[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 112 (Wednesday, June 10, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35440-35441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12527]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket ID: BOEM-2020-0019]


Extension of Post-Sale Evaluation Period for Gulf of Mexico Lease 
Sale 254

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

ACTION: Notice to extend post-sale evaluation period.

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SUMMARY: This Notice extends the post-sale evaluation period for the 
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 
254 (Sale 254) by an additional 30 days. BOEM will complete the post-
sale evaluation

[[Page 35441]]

process for all bids received at Sale 254 by July 16, 2020. This 
extension is necessary due to operational constraints for the employees 
located in the BOEM New Orleans office resulting from health and safety 
concerns associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to current hardware 
and software infrastructure limitations, BOEM staff are unable to 
perform geophysical subsurface interpretation while teleworking from 
their homes. Additional in-office work is still necessary to complete 
the post-sale evaluation process for these bids. Louisiana has been hit 
especially hard by the COVID-19 virus. The two most affected Louisiana 
parishes are Orleans and Jefferson Parishes, where the BOEM office 
building is located and most of the employees reside. In consideration 
of these factors, precautions and preventive measures were taken to 
keep all employees working from the safety of their homes until 
conditions improve.

DATES: The post-sale evaluation period for Sale 254 will conclude on 
July 16, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Wilson, Regional Supervisor, 
Office of Resource Evaluation, Gulf of Mexico Region, telephone 504-
736-2710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In connection with the Gulf of Mexico Lease 
Sale 254, held on March 18, 2020, BOEM received 84 bids on 71 tracts. 
On April 29, 2020, BOEM started the post bid-adequacy determination 
process in a limited capacity.
    The COVID-19 pandemic introduced many operational challenges to 
BOEM management and staff of the New Orleans office. In compliance with 
both Federal and State guidelines and to limit the spread and impact of 
the COVID-19 virus on BOEM employees and the local community, the post-
sale evaluation work was delayed. Even though it was deemed safe for 
mission essential employees to return to the office building on April 
29, 2020, required social distancing measures will preclude full 
staffing and limit the Bureau's ability to timely complete routine work 
processes.
    As a result of the delays in staff being able to return to the 
office and the required changes in the work environment (i.e., social 
distancing measures), BOEM requires additional time to conduct and 
complete the bid review process, originally scheduled to conclude on 
June 16, 2020, 90 days following the March 18, 2020 sale date. Under 
the provision of 30 CFR 556.516(b), BOEM is extending the bid 
evaluation period for Sale 254 until July 16, 2020.

    Authority: This Notice is published pursuant to 30 CFR 
556.516(b).

Michael Celata,
Regional Director, New Orleans Office, Bureau of Ocean and Energy 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2020-12527 Filed 6-9-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P