Notice of Preparation of an Environmenta l Assessment for 2011 Ancillary Activities Marine Surveys in the Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) Alaska Region is preparing an Environmental Assessme nt (EA) for proposed ancillary activities by Statoil USA E&P Inc. (Statoil) on the Chukchi S ea outer continental shelf (OCS) during the 2011 open-water season. Statoil’s proposed ancillary activities include seismic surveying for site clearance and shallow hazards, and shallow coring for geotechnical evaluation data and information for future Exploration Plan (EP) or Development and Production Plan (DPP) (30 CFR 250.207). The ancillary activities would be conducted from Augus t through November
2011.

Activity Description Duration Vessel(s)

Shallow Hazards & Site Clearance Survey Side scan sonar
Multibeam echo sounder 4 x 10 cu. in. airgun cluster 1 x 10 cu. in. airgun Shallow sub-bottom profiler 60 days M/V Duke or similarly equipped
vessel

Geotechnical Soil Investigation Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Dual frequency side scan sonar
Multibeam echo sounder Dual frequency sub-bottom profiler 14 days M/V Fugro Synergy or similarly equipped
vessel

BOEMRE has 30 days to review Statoil’s proposed ancillary activities (30 CFR 250.207(a) and 30 CFR 250.208).

This Notice of Preparation, as well as Statoil’s Notice of Intent for Ancillary Activities for 2011 in the Chukchi Sea, and Statoil’s Plan of Op erations are posted on the BOEMRE website with other additional information at http://www.alaska. boemre.gov. The documents are also available for review at 3801 Centerpoint Drive, Suite 500, Anchorage, Alaska. Copies are available by calling (907) 334-5200 (8:30am – 4:30 pm Alaska Daylight Time).

In addition, the following National Envir onmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents address issues and potential effects of seismic surveys and ancillary activities. BOEMRE will use the information in these documents in the pr eparation of the Environmental Assessment (EA).

 Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Chukchi Sea Lease Sale 193 (OCS EIS/ES MMS 2007-026), May 2007.

 Draft EIS for Beaufort Sea and Chukchi Sea Planning Areas Oil and Gas Lease Sales 209, 212, 217, and 221 (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-0055), November 2008.

 EA for Statoil’s 2010 3D/2D seismic survey in the Chukchi Sea Planning Area (OCS EIS/EA BOEMRE 2010-020), June 2010.

These documents are available on the BOEMRE website at http://www.alaska.boemre.gov/ref/eis_ea.htm.

The issues and resources identified by the technical analysts for consideration in preparation of the EA include the effects from seismic survey sound, vessel presence, and bottom disturbing activities on bowhead whale migration; marine fi sh and essential fish habitat; marine wildlifeincluding marine mammals, birds, lower trophi c organisms, and threatened and endangered species; subsistence activities; and archaeological resources.

This notice provides an opportunity for the public to provide input that may inform the decisionmaking process, including issues or information re garding environmental impacts that should be considered in the preparation of the EA, prio r to a decision being made by the Responsible Official(s). BOEMRE will accept comments through Thursday, June 16, 2011.

Comments may be submitted in either of the following two ways:

1. Mail or Delivery: Enclose comments in an envelope labeled “Comments on the Statoil Proposed Ancillary Activities, C hukchi Sea OCS, 2011” and send to: Regional Supervisor, L easing and Environment BOEMRE Alaska OCS Region 3801 Centerpoint Dr., Ste 500 Anchorage, AK 99503-5820

2. Federal eRulemaking Portal: Access this Notice of Preparation at Regulations.gov and
search docket number BOEM-2011-0052. Clic k on the orange button labeled “Submit a
Comment.”

BOEMRE cautions that, before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comm ent, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying inform ation, may be made publicly available at any time. While you may ask BOEMRE (prominently at the beginning of your submission) to withhold your personal identifying informati on from public view, BOEMRE cannot guarantee
that it will be able to do so. BOEMRE will not consider anonymous comments.

Information on the Statoil Application for a Letter of Authorization for the incidental take of polar bears and Pacific walrus from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is available at http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/itr.htm. Similar information on the Statoil Application for
an Incidental Harassment Authorization from the National Marine Fisheries Service is available at http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/permits/incidental.htm