81 FR 8535 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Eastern Planning Area (EPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 33 (February 19, 2016)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 33 (February 19, 2016)
| Page Range | 8535-8536 | |
| FR Document | 2016-03277 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 8535-8536] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-03277] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2015-0118; MMAA104000] Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Eastern Planning Area (EPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 226 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 EPA Lease Sale 226. This Record of Decision identifies the Bureau's selected alternative for proposed EPA Lease Sale 226, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2016 and 2017; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 241 and 247; Eastern Planning Area Lease Sale 226; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS). The Record of Decision and associated information are available on the agency 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 CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS, BOEM evaluated the two alternatives that are summarized below with regard to proposed EPA Lease Sale 226: Alternative A--The Proposed Action: This is BOEM's preferred alternative. This alternative would offer for lease all unleased blocks within the proposed EPA lease sale area for oil and gas operations. All unleased blocks in the EPA that BOEM will offer for leasing in proposed EPA Lease Sale 226 are listed in the document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' which is included in the Final Notice of Sale for EPA Lease Sale 226. The proposed EPA lease sale area covers approximately 657,905 acres (ac) and includes those blocks previously included in EPA Lease Sale 225. The area is south of eastern Alabama and western Florida; the nearest point of land is 125 miles (201 kilometers) northwest in Louisiana. As of October 2015, approximately 595,475 ac of the proposed EPA lease sale area are available for lease. The estimated [[Page 8536]] amount of natural resources projected to be developed as a result of proposed EPA Lease Sale 226 is 0-0.071 billion barrels of oil and 0- 0.162 trillion cubic feet of gas. Alternative B--No Action: This alternative is the cancellation of proposed EPA Lease Sale 226 and is identified as the environmentally preferred alternative. Lease Stipulations--The CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS describes all lease stipulations, which are included in the Final Notice of Sale Package. The four lease stipulations for proposed EPA Lease Sale 226 are the Protected Species Stipulation, the Military Areas Stipulation, the Evacuation Stipulation, and the Coordination Stipulation. The stipulations will be added as lease terms where applicable and will therefore be enforceable as part of the lease. Appendix A of the CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS provides a list and description of standard postlease mitigating measures that may be required by BOEM or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as a result of 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 CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative 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 NOA of a Record of Decision is published pursuant to 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: February 10, 2016. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2016-03277 Filed 2-18-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Notices 8535
provided in the ‘‘Instructions for bid adequacy procedures. BOEM DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Making Electronic Funds Transfer carefully considered the comments
Bonus Payments’’ found on the BOEM submitted in response to the notice and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Web site identified above. met with industry representatives. [Docket No. BOEM–2015–0118;
BOEM requires bidders to use EFT BOEM believes that none of the MMAA104000]
procedures for payment of one-fifth submitted comments offered a
bonus bid deposits for CPA Sale 241, compelling reason to retain the Number Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf
following the detailed instructions of Bids Rule, suggested a preferable (OCS), Eastern Planning Area (EPA) Oil
contained on the ONRR Payment alternative which BOEM had not and Gas Lease Sale 226
Information Web page at http:// considered, or indicated that our AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy
www.onrr.gov/FM/PayInfo.htm.
analysis or rationale was deficient. Management (BOEM), Interior.
Acceptance of a deposit does not
Therefore, BOEM removed the Number ACTION: Notice of availability of a
constitute and will not be construed as
of Bids rule from its procedures. This Record of Decision.
acceptance of any bid on behalf of the
United States. bid adequacy change is in effect and
will be applied to any bids received for SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the
Withdrawal of Blocks the CPA Sale 241. availability of a Record of Decision for
proposed oil and gas EPA Lease Sale
The United States reserves the right to Lease Award 226. This Record of Decision identifies
withdraw any block from this lease sale the Bureau’s selected alternative for
prior to issuance of a written acceptance BOEM requires each bidder awarded proposed EPA Lease Sale 226, which is
of a bid for the block. a lease to: (1) Execute all copies of the analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil
Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids lease (Form BOEM–2005 (October and Gas Lease Sales: 2016 and 2017;
2011), as amended); (2) pay by EFT the Central Planning Area Lease Sales 241
The United States reserves the right to balance of the bonus bid amount and and 247; Eastern Planning Area Lease
reject any and all bids. No bid will be
the first year’s rental for each lease Sale 226; Final Supplemental
accepted, and no lease for any block
issued in accordance with the Environmental Impact Statement (CPA
will be awarded to any bidder, unless:
(1) The bidder has complied with all requirements of 30 CFR 218.155 and 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS). The
requirements of the Final NOS and 556.47(f); and (3) satisfy the bonding Record of Decision and associated
applicable regulations; requirements of 30 CFR part 556, information are available on the agency
(2) the bid submitted is the highest subpart I, as amended. ONRR requests Web site at http://www.boem.gov/
valid bid; and that only one transaction be used for nepaprocess/.
