[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 219 (Monday, November 14, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70478-70479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-29343]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management


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 (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA).

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SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a ROD on an oil and gas lease sale 
tentatively scheduled for December 14, 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 GOM WPA off the States of Texas and 
Louisiana. In preparing its decision, BOEM considered alternatives to 
the Proposed Action and the impacts as presented in the Final 
Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) and all comments 
received throughout the NEPA process. The Final SEIS updated the 
environmental and socioeconomic analyses for WPA Lease Sale 218, 
originally evaluated in the GOM 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 and updated the 
environmental and socioeconomic analyses for 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 SEIS (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-
041) (2009-2012 Supplemental EIS), completed in September 2008. BOEM 
has selected the proposed action, identified as the Agency's preferred 
alternative (Alternative A) in the Final SEIS, and will offer for lease 
all unleased blocks within the WPA for oil and gas operations, except 
whole and partial blocks within the boundary of the Flower Garden Banks 
National Marine Sanctuary and whole and partial blocks in the Western 
Gap buffer area.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 18, 2010, the Minerals Management 
Service (MMS) was renamed the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE). Effective October 1, 2011, BOEMRE 
was reorganized and separated into two separate bureaus, BOEM and the 
Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). BOEM is 
responsible for managing development of the nation's offshore resources 
in an environmentally and economically

[[Page 70479]]

responsible way. BOEM's functions include: leasing, plan 
administration, environmental studies, NEPA analysis, resource 
evaluation, economic analysis, and renewable energy. BSEE is 
responsible for enforcing safety and environmental regulations. BSEE 
functions include: All field operations including permitting and 
inspections, research, offshore regulatory programs, oil spill 
response, and training and environmental compliance.
    BOEMRE developed the Final EIS for WPA Lease Sale 218 in order to 
consider new circumstances and information available since publication 
of the prior EIS's or arising from, among other things, the Deepwater 
Horizon event and spill. In this Final EIS, BOEMRE evaluated three 
alternatives:
    Alternative A--The Proposed Action: This is the Agency's preferred 
alternative. This alternative would offer for lease all unleased blocks 
within the WPA for oil and gas operations, except whole and partial 
blocks within the boundary of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine 
Sanctuary and whole and partial blocks in the Western Gap buffer area. 
The WPA sale area encompasses about 28.7 million acres. Approximately 
18.3 million ac (64 percent) of the WPA sale area is currently 
unleased. The estimated amount of resources projected to be developed 
as a result of the proposed WPA lease sale is 0.222-0.423 billion 
barrels of oil (BBO) and 1.495-2.647 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas.
    Alternative B--The Proposed Action Excluding the Unleased Blocks 
Near Biologically Sensitive Topographic Features: This alternative 
would offer for lease all unleased blocks in the WPA, as described for 
the proposed action (Alternative A), with the exception of any unleased 
blocks subject to the Topographic Features Stipulation.
    Alternative C--No Action: This is the cancellation of the proposed 
WPA lease sale. The opportunity for development of the estimated 0.222-
0.423 BBO and 1.495-2.647 Tcf of gas that could have resulted from the 
proposed WPA lease sale would be precluded or postponed. Any potential 
environmental impacts resulting from the proposed lease sale would not 
occur or would be postponed.
    After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the proposed action, 
identified as the Agency's preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the 
Final SEIS. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative reflects an 
orderly resource development with protection of the human, marine, and 
coastal environments while simultaneously ensuring that the public 
receives an equitable return for these resources and that free-market 
competition is maintained.
    Record of Decision Availability: To obtain a single printed or CD-
ROM copy of the ROD for WPA Lease Sale 218, you may contact the BOEM, 
GOM OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-
GULF). An electronic copy of the ROD is available at the BOEM's 
Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the ROD, you 
may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, BOEM, GOM OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard (MS 5410), New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. You may also 
contact Mr. Goeke by telephone at (504) 736-3233.

    Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations (40 
CFR part 1506) implementing the provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 
et seq. (1988)).

    Dated: November 8, 2011.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-29343 Filed 11-10-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P