[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 103 (Friday, May 27, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30956-30957]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-12720]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
Outer Continental Shelf, Alaska OCS Region, Chukchi Sea Planning
Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
(BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability of a Revised Draft Supplemental
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and public hearings.
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SUMMARY: BOEMRE announces the availability of a Revised Draft SEIS, OCS
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193, Chukchi Sea, Alaska (OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE
2010-034) for public review and comment, as well as the date, location,
and time for public hearings.
BOEMRE prepared this Revised Draft SEIS pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq., the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations that
implement the procedural provisions of NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508),
and the July 21, 2010, remand order issued by the United States
District Court for the District of Alaska. The Revised Draft SEIS
augments the analysis of the Final EIS, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193,
Chukchi Sea Planning Area (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-026).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sharon Warren or Mr. Mike
Routhier, BOEMRE, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5820. You may also contact Ms. Warren or Mr.
Routhier by telephone at 907-334-5200.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In May 2007, BOEMRE (formerly Minerals
Management Service) published the Final EIS for Oil and Gas Lease Sale
193, Chukchi Sea (OCS EISIEA MMS 2007-0026) that evaluated the
potential effects of the proposed sale and three alternatives: A no
action alternative and two alternatives that incorporate deferral areas
of varying size along the coastward edge of the proposed sale area.
On January 31, 2008, a lawsuit challenging Oil and Gas Lease Sale
193, Chukchi Sea alleging violations pursuant to NEPA and the
Endangered Species Act was filed with the U.S. District Court for the
District of Alaska [Native Village of Point Hope et al., v. Salazar,
No. 1:08-cv-00004-RRB (D. Alaska)]. The sale was conducted in February
2008. BOEMRE received high bids totaling approximately $2.6 billion and
487 leases were issued.
In July 2010, the District Court remanded the matter for further
NEPA analysis in accordance with its order. The District Court amended
this order in August 2010. The District Court directed BOEMRE to
address three concerns: (1) Analyze the environmental impact of natural
gas development; (2) determine whether missing information identified
by BOEMRE in the Final EIS for Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193 was essential
or relevant under 40 CFR 1502.22; and (3) determine whether the cost of
obtaining the missing information was exorbitant, or the means of doing
so unknown.
BOEMRE completed a Draft SEIS addressing each of these concerns,
published the Draft SEIS for public comment on October 15, 2010, and
provided a 45-day comment period. BOEMRE received over 150,000 comments
on the Draft SEIS. Citing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, many
commenters requested an analysis that takes into account the
possibility of a blowout and oil spill during exploration. After
reviewing those comments, BOEMRE has determined that it is appropriate
to provide analysis of a very large oil spill (VLOS) from a
hypothetical exploration well blowout. The VLOS analysis is presented
in the Revised Draft SEIS along with the analysis of those issues on
remand.
The Final Supplemental EIS will provide the Secretary with
sufficient information and analyses to make an informed decision on
whether to affirm, modify, or cancel Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193,
Chukchi Sea.
Revised Draft Supplemental EIS Availability: To obtain a copy of
the Revised Draft SEIS, you may contact BOEMRE, Alaska OCS Region, 3801
Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5820, telephone
907-334-5200. You may also view the Revised Draft SEIS at the above
address, on the BOEMRE Web site at http://alaska.boemre.gov, or at the
Alaska Resources Library and Information Service, 3211 Providence
Drive, Suite III, Anchorage, Alaska.
Public Comments: Interested parties may submit their written
comments on the Revised Draft SEIS, Lease Sale 193, Chukchi Sea until
July 11, 2011 in one of the following two ways:
1. Mail or Delivery: In written form enclosed in an envelope
labeled ``Comments on Revised Draft SEIS, Lease Sale 193 Chukchi Sea''
to the Regional Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation
and Enforcement, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5820.
2. Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
BOEMRE will consider comments received by either of the two above
methods during the comment period in preparing the Final SEIS. BOEMRE
encourages commenters to submit substantive comments on whether the
proposed action should go forward. BOEMRE cautions that, before
including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal
identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your
entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be
made publicly available at any time. While you may ask BOEMRE
(prominently at the beginning of your submission) to withhold your
personal identifying information from public view, BOEMRE cannot
guarantee that it will be able to do so. BOEMRE will not consider
anonymous comments.
Public Hearings: BOEMRE will conduct public hearings at which
government agencies, private-sector organizations, Alaska Native
Tribes, and individuals are invited to present oral and written
comments on the Revised Draft SEIS, Lease Sale 193 Chukchi Sea. Oral
comments on the Revised Draft SEIS will be accepted verbatim only
during the public hearing. Public hearings on the Revised Draft SEIS
will be held as follows:
Tuesday June 21, 2011, Community Center, Kotzebue, Alaska.
[[Page 30957]]
Wednesday June 22, 2011 City Qalgi Center, Point Hope, Alaska.
Thursday June 23, 2011, Point Lay Community Center, Point Lay, Alaska.
Friday June 24, 2011, Robert James Community Center, Wainwright,
Alaska.
Monday June 27, 2011, Inupiat Heritage Center, Barrow, Alaska; and
Wednesday June 29, 2011, Wilda Marston Theater, Anchorage, Alaska.
All meetings will start at 7 p.m.
Dated: May 5, 2011.
Robert P. LaBelle,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Energy and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-12720 Filed 5-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P