(3) the amount of the bid has been payment of the four-fifths bonus bid FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
determined to be adequate by the amount and the first year’s rental. more information on the Record of
authorized officer. Decision, you may contact Mr. Gary D.
Any bid submitted that does not XI. Delay of Sale Goeke, Bureau of Ocean Energy
conform to the requirements of the Final Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS
The BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD has the
NOS and Final NOS Package, OCSLA, Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
discretion to change any date, time,
or other applicable statute or regulation (GM 623E), New Orleans, Louisiana
and/or location specified in the Final 70123–2394. You may also contact Mr.
may be rejected and returned to the
NOS Package in case of an event that the Goeke by telephone at 504–736–3233.
bidder. The U.S. Department of Justice
BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD deems may
and the Federal Trade Commission will SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the
interfere with the carrying out of a fair CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS,
review the results of the lease sale for
antitrust issues prior to the acceptance and orderly lease sale process. Such BOEM evaluated the two alternatives
of bids and issuance of leases. events could include, but are not that are summarized below with regard
limited to, natural disasters (e.g., to proposed EPA Lease Sale 226:
Bid Adequacy Review Procedures for earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods), Alternative A—The Proposed Action:
CPA Sale 241 wars, riots, acts of terrorism, fires, This is BOEM’s preferred alternative.
To ensure that the U.S. Government strikes, civil disorder, or other events of This alternative would offer for lease all
receives a fair return for the conveyance a similar nature. In case of such events, unleased blocks within the proposed
of leases from this sale, high bids will bidders should call (504) 736–0557, or EPA lease sale area for oil and gas
be evaluated in accordance with access the BOEM Web site at http:// operations.
BOEM’s bid adequacy procedures. A www.boem.gov, for information All unleased blocks in the EPA that
copy of the updated Bid Adequacy regarding any changes. BOEM will offer for leasing in proposed
Procedures can be obtained from the EPA Lease Sale 226 are listed in the
Dated: February 10, 2016.
BOEM Gulf of Mexico Region Public document ‘‘List of Blocks Available for
Information Office, or via the BOEM Abigail Ross Hopper, Leasing,’’ which is included in the Final
Gulf of Mexico Region Web site at Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Notice of Sale for EPA Lease Sale 226.
http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas- Management. The proposed EPA lease sale area covers
Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional- [FR Doc. 2016–03278 Filed 2–18–16; 8:45 am] approximately 657,905 acres (ac) and
Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region/Bid- includes those blocks previously
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
Adequacy-Procedures.aspx. included in EPA Lease Sale 225. The
BOEM published a notification in the area is south of eastern Alabama and
Federal Register, 79 FR 62461–62463 western Florida; the nearest point of
(October 17, 2014), available at http:// land is 125 miles (201 kilometers)
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2014-10-17/ northwest in Louisiana. As of October
pdf/2014-24727.pdf, proposing the 2015, approximately 595,475 ac of the
elimination of one of its acceptance proposed EPA lease sale area are
rules, the Number of Bids Rule, from its available for lease. The estimated
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![8536 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Notices
amount of natural resources projected to DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
be developed as a result of proposed
EPA Lease Sale 226 is 0–0.071 billion Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
barrels of oil and 0–0.162 trillion cubic [Docket No. BOEM–2015–0117]
feet of gas. [Docket No. BOEM–2015–0119]
Alternative B—No Action: This Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Gulf of (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA) Oil
alternative is the cancellation of
Mexico (GOM), Oil and Gas Western and Gas Lease Sale 241; MMAA104000
proposed EPA Lease Sale 226 and is Planning Area (WPA) Lease Sale 248,
identified as the environmentally MMAA104000 AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy
preferred alternative. Management (BOEM), Interior.
