Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 91 / Friday, May 10, 2013 / Notices 27427 

Activity/operator Location Date 

ATP Oil & Gas Corporation, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 

13–096.

South Timbalier, Block 77, Lease OCS–G 04827, located 18 

miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.

3/29/2013 

McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 13– 

086.

West Cameron, Block 192, Lease OCS 00190, located 28 

miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.

3/29/2013 

McMoRan Oil & Gas LLC, Structure Removal, SEA ES/SR 13– 

083.

West Cameron, Block 294, Lease OCS–G 04090, located 28 

miles from the nearest Louisiana shoreline.

3/29/2013 

Persons interested in reviewing 

environmental documents for the 

proposals listed above or obtaining 

information about the SEAs and FONSIs 

prepared by the Gulf of Mexico OCS 

Region are encouraged to contact BOEM 

at the address or telephone listed in the 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT

section. 

Dated: April 12, 2013. 

John L. Rodi 

Regional Director Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. 

[FR Doc. 2013–11079 Filed 5–9–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

[MMAA104000] 

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 

Geological and Geophysical 

Exploration Activities in the Gulf of 

Mexico 

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM), Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Intent; Notice of 

Scoping Meetings; and Request for 

Scoping Comments. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the regulations 

implementing (National Environmental 

Policy Act) (NEPA), and subject to 

available funding, BOEM is announcing 

the intent to prepare a Programmatic 

Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) 

to evaluate potential environmental 

effects of multiple geological and 

geophysical (G&G) activities in OCS 

waters of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), 

extending from the coastline to the 

seaward boundary of the Exclusive 

Economic Zone (EEZ), including the 

GOM OCS. The PEIS will be prepared 

cooperatively with NMFS to serve as the 

requisite environmental analysis under 

NEPA for the National Marine Fisheries 

Service’s (NMFS) Marine Mammal 

Protection Act (MMPA) rulemaking 

governing authorization for 

unintentional marine mammal takes 

during G&G activities in GOM waters. It 

will also provide information for future 

decisions regarding Outer Continental 

Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) permit and 

MMPA authorization actions, in 

addition to informing consultations 

under the Endangered Species Act 

(ESA), Magnuson-Stevens Fishery 

Conservation and Management Act 

(MSFCMA), and other statutes. By this 

document, BOEM announces: The 

intention to prepare a PEIS; 

commencement of the scoping process 

under NEPA; a request for public 

comment on the scope of the PEIS; 

times, dates and locations for public 

scoping meetings; and a request for 

other Federal Agencies, and State, 

Tribal, and local governments to 

consider becoming cooperating agencies 

in the preparation of the PEIS. 

DATES: Comments should be submitted 

no later than June 24, 2013. For specific 

meeting dates and more information on 

submitting comments, see ADDRESSES. 

ADDRESSES: The following public 

scoping meetings are planned for the 

PEIS: 

• Tampa, Florida: Monday, June 10, 

2013, Embassy Suites Westshore Tampa 

Airport Hotel, 555 North Westshore 

Boulevard, Tampa, Florida 33609; one 

meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. EDT; 

• Fort Walton Beach, Florida: 

Tuesday, June 11, 2013, Ramada Plaza 

Beach Resort, 1500 Miracle Strip 

Parkway SE., Fort Walton Beach, 

Florida 32548; one meeting beginning at 

6:30 p.m. CDT; 

• Mobile, Alabama: Wednesday, June 

12, 2013, Government Plaza, 205 

Government Street, Mobile, Alabama 

36644; one meeting beginning at 6:30 

p.m. CDT; 

• Gulfport, Mississippi: Thursday, 

June 13, 2013, Courtyard by Marriott 

Gulfport Beachfront MS Hotel, 1600 

East Beach Boulevard, Gulfport, 

Mississippi 39501; one meeting 

beginning at 6:30 p.m. CDT; 

• Galveston, Texas: Monday, June 17, 

2013, Galveston Hilton, 5400 Seawall 

Boulevard, Galveston, Texas 77551; one 

meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. CDT; 

• New Orleans, Louisiana: 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013, Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, 1201 

Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 

Louisiana 70123; one meeting beginning 

at 1 p.m. CDT; 

• Silver Spring, Maryland: Thursday, 

June 20, 2013, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, 1305 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 

20910; one meeting beginning at 1:00 

p.m. EDT. 

