[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 193 (Friday, October 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 57649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23372]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central 
Planning Area (CPA) and Western Planning Area (WPA), Oil and Gas Lease 
Sales for Years 2009-2012

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Supplemental 
Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS).

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SUMMARY: The MMS has prepared a SEIS on oil and gas lease sales 
tentatively scheduled in 2009-2012 in the CPA and WPA offshore the 
States of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. As mandated in 
the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (GOMESA) (Pub. L. 109-
432, December 20, 2006), MMS shall offer, as soon as practicable, 
approximately 5.8 million acres located in the southeastern part of the 
CPA (``181 South Area''). The CPA Sale 208 (March 2009) will be the 
first sale to include the ``181 South Area.'' The SEIS analyzed newly 
available information for the potential environmental effects of oil 
and natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and production in 
the ``181 South Area.''

    Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations (40 
CFR 1503) implementing the provisions of the National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. 
(1988)).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: As mandated in GOMESA, MMS shall offer the 
``181 South Area'' for oil and gas leasing pursuant to the OCS Lands 
Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.). In March 2009, proposed Lease Sale 208 
would be the first CPA sale to offer the ``181 South Area.'' The SEIS 
supplements the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007-2012; 
Western Planning Area Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218; Central 
Planning Area Sales 205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222, Final 
Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA MMS 2007-018, Multisale 
EIS). The Multisale EIS did not analyze the ``181 South Area''; 
therefore, MMS has prepared a SEIS to address the addition of the ``181 
South Area'' to the proposed CPA sale area. Also, an extensive search 
was conducted for new information published since completion of the 
Multisale EIS, including various Internet sources, scientific journals, 
interviews with personnel from academic institutions, and Federal, 
State, and local agencies.
    Based on new information and the expanded CPA sale area, MMS has 
reexamined potential impacts of routine activities and accidental 
events associated with the proposed CPA and WPA lease sales, and a 
proposed lease sale's incremental contribution to the cumulative 
impacts on environmental and socioeconomic resources. Like the 
Multisale EIS, the resource estimates and scenario information for the 
SEIS analyses are presented as a range that would encompass the 
resources and activities estimated for any of the seven proposed lease 
sales.
    Final SEIS Availability: To obtain a single, printed or CD-ROM copy 
of the final SEIS, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, 
Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 
Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 114, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-
800-200-GULF). An electronic copy of the Final EIS is available at the 
MMS's Internet Web site at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/nepa/nepaprocess.html. Several libraries along the Gulf Coast 
have been sent copies of the SEIS. To find out which libraries, and 
their locations, have copies of the SEIS for review, you may contact 
the MMS's Public Information Office or visit the MMS Internet Web site 
at http://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/regulate/environ/libraries.html.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the SEIS or 
the public hearings, you may contact Dennis Chew, Minerals Management 
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (MS 
5412), New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, or by e-mail at 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fb9e958d92899495969e958fbb969688d59c948d"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="99fcf7eff0ebf6f7f4fcf7edd9f4f4eab7fef6ef">[email protected]</span></a>. You may also contact Mr. Chew by telephone at 
(504) 736-2793.

    Dated: September 25, 2008.
Chris Oynes,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. E8-23372 Filed 10-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P


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