Lease Stipulations—The CPA 241/ AGENCY:Bureau of Ocean Energy ACTION: Notice of availability of a
EPA 226 Supplemental EIS describes all Management (BOEM), Interior. Record of Decision.
lease stipulations, which are included ACTION:Notice of availability of a Final
in the Final Notice of Sale Package. The SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the
Supplemental Environmental Impact availability of a Record of Decision for
four lease stipulations for proposed EPA Statement.
Lease Sale 226 are the Protected Species proposed oil and gas CPA Lease Sale
Stipulation, the Military Areas 241. This Record of Decision identifies
SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the the Bureau’s selected alternative for
Stipulation, the Evacuation Stipulation, availability of a Final Supplemental proposed CPA Lease Sale 241, which is
and the Coordination Stipulation. The Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil
stipulations will be added as lease terms for proposed GOM OCS Oil and Gas and Gas Lease Sales: 2016 and 2017;
where applicable and will therefore be WPA Lease Sale 248. The Final SEIS Central Planning Area Lease Sales 241
enforceable as part of the lease. provides a discussion of the potential and 247; Eastern Planning Area Lease
Appendix A of the CPA 241/EPA 226 significant impacts of the proposed Sale 226; Final Supplemental
Supplemental EIS provides a list and action, provides an analysis of Environmental Impact Statement (CPA
description of standard postlease reasonable alternatives to the proposed 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS). The
mitigating measures that may be action, and identifies the Bureau’s Record of Decision and associated
required by BOEM or the Bureau of preferred alternative. information are available on the agency
Safety and Environmental Enforcement The Final SEIS is available on Web site at http://www.boem.gov/
as a result of plan and permit review BOEM’s Web site at http:// nepaprocess/.
processes for the Gulf of Mexico OCS www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. BOEM FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
Region. will primarily distribute digital copies more information on the Record of
After careful consideration, BOEM of the Final SEIS on compact discs. You Decision, you may contact Mr. Gary D.
has selected the proposed action, which may request a paper copy or the location Goeke, Bureau of Ocean Energy
is identified as BOEM’s preferred of a library with a digital copy of the Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS
alternative (Alternative A) in the CPA Final SEIS from the Bureau of Ocean Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard
241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS. Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico (GM 623E), New Orleans, Louisiana
BOEM’s selection of the preferred OCS Region, Public Information Office 70123–2394. You may also contact Mr.
(GM 250C), 1201 Elmwood Park Goeke by telephone at 504–736–3233.
alternative reflects an orderly resource
Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans, SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the
development with protection of the
Louisiana 70123–2394 (1–800–200– CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS,
human, marine, and coastal GULF).
environments, while also ensuring that BOEM evaluated the three alternatives
the public receives an equitable return FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For that are summarized below with regard
for these resources and that free-market more information on the WPA 248 Final to proposed CPA Lease Sale 241:
competition is maintained. Supplemental Environmental Impact Alternative A—The Proposed Action:
Statement, you may contact Mr. Gary D. This is BOEM’s preferred alternative.
Authority: This NOA of a Record of This alternative would offer for lease for
Decision is published pursuant to regulations Goeke, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS oil and gas operations all unleased
(40 CFR part 1503) implementing the blocks within the proposed CPA lease
provisions of the National Environmental Region, Office of Environment (GM
623E), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, sale area with the following exceptions:
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. whole and partial blocks deferred by the
4321 et seq.). New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394 or
by email at wpa248@boem.gov. You Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of
Dated: February 10, 2016. may also contact Mr. Goeke by 2006; and blocks that are adjacent to or
Abigail Ross Hopper, telephone at 504–736–3233. beyond the United States’ Exclusive
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Economic Zone in the area known as the
Authority: This Notice of Availability of northern portion of the Eastern Gap.
Management. a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact
[FR Doc. 2016–03277 Filed 2–18–16; 8:45 am]
All unleased whole and partial blocks
Statement is in compliance with the National
in the CPA that BOEM will offer for
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
leasing in proposed CPA Lease Sale 241
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), and is
published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.415. are listed in the document ‘‘List of
Blocks Available for Leasing,’’ which is
Dated: January 4, 2016. included in the Final Notice of Sale for
Abigail Ross Hopper, CPA Lease Sale 241. The proposed CPA
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy lease sale area encompasses about 63
Management. million acres (ac) of the total CPA area
[FR Doc. 2016–02653 Filed 2–18–16; 8:45 am] of 66.45 million acres. As of October
BILLING CODE 4310–MR––P 2015, approximately 46.9 million ac of
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:31:40
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:31:40
| 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 8535 |
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