Comments: Statements, both oral and 

written, will be received at the scoping 

meetings. All persons wishing to speak 

will have an opportunity to do so. Time 

limits may be set on speakers to allow 

time for all speakers to participate. In 

addition, background information will 

be provided by BOEM and NMFS on the 

Federal compliance processes related to 

this Proposed Action. 

In lieu of participation in the scoping 

meetings listed above, Federal, State, 

and local government agencies and 

other interested parties, including 

members of the public, may submit 

written comments on the scope of the 

PEIS, significant issues that should be 

addressed, alternatives that should be 

considered, and the types of G&G 

activities and geographical areas of 

interest on Federal and State waters of 

the GOM. Comments will also be shared 

with NMFS. 

Comments may be submitted in one of 

the following three ways: 

1. In written form enclosed in an 

envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on 

Scoping for the Gulf of Mexico G&G 

PEIS’’ and mailed (or hand carried) to 

Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Chief, Regional 

Assessment Section, Office of 

Environment (MS 5410), Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of 

Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood 

Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 

70123–2394; or 

2. Electronically to the BOEM email 

address: gomggeis@boem.gov. 

3. Through the regulations.gov web 

portal: Navigate to http:// 

www.regulations.gov and search for 

‘‘Geological and Geophysical 

Exploration Activities on Federal and 

State Waters of the Gulf of Mexico’’ 

(Note: It is important to include the 

quotation marks in your search terms.) 

Click on the ‘‘Comment Now!’’ button to 

the right of the document link. Enter 

your information and comment, then 

click ‘‘Submit’’. 

Public Disclosure of Names and 

Addresses: Before including your 

address, phone number, email address, 

or other personal identifying 

information in your comment, be 

advised that your entire comment, 

including your personal identifying 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

27428 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 91 / Friday, May 10, 2013 / Notices 

information, may be made publicly 

available at any time. While you can ask 

us in your comment to withhold from 

public review your personal identifying 

information, we cannot guarantee that 

we will be able to do so. 

For further information regarding the 

GOM G&G PEIS, please visit our Web 

site at: http://www.boem.gov/GOM–G– 

G–PEIS/ 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on this notice or the public 

scoping meetings, please contact Ms. 

Beth Nord, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS 

Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard 

(GM 623E), New Orleans, Louisiana 

70123–2394, telephone (504) 736–2995. 

For information on BOEM’s policies 

associated with this notice, please 

contact Mr. Gary Goeke, Section Chief, 

Regional Assessment Section, Office of 

Environment (GM 623E), Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of 

Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood 

Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 

70123–2394, telephone (504) 736–3233. 

For information on NMFS’ policies 

associated with this notice, please 

contact Mr. Howard Goldstein, Office of 

Protected Resources, National Marine 

Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration, 1315 EastWest Highway, Silver Spring, Maryland 

20910, telephone (301) 427–8401. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Scoping is 

the initial step in the NEPA process. 

BOEM will fully comply with all 

pertinent laws, rules, and regulations 

and will allow the public an adequate 

opportunity to participate in the NEPA 

process, including scoping meetings and 

public comment periods. The 

publication of this NOI initiates the 

scoping process and 45-day scoping 

comment period for this PEIS. The 

public scoping meetings will be held 

during this 45-day timeframe. The 

activities considered within this PEIS 

are associated with GOM OCS oil and 

gas exploration and development, siting 

for potential renewable energy projects, 

and marine minerals extraction; they 

could take place over a period of up to 

ten years. The purpose of the scoping 

meetings will be to provide stakeholders 

with more information on the Federal 

compliance processes related to the 

proposed actions, and solicit comments 

on the scope of the PEIS. Under the 

Proposed Action, BOEM proposes to 

issue permits to conduct G&G activities 

under OCSLA and NMFS proposes to 

promulgate regulations under the 

MMPA that establish a framework for 

issuing letters of authorization for the 

unintentional take of marine mammals 

incidental to G&G activities in GOM 

waters. 

Through the scoping process, Federal, 

State and local government agencies and 

other interested parties have the 

opportunity to assist in determining the 

significant issues and alternatives for 

analysis in the PEIS, and developing the 

scope of the PEIS. This early planning 

and consultation step is important to 

ensure all interests and concerns are 

communicated to BOEM and NMFS as 

the PEIS is developed. 

