81 FR 8536 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 241; MMAA104000
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 | 8536-8537 | |
| FR Document | 2016-03280 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 8536-8537] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-03280] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2015-0117] Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 241; 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 CPA Lease Sale 241. This Record of Decision identifies the Bureau's selected alternative for proposed CPA Lease Sale 241, 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 three alternatives that are summarized below with regard to proposed CPA Lease Sale 241: Alternative A--The Proposed Action: This is BOEM's preferred alternative. This alternative would offer for lease for oil and gas operations all unleased blocks within the proposed CPA lease sale area with the following exceptions: whole and partial blocks deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006; and blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap. All unleased whole and partial blocks in the CPA that BOEM will offer for leasing in proposed CPA Lease Sale 241 are listed in the document ``List of Blocks Available for Leasing,'' which is included in the Final Notice of Sale for CPA Lease Sale 241. The proposed CPA lease sale area encompasses about 63 million acres (ac) of the total CPA area of 66.45 million acres. As of October 2015, approximately 46.9 million ac of [[Page 8537]] the proposed CPA lease sale area are currently unleased. The estimated amount of resources projected to be developed as a result of the proposed CPA lease sale is 0.460-0.894 billion barrels of oil (BBO) and 1.939-3.903 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. Alternative B--Exclude the Unleased Blocks Near Biologically Sensitive Topographic Features: This alternative would offer for lease all unleased blocks within the proposed CPA 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, described below. 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 assumed that the levels of activity for Alternative B would be essentially the same as those projected for the CPA proposed action. The estimated amount of resources projected to be developed under this alternative is 0.460-0.894 BBO and 1.939-3.903 Tcf of gas. Alternative C--No Action: This alternative is the cancellation of proposed CPA Lease Sale 241 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 10 lease stipulations for proposed CPA Lease Sale 241 are the Topographic Features Stipulation; the Live Bottom (Pinnacle Trend) Stipulation; the Military Areas Stipulation; the Evacuation Stipulation; the Coordination Stipulation; the Blocks South of Baldwin County, Alabama, Stipulation; the Protected Species Stipulation; the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Royalty Payment Stipulation; the Below Seabed Operations 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. 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 post-lease mitigating measures that may be required by BOEM or BSEE 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 meets the purpose and need for the proposed action, as identified in the CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS, and reflects 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 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: February 10, 2016. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2016-03280 Filed 2-18-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
![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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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 33 / Friday, February 19, 2016 / Notices 8537
the proposed CPA lease sale area are alternative (Alternative A) in the CPA Administration Division, Bureau of
currently unleased. The estimated 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS. Reclamation, P.O. Box 25007, Denver,
amount of resources projected to be BOEM’s selection of the preferred Colorado 80225–0007; telephone 303–
developed as a result of the proposed alternative meets the purpose and need 445–2888.
CPA lease sale is 0.460–0.894 billion for the proposed action, as identified in SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Consistent
barrels of oil (BBO) and 1.939–3.903 the CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental with section 9(f) of the Reclamation
trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. EIS, and reflects orderly resource Project Act of 1939, and the rules and
Alternative B—Exclude the Unleased development, with protection of the regulations published in 52 FR 11954,
Blocks Near Biologically Sensitive human, marine, and coastal April 13, 1987 (43 CFR 426.22),
Topographic Features: This alternative environments, while also ensuring that Reclamation will publish notice of
would offer for lease all unleased blocks the public receives an equitable return proposed or amendatory contract
within the proposed CPA lease sale for these resources and that free-market actions for any contract for the delivery
area, as described for the proposed competition is maintained. of project water for authorized uses in
action (Alternative A), but it would Authority: This NOA of a Record of newspapers of general circulation in the
exclude from leasing any unleased Decision is published pursuant to the affected area at least 60 days prior to
blocks subject to the Topographic regulations (40 CFR part 1503) implementing contract execution. Announcements
Features Stipulation, described below. the provisions of the National Environmental may be in the form of news releases,
The number of blocks that would not be Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C.
