82_FR_23388 82 FR 23291 - Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244

82 FR 23291 - Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 97 (May 22, 2017)

Page Range23291-23295
FR Document2017-10509

On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in the Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 (Cook Inlet Sale 244), in accordance with provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the implementing regulations issued thereto. The Cook Inlet Sale 244 Final Notice of Sale (NOS) package contains information essential to potential bidders.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 97 (Monday, May 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23291-23295]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-10509]


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

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2017-0013; MMAA104000]


Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Lease Sale 244

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Final Notice of Sale.

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

SUMMARY: On Wednesday, June 21, 2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management (BOEM) will open and publicly announce bids received for 
blocks offered in the Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 (Cook Inlet Sale 244), in accordance 
with provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and 
the implementing regulations issued thereto. The Cook Inlet Sale 244 
Final Notice of Sale (NOS) package contains information essential to 
potential bidders.

DATES: Public opening and reading of the bids for Cook Inlet Lease Sale 
244 will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in the Denali 
Room at the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage 
Federal Office Building, 222 West Seventh Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. 
The venue will not be open to the general public, media, or industry. 
Instead, the bid opening and reading will be available for public 
viewing on BOEM's Web site via video live-streaming at www.boem.gov. 
The use of live-streaming will provide greater access to a wider 
national and international audience. BOEM will also post the results on 
its Web site after bid opening and reading are completed. All times 
referred to in this document are Alaska time, unless otherwise 
specified.
    Bid Submission Deadline: BOEM must receive all sealed bids during 
normal business hours, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., through June 
19, 2017, and from 8:00 a.m. to the bid submission deadline of 10:00 
a.m. on Tuesday, June 20, 2017, the day before the lease sale. For more 
information on bid submission, see Section VII, ``Bidding 
Instructions,'' of this document.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties, upon request, may obtain a compact disk 
(CD-ROM) containing the Final Notice of Sale (NOS) package by 
contacting the BOEM Alaska OCS Region at:

    Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 
500, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, (907) 334-5200 or (800) 764-2627.

    The Final NOS package can also be downloaded from the BOEM Web site 
at http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Diamond, Chief, Leasing 
Division, (703) 787-1776, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Table of Contents

    This Final NOS includes the following sections:

I. Lease Sale Area
II. Statutes and Regulations
III. Lease Terms and Economic Conditions
IV. Lease Stipulations
V. Information to Lessees
VI. Maps
VII. Bidding Instructions
VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions
IX. Forms
X. The Lease Sale
XI. Delay of Sale

Lease Sale Area

    BOEM will offer for bid in this lease sale all unleased whole 
blocks and partial blocks in the area of Cook Inlet identified on the 
map included as part of this notice, ``Final Notice of Sale, Cook Inlet 
Planning Area, OCS Oil Gas Lease Sale 244.'' The BOEM Official 
Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) and Supplemental Official OCS Block 
Diagrams are available online at http://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-and-Data/Alaska.aspx.
    All of these blocks are shown on the following OPDs:

 Iliamna (OPD NO 05-01)
 Seldovia (OPD NO 05-02)
 Kenai (OPD NP 05-08)

    The available Federal area of each whole and partial block in this 
lease sale are shown in the document ``List of Blocks Available for 
Leasing'' included in the Final NOS Package. Some of these blocks, 
known as ``partial blocks,'' may be transected by administrative lines, 
such as the Federal/State jurisdictional line. A bid on a block must 
include all of the available Federal area of that block.

II. Statutes and Regulations

    Each lease is issued pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act (OCSLA, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), and is subject to OCSLA, its 
implementing regulations pursuant thereto (30 CFR part 556), and other 
applicable statutes and regulations in existence upon the effective 
date of the lease, as well as those applicable statutes enacted and 
regulations promulgated thereafter, except to the extent that the 
after-enacted statutes and regulations explicitly conflict with an 
express provision of the lease. Each lease is subject to amendments to 
the applicable statutes and regulations, including, but not limited to, 
OCSLA, that do not explicitly conflict with an express provision of the 
lease. The lessee expressly bears the risk that such new amended 
statutes and regulations (i.e., those that do not explicitly conflict 
with an express provision of the lease) may increase or decrease the 
lessee's obligations under the lease.

III. Lease Terms and Economic Conditions

Lease Terms

OCS Lease Form
    BOEM will use Form BOEM-2005 (February 2017) to convey leases 
issued as a result of this sale. This lease form may be viewed on the 
BOEM Web site at http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-2005/. The lease form will be 
amended to conform with the specific terms, conditions, and 
stipulations applicable to each individual lease. The terms, 
conditions, and stipulations applicable to this sale are set forth 
below.
    Primary Term: The primary term will be 10 years.

Economic Conditions

    Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25 per hectare or fraction thereof for 
all blocks. BOEM will not accept a bonus bid unless it provides for a 
cash bonus in the amount equal to, or exceeding, the specified minimum 
bonus bid of $25 per hectare or fraction thereof for all blocks.
    Rental Rates: An annual rental rate for all blocks of $13 per 
hectare or fraction thereof, until the start of year eight of the 
primary term or a discovery of oil and gas, whichever occurs first; 
then at an annual rate of $20 per hectare or fraction thereof.
    Royalty Rates: 12.5%.
    Minimum Royalty: $20 per hectare or fraction thereof per year. No 
royalty relief will be offered as part of any lease that may be issued 
as a result of Cook Inlet Sale 244.

[[Page 23292]]

IV. Lease Stipulations

    One or more of the following stipulations may be applied to leases 
issued as a result of this lease sale. The detailed text of these 
stipulations is contained in the ``Lease Stipulations'' section of the 
Final NOS Package. Note that the Proposed NOS included Stipulation No. 
10, ``Prohibition of Drilling Discharges.'' As BOEM has decided not to 
adopt Stipulation No. 10, it has been removed from the Final NOS, and 
therefore it will not be applied to any leases issued as a result of 
this lease sale.

(1) Protection of Fisheries
(2) Protection of Biological Resources
(3) Orientation Program
(4) Transportation of Hydrocarbons
(5) Protection of Beluga Whale Critical Habitat
(6) Protection of Beluga Whale Nearshore Feeding Areas
(7) Protection of Beluga Whales
(8) Protection of Northern Sea Otter Critical Habitat
(9) Protection of Gillnet Fishery

V. Information to Lessees

    Information to Lessees (ITLs) provides detailed information on 
certain issues pertaining to specific oil and gas lease sales. The 
detailed text of the ITLs for this sale is contained in the 
``Information to Lessees'' section of the Final NOS Package.

(1) Bird and Marine Mammal Protection
(2) Endangered and Threatened Species Protection
(3) Seismic Surveys: Environmental and Regulatory Review and 
Coordination Requirements
(4) Archaeological and Geological Hazards Reports and Surveys
(5) Sensitive Areas to be Considered in Oil Spill Response Plans
(6) Discharge Restrictions and Prohibitions
(7) Trash and Debris Awareness and Elimination
(8) Air Quality Regulations and Standards
(9) Navigation Safety
(10) Notice of Arrival on the Outer Continental Shelf
(11) Bidder/Lessee Notice of Obligations Related to Criminal/Civil 
Charges and Offenses, Suspension, or Debarment; Disqualification Due to 
a Conviction under the Clean Air Act or the Clean Water Act
(12) Oil Spill Response Preparedness
(13) Offshore Pipelines
(14) Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) Inspection 
and Enforcement of Certain U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Regulations

VI. Maps

    Maps pertaining to this lease sale are available on the BOEM Web 
site at http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/. The following maps also are 
included in the Final NOS Package:
    (1) ``Final Notice of Sale, Cook Inlet Planning Area, OCS Oil Gas 
Lease Sale 244, June 21, 2017,'' which shows the blocks to be made 
available for leasing; and
    (2) ``Final Notice of Sale, Cook Inlet Planning Area, Lease Sale 
244, June 21, 2017, Stipulation Blocks,'' which shows the stipulations 
and the blocks to which they will apply.

