70634 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 22, 2005 / Notices 

200 is as follows: EA/FONNSI or 

Supplemental EIS decision, March 

2006; CD’s sent to affected States, March 

2006; PNOS sent to governors of the 

affected States, March 2006; Final 

Notice of Sale published in the Federal 

Register, July 2006; and Lease Sale 200, 

August 2006. 

Public Comments 

Interested parties are requested to 

send within 30 days of this Notice’s 

publication comments regarding any 

new information or issues that should 

be addressed in the EA. Comments may 

be submitted in one of the following 

three ways: 

1. Electronically using MMS’s new 

Public Connect on-line commenting 

system at https://ocsconnect.mms.gov. 

This is the preferred method for 

commenting. From the Public Connect 

‘‘Welcome’’ screen, search for ‘‘WPA 

Lease Sale 200 EA’’ or select it from the 

‘‘Projects Open for Comment’’ menu. 

2. In written form enclosed in an 

envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on WPA 

Lease Sale 200 EA’’ and mailed (or hand 

carried) to the Regional Supervisor, 

Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), 

Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 

Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood 

Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 

70123–2394. 

3. Electronically to the MMS e-mail 

address: environment@mms.gov. 

To obtain single copies of the 

Multisale EIS, you may contact the 

Minerals Management Service, Gulf of 

Mexico OCS Region, Attention: Public 

Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 

Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, 

New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394 (1–

800–200–GULF). You may also view the 

Multisale EIS or check the list of 

libraries that have copies of the 

Multisale EIS on the MMS Web site at 

http://www.gomr.mms.gov. 

Dated: October 24, 2005. 

Chris C. Oynes, 

Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region. 

[FR Doc. 05–23073 Filed 11–21–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MP–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Minerals Management Service 

Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf 

(OCS), Central Planning Area, Oil and 

Gas Lease Sale 198 (2006) 

Environmental Assessment 

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of an 

Environmental Assessment. 

SUMMARY: The MMS is issuing this 

notice to advise the public, pursuant to 

the National Environmental Policy Act 

of 1969 (NEPA), as amended, 42 U.S.C. 

4321 et seq., that MMS has prepared an 

environmental assessment (EA) for 

proposed OCS oil and gas Lease Sale 

198 in the Central Gulf of Mexico 

(GOM) (Lease Sale 198) scheduled for 

March 2006. Proposed Lease Sale 198 is 

the fourth Central Planning Area (CPA) 

lease sale scheduled in the Outer 

Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing 

Program: 2002–2007 (5-Year Program, 

OCS EIS/EA MMS 2002–006). The 

preparation of this EA is an important 

step in the decisionmaking process for 

Lease Sale 198. The proposal for Lease 

Sale 198 (the offering of all available 

unleased acreage in the CPA) and its 

alternatives (the proposed action 

excluding the unleased blocks near 

biologically sensitive topographic 

features, the proposed action excluding 

the unleased blocks within 15 miles of 

the Baldwin County, Alabama, Coast, 

and no action) were identified by the 

MMS Director in January 2002 following 

the Call for Information and 

Nominations/Notice of Intent to Prepare 

an Environmental Impact Statement 

(EIS) and were analyzed in the Gulf of 

Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 

2003–2007; Central Planning Area Sales 

185, 190, 194, 198, and 201; Western 

Planning Area Sales 187, 192, 196, and 

200—Final Environmental Impact 

Statement; Volumes I and II (Multisale 

EIS, OCS EIS/EA MMS 2002–052). The 

Multisale EIS analyzed the effects of a 

typical CPA lease sale by presenting a 

set of ranges for resource estimates, 

projected exploration and development 

activities, and impact-producing factors 

for any of the proposed CPA lease sales. 