4321 et seq.). legal notices, official letters,
offered under Alternative B represents memorandums, or other forms of
only a small percentage of the total Dated: February 10, 2016. written material. Meetings, workshops,
number of blocks to be offered under Abigail Ross Hopper, and/or hearings may also be used, as
Alternative A; therefore, it is assumed Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy appropriate, to provide local publicity.
that the levels of activity for Alternative Management. The public participation procedures do
B would be essentially the same as those [FR Doc. 2016–03280 Filed 2–18–16; 8:45 am] not apply to proposed contracts for the
projected for the CPA proposed action. BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P sale of surplus or interim irrigation
The estimated amount of resources
water for a term of 1 year or less. Either
projected to be developed under this
of the contracting parties may invite the
alternative is 0.460–0.894 BBO and DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR public to observe contract proceedings.
1.939–3.903 Tcf of gas.
Alternative C—No Action: This All public participation procedures will
Bureau of Reclamation
alternative is the cancellation of be coordinated with those involved in
[RR83550000, 167R5065C6, complying with the National
proposed CPA Lease Sale 241 and is RX.59389832.1009676]
identified as the environmentally Environmental Policy Act. Pursuant to
preferred alternative. the ‘‘Final Revised Public Participation
Quarterly Status Report of Water Procedures’’ for water resource-related
Lease Stipulations—The CPA 241/ Service, Repayment, and Other Water-
EPA 226 Supplemental EIS describes all contract negotiations, published in 47
Related Contract Actions
lease stipulations, which are included FR 7763, February 22, 1982, a tabulation
in the Final Notice of Sale Package. The AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, is provided of all proposed contractual
10 lease stipulations for proposed CPA Interior. actions in each of the five Reclamation
Lease Sale 241 are the Topographic ACTION: Notice. regions. When contract negotiations are
Features Stipulation; the Live Bottom completed, and prior to execution, each
(Pinnacle Trend) Stipulation; the SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given of proposed contract form must be
Military Areas Stipulation; the contractual actions that have been approved by the Secretary of the
Evacuation Stipulation; the proposed to the Bureau of Reclamation Interior, or pursuant to delegated or
Coordination Stipulation; the Blocks (Reclamation) and are new, redelegated authority, the Commissioner
South of Baldwin County, Alabama, discontinued, or completed since the of Reclamation or one of the regional
Stipulation; the Protected Species last publication of this notice. This directors. In some instances,
Stipulation; the United Nations notice is one of a variety of means used congressional review and approval of a
Convention on the Law of the Sea to inform the public about proposed report, water rate, or other terms and
Royalty Payment Stipulation; the Below contractual actions for capital recovery conditions of the contract may be
Seabed Operations Stipulation; and the and management of project resources involved.
Stipulation on the Agreement between and facilities consistent with section 9(f) Public participation in and receipt of
the United States of America and the of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939. comments on contract proposals will be
United Mexican States Concerning Additional announcements of facilitated by adherence to the following
Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs individual contract actions may be procedures:
in the Gulf of Mexico. The stipulations published in the Federal Register and in 1. Only persons authorized to act on
will be added as lease terms where newspapers of general circulation in the behalf of the contracting entities may
applicable and will therefore be areas determined by Reclamation to be negotiate the terms and conditions of a
enforceable as part of the lease. affected by the proposed action. specific contract proposal.
Appendix A of the CPA 241/EPA 226 ADDRESSES: The identity of the 2. Advance notice of meetings or
Supplemental EIS provides a list and approving officer and other information hearings will be furnished to those
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
description of standard post-lease pertaining to a specific contract parties that have made a timely written
mitigating measures that may be proposal may be obtained by calling or request for such notice to the
required by BOEM or BSEE as a result writing the appropriate regional office at appropriate regional or project office of
of plan and permit review processes for the address and telephone number given Reclamation.
the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. for each region in the SUPPLEMENTARY 3. Written correspondence regarding
After careful consideration, BOEM INFORMATION section. proposed contracts may be made
has selected the proposed action, which FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: available to the general public pursuant
is identified as BOEM’s preferred Michelle Kelly, Reclamation Law to the terms and procedures of the
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Document Created: 2018-02-02 14:31:51
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 14:31:51
| 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 8536 |
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