VII. Bidding Instructions

    Bids may be submitted in person or by mail at the address below in 
the ``Mailed Bids'' section. Bidders submitting their bid(s) in person 
are advised to contact Ms. Patricia LaFramboise at (907) 334-5200 to 
schedule a time to submit the bid(s) and to provide the names of the 
company representative(s) who will be submitting the bid(s).
    Bidders are further advised that visitors seeking access to almost 
all Federal facilities, including the BOEM Alaska OCS Region Office, 
using their state-issued driver's licenses or identification cards must 
present proper identification issued by REAL ID compliant states or a 
state that has received an extension. See the Department of Homeland 
Security Web site https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-faqs for further 
information on identification requirements. BOEM will not admit you if 
you do not have the proper identification. If you have any questions as 
to forms of identification that will be accepted, please ask when 
contacting BOEM to schedule a time to submit bids.
    Instructions on how to submit a bid, how to secure payment of an 
advanced bonus bid deposit (if applicable), and what information must 
be included with the bid are as follows:

Bid Form

    For each block bid upon, a separate bid must be submitted in a 
sealed envelope (as described below) and must include the following:
     Total amount of the bid in whole dollars only;
     Sale number;
     Sale date;
     Each bidder's exact name;
     Each bidder's proportionate interest, stated as a 
percentage, using a maximum of five decimal places (e.g., 33.33333%);
     Typed name and title, and signature of each bidder's 
authorized officer;
     Each bidder's qualification number;
     OPD name and number;
     Block number; and
     Statement acknowledging that the bidder(s) understands 
that this bid legally binds the bidder(s) to comply with all applicable 
regulations, including payment of one-fifth of the bonus bid amount on 
all apparent high bids.
    The information required on the bid(s) is specified in the document 
``Bid Form'' contained in the Final NOS Package. A blank bid form is 
provided therein for convenience and may be copied and completed with 
the necessary information described above.

Bid Envelope

    Each bid must be submitted in a separate sealed envelope labelled 
as follows:
     ``Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244, not to be 
opened until 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 21, 2017'';
     OPD name and number;
     Block number for the block bid upon; and
     The exact name and qualification number of the submitting 
bidder only.
    The Final NOS Package includes a sample bid envelope for reference.

Mailed Bids

    If bids are mailed, please address the envelope containing the 
sealed bid envelope(s) as follows:

    Attention: Chief, Leasing Section, BOEM Alaska OCS Region, 3801 
Centerpoint Dr., Ste. 500, Anchorage, AK 99503-5823.

    Contains Sealed Bids for Cook Inlet Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244.
    Please deliver to Ms. Patricia LaFramboise, 5th Floor, Immediately.
    Please Note: Bidders who are mailing bid(s) are advised to call Ms. 
Patricia LaFramboise, Chief, Leasing Section at (907) 334-5200, 
immediately after putting their bid(s) in the mail. If BOEM receives 
bids later than the Bid Submission deadline, the BOEM Alaska OCS 
Regional Director (RD) will return those bids unopened to bidders. 
Please see ``Section XI. Delay of Sale'' regarding BOEM's discretion to 
extend the Bid Submission Deadline in the case of an unexpected event 
(e.g., earthquake or travel restrictions) and how bidders can obtain 
more information on such extensions.

Advance Bonus Bid Deposit

    Bidders that are not currently an OCS oil and gas lease record 
title holder or designated operator, or those that have ever defaulted 
on a one-fifth bonus bid deposit, by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) or 
otherwise, must guarantee

[[Page 23293]]

(secure) the payment of the one-fifth bonus bid deposit prior to bid 
submission using one of the following four methods:
     Provide a third-party guarantee;
     Amend an area-wide development bond via bond rider;
     Provide a letter of credit; or
     Provide a lump sum payment in advance via EFT.
    For more information on EFT procedures, see Section X of this 
document, entitled, ``The Lease Sale.''

Affirmative Action

    Prior to bidding, each bidder should file Equal Opportunity 
Affirmative Action Representation Form BOEM-2032 (October 2011, http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-2032/) and Equal Opportunity Compliance Report 
Certification Form BOEM-2033 (October 2011, http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-2033/) with the Alaska OCS Region Leasing Section. This certification 
is required by 41 CFR part 60 and Executive Order No. 11246, issued on 
September 24, 1965, as amended by Executive Order No. 11375, issued on 
October 13, 1967, and by Executive Order 13672, issued on June 21, 
2014. Both forms must be on file for the bidder(s) in the Alaska OCS 
Region Office prior to the execution of any lease contract.

Geophysical Data and Information Statement (GDIS)

    The GDIS is composed of three parts:
    (1) The ``Statement'' page includes the company representatives' 
information and lists of blocks bid on that used proprietary data and 
those blocks bid on that did not use proprietary data;
    (2) the ``Table'' listing the required data about each proprietary 
survey used (see below); and
    (3) the ``Maps'' being the live trace maps for each survey that are 
identified in the GDIS statement and table.
    Every bidder submitting a bid on a block in Cook Inlet Sale 244, or 
participating as a joint bidder in such a bid, must submit at the time 
of bid submission all three parts of the GDIS. A bidder must submit the 
GDIS, even if a joint bidder or bidders on a specific block also have 
submitted a GDIS. Any speculative data that has been reprocessed 
externally or ``in-house'' is considered proprietary due to the 
proprietary processing and is no longer considered to be speculative.
    The GDIS must be submitted in a separate and sealed envelope, and 
identify all proprietary data; reprocessed speculative data, and/or any 
Controlled Source Electromagnetic surveys, Amplitude Versus Offset 
(AVO), Gravity, or Magnetic data; or other information used as part of 
the decision to bid or participate in a bid on the block. The bidder 
and joint bidder must also include a live trace map for 3 dimensional 
seismic volumes and for 2 dimensional seismic, include the line 
segment, including the beginning and ending shot point locations and 
the individual line names (e.g., .pdf and ArcGIS shape file) for each 
proprietary survey that they identify in the GDIS illustrating the 
actual areal extent of the proprietary geophysical data in the survey 
(see the ``Example of Preferred Format'' in the Final NOS Package for 
additional information). The shape file should not include cultural 
information; only the live trace map of the survey itself.
    The GDIS statement must include the name, phone number, and full 
address of a contact person and an alternate who are both knowledgeable 
about the information and data listed and who are available for 30 days 
after the sale date. The GDIS statement also must include entries for 
all blocks bid upon that did not use proprietary or reprocessed pre- or 
post-stack geophysical data and information as part of the decision to 
bid or to participate as a joint bidder in the bid. The GDIS statement 
must be submitted, even if no proprietary geophysical data and 
information were used in bid preparation for the block.
    The GDIS table should have columns that clearly state:
     The sale number;
     The bidder company's name;
     The block area and block number bid on;
     The owner of the original data set (i.e., who initially 
acquired the data);
     The industry's original name of the survey (e.g., E 
Octopus);
     The BOEM permit number for the survey;
     Whether the data set is a fast track version;
     Whether the data is speculative or proprietary;
     The data type (e.g., 2-D, 3-D, or 4-D; pre-stack or post-
stack; and time or depth);
     The migration algorithm (e.g., Kirchhoff Migration, Wave 
Equation Migration, Reverse Migration, Reverse Time Migration) of the 
data and areal extent of bidder survey (i.e., number of line miles for 
2-D or number of blocks for 3-D).
    Also, provide the computer storage size, to the nearest gigabyte, 
of each seismic data and velocity volume used to evaluate the lease 
block in question. This information will be used in estimating the 
reproduction costs for each data set, if applicable. The availability 
of reimbursement of production costs will be determined consistent with 
30 CFR 551.13. Also indicate who reprocessed the data (e.g., external 
company name or ``in-house'') and when the date of final reprocessing 
was completed (month and year). If the data was sent to BOEM for 
bidding in a previous lease sale, list the date the data was processed 
(month and year) and indicate if AVO data was used in the evaluation. 
BOEM reserves the right to query about alternate data sets, to quality 
check, and to compare the listed and alternative data sets to determine 
which data set most closely meets the needs of the fair market value 
determination process. An example of the preferred format of the table 
is included in the Final NOS Package, and a blank digital version of 
the preferred table may be accessed on the Lease Sale 244 sale Web page 
at http://www.boem.gov/sale-244/.
    The GDIS maps are live trace maps (in .pdf and ArcGIS shape files) 
that should be submitted for each proprietary survey that is identified 
in the GDIS table. They should illustrate the actual areal extent of 
the proprietary geophysical data in the survey (see the ``Example of 
Preferred Format'' in the Final NOS Package for additional 
information). As previously stated, the shape file should not include 
cultural information; only the live trace map of the survey itself.
    Pursuant to 30 CFR 551.12 and 30 CFR 556.501, as a condition of the 
lease sale, the BOEM Alaska OCS RD requests that all bidders and joint 
bidders submit the proprietary data identified on their GDIS within 30 
days after the lease sale (unless they are notified after the lease 
sale that BOEM has withdrawn the request). This request only pertains 
to proprietary data that is not commercially available. Commercially 
available data is not required to be submitted to BOEM, and 
reimbursement will not be provided if such data is submitted by a 
bidder. The BOEM Alaska OCS RD will notify bidders and joint bidders of 
any withdrawal of the request, for all or some of the proprietary data 
identified on the GDIS, within 15 days of the lease sale.
    Pursuant to 30 CFR part 551 and as a condition of this lease sale, 
all bidders required to submit data must ensure that the data is 
received by BOEM no later than the 30th day following the lease sale or 
the next business day if the submission deadline falls on a weekend or 
Federal holiday. The data must be submitted to BOEM at the following 
address:

    Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Resource 
Evaluation, 3801

[[Page 23294]]

Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage, AK 99508-5823.

    BOEM recommends that bidders mark the submission's external 
envelope as ``Deliver Immediately to Office of Resource Evaluation--
Digital Processing.'' BOEM also recommends that bidders submit the data 
in an internal envelope, or otherwise marked, with the following 
designation: ``Proprietary Geophysical Data Submitted Pursuant to Lease 
Sale 244 and used during  evaluation of Block .''
    In the event a person supplies any type of data to BOEM, that 
person must meet the following requirements to qualify for 
reimbursement:
    (1) Persons must be registered with the System for Award Management 
(SAM), formerly known as the Central Contractor Registration (CCR). 
Your CCR username will not work in SAM. A new SAM User Account is 
needed to register or update your entity's records. The Web site for 
registering is https://www.sam.gov.
    (2) Persons must be enrolled in the Department of Treasury's 
Internet Payment Platform (IPP) for electronic invoicing. The person 
must enroll in the IPP at https://www.ipp.gov. Access then will be 
granted to use IPP for submitting requests for payment. When a request 
for payment is submitted, it must include the assigned Purchase Order 
Number on the request.
    (3) Persons must have a current On-line Representations and 
Certifications Application at https://www.sam.gov.
    Please Note: The GDIS Information Table must be submitted 
digitally, preferably as an Excel spreadsheet, on a CD, DVD, or any USB 
external drive (formatted for Windows) along with the seismic data 
map(s). If bidders have any questions, please contact the BOEM Regional 
Supervisor, Resource Evaluation at (907) 334-5200.
    Bidders should refer to Section X of this document, ``The Lease 
Sale: Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids,'' regarding a bidder's 
failure to comply with the requirements of the Final NOS, including any 
failure to submit information as required in the Final NOS or Final NOS 
Package.

Telephone Numbers/Addresses of Bidders

    BOEM requests that bidders provide this information in the 
suggested format prior to, or at the time of, bid submission. The 
suggested format is included in the Final NOS Package. The form must 
not be enclosed inside the sealed bid envelope.

Additional Documentation

    BOEM may require bidders to submit other documents in accordance 
with 30 CFR 556.107, 30 CFR 556.401, 30 CFR 556.501, and 30 CFR 
556.513.

VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions

Restricted Joint Bidders

    On April 28, 2017, BOEM published the most recent List of 
Restricted Joint Bidders in the Federal Register at 82 FR 19750. 
Potential bidders are advised to refer to the Federal Register, prior 
to bidding, for the most current List of Restricted Joint Bidders in 
place at the time of the lease sale. Please refer to joint bidding 
provisions at 30 CFR 556.511-515.

Authorized Signatures

    All signatories executing documents on behalf of bidder(s) must 
execute the same in conformance with the BOEM qualification records. 
Bidders are advised that BOEM considers the signed bid to be a legally 
binding obligation on the part of the bidder(s) to comply with all 
applicable regulations, including paying the one-fifth bonus bid amount 
on all high bids. A statement to this effect must be included on each 
bid form (see the document ``Bid Form'' contained in the Final NOS 
Package).

Unlawful Combination or Intimidation

    BOEM warns bidders against violation of 18 U.S.C. part 1860, 
prohibiting unlawful combination or intimidation of bidders.

Bid Withdrawal

    Bids may be withdrawn only by written request delivered to BOEM 
prior to the Bid Submission Deadline. The withdrawal request must be on 
company letterhead and must contain the bidder's name, its BOEM 
qualification number, the OPD name/number, and the block number(s) of 
the bid(s) to be withdrawn. The withdrawal request must be executed in 
conformance with the BOEM qualification records. Signatories must be 
authorized to bind their respective legal business entities (e.g., a 
corporation, partnership, or LLC), and documentation must be on file 
with BOEM setting forth this authority to act on the business entity's 
behalf for purposes of bidding and lease execution under OCSLA (e.g., 
business charter or articles, incumbency certificate, or power of 
attorney). The name and title of the authorized signatory must be typed 
under the signature block on the withdrawal request. The BOEM Alaska 
OCS Region RD, or the RD's designee, will indicate their approval by 
signing and dating the withdrawal request.

Bid Rounding

    Minimum bonus bid calculations, including all rounding, for all 
blocks are shown in the document entitled, ``List of Blocks Available 
for Leasing,'' included in the Final NOS package. The bonus bid amount 
must be in whole dollars. If the acreage of a block contains a decimal 
figure, then prior to calculating the minimum bonus bid, BOEM has 
rounded up to the next whole hectare. The appropriate minimum rate per 
hectare was then applied to the whole (rounded up) acreage. If this 
calculation resulted in a fractional dollar amount, the minimum bonus 
bid was rounded up to the next whole dollar amount. The bonus bid must 
be greater than or equal to the minimum bonus bid in whole dollars.

IX. Forms

    The Final NOS Package includes instructions, samples, and/or the 
preferred format for the items listed below. BOEM strongly encourages 
bidders to use these formats. Should bidders use another format, they 
are responsible for including all the information specified for each 
item in the Final NOS package.

(1) Bid Form
(2) Sample Completed Bid
(3) Sample Bid Envelope
(4) Sample Bid Mailing Envelope
(5) Telephone Numbers/Addresses of Bidders Form
(6) GDIS Form
(7) GDIS Envelope Form

X. The Lease Sale

Bid Opening and Reading

    Sealed bids received in response to the Final NOS will be opened at 
the place, date, and hour specified under the DATES section of this 
Final NOS. The venue will not be open to the public. Instead, the bid 
opening and reading will be available for the public to view on BOEM's 
Web site at www.boem.gov via live-streaming video. The opening of the 
bids is for the sole purpose of publicly announcing and recording the 
bids received. No bids will be accepted or rejected at that time.

Bonus Bid Deposit for Apparent High Bids

    Each bidder submitting an apparent high bid must submit a bonus bid 
deposit to the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) equal to one-
fifth of the bonus bid amount for each such bid. A copy of the 
notification of the high bidder's one-fifth bonus bid

[[Page 23295]]

may be obtained on the BOEM Web site at http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/ 
under the heading ``Notification of EFT \1/5\ Bonus Liability'' after 
1:00 p.m. on the day of the lease sale. All payments must be deposited 
electronically into an interest-bearing account in the U.S. Treasury by 
11:00 a.m. Eastern Time the day following the bid reading (no 
exceptions). Account information is provided in the ``Instructions for 
Making Electronic Funds Transfer Bonus Payments'' found on the BOEM Web 
site identified above.
    BOEM requires bidders to use EFT procedures for payment of the one-
fifth bonus bid deposits for Cook Inlet Sale 244 following detailed 
instructions contained on the ONRR Payment Information Web page at 
https://onrr.gov/ReportPay/payments.htm#EPO. Acceptance of a deposit 
does not constitute and shall not be construed as acceptance of any bid 
on behalf of the United States.

Withdrawal of Blocks

    The United States reserves the right to withdraw any block from 
this lease sale prior to issuance of a written acceptance of a bid for 
the block.

Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids

    The United States reserves the right to reject any and all bids. No 
bid will be accepted, and no lease for any block will be awarded to any 
bidder, unless:
    (1) The bidder has complied with all requirements of the Final NOS, 
including those set forth in documents contained in the Final NOS 
Package and applicable regulations;
    (2) the bid submitted is the highest valid bid; and
    (3) the amount of the bid has been determined to be adequate by the 
authorized officer.
    Any bid submitted that does not conform to the requirements of the 
Final NOS and Final NOS Package, OCSLA, or other applicable statute or 
regulations, will be rejected and returned to the bidder. The U.S. 
Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission will review the 
results of the lease sale for antitrust issues prior to the acceptance 
of bids and issuance of leases.

Bid Adequacy Review Procedures for Cook Inlet Sale 244

    To ensure that the U.S. Government receives a fair return for the 
issuance of leases from this lease sale, high bids will be evaluated in 
accordance with BOEM's bid adequacy procedures, which are available at 
http://www.boem.gov/Bid-Adequacy-Procedures/.

Lease Award

    BOEM requires each bidder awarded a lease to:
    (1) Execute all copies of the lease (Form BOEM-2005 (February 
2017), as amended);
    (2) pay by EFT the balance of the bonus bid amount and the first 
year's rental for each lease issued in accordance with the requirements 
of 30 CFR 1218.155, 30 CFR 556.520(a)(2) and 30 CFR 556.520(a)(3); and
    (3) satisfy the bonding requirements of 30 CFR part 556, subpart I, 
as amended.

ONRR requests that bidders use only one transaction for payment of the 
balance of the bonus bid amount and first year's rental.

XI. Delay of Sale

    The BOEM Alaska OCS RD has the discretion to change any date, time, 
and/or location specified in the Final NOS Package in case of an event 
the BOEM Alaska OCS RD deems may interfere with the carrying out of a 
fair and orderly lease sale process. Such events could include, but are 
not limited to, natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes or floods), wars, 
riots, acts of terrorism, fires, strikes, civil disorder, or other 
events of a similar nature. In case of such events, bidders should call 
(907) 334-5200, or access the BOEM Web site at http://www.boem.gov for 
information regarding any changes.

    Dated: May 18, 2017.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2017-10509 Filed 5-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P



                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices                                              23291

                                                  changes to the range of alternatives                    Tuesday, June 20, 2017, the day before                II. Statutes and Regulations
                                                  considered. Alternative 2 is deemed to                  the lease sale. For more information on                  Each lease is issued pursuant to the
                                                  be the ‘‘environmentally preferred’’                    bid submission, see Section VII,                      Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
                                                  course of action, and is identified as the              ‘‘Bidding Instructions,’’ of this                     (OCSLA, 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), and is
                                                  agency-preferred alternative.                           document.                                             subject to OCSLA, its implementing
                                                     Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.                    ADDRESSES:  Interested parties, upon                  regulations pursuant thereto (30 CFR
                                                    Dated: February 27, 2017.                             request, may obtain a compact disk                    part 556), and other applicable statutes
                                                  Laura E. Joss                                           (CD–ROM) containing the Final Notice                  and regulations in existence upon the
                                                  Regional Director, Pacific West.                        of Sale (NOS) package by contacting the               effective date of the lease, as well as
                                                                                                          BOEM Alaska OCS Region at:                            those applicable statutes enacted and
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–10426 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 3801             regulations promulgated thereafter,
                                                  BILLING CODE 4312–52–P
                                                                                                          Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage,              except to the extent that the after-
                                                                                                          Alaska 99503, (907) 334–5200 or (800) 764–            enacted statutes and regulations
                                                  DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              2627.                                                 explicitly conflict with an express
                                                                                                            The Final NOS package can also be                   provision of the lease. Each lease is
                                                  Bureau of Ocean Energy Management                       downloaded from the BOEM Web site at                  subject to amendments to the applicable
                                                                                                          http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244.                         statutes and regulations, including, but
                                                  [Docket No. BOEM–2017–0013;                                                                                   not limited to, OCSLA, that do not
                                                  MMAA104000]                                             FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                                                                                                                                explicitly conflict with an express
                                                                                                          David Diamond, Chief, Leasing
                                                  Cook Inlet Planning Area Outer                                                                                provision of the lease. The lessee
                                                                                                          Division, (703) 787–1776,
                                                  Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Lease                                                                           expressly bears the risk that such new
                                                                                                          david.diamond@boem.gov.
                                                  Sale 244                                                                                                      amended statutes and regulations (i.e.,
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            those that do not explicitly conflict with
                                                  AGENCY:  Bureau of Ocean Energy                         Table of Contents                                     an express provision of the lease) may
                                                  Management, Interior.                                                                                         increase or decrease the lessee’s
                                                  ACTION: Final Notice of Sale.                              This Final NOS includes the following              obligations under the lease.
                                                                                                          sections:
                                                  SUMMARY:   On Wednesday, June 21,                       I. Lease Sale Area                                    III. Lease Terms and Economic
                                                  2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy                        II. Statutes and Regulations                          Conditions
                                                  Management (BOEM) will open and                         III. Lease Terms and Economic Conditions
                                                                                                          IV. Lease Stipulations                                Lease Terms
                                                  publicly announce bids received for
                                                  blocks offered in the Cook Inlet                        V. Information to Lessees                             OCS Lease Form
                                                                                                          VI. Maps
                                                  Planning Area Outer Continental Shelf                                                                            BOEM will use Form BOEM–2005
                                                                                                          VII. Bidding Instructions
                                                  (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 (Cook                  VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions                  (February 2017) to convey leases issued
                                                  Inlet Sale 244), in accordance with                     IX. Forms                                             as a result of this sale. This lease form
                                                  provisions of the Outer Continental                     X. The Lease Sale                                     may be viewed on the BOEM Web site
                                                  Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the                         XI. Delay of Sale                                     at http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-2005/.
                                                  implementing regulations issued                                                                               The lease form will be amended to
                                                  thereto. The Cook Inlet Sale 244 Final                  Lease Sale Area
                                                                                                                                                                conform with the specific terms,
                                                  Notice of Sale (NOS) package contains                      BOEM will offer for bid in this lease              conditions, and stipulations applicable
                                                  information essential to potential                      sale all unleased whole blocks and                    to each individual lease. The terms,
                                                  bidders.                                                partial blocks in the area of Cook Inlet              conditions, and stipulations applicable
                                                  DATES: Public opening and reading of
                                                                                                          identified on the map included as part                to this sale are set forth below.
                                                  the bids for Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244                  of this notice, ‘‘Final Notice of Sale,                  Primary Term: The primary term will
                                                  will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday,                     Cook Inlet Planning Area, OCS Oil Gas                 be 10 years.
                                                  June 21, 2017, in the Denali Room at the                Lease Sale 244.’’ The BOEM Official
                                                                                                          Protraction Diagrams (OPDs) and                       Economic Conditions
                                                  Bureau of Land Management, Alaska
                                                  State Office, Anchorage Federal Office                  Supplemental Official OCS Block                          Minimum Bonus Bid Amounts: $25
                                                  Building, 222 West Seventh Avenue,                      Diagrams are available online at http://              per hectare or fraction thereof for all
                                                  Anchorage, Alaska. The venue will not                   www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-                      blocks. BOEM will not accept a bonus
                                                  be open to the general public, media, or                Program/Mapping-and-Data/                             bid unless it provides for a cash bonus
                                                  industry. Instead, the bid opening and                  Alaska.aspx.                                          in the amount equal to, or exceeding,
                                                  reading will be available for public                       All of these blocks are shown on the               the specified minimum bonus bid of $25
                                                  viewing on BOEM’s Web site via video                    following OPDs:                                       per hectare or fraction thereof for all
                                                  live-streaming at www.boem.gov. The                     • Iliamna (OPD NO 05–01)                              blocks.
                                                  use of live-streaming will provide                      • Seldovia (OPD NO 05–02)                                Rental Rates: An annual rental rate for
                                                  greater access to a wider national and                  • Kenai (OPD NP 05–08)                                all blocks of $13 per hectare or fraction
                                                  international audience. BOEM will also                     The available Federal area of each                 thereof, until the start of year eight of
                                                  post the results on its Web site after bid              whole and partial block in this lease                 the primary term or a discovery of oil
                                                  opening and reading are completed. All                  sale are shown in the document ‘‘List of              and gas, whichever occurs first; then at
                                                  times referred to in this document are                  Blocks Available for Leasing’’ included               an annual rate of $20 per hectare or
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  Alaska time, unless otherwise specified.                in the Final NOS Package. Some of these               fraction thereof.
                                                     Bid Submission Deadline: BOEM                        blocks, known as ‘‘partial blocks,’’ may                 Royalty Rates: 12.5%.
                                                  must receive all sealed bids during                     be transected by administrative lines,                   Minimum Royalty: $20 per hectare or
                                                  normal business hours, between 8:00                     such as the Federal/State jurisdictional              fraction thereof per year. No royalty
                                                  a.m. and 4:00 p.m., through June 19,                    line. A bid on a block must include all               relief will be offered as part of any lease
                                                  2017, and from 8:00 a.m. to the bid                     of the available Federal area of that                 that may be issued as a result of Cook
                                                  submission deadline of 10:00 a.m. on                    block.                                                Inlet Sale 244.


