[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6867]



[[Page 72649]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Environmental Document Prepared for Proposed Mineral Exploration 
on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of environmental document prepared 
for Outer Continental Shelf mineral exploration.

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SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with Federal 
regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA), announces the availability of a NEPA-related Environmental 
Assessment (EA) prepared by MMS for proposed oil and gas exploration on 
the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This listing includes the 
only proposal for which a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was 
prepared by the Alaska OCS Office in the 3-month period preceding this 
Notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in reviewing 
environmental documents for the proposal listed above, or in obtaining 
information about EAs and FONSIs prepared for activities on the Alaska 
OCS, are encouraged to contact the Alaska OCS Regional office of MMS.
    The FONSI and associated EA are available for public inspection 
between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at: 
Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, 
Suite 500, Anchorage, AK 99503-5823, phone: (907) 334-5200 or contact 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposal. The proposal is for a geophysical 
(seismic) survey of the Cosmopolitan Unit on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) in Lower Cook Inlet. During November 2003, MMS filed with 
the Environmental Protection Agency a multiple-sale EIS assessing the 
general effects of leasing and exploration activities including seismic 
surveys in Lower Cook Inlet. This EA tiers from the multiple-sale EIS, 
incorporating it by reference. The EA examines the potential 
environmental effects of the specific proposed survey of the 
Cosmopolitan Unit and of alternatives with additional mitigation.
    Location: Lower Cook Inlet.
    EA Number: OCS EIS/EA MMS 2005-045.
    FONSI Date: July 20, 2005.
    The MMS prepares EAs and FONSIs on proposed seismic exploration 
programs. The documents examine the potential environmental effects of 
the proposed exploration and present MMS conclusions regarding the 
significance of those effects. The EAs are used for determining whether 
or not approvals would significantly affect the quality of the human 
environment in the sense of NEPA 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in 
those instances where MMS finds that approval would not cause 
significant effects. The FONSI briefly presents the basis for that 
finding and includes a summary of the EA.
    This Notice constitutes the public Notice of Availability of 
environmental documents required under the NEPA regulations.

    Dated: November 10, 2005.
John Goll,
Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E5-6867 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P