80_FR_42672 80 FR 42535 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 246

80 FR 42535 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Western Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 246

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 137 (July 17, 2015)

Page Range42535-42535
FR Document2015-17606

BOEM has prepared a Record of Decision for proposed oil and gas WPA Lease Sale 246, which is scheduled for August 19, 2015. The proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's WPA off the states of Texas and Louisiana. Proposed WPA Lease Sale 246 is the fourth WPA lease sale scheduled in the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012- 2017. In making its decision, BOEM considered two alternatives to the proposed action, the potential impacts as presented in the WPA 246 and 248 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and all comments received throughout the National Environmental Policy Act process. The Western Planning Area 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS evaluated the environmental and socioeconomic impacts for proposed Western Planning Area Lease Sale 246.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015) 
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 137 (Friday, July 17, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Page 42535]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-17606]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[MMAA 104000]


Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf, Western Planning Area 
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 246

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision for Proposed 
Western Planning Area (WPA) Lease Sale 246, which is analyzed in the 
Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 
2015-2016; WPA Lease Sales 246 and 248; Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a Record of Decision for proposed oil and 
gas WPA Lease Sale 246, which is scheduled for August 19, 2015. The 
proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's WPA off the states of 
Texas and Louisiana. Proposed WPA Lease Sale 246 is the fourth WPA 
lease sale scheduled in the OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2012-
2017. In making its decision, BOEM considered two alternatives to the 
proposed action, the potential impacts as presented in the WPA 246 and 
248 Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and all comments 
received throughout the National Environmental Policy Act process. The 
Western Planning Area 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS evaluated the 
environmental and socioeconomic impacts for proposed Western Planning 
Area Lease Sale 246.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the WPA 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS, the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) evaluated three alternatives 
that are summarized below:
    Alternative A--The Proposed Action: This is BOEM's preferred 
alternative. This alternative would offer for lease all unleased blocks 
within the proposed WPA lease sale area for oil and gas operations with 
the following exception: Whole and partial blocks within the boundary 
of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary.
    All unleased whole and partial blocks in the WPA that BOEM will 
offer for leasing in proposed WPA Lease Sale 246 are listed in the 
document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' which is included in 
the Final Notice of Sale 246 Package. The proposed WPA lease sale area 
encompasses nearly all of the WPA's 28.58 million acres. As of February 
2015, approximately 21.9 million acres of the proposed WPA lease sale 
area were unleased. The estimated amount of resources projected to be 
developed as a result of this proposal is 0.116-0.200 billion barrels 
of oil (BBO) and 0.538-0.938 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas.
    Alternative B--Exclude the Unleased Blocks Near the Biologically 
Sensitive Topographic Features: This alternative would offer for lease 
all unleased blocks within the proposed WPA lease sale area, as 
described for the proposed action (Alternative A), but it would exclude 
from leasing any unleased blocks subject to the Topographic Features 
Stipulation. The estimated amount of resources projected to be 
developed under this alternative is 0.116-0.200 BBO and 0.538-0.938 Tcf 
of gas, which is the same as is estimated for Alternative A. The number 
of blocks that would not be offered under Alternative B represent only 
a small percentage of the total number of blocks to be offered under 
Alternative A; therefore, it is expected that the levels of oil and gas 
activity and related environmental impact for Alternative B would be 
essentially the same as those projected for a WPA proposed action.
    Alternative C--No Action: This alternative is the cancellation of 
proposed WPA Lease Sale 246 and is identified as the environmentally 
preferable alternative.
    After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the proposed action, 
identified as BOEM's preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the WPA 
246 and 248 Supplemental EIS. BOEM's selection of the preferred 
alternative meets the purpose and need for the proposed action, as 
identified in the WPA 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS, and will result in 
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.
    Record of Decision (ROD) Availability: To obtain a single printed 
or CD copy of the ROD for proposed WPA Lease Sale 246, you may contact 
BOEM, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (GM 323A), 
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-
200-GULF). An electronic copy of the ROD is available on BOEM's Web 
site at http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/.
    Additional Information: 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.

    Authority: This Notice of Availability is published pursuant to 
the regulations (40 CFR part 1503) implementing the provisions of 
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 
Sec. Sec.  4321 et seq.).