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:17 May 19, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00122   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM   22MYN1


                                                  23292                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices

                                                  IV. Lease Stipulations                                  VI. Maps                                                • Each bidder’s qualification number;
                                                     One or more of the following                           Maps pertaining to this lease sale are                • OPD name and number;
                                                  stipulations may be applied to leases                   available on the BOEM Web site at                       • Block number; and
                                                  issued as a result of this lease sale. The              http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/. The                      • Statement acknowledging that the
                                                  detailed text of these stipulations is                  following maps also are included in the               bidder(s) understands that this bid
                                                  contained in the ‘‘Lease Stipulations’’                 Final NOS Package:                                    legally binds the bidder(s) to comply
                                                  section of the Final NOS Package. Note                    (1) ‘‘Final Notice of Sale, Cook Inlet              with all applicable regulations,
                                                  that the Proposed NOS included                          Planning Area, OCS Oil Gas Lease Sale                 including payment of one-fifth of the
                                                  Stipulation No. 10, ‘‘Prohibition of                    244, June 21, 2017,’’ which shows the                 bonus bid amount on all apparent high
                                                  Drilling Discharges.’’ As BOEM has                      blocks to be made available for leasing;              bids.
                                                  decided not to adopt Stipulation No. 10,                and                                                     The information required on the
                                                  it has been removed from the Final                        (2) ‘‘Final Notice of Sale, Cook Inlet              bid(s) is specified in the document ‘‘Bid
                                                  NOS, and therefore it will not be                       Planning Area, Lease Sale 244, June 21,               Form’’ contained in the Final NOS
                                                  applied to any leases issued as a result                2017, Stipulation Blocks,’’ which shows               Package. A blank bid form is provided
                                                  of this lease sale.                                     the stipulations and the blocks to which              therein for convenience and may be
                                                                                                          they will apply.                                      copied and completed with the
                                                  (1) Protection of Fisheries                                                                                   necessary information described above.
                                                  (2) Protection of Biological Resources                  VII. Bidding Instructions
                                                  (3) Orientation Program                                                                                       Bid Envelope
                                                                                                             Bids may be submitted in person or
                                                  (4) Transportation of Hydrocarbons                                                                              Each bid must be submitted in a
                                                                                                          by mail at the address below in the
                                                  (5) Protection of Beluga Whale Critical                                                                       separate sealed envelope labelled as
                                                                                                          ‘‘Mailed Bids’’ section. Bidders
                                                       Habitat                                                                                                  follows:
                                                                                                          submitting their bid(s) in person are
                                                  (6) Protection of Beluga Whale                                                                                  • ‘‘Sealed Bid for Oil and Gas Lease
                                                                                                          advised to contact Ms. Patricia
                                                       Nearshore Feeding Areas                                                                                  Sale 244, not to be opened until 10 a.m.,
                                                                                                          LaFramboise at (907) 334–5200 to
                                                  (7) Protection of Beluga Whales
                                                                                                          schedule a time to submit the bid(s) and              Wednesday, June 21, 2017’’;
                                                  (8) Protection of Northern Sea Otter
                                                                                                          to provide the names of the company                     • OPD name and number;
                                                       Critical Habitat
                                                                                                          representative(s) who will be submitting                • Block number for the block bid
                                                  (9) Protection of Gillnet Fishery
                                                                                                          the bid(s).                                           upon; and
                                                  V. Information to Lessees                                  Bidders are further advised that                     • The exact name and qualification
                                                     Information to Lessees (ITLs) provides               visitors seeking access to almost all                 number of the submitting bidder only.
                                                  detailed information on certain issues                  Federal facilities, including the BOEM                  The Final NOS Package includes a
                                                  pertaining to specific oil and gas lease                Alaska OCS Region Office, using their                 sample bid envelope for reference.
                                                  sales. The detailed text of the ITLs for                state-issued driver’s licenses or
                                                                                                                                                                Mailed Bids
                                                  this sale is contained in the                           identification cards must present proper
                                                                                                          identification issued by REAL ID                        If bids are mailed, please address the
                                                  ‘‘Information to Lessees’’ section of the
                                                                                                          compliant states or a state that has                  envelope containing the sealed bid
                                                  Final NOS Package.
                                                                                                          received an extension. See the                        envelope(s) as follows:
                                                  (1) Bird and Marine Mammal Protection                   Department of Homeland Security Web
                                                  (2) Endangered and Threatened Species                                                                           Attention: Chief, Leasing Section, BOEM
                                                                                                          site https://www.dhs.gov/real-id-public-              Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Dr.,
                                                       Protection
                                                                                                          faqs for further information on                       Ste. 500, Anchorage, AK 99503–5823.
                                                  (3) Seismic Surveys: Environmental and
                                                                                                          identification requirements. BOEM will                  Contains Sealed Bids for Cook Inlet
                                                       Regulatory Review and
                                                                                                          not admit you if you do not have the                  Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244.
                                                       Coordination Requirements
                                                                                                          proper identification. If you have any                  Please deliver to Ms. Patricia
                                                  (4) Archaeological and Geological
                                                                                                          questions as to forms of identification               LaFramboise, 5th Floor, Immediately.
                                                       Hazards Reports and Surveys
                                                                                                          that will be accepted, please ask when                  Please Note: Bidders who are mailing
                                                  (5) Sensitive Areas to be Considered in
                                                                                                          contacting BOEM to schedule a time to                 bid(s) are advised to call Ms. Patricia
                                                       Oil Spill Response Plans
                                                                                                          submit bids.                                          LaFramboise, Chief, Leasing Section at
                                                  (6) Discharge Restrictions and
                                                                                                             Instructions on how to submit a bid,
                                                       Prohibitions                                                                                             (907) 334–5200, immediately after
                                                                                                          how to secure payment of an advanced
                                                  (7) Trash and Debris Awareness and                                                                            putting their bid(s) in the mail. If BOEM
                                                                                                          bonus bid deposit (if applicable), and
                                                       Elimination                                                                                              receives bids later than the Bid
                                                                                                          what information must be included with
                                                  (8) Air Quality Regulations and                                                                               Submission deadline, the BOEM Alaska
                                                                                                          the bid are as follows:
                                                       Standards                                                                                                OCS Regional Director (RD) will return
                                                  (9) Navigation Safety                                   Bid Form                                              those bids unopened to bidders. Please
                                                  (10) Notice of Arrival on the Outer                       For each block bid upon, a separate                 see ‘‘Section XI. Delay of Sale’’
                                                       Continental Shelf                                  bid must be submitted in a sealed                     regarding BOEM’s discretion to extend
                                                  (11) Bidder/Lessee Notice of Obligations                envelope (as described below) and must                the Bid Submission Deadline in the case
                                                       Related to Criminal/Civil Charges                  include the following:                                of an unexpected event (e.g., earthquake
                                                       and Offenses, Suspension, or                         • Total amount of the bid in whole                  or travel restrictions) and how bidders
                                                       Debarment; Disqualification Due to                 dollars only;                                         can obtain more information on such
                                                       a Conviction under the Clean Air                     • Sale number;                                      extensions.
                                                       Act or the Clean Water Act                           • Sale date;
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                                                                                Advance Bonus Bid Deposit
                                                  (12) Oil Spill Response Preparedness                      • Each bidder’s exact name;
                                                  (13) Offshore Pipelines                                   • Each bidder’s proportionate                         Bidders that are not currently an OCS
                                                  (14) Bureau of Safety and                               interest, stated as a percentage, using a             oil and gas lease record title holder or
                                                       Environmental Enforcement (BSEE)                   maximum of five decimal places (e.g.,                 designated operator, or those that have
                                                       Inspection and Enforcement of                      33.33333%);                                           ever defaulted on a one-fifth bonus bid
                                                       Certain U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)                      • Typed name and title, and signature               deposit, by Electronic Funds Transfer
                                                       Regulations                                        of each bidder’s authorized officer;                  (EFT) or otherwise, must guarantee


