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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 208 (Monday, October 28, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64242-64243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25329]

[[Page 64242]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[MMAA 104000]

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Oil and Gas 
Lease Sales, Western Planning Area (WPA) Lease Sales 238, 246, and 248

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Public Meetings.

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SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a Draft Supplemental EIS for proposed OCS 
oil and gas Lease Sales 238, 246, and 248, which are tentatively 
scheduled to be held in August 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively, in 
the Western Planning Area (WPA) offshore the States of Texas and 
Louisiana. This Draft Supplemental EIS updates the environmental and 
socioeconomic analyses related to proposed WPA Lease Sales 238, 246, 
and 248 evaluated in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 
2012-2017; Western Planning Area Lease Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and 
248; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247, 
Final Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2012-019) (2012-
2017 WPA/CPA Multisale EIS) and in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas 
Lease Sales: 2013-2014; Western Planning Area Lease Sale 233; Central 
Planning Area Lease Sale 231, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact 
Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2013-0118) (WPA 233/CPA 231 Supplemental 
EIS). The 2012-2017 WPA/CPA Multisale EIS was completed in July 2012. 
The WPA 233/CPA 231 Supplemental EIS was completed in April 2013.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEM developed this Draft Supplemental EIS 
for proposed WPA Lease Sales 238, 246, and 248 to consider new 
information made available since completion of the 2012-2017 WPA/CPA 
Multisale EIS and WPA 233/CPA 231 Supplemental EIS, and to consider new 
information on the Deepwater Horizon explosion, oil spill, and 
response. This Draft Supplemental EIS provides updates on the baseline 
conditions and potential environmental effects of oil and natural gas 
leasing, exploration, development, and production in the WPA. BOEM 
conducted an extensive search for new information in consideration of 
the Deepwater Horizon explosion, by reviewing scientific journals and 
available scientific data and information from academic institutions 
and Federal, State, and local agencies; and by interviewing personnel 
from academic institutions and Federal, State, and local agencies. BOEM 
has examined the potential impacts of routine activities, potential 
accidental events, and the proposed lease sales' incremental 
contribution to the cumulative impacts on environmental and 
socioeconomic resources. The oil and gas resource estimates and 
scenario information for this Draft Supplemental EIS are presented as a 
range that would encompass the resources and activities estimated for a 
proposed WPA lease sale.
    Draft Supplemental EIS Availability: BOEM has printed and will be 
distributing a limited number of paper copies of the Draft Supplemental 
EIS. In keeping with the Department of the Interior's mission to 
protect natural resources, and to limit costs while ensuring 
availability of the document to the public, BOEM will primarily 
distribute digital copies of this Draft Supplemental EIS on compact 
discs. However, if you require a paper copy, BOEM will provide one upon 
request if copies are still available.
    1. You may obtain a copy of the Draft Supplemental EIS from the 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public 
Information Office (GM 335A), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 250, 
New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF).
    2. You may download or view the Draft Supplemental EIS on BOEM's 
Internet Web site at http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Assessment//.aspx.
    Several libraries along the Gulf Coast have been sent copies of the 
Draft Supplemental EIS. To find out which libraries have copies of the 
Draft Supplemental EIS for review, you may contact BOEM's Public 
Information Office or visit BOEM's Internet Web site at http://www.boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Assessment/NEPA/nepaprocess.aspx.
    Comments: Federal, State, and local government agencies and other 
interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the 
Draft Supplemental EIS in one of the following ways:
    1. In an envelope labeled ``Comments on the WPA 238, 246, and 248 
Draft Supplemental EIS'' and mailed (or hand carried) to Mr. Gary D. 
Goeke, Chief, Environmental 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;
    2. Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to http://www.regulations.gov and search for ``Oil and Gas Lease Sales: Gulf of 
Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf; Western Planning Area Lease Sales 238, 
246, and 248''. (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''; or
    3. BOEM's email address: wpa238@boem.gov.
    Comments should be submitted no later than December 12, 2013.
    Public Meetings: BOEM will hold public meetings to obtain comments 
regarding the Draft Supplemental EIS. These meetings are scheduled as 
follows:
     Galveston, Texas: Tuesday, November 5, 2013, Courtyard 
Galveston Island Gulf Front Marriott, 9550 Seawall Boulevard, 
Galveston, Texas 77554, beginning at 6:30 p.m. CST; and
     New Orleans, Louisiana: Thursday, November 7, 2013, Bureau 
of Ocean Energy Management, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, 
Louisiana 70123, beginning at 1:00 p.m. CST.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the Draft 
Supplemental EIS, you may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Office of Environment (GM 
623E), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 
or by email at wpa238@boem.gov. You may also contact Mr. Goeke by 
telephone at (504) 736-3233.

Public Disclosure of Names and Addresses

    BOEM does not consider anonymous comments; please include your name 
and address as part of your submittal. BOEM makes all comments, 
including the names and addresses of respondents, available for public 
review during regular business hours. Individual respondents may 
request that BOEM withhold their names and/or addresses from the public 
record; however, BOEM cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. 
If you wish your name and/or address to be withheld, you must state 
your preference prominently at the beginning of your comment. All 
submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their 
entirety.

[[Page 64243]]

    Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations (40 
CFR 1503) implementing the provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. [1988]).

    Dated: October 22, 2013.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-25329 Filed 10-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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