## THE BUREAU OF OCEAN ENERGY MANAGEMENT,

REGULATION AND ENFORCEMENT

For Immediate Release Date: October 7, 2010 Contact: Leann Bullin, (703) 787-1755



### BOEM Begins Review, Invi tes Public Comment on Categorical Exclusions

WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEM) today announced that it is initiating the public comment stage of

its review of its use of ca tegorical exclusions (CEs) fo r decisions regarding energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).

Consistent with recommendations provide d by the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), BOEM announced on August 16, 2010, that it would undertake a review of its use of categorical exclusions to ensure that its policies are in full compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). During the period in which BOEM is conducting its review, Dire ctor Michael R. Bromwich has di rected the agency to restrict its use of categorical exclusions for offs hore oil and gas development to activities involving limited environmental risk. More information can be found at: http://www.doi.gov/news/doinews/Categorical-E xclusions-for-Gulf-Offshore-Activity-tobe-Limited-While-Interior-Reviews-NEPA-Pr ocess-and-Develops-Revised-Policy.cfm

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“BOEM is committed to strengthening our oversight responsibilities and making decisions that fully consider the potential environmental impacts,” Director Bromwich said. “We will ensure compliance with NEPA as we re-examine the types of environmental reviews required for offshore operations.”

CEQ regulations (40 C.F.R. § 1508.4) define “ca tegorical exclusion” as a category of actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant effect on the human environment; which have been found to have no such effect in procedures adopted by a federal agency in implementation of thes e regulations; and for which neither an environmental assessment nor an environmental impact statement is required.BOEM is inviting the public as well as fede ral, state and local government agencies, and other interested parties to comment on the a ppropriate use of and suggest revisions to existing BOEM CEs, and to highlight issu es that BOEM should address during the

review. The notice is available in the Federal Register ’s “Reading Room” at: http://www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx . It will be published on the Federal Register

tomorrow.

The public is invited to submit comments no later than November 8, 2010, (30 days after publication) in one of the following ways:

1. For written comments, please label your submission “Comments on the Review of Categorical Exclusions for Outer Contin ental Shelf Decisions” and mail (or hand carry) to James F. Bennett, Chief, Envi ronmental Assessment Branch, Environmental Division (MS 4042), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, Headquarters, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170.

2. To submit electronic comment s, go to http://www.regulations.gov . In the entry titled “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter docket ID BOEM-2010-0036, then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related

materials available for this collection.

The full CEQ review of BOEM (then-MMS ) NEPA procedures can be found at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/ eop/ceq/initiatives/nepa/mms-review

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