80 FR 53565 - Outer Continental Shelf, Region-Wide Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2017-2022

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 172 (September 4, 2015)

Page Range		53565-53567
FR Document		2015-22073

This Call for Information and Nominations (Call) is the initial step in a multi-sale process covering all proposed lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) comprised of the Western, Central, and Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas (WPA, CPA, and EPA, respectively), proposed for inclusion in the Draft Proposed Five Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022 (2017-2022 Five Year Program). Ten proposed lease sales are specifically covered by this Call: Five region-wide GOM sales tentatively scheduled in March of each year and five region-wide GOM sales tentatively scheduled in August of each year. This call for region-wide GOM sales will not prevent Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) from deciding during the pre-sale process to hold separate sales in individual planning areas without issuing another call. BOEM announced in a Notice of Intent (NOI, 80 FR 23818, April 29, 2015) that it is preparing a multi-sale Environmental Impact Statement (Multi-sale EIS) covering the same 10 lease sales in the proposed GOM sale area, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). For each of the 10 proposed individual lease sales associated with this Call, BOEM will continue to comply with NEPA, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) and other applicable law.

Federal Register, Volume 80 Issue 172 (Friday, September 4, 2015)

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 172 (Friday, September 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53565-53567]
From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22073]

[[Page 53565]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2015-0075; MMAA104000]

Outer Continental Shelf, Region-Wide Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas
Lease Sales for Years 2017-2022

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

ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations.

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

SUMMARY: This Call for Information and Nominations (Call) is the
initial step in a multi-sale process covering all proposed lease sales
in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) comprised of the Western, Central, and
Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Areas (WPA, CPA, and EPA,
respectively), proposed for inclusion in the Draft Proposed Five Year
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022
(2017-2022 Five Year Program). Ten proposed lease sales are
specifically covered by this Call: Five region-wide GOM sales
tentatively scheduled in March of each year and five region-wide GOM
sales tentatively scheduled in August of each year. This call for
region-wide GOM sales will not prevent Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM) from deciding during the pre-sale process to hold
separate sales in individual planning areas without issuing another
call. BOEM announced in a Notice of Intent (NOI, 80 FR 23818, April 29,
2015) that it is preparing a multi-sale Environmental Impact Statement
(Multi-sale EIS) covering the same 10 lease sales in the proposed GOM
sale area, in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA). For each of the 10 proposed individual lease sales associated
with this Call, BOEM will continue to comply with NEPA, the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the Coastal Zone Management Act
(CZMA) and other applicable law.

DATES: Nominations and comments must be received at the address
specified below no later than October 5, 2015 in the Federal Register.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Jaron Ming, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2537.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 27, 2015, the Department of the
Interior released the Draft Proposed 2017-2022 Five Year Program. The
Draft Proposed 2017-2022 Five Year Program was made available for
public comment through March 30, 2015. BOEM also published an NOI to
prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the
2017-2022 Five Year Program on January 29, 2015. Scoping for the PEIS
closed on March 30, 2015. Information on the development of the
proposed 2017-2022 Five Year Program and PEIS are available on BOEM's
Web site at: http://www.boem.gov/Five-Year-Program-2017-2022/.
Because the first Gulf sale is proposed to occur early in the
Program and due to the long lead times needed to prepare for proposed
oil and gas lease sales, the development of the 2017-2022 Five Year
Program and the administrative and environmental analysis processes for
individual Gulf of Mexico lease sales must occur simultaneously and in
close coordination. This Call covers only the region-wide lease sales
in the GOM that are proposed for inclusion in the Draft Proposed 2017-
2022 Five Year Program. The Multi-sale EIS being prepared by BOEM will
analyze a large region-wide area in the GOM that will include available
blocks in the Western, Central, and Eastern Planning Areas not subject
to Congressional moratorium (collectively, the ``proposed GOM sale
area''). The Multi-sale EIS will also include analysis of potential
alternatives to the region-wide lease sale proposal.

Call for Information and Nominations

1. Authority

This Call is published pursuant to OCSLA, as amended (43 U.S.C.
1331 et seq.), and its implementing regulations (30 CFR part 556).

