82 FR 32583 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 249
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 134 (July 14, 2017)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 134 (July 14, 2017)
| Page Range | 32583-32584 | |
| FR Document | 2017-14870 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 134 (Friday, July 14, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 32583-32584] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-14870] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2017-0012; MMAA104000] Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 249 AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of availability of a Record of Decision. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing the availability of a Record of Decision for proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM) regionwide oil and gas Lease Sale 249. This Record of Decision identifies BOEM's selected alternative for proposed Lease Sale 249, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2017-2022; Gulf of Mexico Lease Sales 249, 250, 251, 252, 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, and 261; Final Multisale Environmental Impact Statement (2017-2022 GOM Multisale EIS). ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision and associated information are available on BOEM's Web site at http://www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Record of Decision, you may contact Mr. Greg Kozlowski, Deputy Regional Supervisor, Office of Environment, by telephone at 504-736-2512 or by email at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the GOM Multisale EIS, BOEM evaluated five alternatives that are summarized below in regards to proposed Lease Sale 249: Alternative A--Regionwide OCS Lease Sale: This is BOEM's preferred alternative. This alternative would allow for a proposed GOM regionwide lease sale encompassing all three planning areas: The Western Planning Area (WPA); the Central Planning Area (CPA); and the Eastern Planning Area (EPA). Under this alternative, BOEM would offer for lease all available unleased blocks within the proposed regionwide lease sale area for oil and gas operations with the following exceptions: Whole and portions of blocks deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006; blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap; and whole and partial blocks within the current boundary of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The unavailable blocks are listed in Section I of the Final Notice of Sale for Lease Sale 249. The proposed regionwide lease sale area encompasses about 91.93 million acres (ac). As of June 2017, approximately 75.7 million ac of the proposed regionwide lease sale area are currently available for lease. The estimated amounts of resources projected to be leased, discovered, developed, and produced as a result of the proposed regionwide lease sale are 0.211-1.118 billion barrels of oil (BBO) and 0.547-4.424 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. Alternative B--Regionwide OCS Lease Sale Excluding Available Unleased Blocks in the WPA Portion of the Proposed Lease Sale Area: This alternative would offer for lease all available unleased blocks within the CPA and EPA portions of the proposed lease sale area for oil and gas operations, with the following exceptions: Whole and portions of blocks deferred by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006; and blocks that are adjacent to or beyond the United States' Exclusive Economic Zone in the area known as the northern portion of the Eastern Gap. The proposed CPA/EPA lease sale area encompasses about 63.35 million ac. As of June 2017, approximately 49.8 million ac of the proposed CPA/EPA lease sale area are currently available for lease. The estimated amounts of resources projected to be leased, discovered, developed, and produced as a result of the proposed lease sale under Alternative B are 0.185-0.970 BBO and 0.44-3.672 Tcf of gas. Alternative C--Regionwide OCS Lease Sale Excluding Available Unleased Blocks in the CPA and EPA Portions of the Proposed Lease Sale Area: This alternative would offer for lease all available unleased blocks within the WPA portion of the proposed lease sale area for oil and gas operations, with the following exception: whole and partial blocks within the current boundary of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary. The proposed WPA lease sale area encompasses about 28.58 million acres (ac). As of June 2017, approximately 25.9 million ac of the proposed WPA lease sale area are currently available for lease. The estimated amounts of resources projected to be leased, discovered, developed, and produced as a result of the proposed lease sale under Alternative C are 0.026-0.148 BBO and 0.106-0.752 Tcf of gas. Alternative D--Alternative A, B, or C, with the Option to Exclude Available Unleased Blocks Subject to the Topographic Features, Live Bottom (Pinnacle Trend), and/or Blocks South of Baldwin County, Alabama, Stipulations: This alternative could be combined with any of the Action alternatives above (i.e., Alternatives A, B, or C) and would allow the flexibility to offer leases under any alternative with additional exclusions. Under Alternative D, the decisionmaker could exclude from leasing any available unleased blocks subject to any one and/or a combination of the following stipulations: Topographic Features Stipulation; Live Bottom (Pinnacle Trend) Stipulation; and Blocks South of Baldwin County, Alabama, Stipulation (not applicable to Alternative C). This alternative considered blocks subject to these stipulations because these areas have been emphasized in scoping, can be geographically defined, and adequate information exists regarding their ecological importance and sensitivity to OCS oil- and gas-related activities. A total of 207 blocks within the CPA and 160 blocks in the WPA are affected [[Page 32584]] by the Topographic Features Stipulation. There are currently no identified topographic features protected under this stipulation in the EPA. The Live Bottom Stipulation covers the pinnacle trend area of the CPA, affecting a total of 74 blocks. Under Alternative D, the number of blocks that would become unavailable for lease represents only a small percentage of the total number of blocks to be offered under Alternative A, B, or C (<4%, even if blocks subject to all three stipulations were excluded). Therefore, Alternative D could reduce offshore infrastructure and activities, but Alternative D may (and BOEM believes it is more reasonable to expect) only shift the location of offshore infrastructure and activities farther from these sensitive zones and not lead to a reduction in overall offshore infrastructure and activities. Alternative E--No Action: This alternative is not holding the proposed regionwide Lease Sale 249 and is identified as the environmentally preferred alternative. Lease Stipulations--The GOM Multisale EIS describes all lease stipulations, which are included in the Final Notice of Sale Package. In the Record of Decision for the Five Year Program, the Secretary required the protection of Biologically Sensitive Underwater Features in all Gulf oil and gas lease sales as programmatic mitigation; therefore, the application of the Topographic Features Stipulation and Live Bottom (Pinnacle Trend) Stipulation are being adopted and applied for applicable designated lease blocks in Lease Sale 249. The additional eight lease stipulations for proposed regionwide Lease Sale 249 are the Military Areas Stipulation; the Evacuation Stipulation; the Coordination Stipulation; the Blocks South of Baldwin County, Alabama, Stipulation; the Protected Species Stipulation; the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea Royalty Payment Stipulation; the Below Seabed Operations Stipulation; and the Stipulation on the Agreement between the United States of America and the United Mexican States Concerning Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs in the Gulf of Mexico. These 10 stipulations will be added as lease terms where applicable and will be enforceable as part of the lease. Appendix B of the GOM Multisale EIS provides a list and description of standard postlease conditions of approval that may be required by BOEM or the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement as a result of plan and permit review processes for the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the 2017-2022 GOM Multisale EIS for proposed Lease Sale 249. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative meets the purpose and need for the proposed action, as identified in the GOM Multisale EIS, and reflects an orderly resource development with protection of the human, marine, and coastal environments while also ensuring that the public receives an equitable return for these resources and that free-market competition is maintained. Authority: This notice of availability of a Record of Decision is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR part 1505) implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Dated: July 11, 2017. Walter D. Cruickshank, Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2017-14870 Filed 7-13-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 134 / Friday, July 14, 2017 / Notices 32583
Lease Award Mexico Lease Sales 249, 250, 251, 252, Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of
BOEM requires each bidder awarded 253, 254, 256, 257, 259, and 261; Final 2006; and blocks that are adjacent to or
a lease to: Multisale Environmental Impact beyond the United States’ Exclusive
(1) Execute all copies of the lease Statement (2017–2022 GOM Multisale Economic Zone in the area known as the
(Form BOEM–2005 (February 2017), as EIS). northern portion of the Eastern Gap. The
ADDRESSES: The Record of Decision and proposed CPA/EPA lease sale area
amended);
associated information are available on encompasses about 63.35 million ac. As
(2) Pay by EFT the balance of the
BOEM’s Web site at http:// of June 2017, approximately 49.8
bonus bid amount and the first year’s
www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. million ac of the proposed CPA/EPA
rental for each lease issued in
lease sale area are currently available for
accordance with the requirements of 30 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
lease. The estimated amounts of
CFR 218.155 and 556.520(a); and more information on the Record of
resources projected to be leased,
(3) Satisfy the bonding requirements Decision, you may contact Mr. Greg
discovered, developed, and produced as
of 30 CFR part 556, subpart I, as Kozlowski, Deputy Regional Supervisor,
a result of the proposed lease sale under
amended. ONRR requests that only one Office of Environment, by telephone at
Alternative B are 0.185–0.970 BBO and
transaction be used for payment of the 504–736–2512 or by email at
0.44–3.672 Tcf of gas.
balance of the bonus bid amount and greg.kozlowski@boem.gov.
Alternative C—Regionwide OCS Lease
the first year’s rental. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Sale Excluding Available Unleased
GOM Multisale EIS, BOEM evaluated Blocks in the CPA and EPA Portions of
XI. Delay of Sale
five alternatives that are summarized the Proposed Lease Sale Area: This
The BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD has the below in regards to proposed Lease Sale alternative would offer for lease all
discretion to change any date, time, 249: available unleased blocks within the
and/or location specified in the Final Alternative A—Regionwide OCS Lease WPA portion of the proposed lease sale
NOS package in the case of an event that Sale: This is BOEM’s preferred area for oil and gas operations, with the
the BOEM Gulf of Mexico RD deems alternative. This alternative would following exception: whole and partial
may interfere with the carrying out of a allow for a proposed GOM regionwide blocks within the current boundary of
fair and orderly lease sale process. Such lease sale encompassing all three the Flower Garden Banks National
events could include, but are not planning areas: The Western Planning Marine Sanctuary. The proposed WPA
limited to, natural disasters (e.g., Area (WPA); the Central Planning Area lease sale area encompasses about 28.58
earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods), (CPA); and the Eastern Planning Area million acres (ac). As of June 2017,
wars, riots, acts of terrorism, fires, (EPA). Under this alternative, BOEM approximately 25.9 million ac of the
strikes, civil disorder, or other events of would offer for lease all available proposed WPA lease sale area are
a similar nature. In case of such events, unleased blocks within the proposed currently available for lease. The
bidders should call (504) 736–0557, or regionwide lease sale area for oil and estimated amounts of resources
access the BOEM Web site at http:// gas operations with the following projected to be leased, discovered,
www.boem.gov, for information exceptions: Whole and portions of developed, and produced as a result of
regarding any changes. blocks deferred by the Gulf of Mexico the proposed lease sale under
Dated: July 11, 2017. Energy Security Act of 2006; blocks that Alternative C are 0.026–0.148 BBO and
Walter D. Cruickshank,
are adjacent to or beyond the United 0.106–0.752 Tcf of gas.
States’ Exclusive Economic Zone in the Alternative D—Alternative A, B, or C,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
area known as the northern portion of with the Option to Exclude Available
the Eastern Gap; and whole and partial Unleased Blocks Subject to the
[FR Doc. 2017–14868 Filed 7–13–17; 8:45 am]
blocks within the current boundary of Topographic Features, Live Bottom
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
the Flower Garden Banks National (Pinnacle Trend), and/or Blocks South
Marine Sanctuary. The unavailable of Baldwin County, Alabama,
blocks are listed in Section I of the Final Stipulations: This alternative could be
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Notice of Sale for Lease Sale 249. The combined with any of the Action
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management proposed regionwide lease sale area alternatives above (i.e., Alternatives A,
encompasses about 91.93 million acres B, or C) and would allow the flexibility
[Docket No. BOEM–2017–0012; (ac). As of June 2017, approximately to offer leases under any alternative
MMAA104000]
75.7 million ac of the proposed with additional exclusions. Under
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf regionwide lease sale area are currently Alternative D, the decisionmaker could
(OCS), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 249 available for lease. The estimated exclude from leasing any available
amounts of resources projected to be unleased blocks subject to any one and/
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy leased, discovered, developed, and or a combination of the following
Management, Interior. produced as a result of the proposed stipulations: Topographic Features
ACTION: Notice of availability of a regionwide lease sale are 0.211–1.118 Stipulation; Live Bottom (Pinnacle
Record of Decision. billion barrels of oil (BBO) and 0.547– Trend) Stipulation; and Blocks South of
4.424 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of gas. Baldwin County, Alabama, Stipulation
SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Alternative B—Regionwide OCS Lease (not applicable to Alternative C). This
Management (BOEM) is announcing the Sale Excluding Available Unleased alternative considered blocks subject to
availability of a Record of Decision for Blocks in the WPA Portion of the these stipulations because these areas
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Proposed Lease Sale Area: This have been emphasized in scoping, can
regionwide oil and gas Lease Sale 249. alternative would offer for lease all be geographically defined, and adequate
This Record of Decision identifies available unleased blocks within the information exists regarding their
BOEM’s selected alternative for CPA and EPA portions of the proposed ecological importance and sensitivity to
proposed Lease Sale 249, which is lease sale area for oil and gas operations, OCS oil- and gas-related activities.
analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil with the following exceptions: Whole A total of 207 blocks within the CPA
and Gas Lease Sales: 2017–2022; Gulf of and portions of blocks deferred by the and 160 blocks in the WPA are affected
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![32584 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 134 / Friday, July 14, 2017 / Notices
by the Topographic Features of plan and permit review processes for ARRIS Group, Inc., ARRIS Solutions,
Stipulation. There are currently no the Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. Inc., ARRIS Enterprises, and Pace Ltd.,
identified topographic features After careful consideration, BOEM all of Suwanee, Georgia, as well as Pace
protected under this stipulation in the has selected the preferred alternative Americas LLC and Pace USA LLC, both
EPA. The Live Bottom Stipulation (Alternative A) in the 2017–2022 GOM of Boca Raton, Florida, and ARRIS
covers the pinnacle trend area of the Multisale EIS for proposed Lease Sale Technology, Inc. of Horsham,
CPA, affecting a total of 74 blocks. 249. BOEM’s selection of the preferred Pennsylvania (collectively ‘‘ARRIS’’);
Under Alternative D, the number of alternative meets the purpose and need ASUSTek Computer, Inc. of Taipei,
blocks that would become unavailable for the proposed action, as identified in Taiwan, and ASUS Computer
for lease represents only a small the GOM Multisale EIS, and reflects an International of Fremont, California
percentage of the total number of blocks orderly resource development with (collectively, ‘‘ASUS’’); Comcast Cable
to be offered under Alternative A, B, or protection of the human, marine, and Communications, LLC, Comcast Cable
C (<4%, even if blocks subject to all coastal environments while also Communications Management, LLC,
three stipulations were excluded). ensuring that the public receives an and Comcast Business Communications,
Therefore, Alternative D could reduce equitable return for these resources and LLC, each of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
offshore infrastructure and activities, that free-market competition is (collectively, ‘‘Comcast’’); HTC
but Alternative D may (and BOEM maintained. Corporation of Taoyuan, Taiwan, and
believes it is more reasonable to expect) Authority: This notice of availability of a HTC America Inc. of Bellevue,
only shift the location of offshore Record of Decision is published pursuant to Washington (collectively, ‘‘HTC’’);
infrastructure and activities farther from the regulations (40 CFR part 1505) NETGEAR, Inc. of San Jose, California;
these sensitive zones and not lead to a implementing the provisions of the National Technicolor S.A. of Issy-Les-
reduction in overall offshore Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as Moulineaux, France, as well as
infrastructure and activities. amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). Technicolor USA, Inc. and Technicolor
Alternative E—No Action: This Dated: July 11, 2017. Connected Home USA LLC, both of
alternative is not holding the proposed Walter D. Cruickshank, Indianapolis, Indiana (collectively,
regionwide Lease Sale 249 and is Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy ‘‘Technicolor’’). The ALJ also
identified as the environmentally Management. recommended that cease and desist
preferred alternative. [FR Doc. 2017–14870 Filed 7–13–17; 8:45 am] orders be directed to these respondents.