Background: A variety of G&G 

techniques are used to characterize the 

geological structure of the OCS slope 

and deepwater ocean environments. 

Geological and geophysical surveys are 

conducted to: (1) Obtain data for 

hydrocarbon exploration and 

production; (2) aid in siting renewable 

energy structures; (3) locate potential 

sand and gravel resources; (4) identify 

possible seafloor or shallow depth 

geologic hazards; and (5) locate 

potential archaeological resources and 

potential hard bottom habitats for 

avoidance. The selection of a specific 

G&G technique or suite of techniques is 

driven by data needs and the target of 

interest. The following types of G&G 

activities will be included in the PEIS: 

(1) Various types of deep penetration 

seismic airgun surveys used almost 

exclusively for oil and gas exploration 

and development; (2) other types of 

surveys and sampling activities used 

only in support of oil and gas 

exploration and development, including 

electromagnetic surveys, deep 

stratigraphic and shallow test drilling, 

and various remote sensing methods; (3) 

high-resolution geophysical (HRG) 

surveys used in three program areas (oil 

and gas, renewable energy, and marine 

minerals) to detect geohazards, 

archaeological resources, and certain 

types of benthic communities; and (4) 

geological and geotechnical bottom 

sampling used in all three program areas 

to assess the suitability of seafloor 

sediments for supporting structures 

(e.g., platforms, pipelines, cables, wind 

turbines) or to evaluate the quantity and 

quality of sand for beach nourishment 

projects. 

The GOM OCS area that will be 

analyzed within the GOM G&G PEIS is 

illustrated in Figure 1 as the GOM 

Western, Central, and Eastern Planning 

Areas. This Area of Interest (AOI) 

includes State waters and extends from 

the coastline (excluding estuaries) 

through Federal waters of the OCS out 

to the seaward boundary of the EEZ. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 91 / Friday, May 10, 2013 / Notices 27429 

The PEIS will evaluate the 

environmental impacts to resources in 

Federal and State waters of the GOM 

resulting from G&G activities taking 

place either exclusively in Federal 

waters or in both Federal and State 

waters (but not exclusively in State 

waters), subject to BOEM and NMFS 

regulatory authority that may be 

proposed over a period of up to ten 

years. While State waters are not within 

BOEM’s jurisdiction, NMFS has 

jurisdiction and permitting authority in 

both Federal and State waters. The AOI 

encompasses adjacent State waters for 

three reasons: (1) NMFS requires an 

assessment of potential impacts to 

resources under its jurisdiction; (2) G&G 

activities under all three program areas 

(oil and gas, renewable energy, and 

marine minerals) could include survey 

areas that include Federal and State 

waters; and (3) the potential adverse 

effects associated with G&G activities 

introduced into the environment during 

OCS G&G surveys could affect resources 

in State waters. Surveys occurring 

exclusively in State waters are not 

considered in the scope of this PEIS. 

The PEIS is intended to serve as the 

primary NEPA environmental analysis 

to support future OCSLA and MMPA 

permitting decisions. However, should 

BOEM or NMFS determine there is a 

need to develop a future site-specific 

analysis, e.g., an EIS or environmental 

assessment for a particular G&G activity, 

the PEIS would serve as a reference 

document to implement the ‘‘tiering’’ 

objective detailed in NEPA’s 

implementing regulations (40 CFR 

1502.20). The proposed G&G activities 

include, but are not limited to, deeppenetration and high resolution seismic 

surveys, electromagnetic surveys, 

magnetic surveys, gravity surveys, 

remote sensing surveys, marine vibrator 

surveys, and geological and geochemical 

sampling. These activities would 

provide information about the location 

and extent of oil and gas reserves, 

bottom conditions for oil and gas or 

renewable energy installations, and 

suitable locations of marine minerals off 

the Gulf coast of the U.S. Up-to-date and 

state-of-the-art G&G data and 

information are required for business 

decisions in furtherance of prospecting 

for OCS oil and gas in an orderly 

manner, assessing sites for renewable 

energy facilities, or developing marine 

mineral resources. 

The alternatives that will be analyzed 

in the PEIS have not been finalized yet. 

