[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 76 (Wednesday, April 20, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Page 22139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-9701]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement


Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Western 
Planning Area (WPA), Oil and Gas Lease Sale for the 2007-2012 5-Year 
OCS Program

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement 
(BOEMRE), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and Public Meetings.

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SUMMARY: BOEMRE has prepared a Draft SEIS on an oil and gas lease sale 
tentatively scheduled in late 2011 for WPA Lease Sale 218, which is the 
final WPA lease sale in the 2007-2012 5-Year OCS Program. The proposed 
sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's WPA off the States of Texas and 
Louisiana. This Draft SEIS updated the environmental and socioeconomic 
analyses for the WPA Lease Sale 218, originally evaluated in the Gulf 
of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007-2012; WPA Sales 204, 207, 
210, 215, and 218; Central Planning Area (CPA) Sales 205, 206, 208, 
213, 216, and 222, Final EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018) (Multisale EIS), 
completed in April 2007. This Draft SEIS also updated the environmental 
and socioeconomic analyses for the WPA Lease Sale 218 in the GOM OCS 
Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009-2012; CPA Sales 208, 213, 216, and 222; 
WPA Sales 210, 215, and 218; Final Supplemental EIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 
2008-041) (2009-2012 SEIS), completed in September 2008.

DATES: Public meetings to obtain additional comments and information 
regarding the Draft SEIS scheduled for May 17, 2011, and May 19, 2011. 
For additional information see SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Draft SEIS 
or the public meetings, you may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of Mexico OCS 
Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (MS 5412), New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394, or by e-mail at [email protected]. You may also 
contact Mr. Goeke by telephone at (504) 736-3233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEMRE developed the Draft SEIS for WPA 
Lease Sale 218 to reflect new information made available since 
completion of the Multisale EIS and the 2009-2012 SEIS and to consider 
the Deepwater Horizon event. This Draft SEIS provides updates on the 
baseline conditions and potential environmental effects of oil and 
natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and production in the 
WPA. BOEMRE conducted an extensive search for such new information, 
from scientific journals; interviews with personnel from academic 
institutions; Federal, state, and local agencies; and various other 
sources. BOEMRE has reexamined potential impacts of routine activities 
and accidental events, including a possible large-scale event, 
associated with the proposed WPA lease sale. BOEMRE has also re-
analyzed the proposed lease sale's incremental contribution to the 
cumulative impacts on environmental and socioeconomic resources. Like 
the Multisale EIS and the 2009-2012 SEIS, the oil and gas resource 
estimates and scenario information for this Draft SEIS are presented as 
a range that would encompass the resources and activities estimated for 
this proposed lease sale.
    Draft Supplemental EIS Availability: To obtain a single printed or 
CD-ROM copy of the Draft SEIS for WPA Lease Sale 218, you may contact 
BOEMRE, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-
2394 (1-800-200-GULF). An electronic copy of the Draft SEIS (as well as 
links to the Multisale EIS and the 2009-2012 SEIS) is available at 
BOEMRE's Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html. The CD-ROM version of the Draft 
SEIS also contains copies of the Multisale EIS and the 2009-2012 SEIS.
    Several libraries along the Gulf Coast have been sent copies of the 
Draft SEIS. To find out which libraries and their locations have copies 
of the Draft Supplemental EIS for review, you may contact BOEMRE's 
Public Information Office or visit BOEMRE's Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/libraries.html.
    Comments: Federal, State, and local government agencies and other 
interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the 
Draft Supplemental EIS in one of the following two ways:
    1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on 
the WPA Lease Sale 218 Draft Supplemental EIS'' and mailed (or hand 
carried) to the Regional Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394.
    2. Electronically to the BOEMRE e-mail address: 
[email protected]. Comments should be submitted no later 
than 45 days from the publication of this NOA.
    Public Meetings: BOEMRE will hold public meetings to obtain 
additional comments and information regarding the Draft SEIS. These 
meetings are scheduled as follows:
     Tuesday, May 17, 2011; Houston Airport Marriott at George 
Bush Intercontinental, 18700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, Texas 
77032, beginning at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. CDT; and
     Thursday, May 19, 2011, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
Regulation and Enforcement, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70123, beginning at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. CDT.

    Authority:  This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations 
(40 CFR 1503) implementing the provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq. (1988)).

    Dated: April 18, 2011.
L. Renee Orr,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Energy and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-9701 Filed 4-19-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P