[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 156 (Monday, August 14, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Page 46508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13208]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment, Arctic Ocean 
Continental Shelf Seismic Surveys--2006

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Programmatic Environmental 
Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prepared a final 
programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) for proposed seismic 
surveys in the Arctic Ocean Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in 2006. In 
this PEA, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2006-038, MMS examined the potential 
environmental effects of the proposed action and its alternatives. 
Based on MMS's examination in the draft PEA of the potential impacts 
associated with the Proposed Action and review of comments received 
from the public and agencies, Alternative 6 (Seismic Surveys for 
Geophysical Exploration Activities would be Permitted with Existing 
Alaska OCS Geological and Geophysical Exploration Stipulations and 
Guidelines and Additional Protective Measures for Marine Mammals, 
including a 180/190 dB Specified-Exclusion Zone) is MMS's Selected 
Alternative. The Selected Alternative and the incorporated mitigation 
measures fulfill MMS's statutory mission and responsibilities and the 
stated purpose and need for the Proposed Action (to issue geophysical 
exploration permits for seismic surveys that are technically safe and 
environmentally sound) while considering environmental, technical, and 
economic factors. By incorporating mitigation measures into the 
Selected Alternative and designating them as permit stipulations and/or 
conditions of approval, MMS has determined that no significant adverse 
effects (40 CFR 1508.27) on the quality of the human environment would 
occur from the Selected Alternative. Therefore, an environmental impact 
statement is not required and MMS has issued a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI). The National Marine Fisheries Service was a 
cooperating agency on the PEA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Alaska 
OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, 500, Anchorage, Alaska 
99503-5820, Deborah Cranswick, telephone (907) 334-5267.
    EA Availability: To obtain a copy of the final PEA and FONSI, you 
may contact the Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 
Attention: Ms. Nikki Lewis, 3801 Centerpoint Drive 500, 
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5820, telephone (907) 334-5206. You may also 
view the EA on the MMS Web site at http://www.mms.gov/alaska.

    Dated: July 10, 2006.
John T. Goll,
Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region.
[FR Doc. E6-13208 Filed 8-11-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P