2. Purpose of Call

The purpose of the Call is to gather information for the following
tentatively scheduled OCS region-wide GOM sales. The Draft Proposed
2017-2022 Five Year Program has scheduled the following proposed lease
sales, which would be region-wide and include all unleased acreage in
the GOM not currently subject to Congressional moratorium.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lease sale Sale year
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sale 249.................................. August 2017.
Sale 250.................................. March 2018.
Sale 251.................................. August 2018.
Sale 252.................................. March 2019.
Sale 253.................................. August 2019.
Sale 254.................................. March 2020.
Sale 256.................................. August 2020.
Sale 257.................................. March 2021.
Sale 259.................................. August 2021.
Sale 261.................................. March 2022.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

BOEM seeks information and nominations on oil and gas leasing,
exploration, development, and production within the proposed GOM sale
area from all interested parties. This early planning and consultation
step ensures that public interests and concerns are communicated to the
Department of the Interior for its future decisions in the leasing
process, pursuant to section 19 of OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1344) and its
implementing regulations (30 CFR part 556).
BOEM requests responses regarding proposed sales in the region-wide
GOM sale area. Accordingly, this multi-sale process addresses decisions
for all 10 region-wide lease sales in the proposed GOM sale area.
Pursuant to section 18 of OCSLA (43 U.S.C. 1344), the Secretary of
the Interior (Secretary) is separately developing the 2017-2022 Five
Year Program; therefore, this Call should not be construed as a
prejudgment or decision by the Secretary concerning any area to be made
available for leasing under the 2017-2022 Five Year Program.
This Call does not indicate a preliminary decision to lease in the
area described below. Final delineation of the area for possible
leasing will be made later, in compliance with applicable laws (e.g.,
NEPA, OCSLA, and CZMA) and established departmental procedures.

3. Description of Area

The proposed GOM sale area of this Call includes the entire CPA,
WPA, and EPA, except for those areas currently subject to Congressional
moratorium.
The CPA is bound on the north by the Federal-State boundary
offshore Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The eastern boundary of
the CPA begins at the offshore boundary between Alabama and Florida and
proceeds southeasterly to 26.19[deg]N. latitude, thence southwesterly
to 25.6[deg]N. latitude. The western boundary of the CPA begins at the
offshore boundary between Texas and Louisiana and proceeds
southeasterly to 28.43[deg] N. latitude, thence south-southwesterly to
27.49[deg] N. latitude, thence south-southeasterly to 25.80[deg] N.
latitude. The CPA is bounded on the south by the maritime boundary with
Mexico as established by the Treaty between the Government of the
United States of America and the Government of the United Mexican
States on the Delimitation of the Continental Shelf in the Western Gulf
of Mexico beyond 200 Nautical Miles, which took effect in January 2001,
and by the limit of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone in the

[[Page 53566]]

area east of the continental shelf boundary with Mexico. The CPA
includes a small section subject to Congressional moratorium, which
currently runs until June 30, 2022, as established by the Gulf of
Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA, Pub. L. 109-432). [This
area of the CPA subject to Congressional moratorium is bounded by the
area east of the Military Mission Line (86[deg] 41' west longitude),
and the area within the CPA that is within 100 miles of Florida. A map
of the moratoria can be found here: http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Leasing/Areas-Under-Moratoria.aspx.] The CPA available
for nominations and comments at this time consists of approximately
66.45 million acres, of which approximately 45.28 million acres are
currently unleased.
The WPA is bound on the west and north by the Federal-State
boundary offshore Texas. The eastern boundary begins at the offshore
boundary between Texas and Louisiana and proceeds southeasterly to
28.43[deg] N. latitude, thence south-southwesterly to 27.49[deg] N.
latitude, thence south-southeasterly to 25.80[deg] N. latitude. The WPA
is bounded on the south by the maritime boundary with Mexico as
established by the Treaty between the Government of the United States
of America and the Government of the United Mexican States on the
Delimitation of the Continental Shelf in the Western Gulf of Mexico
beyond 200 Nautical Miles, which took effect in January 2001. The WPA
available for nominations and comments at this time consists of
approximately 28.58 million acres, of which approximately 21.94 million
acres are currently unleased.
The proposed GOM sale area includes a small section of the EPA not
subject to Congressional moratorium, which currently runs until June
30, 2022, as established by GOMESA. The portion of the EPA not subject
to Congressional moratorium is bound on the east by the Military
Mission Line (86[deg]41' W. longitude), on the south by the limits of
the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone adjacent to the area known as the
northern portion of the Eastern Gap, and on the west by the CPA. The
EPA available for nominations and comments at this time consists of
approximately 657,905 acres, of which approximately 465,201 acres are
currently unleased.
A standard Call map, depicting the proposed GOM sale area on a
block-by-block basis, is available from the Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, or by telephone at (800)
200-GULF. The map also is available on the BOEM Web site at http://boem.gov/2017-2022/Call-for-Information/.