The level of activities projected for 

proposed Lease Sale 198 falls within 

these ranges. In this EA, which tiers 

from the Multisale EIS and incorporates 

that document by reference, MMS 

reexamined the potential environmental 

effects of the proposed action and its 

alternatives based on any new 

information regarding potential impacts 

and issues that were not available at the 

time the Multisale EIS was prepared. No 

new significant impacts were identified 

for proposed Lease Sale 198 that were 

not already assessed in the Multisale 

EIS. As a result, MMS determined that 

a supplemental EIS is not required and 

prepared a Finding of No New 

Significant Impact (FONNSI). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

James F. Bennett, Minerals Management 

Service, Minerals Management Service, 

Headquarters Office, Attention: 

Environmental Division, Environmental 

Assessment Branch (MS 4042), Parkway 

Atrium Building, 381 Elden Street, 

Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. You 

may also contact Mr. Bennett by 

telephone at (703) 787–1660. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

November 2002, MMS prepared a 

Multisale EIS that addressed nine 

proposed Federal actions that offer for 

lease areas on the GOM OCS that may 

contain economically recoverable oil 

and gas resources. Federal regulations 

allow for several related or similar 

proposals to be analyzed in one EIS (40 

CFR 1502.4). Since each proposed lease 

sale and its projected activities are very 

similar each year for each planning area, 

a single EIS was prepared for 9 of the 

10 CPA and Western Planning Area 

(WPA) lease sales scheduled in the 5- 

Year Program. Under the 5-Year 

Program, five annual areawide lease 

sales are scheduled for the CPA (Lease 

Sales 185, 190, 194, 198, and 201) and 

five annual areawide lease sales are 

scheduled for the WPA (Lease Sales 

184, 187, 192, 196, and 200). Lease Sale 

184 was not addressed in the Multisale 

EIS; a separate EA was prepared for that 

proposal. The Multisale EIS addressed 

CPA Lease Sales 185, 190, 194, 198, and 

201 scheduled for 2003, 2004, 2005, 

2006, and 2007, respectively, and WPA 

Lease Sales 187, 192, 196, and 200 

scheduled for 2003, 2004, 2005, and 

2006, respectively. Although the 

Multisale EIS addresses nine proposed 

lease sales, at the completion of the EIS 

process, decisions were made only for 

proposed CPA Lease Sale 185 and 

proposed WPA Lease Sale 187. In the 

year prior to each subsequent proposed 

lease sale, an additional NEPA review 

(an EA) will be conducted to address 

any new information relevant to that 

proposed action. After completion of the 

EA, MMS will determine whether to 

prepare a FONNSI or a Supplemental 

EIS. The MMS will then prepare and 

send Consistency Determinations (CD’s) 

to the affected States to determine 

whether the proposed lease sale is 

consistent with their federally-approved 

State coastal zone management 

programs. Finally, MMS will solicit 

comments via the proposed Notice of 

Sale (NOS) from the governors of the 

affected States on the size, timing, and 

location of the proposed lease sale. The 

tentative schedule for the prelease 

decision process for Lease Sale 198 is as 

follows: CD’s sent to affected States, 

upon publication in the Federal 

Register of the NOA; proposed NOS 

sent to governors of the affected States, 

upon publication in the Federal 

Register of the NOA; Final Notice of 

Sale published in the Federal Register, 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 22, 2005 / Notices 70635 

February 2006; and Lease Sale 198, 

March 2006. To obtain single copies of 

the Multisale EIS, you may contact the 

MMS, Minerals Management Service, 

Attention: Environmental Division, 

Environmental Assessment Branch (MS 

4042), 381 Elden Street, Herndon, 

Virginia 20170–4817. You may also 

view the Multisale EIS or check the list 

of libraries that have copies of the 

Multisale EIS on the MMS Web site at 

http://www.gomr.mms.gov. 

Public Comments 

Interested parties are requested to 

send comments on this EA/FONNSI 

within 30 days of this Notice’s 

publication. Comments may be 

submitted in written form enclosed in 

an envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on CPA 

Lease Sale 198 EA’’ and mailed (or hand 

carried) to the MMS, Minerals 

Management Service, Attention: 

Environmental Division, Environmental 

Assessment Branch (MS 4042), 381 

Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170–

4817. 

All comments received will be 

considered in the decisionmaking 

process for Lease Sale 198. 

EA Availability 

To obtain a copy of this EA, you may 

contact the Minerals Management 

Service, Attention: Environmental 

Division, Environmental Assessment 

Branch (MS 4042), 381 Elden Street, 

Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817. You 

may also view this EA on the MMS Web 

site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov. 

Dated: October 31, 2005. 

Thomas A. Readinger, 

Associate Director for Offshore Minerals 

Management. 

[FR Doc. 05–23074 Filed 11–21–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Minerals Management Service 

Notice of Availability of the Proposed 

Notice of Sale for Outer Continental 

Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 

198 in the Central Gulf of Mexico 

(GOM) 

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of Availability of the 

Proposed Notice of Sale for Proposed 

Sale 198. 

