other operations. The MMS 
prepares EAs to determine whether proposed projects or operations 
constitute a major Federal action that significantly affects the 
quality of the human environment as described in NEPA Section 
102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in those instances where the MMS finds 
that approval will not result in significant effects on the quality of 
the human environment. The FONSI briefly presents the basis for that 
finding and includes a summary or copy of the EA. MMS completed the EAs 
and issued the FONSIs on February 11, 2005. This Notice constitutes the 
public Notice of Availability of environmental documents required under 
the NEPA regulations.

    Dated: February 4, 2005.
Thomas A. Readinger,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 05-3004 Filed 2-15-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P