[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 127 (Friday, July 1, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38676-38677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16565]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement


Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central 
Planning Area (CPA), 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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    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)).

SUMMARY: BOEMRE has prepared a Draft SEIS on an oil and gas lease sale 
tentatively scheduled in mid-2012 for CPA consolidated Lease Sale 216/
222, which is the final CPA lease sale in the 2007-2012 5-Year OCS 
Program. The proposed sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's CPA off the 
States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This Draft SEIS updates 
the environmental and socioeconomic analyses for the CPA Lease Sale 
216/222, 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 updates the environmental and socioeconomic 
analyses for the CPA Lease Sale 216/222 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEMRE developed the Draft SEIS for CPA 
Lease Sale 216/222 to consider new information made available since 
completion of the Multisale EIS and 2009-2012 SEIS, including 
information concerning the Deepwater Horizon event and spill and new 
regulatory requirements. 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 
CPA. BOEMRE conducted an extensive search for 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 CPA 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 CPA 
Lease Sale 216/222, 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 SEIS 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 SEIS 
in one of the following two ways:
    1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on 
the CPA Lease Sale 216/222 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:
     August 2, 2011--Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
Regulation and Enforcement, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70123, beginning at 1 p.m. C.D.T.;
     August 9, 2011--Houston Airport Marriott at George Bush 
Intercontinental, 18700 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, Houston, Texas 
77032, beginning at 1 p.m. C.D.T.; and
     August 11, 2011--Renaissance Mobile Riverview Plaza Hotel, 
64 South Water Street, Mobile, Alabama 36602, beginning at 1 p.m. 
C.D.T, and a second meeting beginning at 6 p.m. C.D.T.

[[Page 38677]]


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.

    Dated: June 6, 2011.
Robert P. LaBelle,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Energy and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-16565 Filed 6-30-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P