[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 39 (Tuesday, March 1, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9965-9966]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-3914]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Structure-Removal 
Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service has prepared an environmental 
assessment (EA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of 
structure-removal activities on the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS). The activities analyzed in the EA include 
vessel and equipment mobilization, structure preparation, nonexplosive- 
and explosive-severance activities, post-severance lifting and salvage, 
and site-clearance verification. The impact-producing factors of 
structure removals considered in the EA include seafloor disturbances, 
air emissions and water discharges, pressure and acoustic energy from 
explosive detonations, and space-use conflicts with other OCS users.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, Mr. Dennis Chew, (504) 736-2793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS requires operators engaged in 
activities on the OCS, including structure-removal or decommissioning 
activities, to comply with the OCS Lands Act of 1953, as amended, and 
its implementing regulations for operations at 30 CFR part 250, and 
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 Structure-Removal Operations EA, 
current (the status quo) and additional feasible mitigation measures 
were considered and evaluated to reduce further the potential for 
impacts to marine mammals, sea turtles, archaeological artifacts, and 
sensitive biological features. Based on established significance 
criteria, the results of the impact analyses are that structure-removal 
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, and negligible 
to potentially adverse but not significant impacts were identified for 
sea turtles. No potentially significant impacts were identified for air 
and water quality; fish, benthic, and archaeological resources; or 
other OCS pipeline, navigation, and military uses. The EA has resulted 
in a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). Based on this EA, we 
have concluded that the structure-removal 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 (NOAA) for small 
``takes'' incidental to explosive-severance activities in the GOM, 
under the enabling regulations of the Marine Mammal Protection Act. 
Information from the EA will also be used in documentation for a formal 
consultation with NOAA under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act 
(50 CFR 402.14).
    Public Comments: Interested parties may submit comments on this EA/
FONSI within 30 days of this Notice's publication to the Regional 
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Gulf of Mexico OCS 
Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New 
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. Comments may be submitted in one of the 
following three ways:
    1. Comments may be submitted using MMS's new Public Connect on-line 
commenting system at https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. This is the preferred 
method for commenting. From the Public Connect ``Welcome'' screen,

[[Page 9966]]

search for ``Programmatic Environmental Assessment of Structure-Removal 
Operations on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf'' or select it 
from the ``Projects Open for Comment'' menu.
    2. Written comments may be enclosed in an envelope labeled 
``Comments on Structure-Removal Operations EA/FONSI'' and mailed to the 
above address.
    3. Comments may be sent to the MMS e-mail address: 
[email protected]. All comments received will be considered in the 
decisionmaking process for structure-removal operations.
    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 my also 
view the EA on the MMS Web site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov.

    Dated: November 22, 2004.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 05-3914 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P