81 FR 67380 - Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Geological and Geophysical Activities on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) MMAA104000

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)

Page Range		67380-67381
FR Document		2016-23664

BOEM has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential environmental effects of multiple Geological and Geophysical (G&G) activities on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. These activities include, but are not limited to, seismic surveys, sidescan-sonar surveys, electromagnetic surveys, and geological and geochemical sampling. The Draft PEIS considers G&G activities for the three program areas managed by BOEM: Oil and gas exploration and development; renewable energy; and marine minerals. This notice initiates the public review and comment period and also serves to announce public meetings on the Draft PEIS. After the public meetings and written comments on the Draft PEIS have been reviewed and considered, a Final PEIS will be prepared. A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the PEIS was published in the Federal Register on May 10, 2013, and scoping comments were received during a comment period that was initially scheduled to close on June 24, 2013. The closing date of the public comment period was corrected to July 9, 2013, by publication of a Federal Register Notice on June 5, 2013.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67380-67381]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23664]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2016-0068]


Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Geological 
and Geophysical Activities on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) MMAA104000

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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

SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement (PEIS) to evaluate potential environmental effects of 
multiple Geological and Geophysical (G&G) activities on the Gulf of 
Mexico OCS. These activities include, but are not limited to, seismic 
surveys, sidescan-sonar surveys, electromagnetic surveys, and 
geological and geochemical sampling. The Draft PEIS considers G&G 
activities for the three program areas managed by BOEM: Oil and gas 
exploration and development; renewable energy; and marine minerals. 
This notice initiates the public review and comment period and also 
serves to announce public meetings on the Draft PEIS. After the public 
meetings and written comments on the Draft PEIS have been reviewed and 
considered, a Final PEIS will be prepared.
    A Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare the PEIS was published in the 
Federal Register on May 10, 2013, and scoping comments were received 
during a comment period that was initially scheduled to close on June 
24, 2013. The closing date of the public comment period was corrected 
to July 9, 2013, by publication of a Federal Register Notice on June 5, 
2013.

DATES: Comments on this Draft PEIS will be accepted until November 29, 
2016. BOEM has determined that a 60-day public comment period is 
warranted given the complex and technical nature of this Draft PEIS 
along with possible requests for extending the comment period. 
Additionally, due to litigation deadlines, no more than 60-days for 
public comment will be granted. See public meeting dates in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jill Lewandowski, Ph.D., Chief, 
Division of Environmental Assessment, Office of Environmental Programs, 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OEP, 
Sterling, VA 20166 or by email at gomggeis@boem.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public Availability: In keeping with the Department of the 
Interior's mission to protect natural resources and to limit costs, 
while ensuring availability to the public, the Draft PEIS and 
associated information are available on BOEM's Web site at http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. BOEM will also distribute digital copies of 
the Draft PEIS on compact discs. BOEM will also be printing and 
distributing a very limited number of paper copies. You may request a 
digital or paper copy of the Draft PEIS from the Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (GM 
250C), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans, Louisiana 
70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF).
    Comments: Governmental agencies, Native American tribes, the 
scientific community, industry groups, environmental interest groups, 
and any other interested parties may submit written comments on Draft 
PEIS through the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
field entitled ``Search,'' enter ``BOEM'' and then click ``search.'' 
Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting 
and related materials available for this notice;
    2. U.S. mail in an envelope labeled ``Comments on the Draft 
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement'' and addressed to Ms. Jill 
Lewandowski, Ph.D., Chief, Division of Environmental Assessment, Office 
of Environmental Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 
Woodland Road, VAM-OEP, Sterling, VA 20166. Comments must be postmarked 
by the last day of the comment period to be considered.
    3. Via electronic mail to gomggeis@boem.gov.