The alternatives will include the 

Proposed Action (BOEM proposes to 

issue permits to conduct G&G activities 

under OCSLA and NMFS proposes to 

engage in a rulemaking under the 

MMPA and issue letters of authorization 

to allow the unintentional marine 

mammal takes during G&G activities in 

GOM waters), the No Action 

Alternative, and other alternatives that 

may include (but are not limited to) 

variations on the Proposed Action 

involving monitoring and mitigation 

measures and restrictions. The public is 

invited to suggest additional 

alternatives, including mitigation and 

monitoring measures, for our agencies’ 

consideration and possible inclusion in 

the PEIS (40 CFR 1508.22(a)). 

In conjunction with the preparation of 

the PEIS, the BOEM has asked NMFS to 

complete MMPA rulemaking for 

incidental take (by harassment) of 

marine mammal species in the GOM as 

a result of G&G survey from oil and gas 

activities. Under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 

1371; 50 CFR Subpart 216), the taking 

of marine mammals without a permit or 

exemption from NMFS is prohibited. 

The PEIS will be prepared cooperatively 

with NMFS to provide the necessary 

documentation under NEPA to support 

decisions regarding future OCSLA 

permit and MMPA authorization 

actions, in addition to complying with 

other statutes such as the ESA and the 

MSFCMA. 

In the interim, BOEM continues to 

review proposed G&G seismic activities 

and non-commercial sand and gravel 

prospecting activities. BOEM issues 

permits for G&G seismic activities and 

provides authorization for noncommercial sand search (marine 

minerals program) only after these 

activities have been evaluated under 

NEPA and reviewed following interim 

project-specific consultation procedures 

under the ESA between BOEM and 

NMFS. 

More information on G&G activities 

can be found on pages 13–15 of BOEM’s 

Leasing Oil and Natural Gas Resources: 

Outer Continental Shelf (see http:// 

www.boem.gov/searchresults.aspx?q=GreenBookLeasingDocument.pdf+ and BOEM’s 


mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICESEN10MY13.008</GPH>
27430 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 91 / Friday, May 10, 2013 / Notices 

Geological and Geophysical Exploration 

for Mineral Resources on the Gulf of 

Mexico Outer Continental Shelf: Final 

Programmatic Environmental 

Assessment (see http://www.boem.gov/ 

Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/GOMR/ 

2004–054.aspx). 

Cooperating Agency: BOEM invites 

other Federal agencies and State, Tribal, 

and local governments to consider 

becoming cooperating agencies in the 

preparation of the PEIS. We invite 

qualified government entities to inquire 

about cooperating agency status for the 

PEIS. Following the guidelines from the 

Council on Environmental Quality 

(CEQ), qualified agencies and 

governments are those with 

‘‘jurisdiction by law’’ or ‘‘special 

expertise.’’ Potential cooperating 

agencies should consider their authority 

and capacity to assume the 

responsibilities of a cooperating agency, 

and note that an agency’s role in the 

environmental analysis neither enlarges 

nor diminishes the final decision 

making authority of any other agency 

involved in the NEPA process. Upon 

request, BOEM will provide potential 

cooperating agencies with a written 

summary of ground rules for 

cooperating agencies, including time 

schedules and critical action dates, 

milestones, responsibilities, scope and 

detail of cooperating agencies’ 

contributions, and the availability of 

pre-decisional information. BOEM 

anticipates this summary will form the 

basis for a Memorandum of Agreement 

(MOA). Agencies should also consider 

the ‘‘Factors for Determining 

Cooperating Agency Status’’ in 

Attachment 1 to CEQ’s January 30, 2002, 

Memorandum for the Heads of Federal 

Agencies: Cooperating Agencies in 

Implementing the Procedural 

Requirements of the NEPA. A copy of 

this document is available at:http:// 

ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/cooperating/ 

cooperatingagenciesmemorandum.html 

and/or http://ceq.hss.doe.gov/nepa/ 

regs/cooperating/ 

cooperatingagencymemofactors.html 

BOEM and NMFS, as co-agencies, will 

not provide financial assistance to any 

other cooperating agencies. Even if an 

organization is not an official 

cooperating agency, opportunities exist 

to provide information and comments 

during the normal public input phases 

of the NEPA/PEIS process. If further 

information about cooperating agencies 

is needed, please contact Mr. Gary 

Goeke at (504) 736–3233. 

Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., 43 

U.S.C. 1331–1356a, 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq., 40 

CFR 1501.7 

Dated: May 6, 2013. 

Tommy P. Beaudreau, 

Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management. 

[FR Doc. 2013–11226 Filed 5–9–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

[MMAA104000] 

Notice on Outer Continental Shelf Oil 

and Gas Lease Sales 

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM), Interior. 

ACTION: List of restricted joint bidders. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the authority 

vested in the Director of the Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management by the joint 

bidding provisions of 30 CFR 556.41, 

each entity within one of the following 

groups shall be restricted from bidding 

with any entity in any of the other 

following groups at Outer Continental 

Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held 

during the bidding period May 1, 2013, 

through October 31, 2013. This List of 

Restricted Joint Bidders will cover the 

period May 1, 2013, through October 31, 

2013, and replace the prior list 

published on October 23, 2012, which 

covered the period of November 1, 2012, 

through April 30, 2013. 

Group I. BP America Production 

Company 

BP Exploration & Production Inc. 

BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. 

Group II. Chevron Corporation 

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. 

Chevron Midcontinent, L.P. 

Unocal Corporation 

Union Oil Company of California 

Pure Partners, L.P. 

Group III. Eni Petroleum Co. Inc. 

Eni Petroleum US LLC 

Eni Oil US LLC 

Eni Marketing Inc. 

Eni BB Petroleum Inc. 

Eni US Operating Co. Inc. 

Eni BB Pipeline LLC 

Group IV. Exxon Mobil Corporation 

ExxonMobil Exploration Company 

Group V. Petrobras America Inc. 

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. 

Group VI. Shell Oil Company 

Shell Offshore Inc. 

SWEPI LP 

Shell Frontier Oil & Gas Inc. 

SOI Finance Inc. 

Shell Gulf of Mexico Inc. 

Group VII. Statoil ASA 

Statoil Gulf of Mexico LLC 

Statoil USA E&P Inc. 

Statoil Gulf Properties Inc. 

Group VIII. Total E&P USA, Inc. 

Dated: April 29, 2013. 

Tommy P. Beaudreau, 

Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management. 

[FR Doc. 2013–11076 Filed 5–9–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 

Notice of Lodging of Proposed 

Consent Decree Under the Resource 

Conservation and Recovery Act 

On April 26, 2013, the Department of 

Justice lodged a proposed consent 

decree with the United States District 

Court for the Northern District of Ohio 

in the lawsuit entitled United States v. 

Schott Metal Products, Inc. and The 

Estate of Samuel Schott, Civil Action 

No. 5:13-cv-00950. 

In the Complaint filed in this action 

the United States alleged that 

Defendants failed to comply with a 2006 

Administrative Order issued by the 

United States Environmental Protection 

Agency (‘‘EPA’’) to sample and monitor 

soil and groundwater at the Schott 

Metal Products, Inc. facility in Akron, 

Ohio, in violation of Section 3013(a) of 

the Resource Conservation and 

Recovery Act (‘‘RCRA’’), 42 U.S.C. 

6934(a). The proposed consent decree 

requires Defendants to comply with the 

2006 Administrative Order by 

implementing a ‘‘work plan,’’ and an 

addendum thereto, recently approved 

by EPA. The proposed consent decree 

further requires Defendants to pay a 

civil penalty of $375,000, for the alleged 

failure to timely comply with the 2006 

Administrative Order. 

The publication of this notice opens 

a period for public comment on the 

proposed consent decree. Comments 

should be addressed to the Assistant 

Attorney General, Environment and 

Natural Resources Division, and should 

refer to United States v. Schott Metal 

Products, Inc. and The Estate of Samuel 

Schott, D.J. Ref. No. 90–7–1–09982. All 

comments must be submitted no later 

than thirty (30) days after the 

publication date of this notice. 

Comments may be submitted either by 

email or by mail: 

To submit comments: Send them to: 

By e-mail ............ pubcommentees.enrd@usdoj.gov. 

By mail ............... Assistant Attorney General, U.S. DOJ—ENRD, 

P.O. Box 7611, Washington, D.C. 20044– 

7611. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES