[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 4, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9426-9427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-4581]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Extension of Comment Period on the Draft Proposed 5-Year Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2010-2015 (DPP) 
and Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 
for the Proposed 5-Year Program

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.

ACTION: Extension of Time for Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: On February 10, 2009, the Secretary of the Interior announced 
a new comprehensive approach to the Nation's offshore energy plan, 
which includes four parts and affects the Draft Proposed 5-year OCS Oil 
and Gas Leasing Program for 2010-2015 (DPP), published on January 16, 
2009, by the previous Administration. The Secretary's four steps are--
    [cir] An additional 180 days for public comment on the DPP and the 
Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS for the proposed 5-year program to 
September 21, 2009;
    [cir] Preparation by MMS and the U.S. Geological Survey of a report 
setting forth all the information available on our offshore energy 
resources, with the report to be completed within 45 days of the 
Secretary's announcement;
    [cir] Regional meetings to be convened by the Secretary on each 
coast and in Alaska to gather the best ideas for how to move forward 
with a comprehensive offshore energy plan, with the meetings to occur 
in the 30 days following completion of the report; and
    [cir] Commitment by the Secretary to issuing a final rulemaking on 
offshore renewable energy resources in the coming months.
    This Federal Register Notice announces the 180-day extension of 
time for receipt of comments on the DPP and the Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an EIS for the proposed 5-year program. The original comment 
period was announced in the Federal Register on January 21, 2009 (74 FR 
3631) with a closing date of March 23, 2009. The new closing date is 
September 21, 2009. The additional time will give states, stakeholders, 
and affected communities the opportunity to provide input on how, 
whether, and where the Nation's offshore areas should be considered as 
part of the Nation's energy strategy.
    Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) specifies a multi-
step process of consultation and analysis that must be completed before 
the Secretary of the Interior may approve a new 5-year program. The 
required steps following this notice include the development of a 
proposed program, a proposed final program, and Secretarial approval. 
Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the MMS also 
will prepare an EIS for the new 5-year program. The notice in the 
Federal Register on January 21, 2009 (74 FR 3631) started the formal 
scoping process for the EIS under 40 CFR 1501.7, and solicited 
information regarding issues and alternatives that should be evaluated 
in the EIS. The EIS will analyze the potential impacts of the adoption 
of the proposed 5-year program.

DATES: Please submit comments and information to the MMS no later than 
September 21, 2009.

Public Comment Procedure

    The MMS will accept comments in one of two formats: By mail or our 
Internet commenting system. Please submit your comments using only one 
of these formats, and include full names and addresses. Comments 
submitted by other means may not be considered. Before including your 
address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying 
information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire 
comment--including your personal identifying information--may be made 
publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on the DPP and/or the Notice of 
Intent by any of the following methods.
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Under the tab ``More Search Options,'' click ``Advanced Docket 
Search,'' then select ``Minerals Management Service'' from the agency 
drop-down menu, then click the submit button. In the Docket ID column, 
select MMS-2008-OMM-0045 to submit public comments and to view related 
materials available for the DPP or MMS-2008-OMM-0046 to submit public 
comments and to view related materials available for the Notice of 
Intent to Prepare an EIS. Information on using Regulations.gov, 
including instructions for accessing documents,

[[Page 9427]]

submitting comments, and viewing the docket after the close of the 
comment period, is available through the site's ``User Tips'' link. The 
MMS will post all comments.
    <bullet> Mail or hand-carry comments on the DPP to the Department 
of the Interior, Minerals Management Service, Attention: Leasing 
Division (LD), 381 Elden Street, MS-4024, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. 
Please reference ``2010-2015 Oil and Gas Leasing in the Outer 
Continental Shelf,'' in your comments and include your name and return 
address. Comments on the Notice of Intent to Prepare an EIS should be 
mailed or hand-carried to Mr. J.F. Bennett, Chief, Branch of 
Environmental Assessment, Minerals Management Service, 381 Elden 
Street, MS 4042, Herndon, Virginia 20170.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Renee Orr, 5-Year Program Manager, at 
703-787-1215 for the DPP; or James Bennett, Chief, Branch of 
Environmental Assessment, at 703-787-1600 for the Notice of Intent to 
Prepare an EIS.

    Dated: February 25, 2009.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4581 Filed 3-3-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P