    Dated: July 8, 2015.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-17606 Filed 7-16-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 137 / Friday, July 17, 2015 / Notices 42535 limited to, natural disasters (e.g., unleased blocks within the proposed of the ROD for proposed WPA Lease earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods), WPA lease sale area for oil and gas Sale 246, you may contact BOEM, Gulf wars, riots, acts of terrorism, fires, operations with the following exception: of Mexico OCS Region, Public strikes, civil disorder, or other events of Whole and partial blocks within the Information Office (GM 323A), 1201 a similar nature. In case of such events, boundary of the Flower Garden Banks Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, bidders should call (504) 736–0557, or National Marine Sanctuary. Louisiana 70123–2394 (1–800–200– access the BOEM Web site at http:// All unleased whole and partial blocks GULF). An electronic copy of the ROD www.boem.gov, for information in the WPA that BOEM will offer for is available on BOEM’s Web site at regarding any changes. leasing in proposed WPA Lease Sale 246 http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. are listed in the document ‘‘List of Additional Information: For more Dated: July 8, 2015. Blocks Available for Leasing,’’ which is information on the ROD, you may Abigail Ross Hopper, included in the Final Notice of Sale 246 contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Bureau of Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Package. The proposed WPA lease sale Management. Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of area encompasses nearly all of the Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood [FR Doc. 2015–17632 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am] WPA’s 28.58 million acres. As of Park Boulevard (GM 623E), New BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P February 2015, approximately 21.9 Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394. You million acres of the proposed WPA lease may also contact Mr. Goeke by sale area were unleased. The estimated telephone at 504–736–3233. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR amount of resources projected to be Authority: This Notice of Availability is developed as a result of this proposal is published pursuant to the regulations (40 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 0.116–0.200 billion barrels of oil (BBO) CFR part 1503) implementing the provisions [MMAA 104000] and 0.538–0.938 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of the National Environmental Policy Act of of gas. 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. §§ 4321 et seq.). Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Alternative B—Exclude the Unleased Shelf, Western Planning Area Oil and Dated: July 8, 2015. Blocks Near the Biologically Sensitive Gas Lease Sale 246 Topographic Features: This alternative Abigail Ross Hopper, would offer for lease all unleased blocks Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. within the proposed WPA lease sale Management (BOEM), Interior. [FR Doc. 2015–17606 Filed 7–16–15; 8:45 am] area, as described for the proposed ACTION: Notice of Availability of a action (Alternative A), but it would BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P Record of Decision for Proposed exclude from leasing any unleased Western Planning Area (WPA) Lease blocks subject to the Topographic Sale 246, which is analyzed in the Gulf Features Stipulation. The estimated DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf amount of resources projected to be (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2015– developed under this alternative is Office of Surface Mining Reclamation 2016; WPA Lease Sales 246 and 248; 0.116–0.200 BBO and 0.538–0.938 Tcf and Enforcement Final Supplemental Environmental of gas, which is the same as is estimated [Docket ID: OSM–2010–0021; S1D1 Impact Statement. for Alternative A. The number of blocks SS08011000SX064A000156S180110; S2D2 that would not be offered under SS08011000SX064A00015X501520] SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a Record Alternative B represent only a small of Decision for proposed oil and gas Stream Protection Rule; Draft percentage of the total number of blocks WPA Lease Sale 246, which is to be offered under Alternative A; Environmental Impact Statement scheduled for August 19, 2015. The therefore, it is expected that the levels proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of AGENCY: Office of Surface Mining of oil and gas activity and related Reclamation and Enforcement, Mexico’s WPA off the states of Texas environmental impact for Alternative B and Louisiana. Proposed WPA Lease Department of the Interior. would be essentially the same as those ACTION: Notice of Availability; Draft Sale 246 is the fourth WPA lease sale projected for a WPA proposed action. scheduled in the OCS Oil and Gas Environmental Impact Statement. Alternative C—No Action: This Leasing Program for 2012–2017. In alternative is the cancellation of SUMMARY: We, the Office of Surface making its decision, BOEM considered proposed WPA Lease Sale 246 and is Mining Reclamation and Enforcement two alternatives to the proposed action, identified as the environmentally (OSMRE), are announcing that the Draft the potential impacts as presented in the preferable alternative. Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) WPA 246 and 248 Supplemental After careful consideration, BOEM for the proposed stream protection rule Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), has selected the proposed action, is available for public review and and all comments received throughout identified as BOEM’s preferred comment. the National Environmental Policy Act alternative (Alternative A) in the WPA process. The Western Planning Area 246 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS. BOEM’s DATES: Electronic or written comments: and 248 Supplemental EIS evaluated the selection of the preferred alternative We will accept electronic or written environmental and socioeconomic meets the purpose and need for the comments on or before September 15, impacts for proposed Western Planning proposed action, as identified in the 2015. Area Lease Sale 246. WPA 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS, ADDRESSES: You may submit comments SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the and will result in orderly resource by any of the following methods: srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES WPA 246 and 248 Supplemental EIS, development with protection of the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// the Bureau of Ocean Energy human, marine, and coastal www.regulations.gov. The Docket ID for Management (BOEM) evaluated three environments, while also ensuring that the DEIS is OSM–2010–0021. Please alternatives that are summarized below: the public receives an equitable return follow the online instructions for Alternative A—The Proposed Action: for these resources. submitting comments. This is BOEM’s preferred alternative. Record of Decision (ROD) Availability: Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier: Office of This alternative would offer for lease all To obtain a single printed or CD copy Surface Mining Reclamation and VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:59 Jul 16, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00069 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\17JYN1.SGM 17JYN1


Document Created: 2018-02-23 09:21:45
Document Modified: 2018-02-23 09:21:45
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 a Record of Decision for Proposed Western Planning Area (WPA) Lease Sale 246, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2015-2016; WPA Lease Sales 246 and 248; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement.
FR Citation80 FR 42535 
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