[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 45 (Friday, March 7, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13074-13075]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-05046]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management


Geological and Geophysical Exploration (G&G) on the Mid- and 
South Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed G&G Activities on the 
Mid- and South Atlantic OCS.

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SUMMARY: Consistent with the regulations implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), 
BOEM has prepared a Final Programmatic EIS to describe and evaluate the 
potential environmental impacts associated with reasonably foreseeable 
G&G survey activities in Federal waters overlying the Mid- and South 
Atlantic OCS, as well as potentially interconnected or interrelated 
activities in adjacent State waters, as described in the Supplemental 
Information section below. These activities include, but are not 
limited to, seismic surveys (deep penetration and high-resolution 
geophysical), electromagnetic surveys, geological and geochemical 
sampling, and remote sensing surveys. The Final Programmatic EIS covers 
reasonably foreseeable G&G activities associated with the three program 
areas managed by BOEM on the OCS (i.e., oil and gas exploration and 
development, renewable energy, and marine minerals). The Final 
Programmatic EIS also evaluates mitigating measures to reduce potential 
impacts of G&G activities on marine resources, such as sound impacts to 
marine species and bottom-disturbance impacts on benthic communities 
and cultural resources.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than April 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted in one of the following three 
ways:
    1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on 
the Final Programmatic EIS for the Mid- and South Atlantic'' and mailed 
(or hand carried) to Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Chief, Environmental 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. Electronically to BOEM's email address: [email protected]; or
    3. Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to http://www.regulations.gov and search for ``Geological and Geophysical 
Activities in Mid and South Atlantic'' (Note: It is important to 
include the quotation marks in your search terms.) Click on the 
``Comment Now!'' button to the right of the document link. Enter your 
information and comment, then click ``Submit''.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Final 
Programmatic EIS, you may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Chief, 
Environmental 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, or by email 
at [email protected]. You may also contact Mr. Goeke by telephone at (504) 
736-3233.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Programmatic EIS was prepared to analyze 
potential environmental impacts from multiple G&G activities in the OCS 
Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas, and interconnected or 
interrelated activities in adjacent State waters. Development of this 
Programmatic EIS was also directed under the Conference Report 
accompanying the FY 2010 Department of the Interior, Environment and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 111-88).
    The Area of Interest (AOI), also known as the affected environment 
or area of potential effects, for the Programmatic EIS includes U.S. 
Atlantic waters and submerged lands from the mouth of Delaware Bay to 
just south of Cape Canaveral, Florida, and from the shoreline to 350 
nautical miles from shore. While G&G activities in State waters are not 
within the jurisdiction of BOEM, the AOI also encompasses adjacent 
State waters (excluding estuaries) because related G&G activities could 
extend into State waters or because G&G activities in waters overlying 
the OCS could impact resources in or migrating through adjacent State 
waters, e.g. through the introduction of acoustic energy into those 
waters. The activity scenario and associated impact assessment 
contained in the Final Programmatic EIS extend to 2020.
    The Draft Programmatic EIS was published on March 30, 2012 and the 
public comment period closed on July 2, 2012. BOEM received over 55,000 
comment submissions from federal, state and local governmental 
organizations, non-governmental organizations, industry and private

[[Page 13075]]

citizens electronically and via hard copy. These comments were 
considered and evaluated in preparing the Final Programmatic EIS. 
Within the Final Programmatic EIS, BOEM presents the baseline 
conditions, analyzes reasonably foreseeable impacts to marine resources 
and, where applicable, identifies and analyzes potential mitigation and 
monitoring measures to avoid, reduce, or minimize potential impacts. It 
also establishes a framework for future environmental analyses of site-
specific activities before BOEM authorizes any individual permits for 
those activities.
    The Final Programmatic EIS identifies BOEM's Preferred Alternative 
which provides programmatic-level mitigation, monitoring and reporting 
requirements meant to reduce the potential for adverse impacts to Mid- 
and South Atlantic resources from reasonably foreseeable G&G activities 
across all three BOEM program areas. It also includes an adaptive 
management strategy that, through site-specific NEPA analysis, will 
incorporate new information, establish additional measures and/or 
adjust existing measures based on monitoring results.
    Please note that the Final Programmatic EIS does not address the 
potential environmental effects of oil and gas leasing, development, or 
production in the Mid- and South Atlantic. BOEM has not proposed oil 
and gas leasing, development or production in the Mid- and South 
Atlantic at this time, and additional environmental analyses would be 
necessary prior to proceeding with any such activities.
    Final Programmatic EIS Availability: In keeping with the Department 
of the Interior's mission to protect natural resources and to limit 
costs while ensuring availability of the document to the public, BOEM 
will primarily distribute digital copies of the Final Programmatic EIS 
on compact discs. However, BOEM has printed and will be distributing a 
limited number of paper copies. If you require a paper copy, BOEM will 
provide one upon request if copies are still available.
    1. You may request a hard copy or compact disc of the Final 
Programmatic EIS from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (GM 335A), 1201 Elmwood 
Park Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-
GULF (4853)).
    2. You may download or view the Final Programmatic EIS on BOEM's 
project Web site at http://.boem.gov/and-Gas-Energy-Program//.aspx or 
on BOEM's EIS Web site at http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/.
    Several libraries along the Atlantic Coast have been sent copies of 
the Final Programmatic EIS. To find out which libraries have copies of 
the Final Programmatic EIS for review, you may contact BOEM's Public 
Information Office or visit BOEM's Internet Web site at http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/.
    Public Disclosure of Names and Addresses: Before including your 
address, telephone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, 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.

    Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations (40 
CFR part 1503) implementing the provisions of NEPA, as amended (42 
U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).

    Dated: January 10, 2014.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-05046 Filed 3-6-14; 8:45 am]
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