[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 149 (Friday, August 4, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 36418]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16421]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2017-0034]


Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Geological 
and Geophysical Activities on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental 
Shelf MMAA104000

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental 
Impact Statement.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing the 
availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) for evaluating potential environmental effects of geological and 
geophysical (G&G) activities in OCS waters of the GOM. The Final 
Programmatic EIS analyzes potential impacts of the proposed action, 
provides an analysis of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, 
and identifies BOEM's preferred alternative. The Final Programmatic EIS 
considers G&G activities for BOEM's three programs, i.e., Oil and Gas, 
Renewable Energy, and Marine Minerals. These activities include, but 
are not limited to, seismic surveys (deep-penetration and high-
resolution geophysical), sidescan-sonar surveys, electromagnetic 
surveys, and geological and geochemical sampling. The Final 
Programmatic EIS also evaluates mitigation 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.
    The Final Programmatic EIS is available on BOEM's Web sites at 
http://www.boem.gov/GOM-G-G-PEIS and http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. 
BOEM will primarily distribute digital copies of the Final Programmatic 
EIS on compact discs. You may request a paper copy or the location of a 
library with a paper copy of the Final Programmatic EIS from Mr. Greg 
Kozlowski by telephone at (504) 736-2512 or by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Lewandowski, Ph.D., Chief, 
Division of Environmental Assessment, Office of Environmental Programs, 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OEP, 
Sterling, VA 20166 or by email at [email protected].
    Authority: This Notice of Availability is published pursuant to the 
regulations (40 CFR part 1503 and 43 CFR part 46) implementing the 
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended 
(42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)).

    Dated: July 31, 2017.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2017-16421 Filed 8-3-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P