81 FR 47819 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244; MMAA104000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 141 (July 22, 2016)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 141 (July 22, 2016)
| Page Range | 47819-47820 | |
| FR Document | 2016-16847 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 141 (Friday, July 22, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 47819-47820] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-16847] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2014-0001] Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244; MMAA104000 AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244. This notice marks the start of the public review and comment period and serves to announce public hearings on the Draft EIS. After the public hearings and written comments on the Draft EIS have been reviewed and considered, a Final EIS will be prepared. The proposed action addressed in this Draft EIS is to conduct an oil and gas lease sale on portions of the Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Planning Area. Lease Sale 244 would provide qualified bidders the opportunity to bid on OCS blocks in Cook Inlet to gain conditional rights to explore, develop, and produce oil and natural gas. The Draft EIS analyzes the potential direct, indirect, and cumulative environmental impacts of the proposed lease sale on the physical, biological, and human environments in the Cook Inlet area. The EIS describes a hypothetical scenario of exploration, development, production, and decommissioning activities that could result from the proposed lease sale, and analyzes the potential impacts of those activities on the environment. Authority: This Notice of Availability for the Draft EIS is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.415. DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than September 6, 2016. See public hearing dates in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August 27, 2012, the Secretary of the Interior approved the June 2012 Proposed Final Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas Leasing Program 2012-2017 (Five-Year Program). The Five-Year Program includes proposed Lease Sale 244. The proposed Lease Sale 244 area defined in the Area Identification (Area ID) is located offshore of the State of Alaska in the northern portion of the Federal waters of Cook Inlet. The Area ID is comprised of 224 OCS blocks, which encompass an area of approximately 442,875 hectares (1.09 million acres). This area is close to infrastructure needed to support [[Page 47820]] exploration, development, and production activities. The Area ID includes areas identified by industry in their responses to a March 27, 2012, Request for Interest. The proposed lease sale area also defers certain areas from consideration due to potential conflicts with areas of high ecological and subsistence value. These include: (1) The majority of the designated critical habitat areas for beluga whale and northern sea otter, and all of the critical habitat areas for Stellar sea lions and the North Pacific right whale, that are located within the Planning Area; (2) a buffer between the area considered for leasing and the Katmai National Park and Preserve, the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, and the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; and (3) many of the subsistence use areas for the Native Villages of Nanwalek, Seldovia, and Port Graham identified during the Cook Inlet Lease Sale 191 process. On October 23, 2014, BOEM published in the Federal Register a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS in support of Lease Sale 244. Publication of the NOI opened a public comment period that extended through December 8, 2014. In November 2014, BOEM held a series of scoping meetings for the EIS. The 26 comments received during this scoping period were used to inform the scope and content of this Draft EIS. In this Draft EIS, BOEM has examined the potential environmental effects of activities that could result from the Lease Sale 244 proposed action, along with several alternatives. The Draft EIS is based on BOEM estimates of the potential oil and gas resources in the proposed lease sale area and an associated scenario that estimates a range of potential oil and gas activities, including exploration seismic surveying, on-lease ancillary activities, exploration and delineation drilling, development, production, and decommissioning. Draft EIS Availability: Persons interested in reviewing the Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244 Draft EIS (OCS EIS/EA BOEM-2016-004) can download it from the Internet at http://www.boem.gov/ak-eis-ea/ or they may contact BOEM by calling (907) 334-5200 to request a paper copy (subject to availability) or a CD/ROM version. The Draft EIS will also be available for review at libraries in towns adjacent to the proposed lease sale and at multiple libraries in Anchorage. Comments: All interested parties, including Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments, and the public are invited to submit written comments on the Draft EIS at: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the field entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2014-0001, and then click ``Search.'' BOEM does not consider anonymous comments; please include your name and address as part of your submittal. Individual respondents may request that BOEM withhold their names and/or addresses from the public record; however, BOEM cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. If you wish your name and/or address to be withheld, you must state your preference prominently at the beginning of your comment. All submissions from organizations, businesses, and identified individuals will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov. Public Hearings: BOEM will hold public hearings on the Draft EIS from August 15, 2016, through August 18, 2016. The purpose of these hearings is to receive public comments on the Draft EIS. These hearings are scheduled as follows:Monday, August 15, 2016; Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center, Anchorage, Alaska; 5:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 17, 2016; Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge Islands and Ocean Visitor Center, Homer, Alaska; 5:00- 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 18, 2016; Alaska National Guard Armory, Kenai/Soldotna, Alaska; 5:00-8:00 p.m. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5823; or Caron McKee, Lease Sale 244 Environmental Coordinator, (907) 334-5200. Dated: July 8, 2016. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2016-16847 Filed 7-21-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 3510-MR-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 141 / Friday, July 22, 2016 / Notices 47819
must (1) verify associations and happen is for these local entities to II. Data
characteristics through descriptive texts become Network Partners. Partners of OMB Number: 1024–0232.
that are the result of historical research the Network to Freedom Program work Title: National Underground Railroad
and (2) submit supporting alongside and often in cooperation with Network to Freedom Program.
documentation; e.g., copies of rare us to fulfill the program’s mission. Form Number(s): NPS Form 10–946,
documents, photographs, and maps. Prospective partners must submit a ‘‘National Underground Railroad
Much of the information is submitted in letter with the following information: Network to Freedom Application’’.
electronic format and used to determine • Name and address of the agency, Type of Request: Revision of a
eligibility to become part of the company or organization; currently approved collection of
Network. • Name, address, and phone, fax, and information.
One of the principal components of email information of principal contact; Description of Respondents:
the Network to Freedom Program is to • Abstract not to exceed 200 words Individuals; businesses; nonprofit
validate the efforts of local and regional describing the partner’s activity or organizations; and Federal, State, tribal,
organizations, and to make it easier for mission statement; and and local governments.
them to share expertise and • Brief description of the entity’s Respondent’s Obligation: Required to
communicate with us and each other. association to the Underground obtain or retain a benefit.
The vehicle through which this can Railroad. Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Number of Number of Completion time Total annual
Activity respondents responses per response burden hours
Network Applications (NPS Form 10–946) ................................................... 35 35 40 hours ........... 1,400
Partner Requests .......................................................................................... 2 2 .5 hours ............ 1
Totals ..................................................................................................... 37 37 ........................... 1,401
Estimated Annual Nonhour Burden Dated: July 18, 2016. on OCS blocks in Cook Inlet to gain
Cost: None. Madonna L. Baucum, conditional rights to explore, develop,
Information Collection Clearance Officer, and produce oil and natural gas.
III. Comments
National Park Service. The Draft EIS analyzes the potential
On January 15, 2016, we published in [FR Doc. 2016–17360 Filed 7–21–16; 8:45 am] direct, indirect, and cumulative
the Federal Register (81 FR 2232) a BILLING CODE 4310–EH–P environmental impacts of the proposed
notice of our intent to request that OMB lease sale on the physical, biological,
renew approval for this information and human environments in the Cook
collection. In that notice, we solicited DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Inlet area. The EIS describes a
public comments for 60 days, ending on hypothetical scenario of exploration,
March 15, 2016. We did not receive any Bureau of Ocean Energy Management development, production, and
comments in response to that notice. [Docket No. BOEM–2014–0001] decommissioning activities that could
We again invite comments concerning result from the proposed lease sale, and
this information collection on: Draft Environmental Impact Statement analyzes the potential impacts of those
• Whether or not the collection of for the Cook Inlet Outer Continental activities on the environment.
information is necessary, including Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244;
whether or not the information will Authority: This Notice of Availability for
MMAA104000 the Draft EIS is in compliance with the
have practical utility;
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969,
• The accuracy of our estimate of the AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is
burden for this collection of Management (BOEM), Interior. published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.415.
information; ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of
• Ways to enhance the quality, utility, DATES: Comments should be submitted
a Draft Environmental Impact no later than September 6, 2016. See
and clarity of the information to be Statement.
