80_FR_18503 80 FR 18438 - Alaska, Outer Continental Shelf, Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193; MMAA 104000

80 FR 18438 - Alaska, Outer Continental Shelf, Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193; MMAA 104000

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 65 (April 6, 2015)

Page Range18438-18439
FR Document2015-07860

BOEM announces the availability of the Record of Decision (ROD) for remanded Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 (Lease Sale 193), originally held on February 6, 2008. BOEM prepared the Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 Final Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to address a deficiency identified by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (Court of Appeals) in its opinion of January 22, 2014. The Final Second SEIS considers the potential impacts of oil and gas activities that could result from leases issued in Lease Sale 193, including the full range of likely production if oil production were to occur (80 FR 9266, Feb. 20, 2015). In making her decision, the Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals Management (ASLM) considered four alternatives for Lease Sale 193, the potential impacts for each alternative as presented in the Final Second SEIS, and all comments received throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. After careful consideration, the ASLM selected BOEM's preferred alternative, to affirm Lease Sale 193 and leases previously issued. This selection meets the purpose and need for the proposed action, promotes orderly resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments, and ensures that the public receives an equitable return for these resources and that free-market competition is maintained.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18438-18439]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07860]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management


Alaska, Outer Continental Shelf, Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil 
and Gas Lease Sale 193; MMAA 104000

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the Record of Decision for Chukchi 
Sea Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193.

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SUMMARY: BOEM announces the availability of the Record of Decision 
(ROD) for remanded Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and 
Gas Lease Sale 193 (Lease Sale 193), originally held on February 6, 
2008. BOEM prepared the Chukchi Sea Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 Final 
Second Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to address a 
deficiency identified by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth 
Circuit (Court of Appeals) in its opinion of January 22, 2014. The 
Final Second SEIS considers the potential impacts of oil and gas 
activities that could result from leases issued in Lease Sale 193, 
including the full range of likely production if oil production were to 
occur (80 FR 9266, Feb. 20, 2015).
    In making her decision, the Assistant Secretary for Land and 
Minerals Management (ASLM) considered four alternatives for Lease Sale 
193, the

[[Page 18439]]

potential impacts for each alternative as presented in the Final Second 
SEIS, and all comments received throughout the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) process. After careful consideration, the ASLM 
selected BOEM's preferred alternative, to affirm Lease Sale 193 and 
leases previously issued. This selection meets the purpose and need for 
the proposed action, promotes orderly resource development with 
protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments, and ensures 
that the public receives an equitable return for these resources and 
that free-market competition is maintained.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the ROD, you 
may contact Mr. Michael Routhier, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage, Alaska 
99503. You may also contact Mr. Routhier by telephone at 907-334-5265.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Lease Sale 193 Final Second SEIS, 
BOEM evaluated four alternatives summarized below:
    Alternative I--The Proposed Action: This alternative entails 
offering the entire Chukchi Sea Program Area for leasing. The area 
available for leasing under this alternative consists of approximately 
34 million acres within the Chukchi Sea. Specifically excluded from 
this alternative was the 25 mile (40 kilometer (km)) buffer implemented 