[[Page 67381]]

    Public Meetings: BOEM will also hold public meetings to solicit 
comment regarding the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact 
Statement. The meetings are scheduled as follows:
     New Orleans, Louisiana: Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 
Wyndham Garden New Orleans Airport, 6401 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, 
Metairie, Louisiana 70003; one meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and 
ending at 7:00 p.m. CST;
     Gulfport, Mississippi: Thursday, November 10, 2016, 
Courtyard by Marriott, Gulfport Beachfront MS Hotel, 1600 East Beach 
Boulevard, Gulfport, Mississippi 39501; one meeting beginning at 4:00 
p.m. CST and ending at 7:00 p.m. CST;
     Fort Walton Beach, Florida: Monday, November 14, 2016, 
Four Points By Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton Beach, 1325 Miracle Strip 
Parkway SE., Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548; one meeting beginning at 
4:00 p.m. CST and ending at 7:00 p.m. CST;
     Mobile, Alabama: Tuesday, November 15, 2016, The Admiral 
Hotel Mobile, Curio Collection by Hilton, 251 Government Street, 
Mobile, Alabama 36602; one meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and 
ending at 7:00 p.m. CST; and
     Houston, Texas: Thursday, November 17, 2016, Houston 
Marriott North, 255 North Sam Houston Pkwy. East, Houston, Texas 77060; 
one meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and ending at 7:00 p.m. CST.
    Public Disclosure of Names and Addresses: Before including your 
address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comments 
to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, 
we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

    Authority:  This Notice of Availability is published pursuant to 
the regulations (40 CFR part 1503 and 43 CFR part 46) implementing 
the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)).

     Dated: September 22, 2016.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-23664 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 190 / Friday, September 30, 2016 / Notices 67381

Public Meetings: BOEM will also hold DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Libraries
public meetings to solicit comment • New Mexico State University—
regarding the Draft Programmatic Bureau of Reclamation
Branson Library, 1305 Frenger Street,
Environmental Impact Statement. The Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003.
meetings are scheduled as follows: [RR04310000, 16XR0680A1, • University of Texas at El Paso, 500
• New Orleans, Louisiana: RX002361010021000] West University Avenue, El Paso, Texas
Wednesday, November 9, 2016, 79968.
Notice of Availability for the Final Electronic copies of the FEIS are
Wyndham Garden New Orleans Airport,
Environmental Impact Statement for available at: http://www.usbr.gov/uc/
6401 Veterans Memorial Boulevard,
the Continued Implementation of the envdocs/eis.html.
Metairie, Louisiana 70003; one meeting 2008 Operating Agreement for the Rio
beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and ending Grande Project, New Mexico and Texas FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
at 7:00 p.m. CST; Jennifer Faler, Area Manager,
• Gulfport, Mississippi: Thursday, AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Albuquerque Area Office, telephone:
November 10, 2016, Courtyard by Interior. (505) 462–3600; address: 555 Broadway
Marriott, Gulfport Beachfront MS Hotel, ACTION: Notice. NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New
1600 East Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, Mexico 87102; email: jfaler@usbr.gov.
Mississippi 39501; one meeting SUMMARY: In accordance with the Any persons wishing to be added to a
beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and ending National Environmental Policy Act of mailing list of interested parties may
at 7:00 p.m. CST; 1969, as amended, the Bureau of write or call Ms. Faler at this address or
Reclamation (Reclamation) has prepared telephone number.
• Fort Walton Beach, Florida: Persons who use a
a Final Environmental Impact Statement
Monday, November 14, 2016, Four telecommunications device for the deaf
(FEIS) to analyze the environmental
Points By Sheraton Destin-Fort Walton may call the Federal Information Relay
impacts of continuing to implement the
Beach, 1325 Miracle Strip Parkway SE., Service (FIRS) at 1–800–877–8339 to
2008 Rio Grande Project Operating
Fort Walton Beach, Florida 32548; one contact the above individual during
Agreement (Operating Agreement)
meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and normal business hours. The FIRS is
through 2050, and by this Notice is
ending at 7:00 p.m. CST; available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
announcing its availability. The
• Mobile, Alabama: Tuesday, Operating Agreement is a written in order to leave a message or question
November 15, 2016, The Admiral Hotel agreement describing how Reclamation with the above named individual. You
Mobile, Curio Collection by Hilton, 251 allocates, releases from storage, and will receive a reply during normal
Government Street, Mobile, Alabama delivers Rio Grande Project water to the business hours.
36602; one meeting beginning at 4:00 Elephant Butte Irrigation District (EBID) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
p.m. CST and ending at 7:00 p.m. CST; in New Mexico, the El Paso County Reclamation prepared the FEIS in
and Water Improvement District No. 1 cooperation with five agencies:
• Houston, Texas: Thursday, (EPCWID) in Texas, and to Mexico. In • United States Section of the
November 17, 2016, Houston Marriott addition, the FEIS evaluates the International Boundary and Water
North, 255 North Sam Houston Pkwy. environmental effects of a proposal to Commission,
East, Houston, Texas 77060; one renew a contract to store San Juan- • Colorado Division of Water
meeting beginning at 4:00 p.m. CST and Chama Project water in Elephant Butte Resources,
ending at 7:00 p.m. CST. Reservoir. • EBID,
DATES: Reclamation will not issue a
• EPCWID, and
Public Disclosure of Names and • Texas Rio Grande Compact
Addresses: Before including your final decision on the proposed action for
a minimum of 30 days after the date that Commissioner.
address, phone number, email address, The purpose for the proposed Federal
or other personal identifying the Environmental Protection Agency
action is to meet contractual obligations
information in your comment, you publishes its Notice of Availability of
of Reclamation to EBID and EPCWID,
should be aware that your entire Weekly Receipt of Environmental
and to comply with applicable law
comment, including your personal Impact Statements in the Federal
governing water allocation, delivery,
identifying information, may be made Register. After the 30-day public review
and accounting. These obligations are
publicly available at any time. While period, Reclamation will complete a
currently fulfilled under the Operating
you can ask us in your comments to Record of Decision (ROD). The ROD will
Agreement. The need for the proposed
withhold your personal identifying state the action that will be
Federal action is to resolve the long and
information from public review, we implemented and discuss all factors
litigious history of the Rio Grande
cannot guarantee that we will be able to leading to that decision.
Project, and to enter into mutually
do so. ADDRESSES: Copies of the FEIS are agreeable operational criteria that
Authority: This Notice of Availability is available for public inspection at the comply with applicable law, court
published pursuant to the regulations (40 following locations: decrees, settlement agreements, and
CFR part 1503 and 43 CFR part 46) • Bureau of Reclamation, contracts. The purpose and need for
implementing the provisions of the National Albuquerque Area Office, 555 Broadway similar action is to respond to a request
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as NE., Suite 100, Albuquerque, New to store San Juan-Chama Project water
Mexico 87102.
mstockstill on DSK3G9T082PROD with NOTICES

amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)). in Elephant Butte Reservoir.
• Bureau of Reclamation, El Paso
Dated: September 22, 2016. The FEIS Analyzes Five Alternatives
Field Division, 10737 Gateway West,
Abigail Ross Hopper, Suite 350, El Paso, Texas 79935. The FEIS describes and analyzes five
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy • Bureau of Reclamation, Upper alternatives: The Preferred Alternative
Management. Colorado Regional Office, 125 South (Alternative 1) is continuation of the
[FR Doc. 2016–23664 Filed 9–29–16; 8:45 am] State Street, Room 8100, Salt Lake City, Operating Agreement and the San Juan-
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P Utah 84138. Chama storage contract through 2050.

VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:49 Sep 29, 2016 Jkt 238001 PO 00000 Frm 00093 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 E:\FR\FM\30SEN1.SGM 30SEN1

Document Created: 2018-02-09 13:34:07
Document Modified: 2018-02-09 13:34:07

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.
Dates		Comments on this Draft PEIS will be accepted until November 29, 2016. BOEM has determined that a 60-day public comment period is warranted given the complex and technical nature of this Draft PEIS along with possible requests for extending the comment period. Additionally, due to litigation deadlines, no more than 60-days for public comment will be granted. See public meeting dates in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.
Contact		Jill Lewandowski, Ph.D., Chief, Division of Environmental Assessment, Office of Environmental Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OEP, Sterling, VA 20166 or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 67380

81 FR 67380 - Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Geological and Geophysical Activities on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) MMAA104000

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 190 (September 30, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management