collected; and public hearing dates in the
• Ways to minimize the burden of the SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
collection of information on availability of the Draft Environmental SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
respondents. Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 27, 2012, the Secretary of the Interior
Please note that the comments Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf Oil approved the June 2012 Proposed Final
submitted in response to this notice are and Gas Lease Sale 244. This notice Outer Continental Shelf Oil & Gas
a matter of public record. Before marks the start of the public review and Leasing Program 2012–2017 (Five-Year
including your address, phone number, comment period and serves to announce Program). The Five-Year Program
email address, or other personal public hearings on the Draft EIS. After includes proposed Lease Sale 244.
identifying information in your the public hearings and written The proposed Lease Sale 244 area
comment, you should be aware that comments on the Draft EIS have been defined in the Area Identification (Area
your entire comment, including your reviewed and considered, a Final EIS ID) is located offshore of the State of
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
personal identifying information, may will be prepared. Alaska in the northern portion of the
be made publicly available at any time. The proposed action addressed in this Federal waters of Cook Inlet. The Area
While you can ask OMB or us in your Draft EIS is to conduct an oil and gas ID is comprised of 224 OCS blocks,
comment to withhold your personal lease sale on portions of the Cook Inlet which encompass an area of
identifying information from public Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Planning approximately 442,875 hectares (1.09
review, we cannot guarantee that it will Area. Lease Sale 244 would provide million acres). This area is close to
be done. qualified bidders the opportunity to bid infrastructure needed to support
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![47820 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 141 / Friday, July 22, 2016 / Notices
exploration, development, and the Draft EIS at: Federal eRulemaking investigations of hardwood plywood
production activities. Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In from China. For further information
The Area ID includes areas identified the field entitled, ‘‘Enter Keyword or concerning the conduct of these remand
by industry in their responses to a ID,’’ enter BOEM–2014–0001, and then proceedings and rules of general
March 27, 2012, Request for Interest. click ‘‘Search.’’ application, consult the Commission’s
The proposed lease sale area also defers BOEM does not consider anonymous Rules of Practice and Procedure, part
certain areas from consideration due to comments; please include your name 201, subparts A through E (19 CFR part
potential conflicts with areas of high and address as part of your submittal. 201), and part 207, subpart A (19 CFR
ecological and subsistence value. These Individual respondents may request that part 207).
include: (1) The majority of the BOEM withhold their names and/or DATES: Effective Date: July 18, 2016.
designated critical habitat areas for addresses from the public record; FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred
beluga whale and northern sea otter, however, BOEM cannot guarantee that Ruggles (202–205–3187), Office of
and all of the critical habitat areas for we will be able to do so. If you wish Investigations, or Robin L. Turner (202–
Stellar sea lions and the North Pacific your name and/or address to be 205–3103), Office of the General
right whale, that are located within the withheld, you must state your Counsel, U.S. International Trade
Planning Area; (2) a buffer between the preference prominently at the beginning Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
area considered for leasing and the of your comment. All submissions from Washington, DC 20436. Hearing-
Katmai National Park and Preserve, the organizations, businesses, and identified impaired persons can obtain
Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge, and individuals will be available for public information on this matter by contacting
the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife viewing on regulations.gov. the Commission’s TDD terminal on 202–
Refuge; and (3) many of the subsistence Public Hearings: BOEM will hold 205–1810. Persons with mobility
use areas for the Native Villages of public hearings on the Draft EIS from impairments who will need special
Nanwalek, Seldovia, and Port Graham August 15, 2016, through August 18, assistance in gaining access to the
identified during the Cook Inlet Lease 2016. The purpose of these hearings is Commission should contact the Office
Sale 191 process. to receive public comments on the Draft
On October 23, 2014, BOEM of the Secretary at 202–205–2000.
EIS. These hearings are scheduled as General information concerning the
published in the Federal Register a follows:
Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an EIS Commission may also be obtained by
• Monday, August 15, 2016; Dena’ina accessing its internet server (http://
in support of Lease Sale 244. Civic and Convention Center,
Publication of the NOI opened a public www.usitc.gov). The public record of
Anchorage, Alaska; 5:00–8:00 p.m. Investigation Nos. 701–TA–490 and
comment period that extended through • Wednesday, August 17, 2016;
December 8, 2014. In November 2014, 731–TA–1204 (Final) may be viewed on
Alaska Maritime National Wildlife the Commission’s electronic docket
BOEM held a series of scoping meetings Refuge Islands and Ocean Visitor
for the EIS. The 26 comments received (EDIS) at http://edis.usitc.gov.
Center, Homer, Alaska; 5:00–8:00 p.m.
during this scoping period were used to SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
• Thursday, August 18, 2016; Alaska
inform the scope and content of this Background.—In November 2013, the
National Guard Armory, Kenai/
Draft EIS. Commission determined by an
Soldotna, Alaska; 5:00–8:00 p.m.
In this Draft EIS, BOEM has examined unanimous vote by the five participating
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Commissioners that an industry in the
the potential environmental effects of
activities that could result from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, United States was not materially injured
Lease Sale 244 proposed action, along Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint or threatened with material injury by
with several alternatives. The Draft EIS Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska reason of imports of hardwood plywood
is based on BOEM estimates of the 99503–5823; or Caron McKee, Lease from China that were sold in the United
potential oil and gas resources in the Sale 244 Environmental Coordinator, States at less than fair value and that
proposed lease sale area and an (907) 334–5200. were subsidized by the Government of
associated scenario that estimates a Dated: July 8, 2016. China. Petitioners and domestic
range of potential oil and gas activities, Abigail Ross Hopper, producers contested the Commission’s
including exploration seismic Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy determinations before the U.S. Court of
surveying, on-lease ancillary activities, Management. International Trade (‘‘CIT’’). The CIT
exploration and delineation drilling, [FR Doc. 2016–16847 Filed 7–21–16; 8:45 am] remanded certain issues to the
development, production, and BILLING CODE 3510–MR–P Commission and affirmed all other
decommissioning. aspects of the Commission’s
Draft EIS Availability: Persons determinations. Coalition of Fair Trade
interested in reviewing the Cook Inlet INTERNATIONAL TRADE of Hardwood Plywood v. United States
Lease Sale 244 Draft EIS (OCS EIS/EA COMMISSION International Trade Commission, Slip.
BOEM–2016–004) can download it from Op. 16–57 (Ct. Int’l Trade June 8, 2016).
the Internet at http://www.boem.gov/ak- [Investigation Nos. 701–TA–490 and 731– Participation in the proceeding.—
eis-ea/ or they may contact BOEM by TA–1204 (Final) (Remand)] Only those persons who were interested
calling (907) 334–5200 to request a parties that participated in the
Hardwood Plywood From China investigations (i.e., persons listed on the
paper copy (subject to availability) or a
CD/ROM version. The Draft EIS will AGENCY: United States International Commission Secretary’s service list) and
also be available for review at libraries Trade Commission. also parties to the appeal may
ehiers on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
in towns adjacent to the proposed lease ACTION: Notice of remand proceedings. participate in the remand proceedings.
sale and at multiple libraries in Such persons need not make any
Anchorage. SUMMARY: The U.S. International Trade additional notice of appearances or
Comments: All interested parties, Commission (‘‘Commission’’) hereby applications with the Commission to
including Federal, State, Tribal, and gives notice of the court-ordered remand participate in the remand proceedings,
local governments, and the public are of its final determinations in the unless they are adding new individuals
invited to submit written comments on countervailing and antidumping duty to the list of persons entitled to receive
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Document Created: 2016-07-22 02:38:26
Document Modified: 2016-07-22 02:38:26
| 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 | Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement. | |
| Dates | Comments should be submitted no later than September 6, 2016. See public hearing dates in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. | |
| Contact | Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-5823; or Caron McKee, Lease Sale 244 Environmental Coordinator, (907) 334-5200. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 47819 |
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