by then-Secretary Kempthorne in the Final OCS Oil and Gas Leasing 
Program for 2007-2012.
    Alternative I was not selected for the original sale in 2008. Since 
Lease Sale 193 has already occurred, all of the leases originally 
issued are contained in an area smaller than, but covered by, 
Alternative I. Accordingly, selecting Alternative I would result in 
affirming Lease Sale 193 and all of the leases issued as a result of 
the sale.
    Alternative II--No Lease Sale: This alternative, which is the ``No 
Action Alternative,'' entails offering no areas in the Chukchi Sea for 
leasing. The opportunity to develop oil and gas resources that could 
have resulted from the lease sale would be precluded or postponed. This 
``no action'' alternative would avoid any potential environmental 
impacts associated with the other alternatives. Since Lease Sale 193 
has already occurred, selecting Alternative II would result in not 
affirming the lease sale and voiding or vacating the remaining 460 
leases issued in 2008 as a result of Lease Sale 193.
    Alternative III--Corridor I Deferral: This alternative entails 
offering the entire Chukchi Sea Program Area for leasing, minus a 
corridor (referred to as Corridor I) extending 60 miles (97 km) 
offshore along the coastward edge of the Program Area to protect 
important bowhead whale habitat. The area available for leasing under 
this alternative consists of approximately 24 million acres in the 
Chukchi Sea.
    Five leases issued as a result of Lease Sale 193 are contained 
within Corridor I. Accordingly, selecting Alternative III would result 
in affirming the lease sale and all leases, except the Corridor I area, 
and those five leases, which would be vacated.
    Alternative IV--Corridor II Deferral: Alternative IV was the 
alternative originally selected for Lease Sale 193 and BOEM's preferred 
alternative in the Final Second SEIS. This alternative entails offering 
the entire Chukchi Sea Program Area available for leasing, minus a 
corridor (referred to as Corridor II) along the coastward edge of the 
Program Area. The area covered by Corridor II is a subset of the area 
covered by Corridor I. The area for leasing under this Alternative 
consists of 29.4 million acres. Selecting Alternative IV would result 
in affirming Lease Sale 193 and all existing leases. Alternative IV was 
BOEM's preferred alternative because it represented a reasonable 
balance between environmental, economic, and technical considerations 
mandated by the OCS Lands Act.
    After careful consideration, the ASLM has decided to select 
Alternative IV and affirm Lease Sale 193 and the leases issued as a 
result of the sale. As described in the ROD, the ASLM fully considered 
the potential impacts of this action as described in the Final Second 
SEIS, considered potential mitigation of potential impacts through 
deferral of sensitive OCS areas and implementation of lease 
stipulations, and articulated factors considered in selecting the 
agency's preferred alternative. In making her decision, the ASLM 
confirmed the previously adopted lease stipulations as being the most 
practicable means of reducing or avoiding impacts to the environment, 
while also noting that the OCS Lands Act provides BOEM and BSEE broad 
discretion to require additional mitigations on postlease activities.
    In affirming Lease Sale 193 and preserving the opportunity to 
explore and possibly develop all the leases issued in Chukchi Sea Lease 
Sale 193, the ASLM's decision balances the national policies mandated 
by Congress to expeditiously and safely develop the natural resources 
of the OCS, subject to environmental safeguards, in a manner that is 
consistent with the maintenance of competition and other national 
needs. The ASLM's selection of Alternative IV, and adoption of all 
practicable mitigation measures at the lease sale stage, balances the 
goal of orderly resource development with protection 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 
copy of the ROD for Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193, you may contact BOEM, 
Alaska OCS Region, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 
500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503 or by telephone at 1-907-334-5200. An 
electronic copy of the ROD is available on BOEM's Internet Web site at 
http://www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/BOEM-Regions/Alaska-Region/Leasing-and-Plans/Leasing/Lease-Sales/Sale-193/Index.aspx.

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

     Dated: March 31, 2015.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-07860 Filed 4-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

18438 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / Notices you are interested in by number (e.g., the purpose of enhancing the species’ Public Availability of Comments Permit No. TE–XXXXXX). survival. All comments and materials we • Email: permitsR6ES@fws.gov. receive in response to these requests Please refer to the respective permit Permit Application Number TE183430 will be available for public inspection, number (e.g., Permit No. TE–XXXXXX) Applicants: Headwaters Corporation, by appointment, during normal business in the subject line of the message. Kearney, NE. hours at the address listed in the • U.S. Mail: Ecological Services, U.S. The applicants request a permit ADDRESSES section of this notice. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box renewal to conduct presence/absence Before including your address, phone 25486–DFC, Denver, CO 80225. surveys for interior least tern (Sterna number, email address, or other • In-Person Drop-off, Viewing, or antillarum athalassos) in Nebraska for personal identifying information in your Pickup: Call (719) 628–2670 to make an the purpose of enhancing the species’ comment, you should be aware that appointment during regular business survival. your entire comment—including your hours at 134 Union Blvd., Suite 645, Permit Application Number TE045150 personal identifying information—may Lakewood, CO 80228. be made publicly available at any time. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Applicant: Oklahoma State While you can ask us in your comment Kathy Konishi, Recovery Permits University, Stillwater, OK. to withhold your personal identifying Coordinator, Ecological Services, (719) The applicant requests an amendment information from public review, we 628–2670 (phone); permitsR6ES@ to a permit to conduct presence/absence cannot guarantee that we will be able to fws.gov (email). surveys and propagate American do so. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: burying beetle (Nicrophorus americanus) in Nebraska, South Dakota, Authority Background Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas for the We provide this notice under section The Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) purpose of enhancing the species’ 10 of the Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). prohibits certain activities with survival. endangered and threatened species Michael G. Thabault, unless authorized by a Federal permit. Permit Application Number TE220827 Assistant Regional Director, Mountain-Prairie Along with our implementing Region. Applicant: Colorado Natural Heritage regulations at 50 CFR 17, the Act [FR Doc. 2015–07714 Filed 4–3–15; 8:45 am] Program, Colorado State University, Fort provides for permits and requires that Collins, CO. BILLING CODE 4310–55–P we invite public comment before The applicant requests a permit to issuing these permits. conduct presence/absence surveys for A permit granted by us under section DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR New Mexico meadow jumping mouse 10(a)(1)(A) of the Act authorizes the (Zapus hudsonius luteus) in Colorado Bureau of Ocean Energy Management permittees to conduct activities with for the purpose of enhancing the U.S. endangered or threatened species Alaska, Outer Continental Shelf, species’ survival. for scientific purposes, enhancement of Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Oil and propagation or survival, or interstate Permit Application Number TE01741B Gas Lease Sale 193; MMAA 104000 commerce (the latter only in the event Applicant: Colorado Department of that it facilitates scientific purposes or AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Transportation, Lakewood, CO. Management (BOEM), Interior. enhancement of propagation or The applicant requests a permit to survival). Our regulations implementing ACTION: Notice of Availability of the conduct presence/absence surveys for section 10(a)(1)(A) for these permits are Record of Decision for Chukchi Sea New Mexico meadow jumping mouse found at 50 CFR 17.22 for endangered Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas (Zapus hudsonius luteus) in Colorado wildlife species, 50 CFR 17.32 for Lease Sale 193. for the purpose of enhancing the threatened wildlife species, 50 CFR species’ survival. SUMMARY: BOEM announces the 17.62 for endangered plant species, and 50 CFR 17.72 for threatened plant Permit Application Number TE054237 availability of the Record of Decision species. (ROD) for remanded Chukchi Sea Outer Applicant: USDA Forest Service Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Applications Available for Review and Rocky Mountain Region, Golden, CO. Lease Sale 193 (Lease Sale 193), Comment The applicant requests an amendment originally held on February 6, 2008. We invite local, State, and Federal to conduct presence/absence surveys for BOEM prepared the Chukchi Sea Oil agencies and the public to comment on southwestern willow flycatcher and Gas Lease Sale 193 Final Second the following applications. Documents (Empidonax traillii extimus) in all Supplemental Environmental Impact and other information the applicants national forests in Colorado for the Statement (SEIS) to address a deficiency have submitted with their applications purpose of enhancing the species’ identified by the U.S. Court of Appeals are available for review, subject to the survival. for the Ninth Circuit (Court of Appeals) requirements of the Privacy Act (5 National Environmental Policy Act in its opinion of January 22, 2014. The U.S.C. 552a) and Freedom of Final Second SEIS considers the Information Act (5 U.S.C. 552). In compliance with the National potential impacts of oil and gas Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. activities that could result from leases Permit Application Number TE220827 4321 et seq.), we have made an initial issued in Lease Sale 193, including the tkelley on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Applicant: Bryce Canyon National determination that the proposed full range of likely production if oil Park, Bryce Canyon, UT. activities in these permits are production were to occur (80 FR 9266, The applicant requests a permit categorically excluded from the Feb. 20, 2015). renewal to conduct presence/absence requirement to prepare an In making her decision, the Assistant surveys for southwestern willow environmental assessment or Secretary for Land and Minerals flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) environmental impact statement (516 Management (ASLM) considered four in Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah for DM 6 Appendix 1, 1.4C(1)). alternatives for Lease Sale 193, the VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:14 Apr 03, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00087 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\06APN1.SGM 06APN1