4. Areas Excluded From Call

The entire proposed GOM sale area will be considered for possible
leasing, except for those areas currently subject to Presidential
withdrawal or Congressional moratorium.

5. Nominations and Public Comment Procedures

BOEM will accept comments from the public in one of two formats:
via the Federal internet commenting system at regulations.gov or via
regular mail. BOEM's preference is to receive comments via the internet
commenting system at regulations.gov. Indications of interest and
comments must be received no later than October 5, 2015. BOEM requests
that comments be submitted using one of these formats, and include full
names and addresses of the individual submitting the comments or
indication of interest.
In order to ensure security and confidentiality of proprietary
information to the maximum extent possible, BOEM requests that
indications of interest and other proprietary information be sent by
regular mail only.
Submitting Comments via Internet
Comments may be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at:
http://www.regulations.gov. BOEM requests that commenters follow these
instructions to submit their comments via this Web site:
(1) In the search tab on the main page, search for BOEM-2015-0075.
(2) Locate the document, then click the ``Submit a Comment'' link
either on the Search Results page or the Document Details page. This
will display the Web comment form.
(3) Enter the submitter information and type the comment on the Web
form. Attach any additional files (up to 10MB). (Please do not provide
proprietary or confidential comments or indications of interest via the
Internet. Proprietary or confidential comments or indications of
interest should be sent via the mail only, as described below.)
(4) After typing the comment, click the ``Preview Comment'' link to
review. Once satisfied with the comment, click the ``Submit'' button to
send the comment.
Information on using www.regulations.gov, including instructions
for accessing documents, submitting comments, and viewing the docket
after the close of the comment period, is available through the site's
``User Tips'' link.

Submitting Comments or Indications of Interest via the Mail

Comments and indications of interest submitted through the mail
should be in envelopes labeled ``Nominations for Proposed 2017-2022
Lease Sales in the Gulf of Mexico'' or ``Comments on the Call for
Information and Nominations for Proposed 2017-2022 Lease Sales in the
Gulf of Mexico'' and mailed to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Office of Leasing and Plans, (Attention: Ms.
Ann H. Glazner), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (Mail Stop 5422), New
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.

Public Disclosure of Comments and Indications of Interest

BOEM will not consider anonymous comments. BOEM's practice is to
make comments, including the names and addresses of individuals,
available for public review. Before including your address, phone
number, email address, or other personal identifying information in
your comment, please 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. BOEM will make available for
public inspection, in their entirety, all comments submitted by
organizations and businesses, or by individuals identifying themselves
as representatives of organizations or businesses.
Individual indications of interest in areas for mineral leasing are
considered to be privileged and proprietary information. The names of
persons or entities submitting comments or indicating interest will be
treated by BOEM as information that may be released to the public.
Comments will likewise be released, except that actual individual
indications of interest in areas for mineral leasing, trade secrets,
commercial or financial information will be treated as confidential and
proprietary information that is privileged and will not be released to
the public.

Additional Information for Submitting Comments and Indications of
Interest

The Call map, provided on BOEM's Web site at http://boem.gov/2017-2022/Call-for-Information/, delineates the proposed GOM sale area, all
of which BOEM has identified as having potential for the discovery of
oil and gas

