[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 218 (Friday, November 9, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67394-67395]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27519]


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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) Lease Sale 233 and Central Planning Area (CPA) 
Lease Sale 231, Oil and Gas Lease Sales

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 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.).

SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a Draft Supplemental EIS for oil and gas 
lease sales tentatively scheduled in 2013 and 2014 in the WPA and CPA 
offshore the States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This 
Draft Supplemental EIS updates the environmental and socioeconomic 
analyses for proposed WPA Lease Sale 233 and proposed CPA Lease Sale 
231, which was completed in July 2012, as part of the 2012-2017 
Multisale EIS. The 2012-2017 Multisale EIS covers planning areas in the 
Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: Western Planning Area Lease 
Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and 248; and Central Planning Area Lease 
Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEM developed this Draft Supplemental EIS 
for proposed WPA Lease Sale 233 and proposed CPA Lease Sale 231 to 
consider new information made available since completion of the 2012-
2017 Multisale EIS and to consider, among other things, new information 
in light of the Deepwater Horizon event. This Draft Supplemental EIS 
provides updates on the baseline conditions and potential environmental 
effects of oil and natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and 
production in the WPA and CPA. BOEM conducted an extensive search for 
new information in consideration of the Deepwater Horizon event, 
reviewing scientific journals, available scientific data, and 
information from academic institutions and Federal, State, and local 
agencies. BOEM also interviewed personnel from academic institutions 
and Federal, State, and local agencies. BOEM has examined the potential 
impacts of routine activities and accidental events, and the proposed 
lease sales' incremental contribution to the cumulative impacts on 
environmental and socioeconomic resources.
    Draft Supplemental EIS Availability: BOEM has printed and will 
distribute a limited number of paper copies of the Draft Supplemental 
EIS. In keeping with the Department of the Interior's mission of 
protecting natural resources, and to limit costs while ensuring 
availability of the document to the public, BOEM will primarily 
distribute digital copies of this Draft Supplemental EIS on compact 
discs. If you require a paper copy and copies are still available, BOEM 
will provide one upon request.
    You may request a copy of the Draft Supplemental EIS from the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public 
Information

[[Page 67395]]

Office (GM 250G), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF).
    You may download or view the Draft Supplemental EIS on BOEM's 
Internet Web site at http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Assessment/NEPA/nepaprocess.aspx.
    Several libraries along the Gulf Coast have been sent copies of the 
Draft Supplemental EIS. To find out which libraries have copies of the 
Draft Supplemental EIS for review, you may contact BOEM's Public 
Information Office (phone number and address above) or visit BOEM's 
Internet Web site at http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Assessment/NEPA/nepaprocess.aspx.
    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 an envelope labeled ``Comments on the Draft Supplemental 
EIS'' and mailed (or hand carried) to Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Chief, 
Regional Assessment Section, Office of Environment (GM 623E), Bureau of 
Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.
    2. To the following BOEM email address: [email protected]. 
Comments should be submitted no later than December 24, 2012.
    Public Meetings: BOEM also will hold public meetings to obtain 
comments regarding the Draft Supplemental EIS. These meetings are 
scheduled as follows:
     Houston, Texas: December 03, 2012, Houston Airport 
Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental, 18700 John F. Kennedy 
Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77032, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CST;
     New Orleans, Louisiana: December 04, 2012, Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CST;
     Gulfport, Mississippi: December 05, 2012, Courtyard by 
Marriott Gulfport Beachfront MS Hotel, 1600 East Beach Boulevard, 
Gulfport, Mississippi 39501, beginning at 1:00 CST;
     Mobile, Alabama: December 06, 2012, Five Rivers--Alabama's 
Delta Resource Center, 30945 Five Rivers Boulevard, Spanish Fort, 
Alabama 36527, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CST.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Draft 
Supplemental EIS, you may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Office of Environment 
(GM623E), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-
2394 or by email at [email protected]. You may also contact Mr. 
Goeke by telephone at (504) 736-3233.

Public Disclosure of Names and Addresses

    Before including your address, phone number, email address, or 
other personal identifying information in your comment, please be 
advised that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal 
identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do 
so.

    Dated: November 6, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-27519 Filed 11-8-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P