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:17 May 19, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00123   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM   22MYN1


                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices                                              23293

                                                  (secure) the payment of the one-fifth                   (AVO), Gravity, or Magnetic data; or                  availability of reimbursement of
                                                  bonus bid deposit prior to bid                          other information used as part of the                 production costs will be determined
                                                  submission using one of the following                   decision to bid or participate in a bid on            consistent with 30 CFR 551.13. Also
                                                  four methods:                                           the block. The bidder and joint bidder                indicate who reprocessed the data (e.g.,
                                                    • Provide a third-party guarantee;                    must also include a live trace map for                external company name or ‘‘in-house’’)
                                                    • Amend an area-wide development                      3 dimensional seismic volumes and for                 and when the date of final reprocessing
                                                  bond via bond rider;                                    2 dimensional seismic, include the line               was completed (month and year). If the
                                                    • Provide a letter of credit; or                      segment, including the beginning and                  data was sent to BOEM for bidding in
                                                    • Provide a lump sum payment in                       ending shot point locations and the                   a previous lease sale, list the date the
                                                  advance via EFT.                                        individual line names (e.g., .pdf and                 data was processed (month and year)
                                                    For more information on EFT                           ArcGIS shape file) for each proprietary               and indicate if AVO data was used in
                                                  procedures, see Section X of this                       survey that they identify in the GDIS                 the evaluation. BOEM reserves the right
                                                  document, entitled, ‘‘The Lease Sale.’’                 illustrating the actual areal extent of the           to query about alternate data sets, to
                                                  Affirmative Action                                      proprietary geophysical data in the                   quality check, and to compare the listed
                                                                                                          survey (see the ‘‘Example of Preferred                and alternative data sets to determine
                                                     Prior to bidding, each bidder should                 Format’’ in the Final NOS Package for                 which data set most closely meets the
                                                  file Equal Opportunity Affirmative                      additional information). The shape file               needs of the fair market value
                                                  Action Representation Form BOEM–                        should not include cultural information;              determination process. An example of
                                                  2032 (October 2011, http://                             only the live trace map of the survey                 the preferred format of the table is
                                                  www.boem.gov/BOEM-2032/) and Equal                      itself.                                               included in the Final NOS Package, and
                                                  Opportunity Compliance Report                              The GDIS statement must include the                a blank digital version of the preferred
                                                  Certification Form BOEM-2033 (October                   name, phone number, and full address                  table may be accessed on the Lease Sale
                                                  2011, http://www.boem.gov/BOEM-                         of a contact person and an alternate who              244 sale Web page at http://
                                                  2033/) with the Alaska OCS Region                       are both knowledgeable about the                      www.boem.gov/sale-244/.
                                                  Leasing Section. This certification is                  information and data listed and who are                 The GDIS maps are live trace maps (in
                                                  required by 41 CFR part 60 and                          available for 30 days after the sale date.            .pdf and ArcGIS shape files) that should
                                                  Executive Order No. 11246, issued on                    The GDIS statement also must include                  be submitted for each proprietary survey
                                                  September 24, 1965, as amended by                       entries for all blocks bid upon that did              that is identified in the GDIS table. They
                                                  Executive Order No. 11375, issued on                    not use proprietary or reprocessed pre-               should illustrate the actual areal extent
                                                  October 13, 1967, and by Executive                      or post-stack geophysical data and                    of the proprietary geophysical data in
                                                  Order 13672, issued on June 21, 2014.                   information as part of the decision to                the survey (see the ‘‘Example of
                                                  Both forms must be on file for the                      bid or to participate as a joint bidder in            Preferred Format’’ in the Final NOS
                                                  bidder(s) in the Alaska OCS Region                      the bid. The GDIS statement must be                   Package for additional information). As
                                                  Office prior to the execution of any lease              submitted, even if no proprietary                     previously stated, the shape file should
                                                  contract.                                               geophysical data and information were                 not include cultural information; only
                                                  Geophysical Data and Information                        used in bid preparation for the block.                the live trace map of the survey itself.
                                                  Statement (GDIS)                                           The GDIS table should have columns                   Pursuant to 30 CFR 551.12 and 30
                                                                                                          that clearly state:                                   CFR 556.501, as a condition of the lease
                                                     The GDIS is composed of three parts:                    • The sale number;
                                                     (1) The ‘‘Statement’’ page includes the                                                                    sale, the BOEM Alaska OCS RD requests
                                                                                                             • The bidder company’s name;                       that all bidders and joint bidders submit
                                                  company representatives’ information                       • The block area and block number
                                                  and lists of blocks bid on that used                                                                          the proprietary data identified on their
                                                                                                          bid on;                                               GDIS within 30 days after the lease sale
                                                  proprietary data and those blocks bid on                   • The owner of the original data set               (unless they are notified after the lease
                                                  that did not use proprietary data;                      (i.e., who initially acquired the data);              sale that BOEM has withdrawn the
                                                     (2) the ‘‘Table’’ listing the required                  • The industry’s original name of the              request). This request only pertains to
                                                  data about each proprietary survey used                 survey (e.g., E Octopus);                             proprietary data that is not
                                                  (see below); and                                           • The BOEM permit number for the
                                                     (3) the ‘‘Maps’’ being the live trace                                                                      commercially available. Commercially
                                                                                                          survey;
                                                  maps for each survey that are identified                   • Whether the data set is a fast track             available data is not required to be
                                                  in the GDIS statement and table.                        version;                                              submitted to BOEM, and reimbursement
                                                     Every bidder submitting a bid on a                      • Whether the data is speculative or               will not be provided if such data is
                                                  block in Cook Inlet Sale 244, or                        proprietary;                                          submitted by a bidder. The BOEM
                                                  participating as a joint bidder in such a                  • The data type (e.g., 2–D, 3–D, or 4–             Alaska OCS RD will notify bidders and
                                                  bid, must submit at the time of bid                     D; pre-stack or post-stack; and time or               joint bidders of any withdrawal of the
                                                  submission all three parts of the GDIS.                 depth);                                               request, for all or some of the
                                                  A bidder must submit the GDIS, even if                     • The migration algorithm (e.g.,                   proprietary data identified on the GDIS,
                                                  a joint bidder or bidders on a specific                 Kirchhoff Migration, Wave Equation                    within 15 days of the lease sale.
                                                  block also have submitted a GDIS. Any                   Migration, Reverse Migration, Reverse                   Pursuant to 30 CFR part 551 and as
                                                  speculative data that has been                          Time Migration) of the data and areal                 a condition of this lease sale, all bidders
                                                  reprocessed externally or ‘‘in-house’’ is               extent of bidder survey (i.e., number of              required to submit data must ensure that
                                                  considered proprietary due to the                       line miles for 2–D or number of blocks                the data is received by BOEM no later
                                                  proprietary processing and is no longer                 for 3–D).                                             than the 30th day following the lease
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  considered to be speculative.                              Also, provide the computer storage                 sale or the next business day if the
                                                     The GDIS must be submitted in a                      size, to the nearest gigabyte, of each                submission deadline falls on a weekend
                                                  separate and sealed envelope, and                       seismic data and velocity volume used                 or Federal holiday. The data must be
                                                  identify all proprietary data;                          to evaluate the lease block in question.              submitted to BOEM at the following
                                                  reprocessed speculative data, and/or                    This information will be used in                      address:
                                                  any Controlled Source Electromagnetic                   estimating the reproduction costs for                   Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
                                                  surveys, Amplitude Versus Offset                        each data set, if applicable. The                     Office of Resource Evaluation, 3801



                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:17 May 19, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00124   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM   22MYN1


                                                  23294                           Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices

                                                  Centerpoint Drive, Ste. 500, Anchorage, AK              Additional Documentation                              will indicate their approval by signing
                                                  99508–5823.                                                                                                   and dating the withdrawal request.
                                                                                                            BOEM may require bidders to submit
                                                     BOEM recommends that bidders mark                    other documents in accordance with 30                 Bid Rounding
                                                  the submission’s external envelope as                   CFR 556.107, 30 CFR 556.401, 30 CFR                      Minimum bonus bid calculations,
                                                  ‘‘Deliver Immediately to Office of                      556.501, and 30 CFR 556.513.                          including all rounding, for all blocks are
                                                  Resource Evaluation—Digital
                                                                                                          VIII. Bidding Rules and Restrictions                  shown in the document entitled, ‘‘List
                                                  Processing.’’ BOEM also recommends
                                                                                                                                                                of Blocks Available for Leasing,’’
                                                  that bidders submit the data in an                      Restricted Joint Bidders                              included in the Final NOS package. The
                                                  internal envelope, or otherwise marked,
                                                                                                            On April 28, 2017, BOEM published                   bonus bid amount must be in whole
                                                  with the following designation:
                                                                                                          the most recent List of Restricted Joint              dollars. If the acreage of a block contains
                                                  ‘‘Proprietary Geophysical Data
                                                                                                          Bidders in the Federal Register at 82 FR              a decimal figure, then prior to
                                                  Submitted Pursuant to Lease Sale 244
                                                                                                          19750. Potential bidders are advised to               calculating the minimum bonus bid,
                                                  and used during <Bidder Name’s>
                                                                                                          refer to the Federal Register, prior to               BOEM has rounded up to the next
                                                  evaluation of Block <Block Number>.’’
                                                                                                          bidding, for the most current List of                 whole hectare. The appropriate
                                                     In the event a person supplies any                                                                         minimum rate per hectare was then
                                                  type of data to BOEM, that person must                  Restricted Joint Bidders in place at the
                                                                                                          time of the lease sale. Please refer to               applied to the whole (rounded up)
                                                  meet the following requirements to                                                                            acreage. If this calculation resulted in a
                                                  qualify for reimbursement:                              joint bidding provisions at 30 CFR
                                                                                                          556.511–515.                                          fractional dollar amount, the minimum
                                                     (1) Persons must be registered with                                                                        bonus bid was rounded up to the next
                                                  the System for Award Management                         Authorized Signatures                                 whole dollar amount. The bonus bid
                                                  (SAM), formerly known as the Central                                                                          must be greater than or equal to the
                                                                                                             All signatories executing documents
                                                  Contractor Registration (CCR). Your CCR                                                                       minimum bonus bid in whole dollars.
                                                                                                          on behalf of bidder(s) must execute the
                                                  username will not work in SAM. A new
                                                                                                          same in conformance with the BOEM                     IX. Forms
                                                  SAM User Account is needed to register
                                                                                                          qualification records. Bidders are
                                                  or update your entity’s records. The                                                                            The Final NOS Package includes
                                                                                                          advised that BOEM considers the signed
                                                  Web site for registering is https://                                                                          instructions, samples, and/or the
                                                                                                          bid to be a legally binding obligation on
                                                  www.sam.gov.                                                                                                  preferred format for the items listed
                                                                                                          the part of the bidder(s) to comply with
                                                     (2) Persons must be enrolled in the                  all applicable regulations, including                 below. BOEM strongly encourages
                                                  Department of Treasury’s Internet                       paying the one-fifth bonus bid amount                 bidders to use these formats. Should
                                                  Payment Platform (IPP) for electronic                   on all high bids. A statement to this                 bidders use another format, they are
                                                  invoicing. The person must enroll in the                effect must be included on each bid                   responsible for including all the
                                                  IPP at https://www.ipp.gov. Access then                 form (see the document ‘‘Bid Form’’                   information specified for each item in
                                                  will be granted to use IPP for submitting               contained in the Final NOS Package).                  the Final NOS package.
                                                  requests for payment. When a request                                                                          (1) Bid Form
                                                  for payment is submitted, it must                       Unlawful Combination or Intimidation                  (2) Sample Completed Bid
                                                  include the assigned Purchase Order                       BOEM warns bidders against violation                (3) Sample Bid Envelope
                                                  Number on the request.                                  of 18 U.S.C. part 1860, prohibiting                   (4) Sample Bid Mailing Envelope
                                                     (3) Persons must have a current On-                  unlawful combination or intimidation of               (5) Telephone Numbers/Addresses of
                                                  line Representations and Certifications                 bidders.                                                   Bidders Form
                                                  Application at https://www.sam.gov.                                                                           (6) GDIS Form
                                                     Please Note: The GDIS Information                    Bid Withdrawal                                        (7) GDIS Envelope Form
                                                  Table must be submitted digitally,                        Bids may be withdrawn only by                       X. The Lease Sale
                                                  preferably as an Excel spreadsheet, on a                written request delivered to BOEM prior
                                                  CD, DVD, or any USB external drive                      to the Bid Submission Deadline. The                   Bid Opening and Reading
                                                  (formatted for Windows) along with the                  withdrawal request must be on                           Sealed bids received in response to
                                                  seismic data map(s). If bidders have any                company letterhead and must contain                   the Final NOS will be opened at the
                                                  questions, please contact the BOEM                      the bidder’s name, its BOEM                           place, date, and hour specified under
                                                  Regional Supervisor, Resource                           qualification number, the OPD name/                   the DATES section of this Final NOS. The
                                                  Evaluation at (907) 334–5200.                           number, and the block number(s) of the                venue will not be open to the public.
                                                     Bidders should refer to Section X of                 bid(s) to be withdrawn. The withdrawal                Instead, the bid opening and reading
                                                  this document, ‘‘The Lease Sale:                        request must be executed in                           will be available for the public to view
                                                  Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of                     conformance with the BOEM                             on BOEM’s Web site at www.boem.gov
                                                  Bids,’’ regarding a bidder’s failure to                 qualification records. Signatories must               via live-streaming video. The opening of
                                                  comply with the requirements of the                     be authorized to bind their respective                the bids is for the sole purpose of
                                                  Final NOS, including any failure to                     legal business entities (e.g., a                      publicly announcing and recording the
                                                  submit information as required in the                   corporation, partnership, or LLC), and                bids received. No bids will be accepted
                                                  Final NOS or Final NOS Package.                         documentation must be on file with                    or rejected at that time.
                                                                                                          BOEM setting forth this authority to act
                                                  Telephone Numbers/Addresses of                                                                                Bonus Bid Deposit for Apparent High
                                                                                                          on the business entity’s behalf for
                                                  Bidders                                                                                                       Bids
                                                                                                          purposes of bidding and lease execution
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                    BOEM requests that bidders provide                    under OCSLA (e.g., business charter or                  Each bidder submitting an apparent
                                                  this information in the suggested format                articles, incumbency certificate, or                  high bid must submit a bonus bid
                                                  prior to, or at the time of, bid                        power of attorney). The name and title                deposit to the Office of Natural
                                                  submission. The suggested format is                     of the authorized signatory must be                   Resources Revenue (ONRR) equal to
                                                  included in the Final NOS Package. The                  typed under the signature block on the                one-fifth of the bonus bid amount for
                                                  form must not be enclosed inside the                    withdrawal request. The BOEM Alaska                   each such bid. A copy of the notification
                                                  sealed bid envelope.                                    OCS Region RD, or the RD’s designee,                  of the high bidder’s one-fifth bonus bid


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:17 May 19, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00125   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM   22MYN1


                                                                                  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 97 / Monday, May 22, 2017 / Notices                                             23295

                                                  may be obtained on the BOEM Web site                    Lease Award                                           Lease Sale 244, which is analyzed in the
                                                  at http://www.boem.gov/Sale-244/                           BOEM requires each bidder awarded                  Alaska OCS: Cook Inlet Planning Area
                                                  under the heading ‘‘Notification of EFT                 a lease to:                                           Oil and Gas Lease Sale 244 in the Cook
                                                  1⁄5 Bonus Liability’’ after 1:00 p.m. on
                                                                                                             (1) Execute all copies of the lease                Inlet, Alaska; Final Environmental
                                                  the day of the lease sale. All payments                 (Form BOEM–2005 (February 2017), as                   Impact Statement (FEIS) (OCS/EIS EA
                                                  must be deposited electronically into an                amended);                                             BOEM 2016–069). The Record of
                                                  interest-bearing account in the U.S.                       (2) pay by EFT the balance of the                  Decision and associated information are
                                                  Treasury by 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time the                 bonus bid amount and the first year’s                 available on BOEM’s Web site at https://
                                                  day following the bid reading (no                       rental for each lease issued in                       www.boem.gov/Sale-244/.
                                                  exceptions). Account information is                     accordance with the requirements of 30
                                                  provided in the ‘‘Instructions for                                                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  For
                                                                                                          CFR 1218.155, 30 CFR 556.520(a)(2) and                more information on the Record of
                                                  Making Electronic Funds Transfer                        30 CFR 556.520(a)(3); and
                                                  Bonus Payments’’ found on the BOEM                                                                            Decision, you may contact Sharon
                                                                                                             (3) satisfy the bonding requirements               Randall, Chief, Environmental Analysis
                                                  Web site identified above.                              of 30 CFR part 556, subpart I, as
                                                     BOEM requires bidders to use EFT                                                                           Section, Bureau of Ocean Energy
                                                                                                          amended.                                              Management, Alaska OCS Region, 3801
                                                  procedures for payment of the one-fifth
                                                                                                          ONRR requests that bidders use only                   Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500,
                                                  bonus bid deposits for Cook Inlet Sale
                                                                                                          one transaction for payment of the                    Anchorage, Alaska 99503, 907–334–
                                                  244 following detailed instructions
                                                                                                          balance of the bonus bid amount and                   5235.
                                                  contained on the ONRR Payment
                                                                                                          first year’s rental.
                                                  Information Web page at https://
                                                                                                                                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     The Cook
                                                  onrr.gov/ReportPay/                                     XI. Delay of Sale
                                                                                                                                                                Inlet Lease Sale Area is located offshore
                                                  payments.htm#EPO. Acceptance of a                         The BOEM Alaska OCS RD has the
                                                  deposit does not constitute and shall not                                                                     of the State of Alaska in the northern
                                                                                                          discretion to change any date, time,                  portion of the Federal waters of Cook
                                                  be construed as acceptance of any bid                   and/or location specified in the Final
                                                  on behalf of the United States.                                                                               Inlet and is comprised of 224 OCS
                                                                                                          NOS Package in case of an event the                   blocks, which encompass an area of
                                                  Withdrawal of Blocks                                    BOEM Alaska OCS RD deems may                          approximately 442,500 hectares or 1.09
                                                    The United States reserves the right to               interfere with the carrying out of a fair             million acres. There are currently no
                                                  withdraw any block from this lease sale                 and orderly lease sale process. Such                  active OCS oil and gas leases in the
                                                  prior to issuance of a written acceptance               events could include, but are not                     Cook Inlet Planning Area. The unleased
                                                  of a bid for the block.                                 limited to, natural disasters (e.g.,                  OCS blocks within Cook Inlet that
                                                                                                          earthquakes or floods), wars, riots, acts             BOEM will offer for lease are listed in
                                                  Acceptance, Rejection, or Return of Bids                of terrorism, fires, strikes, civil disorder,         the document entitled, ‘‘List of Blocks
                                                    The United States reserves the right to               or other events of a similar nature. In               Available for Leasing,’’ which is
                                                  reject any and all bids. No bid will be                 case of such events, bidders should call              included in the Final Notice of Sale for
                                                  accepted, and no lease for any block                    (907) 334–5200, or access the BOEM                    Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244. The
                                                  will be awarded to any bidder, unless:                  Web site at http://www.boem.gov for                   estimated resource potential of the
                                                    (1) The bidder has complied with all                  information regarding any changes.                    Lease Sale is 215 million barrels of oil
                                                  requirements of the Final NOS,                           Dated: May 18, 2017.                                 and 571 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
                                                  including those set forth in documents                  Walter D. Cruickshank,
                                                  contained in the Final NOS Package and                                                                        Decision
                                                                                                          Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
                                                  applicable regulations;                                 Management.                                              After careful consideration, the
                                                    (2) the bid submitted is the highest                  [FR Doc. 2017–10509 Filed 5–19–17; 8:45 am]           Department of the Interior (DOI) has
                                                  valid bid; and
                                                                                                          BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P                                selected the Preferred Alternative
                                                    (3) the amount of the bid has been
                                                                                                                                                                identified and analyzed in the Lease
                                                  determined to be adequate by the
                                                  authorized officer.                                                                                           Sale 244 FEIS. In selecting the Preferred
                                                                                                          DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            Alternative for Lease Sale 244, BOEM
                                                    Any bid submitted that does not
                                                  conform to the requirements of the Final                                                                      will offer for lease 224 unleased OCS
                                                                                                          Bureau of Ocean Energy Management                     blocks subject to mitigation measures
                                                  NOS and Final NOS Package, OCSLA,
                                                  or other applicable statute or                          [Docket No. BOEM–2014–0001;                           adopted to reduce potential impacts to
                                                  regulations, will be rejected and                       MMAA104000]                                           sensitive biological resources and other
                                                  returned to the bidder. The U.S.                                                                              uses of the OCS, including, but not
                                                                                                          Alaska Outer Continental Shelf, Cook                  limited to, the beluga whales and their
                                                  Department of Justice and Federal Trade                 Inlet Planning Area, Oil and Gas Lease
                                                  Commission will review the results of                                                                         critical habitat and feeding areas, sea
                                                                                                          Sale 244                                              otters and their critical habitat, and the
                                                  the lease sale for antitrust issues prior
                                                  to the acceptance of bids and issuance                  AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy                        gillnet fishery. The Preferred Alternative
                                                  of leases.                                              Management (BOEM), Interior.                          combines the Proposed Action
                                                                                                          ACTION: Notice of availability of a
                                                                                                                                                                (Alternative 1) with several mitigations
                                                  Bid Adequacy Review Procedures for                                                                            analyzed as alternatives in the Lease
                                                  Cook Inlet Sale 244                                     Record of Decision.
                                                                                                                                                                Sale 244 FEIS. In holding Lease Sale
                                                    To ensure that the U.S. Government                    SUMMARY:   The Bureau of Ocean Energy                 244, DOI is implementing Alternative
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES




                                                  receives a fair return for the issuance of              Management is announcing the                          3B (Beluga Whale Critical Habitat
                                                  leases from this lease sale, high bids                  availability of the Record of Decision for            Mitigation), Alternative 3C (Beluga
                                                  will be evaluated in accordance with                    the Cook Inlet Planning Area, Outer                   Whale Nearshore Feeding Areas
                                                  BOEM’s bid adequacy procedures,                         Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas                   Mitigation), Alternative 4B (Northern
                                                  which are available at http://                          Lease Sale 244 (Lease Sale 244). This                 Sea Otter Critical Habitat Mitigation)
                                                  www.boem.gov/Bid-Adequacy-                              Record of Decision identifies the                     and Alternative 5 (Gillnet Fishery
                                                  Procedures/.                                            Bureau’s selected alternative for holding             Mitigation), as described in the FEIS.


                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   23:17 May 19, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00126   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\22MYN1.SGM   22MYN1



Document Created: 2018-11-08 08:50:18
Document Modified: 2018-11-08 08:50:18
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionFinal Notice of Sale.
DatesPublic opening and reading of the bids for Cook Inlet Lease Sale 244 will begin at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in the Denali Room at the Bureau of Land Management, Alaska State Office, Anchorage Federal Office Building, 222 West Seventh Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska. The venue will not be open to the general public, media, or industry. Instead, the bid opening and reading will be available for public viewing on BOEM's Web site via video live-streaming at www.boem.gov. The use of live-streaming will provide greater access to a wider national and international audience. BOEM will also post the results on its Web site after bid opening and reading are completed. All times referred to in this document are Alaska time, unless otherwise specified.
ContactDavid Diamond, Chief, Leasing Division, (703) 787-1776, [email protected]
FR Citation82 FR 23291 

2024 Federal Register | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy
USC | CFR | eCFR