[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68147-68148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27755]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management


Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Western Planning 
Area (WPA), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 229

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Record of Decision (ROD) for 
WPA Lease Sale 229 in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 
2012-2017 Western Planning Area Lease Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and 
248, and Central Planning Area Lease Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Multisale FEIS).

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

SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a ROD for oil and gas WPA Lease Sale 229 
scheduled for November 28, 2012. WPA Lease Sale 229 is the first WPA 
lease sale in the 2012-2017 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The 
proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's WPA off the States of 
Texas and Louisiana. In making its decision, BOEM considered 
alternatives to the proposed action and the potential impacts as 
presented in the Multisale FEIS and all comments received throughout 
the NEPA process. The Multisale FEIS evaluated the environmental and 
socioeconomic impacts for WPA Lease Sale 229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Multisale FEIS, BOEM evaluated three 
alternatives, which are summarized below:
    Alternative A--The Proposed Action: This is BOEM's preferred 
alternative identified in the Multisale FEIS. This alternative would 
offer for lease all unleased blocks within the WPA for oil and gas 
operations, with the following exceptions:
    (1) Whole and partial blocks within the boundary of the Flower 
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (i.e., the boundary as of the 
publication date of the Multisale FEIS); and
    (2) whole and partial blocks that lie within the 1.4 nautical mile 
buffer zone north of the maritime boundary between the United States 
and Mexico.
    The proposed WPA lease sale area encompasses virtually all of the 
WPA's 28.58 million acres. As of August 2012, approximately 20.8 
million acres of the WPA lease sale area are currently unleased. The 
estimated amount of resources projected to be developed as a result of 
proposed WPA Lease Sale 229 is 0.116-0.200 BBO and 0.538-0.938 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 alternative would cancel the 
proposed WPA Lease Sale 229 and is identified as the environmentally 
preferred alternative.
    After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the proposed action, 
identified as BOEM's preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the 
Multisale FEIS. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative reflects 
an orderly resource development with protection

[[Page 68148]]

of the human, marine, and coastal environments, while also 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 proposed WPA Lease Sale 229, you may contact 
the BOEM, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (GM 
250I), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 
(1-800-200-GULF). An electronic copy of the ROD is available on BOEM's 
Internet Web site at http://boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Assessment/NEPA/nepaprocess.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the ROD, you 
may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf 
of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (GM 623E), New 
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. You may also contact Mr. Goeke by 
telephone at (504) 736-3233.

    Dated: November 8, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-27755 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P