Source: http://www.thefederalregister.com/d.p/2006-11-14-06-9192
Timestamp: 2013-05-24 05:35:33
Document Index: 691453058

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 7114', 'art 3944', 'art 6726', 'art 140', 'art 5250', 'art 1739', 'art 30206', 'art 514', 'art 9740', 'art 180']

Gulf of Mexico OCS—; Oil and gas leasing; 2007-2012 program, Daily Rules, Proposed Rules, and Notices of the Federal Government
14 CFR Part 7114 CFR Part 3944 CFR Part 6726 CFR Part 140 CFR Part 5250 CFR Part 1739 CFR Part 30206 CFR Part 514 CFR Part 9740 CFR Part 180	Federal Register: November 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 219)
DOCID: FR Doc 06-9192
DOCUMENT ACTION: Revision of 5-Year Leasing Program and Request for Comment.
SUBJECT CATEGORY: 5-Year Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Programs for 2002-2007 and 2007-2012; OCS Lease Sale 201 and Proposed Lease Sale 205, Central Gulf of Mexico; Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for 5-Year Leasing Program for 2007-2012 DATES: MMS is accepting comments regarding this newly proposed change for the Proposed 5Year OCS Program for 20072012 and accompanying Draft EIS until December 29, 2006. Note that the comment periods for the earlier proposed 5Year OCS Program for 20072012 and the Draft EIS remain the same as previously announced. This new 45day comment period is for comments associated with the change identified here as a result of the settlement with Louisiana.
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DOCUMENT SUMMARY: On October 24, 2006, the Department of Interior/MMS and the State of Louisiana announced the settlement of the case of Blanco, et al., v. Burton, et al. The District Court approved the settlement and dismissed the case on October 24, 2006. As a result of the settlement agreement, the MMS proposes to expand Lease Sale 205, scheduled in the Proposed 5Year Program for 20072012 and accompanying Draft EIS, from the currently proposed program area (Map 1) to include all available acreage in the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area as proposed in the new program for subsequent Central Gulf sales (Map 2). The MMS is providing a 45day comment period to specifically address this proposed change. The earlier comment periods on the Proposed 5Year Program and Draft EIS, remain as announced on August 25, 2006. The comment period on the Program closes on November 24, 2006, and on the Draft EIS on November 22, 2006.
SUMMARY: Gulf of Mexico OCS—; Oil and gas leasing; 2007-2012 program, SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
On July 20, 2006, the State of Louisiana filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana under the Administrative Procedures Act alleging that MMS violated the terms of the National Environmental Policy Act, the Coastal Zone Management Act, and the OCS Lands Act. The court denied the State of Louisiana's request to enjoin holding Lease Sale 200 as scheduled on August 16, 2006, and opening the bids or awarding any leases, and set the case for trial on November 13, 2006. Lease Sale 200 was held as scheduled. The MMS and the State have entered into a Settlement Agreement. Under this settlement, MMS has agreed to prepare an EIS before conducting the next sale in the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, MMS is canceling Lease Sale 201, scheduled for March 2007 in the current 5
year program for 20022007. We also propose to enlarge Lease Sale 205 from that in the proposed 5year program for 20072012, released for comment on August 25, 2006, to include all of the available acreage comprising the Central Gulf of Mexico Planning Area, as proposed in the new program for subsequent Central Gulf sales (Map 2). In effect, this change simply postpones for several months the estimated effects of Sale 201. The environmental impacts of this change are not significant beyond the change in timing of the offering. Dated: November 6, 2006. R.M. ``Johnnie'' Burton, Director, Minerals Management Service. BILLING CODE 4310MRP [[Page 66345]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14NO06.009 [[Page 66346]] [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN14NO06.010 [FR Doc. 069192 Filed 111306; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310MRC
Ms. Renee Orr, Minerals Management Service, Chief, Leasing Division, at (703) 7871215; or Mr. James Bennett, Chief, Environmental Assessment Branch, at (703) 7871660.