[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34951-34952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16495]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

National Park Service, Interior


Notice of Availability of a Plan of Operations and Environmental 
Assessment for a Proposed Three Dimensional Seismic Survey Within the 
Barataria Preserve Unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 
Preserve, Jefferson Parish, LA

SUMMARY: In accordance with Sec. 9.52 of title 36 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, 
notice is hereby given that the National Park Service has a received a 
Plan of Operations and Environmental Assessment from Seitel Data, Inc. 
of Houston, Texas, for a Proposed Three Dimensional Seismic Survey 
within and near the Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte National 
Historical Park and Preserve.
    The Plan of Operations and Environmental Assessment are available 
for public review and comment for a period of 30 days from the 
publication date of this notice, in the office of the Superintendent, 
Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal Street, 
Suite 2400, New Orleans, Louisiana and will be sent upon written 
request.

DATES: The proposed seismic operation will be initiated following the 
approval of the Plan of Operations and a Finding of No Significant 
Impact by the National Park Service Regional Director. Field operations 
will last approximately six weeks within the Preserve.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Superintendent, Jean Lafitte National 
Historical Park and Preserve, 365 Canal Street, Suite 2400, New 
Orleans, Louisiana, 70130.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 
Preserve was established by Congress on November 10, 1978 (Public Law 
95-625)

[[Page 34952]]

in order to ``* * * preserve for the education, inspiration, and 
benefit of present and future generations significant examples of 
natural and historical resources of the Mississippi Delta region * * 
*'' When the park was established, all subsurface mineral interests 
were retained by private owners, thus the federal government does not 
own any of the subsurface oil and gas rights within the park boundary.
    Seitel Data Incorporated is proposing to conduct a three 
dimensional seismic survey encompassing approximately 105 square miles 
in Jefferson and St. Charles Parishes, Louisiana. A portion of the 
proposed survey area includes the northernmost 1,500 acres of the 
Barataria Preserve unit of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and 
Preserve.
    In accordance with the National Park Service Organic Act and 
section 902(a) of the park's enabling legislation, Congress authorized 
the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate regulations to control 
nonfederal oil and gas development in the park. These regulations are 
published as the NPS Nonfederal Oil and Gas Rights Regulations, in the 
Code of Federal Regulations, part 9, subpart B (36 CFR 9B), and include 
the following:

    These regulations control all activities within any unit of the 
National Park System in the exercise of rights to oil and gas not 
owned by the United States where access is on, across, or through 
federally owned or controlled lands or waters * * * These 
regulations are designed to insure that activities undertaken 
pursuant to these rights are conducted in a manner consistent with 
the purposes for which the National Park System and each unit 
thereof were created, to prevent or minimize damage to the 
environment and other resource values, and to insure to the extent 
feasible that all units of the National Park System are left 
unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. These 
regulations are not intended to result in the taking of a property 
interest, but rather to impose reasonable regulations on activities 
which involve and affect federally-owned lands (36 CFR 9.30(a)).

    Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve has a lawful 
obligation to provide for the exercise of nonfederal oil and gas rights 
within its boundary. The NPS Nonfederal Oil and Gas Rights Regulations 
require that a Plan of Operations and Environmental Assessment be 
submitted and approved by the park Superintendent and Regional Director 
prior to the initiation of oil and gas exploration activities. A Plan 
of Operations and Environmental Assessment has been prepared by Seitel 
Data, which documents the procedures required by the National Park 
Service to accomplish the three dimensional survey while avoiding and 
minimizing adverse environmental impacts to park resources.

    Dated: June 12, 2001.
W. Thomas Brown,
Acting Regional Director, Southeast Region.
[FR Doc. 01-16495 Filed 6-29-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-70-M