81 FR 48449 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Western Planning Area (WPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 248; MMAA104000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 142 (July 25, 2016)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 142 (July 25, 2016)
| Page Range | 48449-48449 | |
| FR Document | 2016-17566 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 142 (Monday, July 25, 2016)] [Notices] [Page 48449] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-17566] [[Page 48449]] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2016-0008] Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Western Planning Area (WPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 248; MMAA104000 AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of a record of decision ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the availability of a Record of Decision for proposed oil and gas WPA Lease Sale 248. This Record of Decision identifies the Bureau's selected alternative for proposed WPA Lease Sale 248, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2016; Western Planning Area Lease Sale 248 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (WPA 248 Supplemental EIS). BOEM has selected the proposed action, which is identified as BOEM's preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS. The Record of Decision and associated information are available on the agency's Web site at http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Record of Decision, 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. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS, BOEM evaluated three alternatives, which are summarized below with regard to proposed WPA Lease Sale 248: 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 (i.e., the boundary as of the publication of the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS). All unleased whole and partial blocks in the WPA that BOEM will offer for leasing in proposed WPA Lease Sale 248 are listed in the document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' which is included in the Final Notice of Sale for WPA Lease Sale 248 being published contemporaneously. The proposed WPA lease sale area encompasses nearly all of the WPA's 28.58 million acres. As of June 2016, approximately 23.7 million acres of the proposed WPA lease sale area are unleased. The estimated amount of resources projected to be developed as a result of the proposed WPA lease sale 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 Subject to the Topographic Features Stipulation: 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. The number of blocks that would not be offered under Alternative B represents only a small percentage of the total number of blocks to be offered under Alternative A; therefore, it is expected that the levels of activity for Alternative B would be essentially the same as those projected for the WPA proposed action. Alternative C--No Action: This alternative is the cancellation of proposed WPA Lease Sale 248 and is identified as the environmentally preferred alternative. Lease Stipulations--The WPA 248 Supplemental EIS describes all lease stipulations, which are included in the Final Notice of Sale Package. The five lease stipulations for proposed WPA Lease Sale 248 are the Topographic Features Stipulation, the Military Areas Stipulation, the Protected Species Stipulation, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Royalty Payment Stipulation, and the Stipulation on the Agreement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. Several of these lease stipulations have been developed to help mitigate potential impacts from oil and gas activities. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm from the selected alternative at the lease sale stage are being adopted through application of these stipulations. The stipulations will be added as lease terms where applicable and will therefore be enforceable as part of the lease. Appendix A of the WPA 246 Supplemental EIS, which is incorporated by reference into the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS, provides a list and description of standard post- lease mitigating measures that may be required by BOEM or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as a result of post-lease plan and permit review processes for the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the proposed action, which is identified as BOEM's preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative meets the purpose and need for the proposed action, as identified in the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS, and reflects an 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. Authority: This Notice of Availability of a Record of Decision 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. 4321 et seq.). Dated: July 18, 2016. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2016-17566 Filed 7-22-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 142 / Monday, July 25, 2016 / Notices 48449
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR the WPA’s 28.58 million acres. As of required by BOEM or the Bureau of
June 2016, approximately 23.7 million Safety and Environmental Enforcement
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management acres of the proposed WPA lease sale as a result of post-lease plan and permit
area are unleased. The estimated review processes for the Gulf of Mexico
[Docket No. BOEM–2016–0008]
amount of resources projected to be OCS Region.
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf developed as a result of the proposed After careful consideration, BOEM
(OCS), Western Planning Area (WPA) WPA lease sale is 0.116–0.200 billion has selected the proposed action, which
Oil and Gas Lease Sale 248; barrels of oil (BBO) and 0.538–0.938 is identified as BOEM’s preferred
MMAA104000 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. alternative (Alternative A) in the WPA
Alternative B—Exclude the Unleased 248 Supplemental EIS. BOEM’s
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Blocks Subject to the Topographic selection of the preferred alternative
Management (BOEM), Interior. Features Stipulation: This alternative meets the purpose and need for the
ACTION: Notice of availability of a record would offer for lease all unleased blocks proposed action, as identified in the
of decision within the proposed WPA lease sale WPA 248 Supplemental EIS, and
area, as described for the proposed reflects an orderly resource
SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the action (Alternative A), but it would development with protection of the
availability of a Record of Decision for exclude from leasing any unleased human, marine, and coastal
proposed oil and gas WPA Lease Sale blocks subject to the Topographic environments while also ensuring that
248. This Record of Decision identifies Features Stipulation. The estimated the public receives an equitable return
the Bureau’s selected alternative for amount of resources projected to be for these resources and that free-market
proposed WPA Lease Sale 248, which is developed under this alternative is competition is maintained.
analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil 0.116–0.200 BBO and 0.538–0.938 Tcf Authority: This Notice of Availability of
and Gas Lease Sale: 2016; Western of gas. The number of blocks that would a Record of Decision is published pursuant
Planning Area Lease Sale 248 Final not be offered under Alternative B to the regulations (40 CFR part 1503)
Supplemental Environmental Impact represents only a small percentage of implementing the provisions of the National
Statement (WPA 248 Supplemental the total number of blocks to be offered Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
EIS). BOEM has selected the proposed under Alternative A; therefore, it is amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.).
action, which is identified as BOEM’s expected that the levels of activity for Dated: July 18, 2016.
preferred alternative (Alternative A) in Alternative B would be essentially the Abigail Ross Hopper,
the WPA 248 Supplemental EIS. The same as those projected for the WPA Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Record of Decision and associated proposed action. Management.
information are available on the Alternative C—No Action: This [FR Doc. 2016–17566 Filed 7–22–16; 8:45 am]
agency’s Web site at http:// alternative is the cancellation of
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. proposed WPA Lease Sale 248 and is
identified as the environmentally
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
preferred alternative.
more information on the Record of Lease Stipulations—The WPA 248 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Decision, you may contact Mr. Gary D. Supplemental EIS describes all lease
Goeke, Bureau of Ocean Energy Antitrust Division
stipulations, which are included in the
Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Final Notice of Sale Package. The five
Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard Notice Pursuant to the National
lease stipulations for proposed WPA Cooperative Research and Production
(GM 623E), New Orleans, Louisiana Lease Sale 248 are the Topographic
70123–2394. You may also contact Mr. Act of 1993—Advanced Media
Features Stipulation, the Military Areas Workflow Association, Inc.
Goeke by telephone at 504–736–3233. Stipulation, the Protected Species
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Stipulation, the United Nations Notice is hereby given that, on June
WPA 248 Supplemental EIS, BOEM Convention on the Law of the Sea 22, 2016, pursuant to section 6(a) of the
evaluated three alternatives, which are Royalty Payment Stipulation, and the National Cooperative Research and
summarized below with regard to Stipulation on the Agreement between Production Act of 1993, 15 U.S.C. 4301
proposed WPA Lease Sale 248: the United States of America and the et seq. (‘‘the Act’’), Advanced Media
Alternative A—The Proposed Action: United Mexican States Concerning Workflow Association, Inc. has filed
This is BOEM’s preferred alternative. Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs written notifications simultaneously
This alternative would offer for lease all in the Gulf of Mexico. Several of these with the Attorney General and the
unleased blocks within the proposed lease stipulations have been developed Federal Trade Commission disclosing
WPA lease sale area for oil and gas to help mitigate potential impacts from changes in its membership. The
operations with the following exception: oil and gas activities. All practicable notifications were filed for the purpose
whole and partial blocks within the means to avoid or minimize of extending the Act’s provisions
boundary of the Flower Garden Banks environmental harm from the selected limiting the recovery of antitrust
National Marine Sanctuary (i.e., the alternative at the lease sale stage are plaintiffs to actual damages under
boundary as of the publication of the being adopted through application of specified circumstances. Specifically,
WPA 248 Supplemental EIS). these stipulations. The stipulations will Arkena, Paris, FRANCE; DirectOut
All unleased whole and partial blocks be added as lease terms where GmbH, Mittweida, GERMANY;
in the WPA that BOEM will offer for applicable and will therefore be Macnica, Inc., Solana Beach, CA; MNC
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES
leasing in proposed WPA Lease Sale 248 enforceable as part of the lease. Software, Inc., San Diego, CA; MOG
are listed in the document ‘‘List of Appendix A of the WPA 246 Technologies, SA, Maia, PORTUGAL;
Blocks Available for Leasing,’’ which is Supplemental EIS, which is Real-Time Innovations, Sunnyvale, CA;
included in the Final Notice of Sale for incorporated by reference into the WPA Ross Video, Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA;
WPA Lease Sale 248 being published 248 Supplemental EIS, provides a list Sebastien Crème (individual member),
contemporaneously. The proposed WPA and description of standard post-lease Paris, FRANCE; and Carl Fleischhauer
lease sale area encompasses nearly all of mitigating measures that may be (individual member), Port Republic,
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Document Created: 2016-07-23 02:00:45
Document Modified: 2016-07-23 02:00:45
| 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 of a record of decision | |
| Contact | For more information on the Record of Decision, 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. | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 48449 |
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