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 2015 / Notices 18439 potential impacts for each alternative as leasing, minus a corridor (referred to as of competition and other national needs. presented in the Final Second SEIS, and Corridor I) extending 60 miles (97 km) The ASLM’s selection of Alternative IV, all comments received throughout the offshore along the coastward edge of the and adoption of all practicable National Environmental Policy Act Program Area to protect important mitigation measures at the lease sale (NEPA) process. After careful bowhead whale habitat. The area stage, balances the goal of orderly consideration, the ASLM selected available for leasing under this resource development with protection BOEM’s preferred alternative, to affirm alternative consists of approximately 24 of the human, marine, and coastal Lease Sale 193 and leases previously million acres in the Chukchi Sea. environments, while also ensuring that issued. This selection meets the purpose Five leases issued as a result of Lease the public receives an equitable return and need for the proposed action, Sale 193 are contained within Corridor for these resources and that free-market promotes orderly resource development I. Accordingly, selecting Alternative III competition is maintained. with protection of the human, marine, would result in affirming the lease sale Record of Decision Availability: To and coastal environments, and ensures and all leases, except the Corridor I area, obtain a single printed or CD copy of the that the public receives an equitable and those five leases, which would be ROD for Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193, return for these resources and that free- vacated. you may contact BOEM, Alaska OCS market competition is maintained. Alternative IV—Corridor II Deferral: Region, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Alternative IV was the alternative Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For originally selected for Lease Sale 193 Anchorage, Alaska 99503 or by more information on the ROD, you may and BOEM’s preferred alternative in the telephone at 1–907–334–5200. An contact Mr. Michael Routhier, Bureau of Final Second SEIS. This alternative electronic copy of the ROD is available Ocean Energy Management, Alaska OCS entails offering the entire Chukchi Sea on BOEM’s Internet Web site at http:// Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste. Program Area available for leasing, www.boem.gov/About-BOEM/BOEM- 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. You may minus a corridor (referred to as Corridor Regions/Alaska-Region/Leasing-and- also contact Mr. Routhier by telephone II) along the coastward edge of the Plans/Leasing/Lease-Sales/Sale-193/ at 907–334–5265. Program Area. The area covered by Index.aspx. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Corridor II is a subset of the area Lease Sale 193 Final Second SEIS, covered by Corridor I. The area for Authority: This NOA is published BOEM evaluated four alternatives leasing under this Alternative consists pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR part summarized below: 1506) implementing the provisions of the of 29.4 million acres. Selecting National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of Alternative I—The Proposed Action: Alternative IV would result in affirming This alternative entails offering the 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Lease Sale 193 and all existing leases. entire Chukchi Sea Program Area for Alternative IV was BOEM’s preferred Dated: March 31, 2015. leasing. The area available for leasing alternative because it represented a Abigail Ross Hopper, under this alternative consists of reasonable balance between Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy approximately 34 million acres within environmental, economic, and technical Management. the Chukchi Sea. Specifically excluded considerations mandated by the OCS [FR Doc. 2015–07860 Filed 4–3–15; 8:45 am] from this alternative was the 25 mile (40 Lands Act. BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P kilometer (km)) buffer implemented by After careful consideration, the ASLM then-Secretary Kempthorne in the Final has decided to select Alternative IV and OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for affirm Lease Sale 193 and the leases DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 2007–2012. issued as a result of the sale. As Alternative I was not selected for the described in the ROD, the ASLM fully Fish and Wildlife Service original sale in 2008. Since Lease Sale considered the potential impacts of this [FWS–R1–ES–2015–N060; 193 has already occurred, all of the action as described in the Final Second FXES11130100000–156–FF01E00000] leases originally issued are contained in SEIS, considered potential mitigation of an area smaller than, but covered by, potential impacts through deferral of Endangered Species; Recovery Permit Alternative I. Accordingly, selecting sensitive OCS areas and implementation Applications Alternative I would result in affirming of lease stipulations, and articulated Lease Sale 193 and all of the leases factors considered in selecting the AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, issued as a result of the sale. agency’s preferred alternative. In Interior. Alternative II—No Lease Sale: This making her decision, the ASLM ACTION: Notice of availability; request alternative, which is the ‘‘No Action confirmed the previously adopted lease for comments. Alternative,’’ entails offering no areas in stipulations as being the most the Chukchi Sea for leasing. The practicable means of reducing or SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and opportunity to develop oil and gas avoiding impacts to the environment, Wildlife Service, invite the public to resources that could have resulted from while also noting that the OCS Lands comment on the following applications the lease sale would be precluded or Act provides BOEM and BSEE broad for recovery permits to conduct postponed. This ‘‘no action’’ alternative discretion to require additional activities with the purpose of enhancing would avoid any potential mitigations on postlease activities. the survival of an endangered species. environmental impacts associated with In affirming Lease Sale 193 and The Endangered Species Act of 1973, as the other alternatives. Since Lease Sale preserving the opportunity to explore amended (Act), prohibits certain 193 has already occurred, selecting and possibly develop all the leases activities with endangered species unless a Federal permit allows such tkelley on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Alternative II would result in not issued in Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193, affirming the lease sale and voiding or the ASLM’s decision balances the activity. The Act also requires that we vacating the remaining 460 leases issued national policies mandated by Congress invite public comment before issuing in 2008 as a result of Lease Sale 193. to expeditiously and safely develop the such permits. Alternative III—Corridor I Deferral: natural resources of the OCS, subject to DATES: To ensure consideration, please This alternative entails offering the environmental safeguards, in a manner send your written comments by May 6, entire Chukchi Sea Program Area for that is consistent with the maintenance 2015. 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Document Created: 2015-12-18 11:18:35
Document Modified: 2015-12-18 11:18:35
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice of Availability of the Record of Decision for Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193.
ContactFor more information on the ROD, you may contact Mr. Michael Routhier, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503. You may also contact Mr. Routhier by telephone at 907-334-5265.
FR Citation80 FR 18438 
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