[[Page 53567]]

accumulations. Respondents are requested to indicate interest in, and
comment on, any or all of the Federal acreage within the boundaries of
the proposed GOM sale area that they wish to have included in each of
the proposed lease sales in the proposed GOM sale area.
Respondents indicating their interest should outline the areas of
interest along block lines and rank the areas in which they have
expressed interest according to their interest priority (e.g., priority
1 [high], 2 [medium], or 3 [low]), specifically indicating blocks by
priority. Areas where interest has been indicated, but on which
respondents have not indicated priorities, will be considered priority
3 (low).
Respondents also may nominate a list of blocks identified by
Official Protraction Diagram (OPD) and Leasing Map designations to
ensure correct interpretation of those nominations. A CD-ROM containing
all the GOM leasing maps and OPDs is available from the BOEM Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region Public Information Office. These GOM leasing maps and
OPDs also are available for free online at http://www.boem.gov/Official-Protraction-Diagrams/. Also, BOEM seeks comments from all
interested parties about particular geological, environmental
(including natural disasters), biological, archaeological, and
socioeconomic conditions or conflicts, or other information that could
affect the potential leasing and development of particular areas.
Additionally, BOEM seeks comments about possible conflicts between
future OCS oil and gas activities and State Coastal Management Programs
(CMPs) that may result from the proposed sales. These comments should
identify specific CMP policies of concern, the nature of the conflict
foreseen, and the proposed means to avoid or mitigate potential
conflicts. Comments may refer to both broad areas or to particular
blocks.

6. Information From Call

Information submitted in response to this Call will be used for
several purposes, including identifying and prioritizing areas with
potential for oil and gas development, as well as determining possible
environmental effects to be further evaluated and potential conflicts
in the Call area. BOEM will analyze the areas nominated in the proposed
sales, their respective rankings, and the comments received to make a
preliminary determination of the potential advantages and disadvantages
of oil and gas exploration and development to the region and the
Nation. Comments collected may be used to develop proposed actions and
alternatives in the EIS process, to develop lease terms and conditions
to ensure safe offshore operations, and to assess potential conflicts
between offshore oil and gas activities and a State's CMP.

7. Existing Information

BOEM routinely assesses the status of information acquisition
efforts and the quality of the information base for potential decisions
on tentatively scheduled lease sales. As a result of this ongoing
assessment, BOEM has determined that the status of existing and
extensive data available for planning, analysis, and decision making is
adequate.
An extensive environmental studies program has been underway in the
GOM since 1973. The emphasis, including continuing studies, has been on
environmental characterization of biologically sensitive habitats,
physical oceanography, ocean-circulation modeling, and ecological
effects of oil and gas activities.
A complete listing of available study reports and information for
ordering copies can be obtained from the Public Information Office
referenced above. The reports also may be ordered, for a fee, from the
U.S. Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service,
5301 Shawnee Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312, or by telephone at (703)
605-6000 or (800) 553-6847. In addition, a program status report for
continuing studies in this area can be obtained from the Chief,
Environmental Sciences Section, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf
of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans,
Louisiana 70123-2394, by telephone at (504) 736-2752, or via the BOEM
Web site at http://www.boem.gov/Studies/. Finally, this information can
be found on BOEM's Environmental Studies Program Information System
(ESPIS) at http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Studies-EnvData/.

8. Tentative Schedule

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Milestones for proposed 2017-2022 region-wide GOM
area identification Scheduled for
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Call for Information and Nominations................. September 2015.
Comments received on Call............................ September-October
2015.
Area Identification Decision......................... Fall 2015.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dated: September 1, 2015.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-22073 Filed 9-3-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 172 / Friday, September 4, 2015 / Notices 53567