SUMMARY: The MMS announces the 

availability of the proposed Notice of 

Sale for proposed Sale 198 in the 

Central GOM OCS. This Notice is 

published pursuant to 30 CFR 256.29(c) 

as a matter of information to the public. 

With regard to oil and gas leasing on the 

OCS, the Secretary of the Interior, 

pursuant to section 19 of the OCS Lands 

Act, provides the affected States the 

opportunity to review the proposed 

Notice. The proposed Notice sets forth 

the proposed terms and conditions of 

the sale, including minimum bids, 

royalty rates, and rentals. 

DATES: Comments on the size, timing, or 

location of proposed Sale 198 are due 

from the affected States within 60 days 

following their receipt of the proposed 

Notice. The final Notice of Sale will be 

published in the Federal Register at 

least 30 days prior to the date of bid 

opening. Bid opening is currently 

scheduled for March 15, 2006. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

proposed Notice of Sale for Sale 198 and 

a ‘‘Proposed Sale Notice Package’’

containing information essential to 

potential bidders may be obtained from 

the Public Information Unit, Gulf of 

Mexico Region, Minerals Management 

Service, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, 

New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–2394. 

Telephone: (504) 736–2519. 

Dated: November 10, 2005. 

R.M. ‘‘Johnnie’’ Burton, 

Director, Minerals Management Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–23075 Filed 11–21–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Reclamation 

California Bay-Delta Public Advisory 

Committee Public Meeting 

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Federal Advisory Committee Act, the 

California Bay-Delta Public Advisory 

Committee (Committee) will meet on 

December 7, 2005. The agenda for the 

Committee meeting will include 

discussions with State and Federal 

agency representatives on the CALFED 

Bay-Delta Program refocusing efforts 

underway and the 10-Year Action Plan, 

and a final recommendation to the 

Secretary on the Annual Statement of 

Progress and Balance and Annual 

Report. 

DATES: The meeting will be held on 

Wednesday, December 7, 2005, from 9 

a.m. to 5 p.m. If reasonable 

accommodation is needed due to a 

disability, please contact Colleen Kirtlan 

at (916) 445–5511 or TDD (800) 735–

2929 at least 1 week prior to the 

meeting. 

ADDRESSES: These meetings will be held 

at the John E. Moss Federal Building 

located at 650 Capitol Mall, 5th Floor, 

Sacramento, California. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Keith Coolidge, California Bay-Delta 

Authority, at 916–445–0092, or Diane 

Buzzard, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, at 

916–979–5022. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Committee was established to provide 

advice and recommendations to the 

Secretary of the Interior on 

implementation of the CALFED BayDelta Program. The Committee makes 

recommendations on annual priorities, 

integration of the eleven Program 

elements, and overall balancing of the 

four Program objectives of ecosystem 

restoration, water quality, levee system 

integrity, and water supply reliability. 

The Program is a consortium of State 

and Federal agencies with the mission 

to develop and implement a long-term 

comprehensive plan that will restore 

ecological health and improve water 

management for beneficial uses of the 

San Francisco/Sacramento and San 

Joaquin Bay Delta. 

Committee agendas and meeting 

materials will be available prior to all 

meetings on the California Bay-Delta 

Authority Web site at http:// 

calwater.ca.gov and at the meetings. 

These meetings are open to the public. 

Oral comments will be accepted from 

members of the public at each meeting 

and will be limited to 3–5 minutes. 

(Authority: The Committee was established 

pursuant to the Department of the Interior’s 

authority to implement the Water Supply, 

Reliability, and Environmental Improvement 

Act, P.L. 108–361; the Fish and Wildlife 

Coordination Act, 16 U.S.C. 661 et. seq.; the 

Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531 et. 

seq.; and the Reclamation Act of 1902, 43 

U.S.C. 391 et. seq., and the acts amendatory 

thereof or supplementary thereto, all 

collectively referred to as the Federal 

Reclamation laws, and in particular, the 

Central Valley Project Improvement Act, 34 

U.S.C. 3401.) 

Dated: November 4, 2005. 

Allan Oto, 

Special Projects Officer, Mid-Pacific Region, 

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. 

[FR Doc. 05–23051 Filed 11–21–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MN–M