Lease Stipulations—The GOM BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
This Notice is for public statements
Multisale EIS describes all lease only.
stipulations, which are included in the
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Final Notice of Sale Package. In the INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Record of Decision for the Five Year Sidney A. Rosenzweig, Office of the
COMMISSION General Counsel, U.S. International
Program, the Secretary required the
protection of Biologically Sensitive [Investigation No. 337–TA–1010] Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Underwater Features in all Gulf oil and Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
gas lease sales as programmatic Certain Semiconductor Devices, 708–2532. Copies of non-confidential
mitigation; therefore, the application of Semiconductor Device Packages, and documents filed in connection with this
the Topographic Features Stipulation Products Containing Same; Notice of investigation, including the complaint
and Live Bottom (Pinnacle Trend) Request for Statements on the Public and the public record, can be accessed
Stipulation are being adopted and Interest on the Commission’s electronic docket
applied for applicable designated lease (EDIS) at https://edis.usitc.gov, and are
AGENCY: United States International or will be available for inspection
blocks in Lease Sale 249. Trade Commission. during official business hours (8:45 a.m.
The additional eight lease stipulations ACTION: Notice. to 5:15 p.m.) in the Office of the
for proposed regionwide Lease Sale 249
Secretary, U.S. International Trade
are the Military Areas Stipulation; the SUMMARY: Notice is hereby given that
Commission, 500 E Street SW.,
Evacuation Stipulation; the the presiding administrative law judge
Washington, DC 20436, telephone (202)
Coordination Stipulation; the Blocks (‘‘ALJ’’) has issued a recommended
205–2000. General information
South of Baldwin County, Alabama, determination on remedy and bonding
concerning the Commission may also be
Stipulation; the Protected Species in the above-captioned investigation.
obtained by accessing its Internet server
Stipulation; the United Nations The Commission is soliciting
(https://www.usitc.gov). Hearing-
Convention on the Law of the Sea submissions from the public on any
impaired persons are advised that
Royalty Payment Stipulation; the Below public interest issues raised by the
information on this matter can be
Seabed Operations Stipulation; and the recommended relief. The ALJ
obtained by contacting the
Stipulation on the Agreement between recommended that a limited exclusion
Commission’s TDD terminal on (202)
the United States of America and the order issue against certain
205–1810.
United Mexican States Concerning semiconductor devices, semiconductor
Transboundary Hydrocarbon Reservoirs device packages, and products SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section
in the Gulf of Mexico. These 10 containing the same, imported by 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 provides
stipulations will be added as lease terms respondents Broadcom Limited of that if the Commission finds a violation
where applicable and will be Singapore and Broadcom Corp. of it shall exclude the articles concerned
mstockstill on DSK30JT082PROD with NOTICES
enforceable as part of the lease. Irvine, California (collectively, from the United States:
Appendix B of the GOM Multisale EIS ‘‘Broadcom’’), as well as the following unless, after considering the effect of such
provides a list and description of named respondents who import exclusion upon the public health and
standard postlease conditions of products containing Broadcom’s welfare, competitive conditions in the United
approval that may be required by BOEM semiconductor devices: Arista States economy, the production of like or
or the Bureau of Safety and Networks, Inc. of Santa Clara, directly competitive articles in the United
Environmental Enforcement as a result California; ARRIS International plc, States, and United States consumers, it finds
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Document Created: 2018-10-24 11:17:24
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 11:17:24
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of availability of a Record of Decision. | |
| Contact | For more information on the Record of Decision, you may contact Mr. Greg Kozlowski, Deputy Regional Supervisor, Office of Environment, by telephone at 504-736-2512 or by email at [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 32583 |
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