accumulations. Respondents are OCS oil and gas activities and State ongoing assessment, BOEM has
requested to indicate interest in, and Coastal Management Programs (CMPs) determined that the status of existing
comment on, any or all of the Federal that may result from the proposed sales. and extensive data available for
acreage within the boundaries of the These comments should identify planning, analysis, and decision making
proposed GOM sale area that they wish specific CMP policies of concern, the is adequate.
to have included in each of the nature of the conflict foreseen, and the An extensive environmental studies
proposed lease sales in the proposed proposed means to avoid or mitigate program has been underway in the GOM
GOM sale area. potential conflicts. Comments may refer since 1973. The emphasis, including
Respondents indicating their interest to both broad areas or to particular
continuing studies, has been on
should outline the areas of interest blocks.
along block lines and rank the areas in environmental characterization of
which they have expressed interest 6. Information From Call biologically sensitive habitats, physical
according to their interest priority (e.g., Information submitted in response to oceanography, ocean-circulation
priority 1 [high], 2 [medium], or 3 this Call will be used for several modeling, and ecological effects of oil
[low]), specifically indicating blocks by purposes, including identifying and and gas activities.
priority. Areas where interest has been prioritizing areas with potential for oil A complete listing of available study
indicated, but on which respondents and gas development, as well as reports and information for ordering
have not indicated priorities, will be determining possible environmental copies can be obtained from the Public
considered priority 3 (low). effects to be further evaluated and Information Office referenced above.
Respondents also may nominate a list potential conflicts in the Call area. The reports also may be ordered, for a
of blocks identified by Official BOEM will analyze the areas nominated fee, from the U.S. Department of
Protraction Diagram (OPD) and Leasing in the proposed sales, their respective Commerce, National Technical
Map designations to ensure correct rankings, and the comments received to Information Service, 5301 Shawnee
interpretation of those nominations. A make a preliminary determination of the Road, Alexandria, Virginia 22312, or by
CD–ROM containing all the GOM potential advantages and disadvantages telephone at (703) 605–6000 or (800)
leasing maps and OPDs is available from of oil and gas exploration and 553–6847. In addition, a program status
the BOEM Gulf of Mexico OCS Region development to the region and the report for continuing studies in this area
Public Information Office. These GOM Nation. Comments collected may be can be obtained from the Chief,
leasing maps and OPDs also are used to develop proposed actions and Environmental Sciences Section, Bureau
available for free online at http:// alternatives in the EIS process, to of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of
www.boem.gov/Official-Protraction- develop lease terms and conditions to Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood
Diagrams/. Also, BOEM seeks ensure safe offshore operations, and to Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
comments from all interested parties assess potential conflicts between 70123–2394, by telephone at (504) 736–
about particular geological, offshore oil and gas activities and a 2752, or via the BOEM Web site at
environmental (including natural State’s CMP. http://www.boem.gov/Studies/. Finally,
disasters), biological, archaeological, this information can be found on
and socioeconomic conditions or 7. Existing Information
BOEM’s Environmental Studies Program
conflicts, or other information that BOEM routinely assesses the status of Information System (ESPIS) at http://
could affect the potential leasing and information acquisition efforts and the www.boem.gov/Environmental-Studies-
development of particular areas. quality of the information base for EnvData/.
Additionally, BOEM seeks comments potential decisions on tentatively
about possible conflicts between future scheduled lease sales. As a result of this 8. Tentative Schedule

Milestones for proposed 2017–2022 region-wide GOM area identification Scheduled for

Call for Information and Nominations .................................................................................................................................... September 2015.
Comments received on Call .................................................................................................................................................. September–October
2015.
Area Identification Decision ................................................................................................................................................... Fall 2015.

Dated: September 1, 2015. INTERNATIONAL TRADE of certain toner cartridges and
Abigail Ross Hopper, COMMISSION components thereof that infringe certain
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy patents asserted in this investigation;
[Investigation No. 337–TA–918] and (2) cease and desist orders directed
Management.
[FR Doc. 2015–22073 Filed 9–3–15; 8:45 am] against certain domestic defaulting
Issuance of a General Exclusion Order respondents. The Commission has
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P and Cease and Desist Orders; terminated this investigation.
Termination of Investigation; Certain
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Toner Cartridges and Components
Michael Liberman, Esq., Office of the
Thereof
General Counsel, U.S. International
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

AGENCY: U.S. International Trade Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Commission. Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
ACTION: Notice. 205–3115. Copies of non-confidential
documents filed in connection with this
SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that investigation are or will be available for
the U.S. International Trade inspection during official business
Commission has determined to issue: (1) hours (8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.) in the
a general exclusion order barring entry Office of the Secretary, U.S.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:57 Sep 03, 2015 Jkt 235001 PO 00000 Frm 00083 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\04SEN1.SGM 04SEN1

Document Created: 2015-12-15 09:57:42
Document Modified: 2015-12-15 09:57:42

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Call for Information and Nominations.
Contact		Mr. Jaron Ming, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2537.
FR Citation		80 FR 53565

80 FR 53565 - Outer Continental Shelf, Region-Wide Gulf of Mexico, Oil and Gas Lease Sales for Years 2017-2022

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 172 (September 4, 2015)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management