[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68147-68148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27755]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Western Planning
Area (WPA), Oil and Gas Lease Sale 229
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of a Record of Decision (ROD) for
WPA Lease Sale 229 in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales:
2012-2017 Western Planning Area Lease Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and
248, and Central Planning Area Lease Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247
Final Environmental Impact Statement (Multisale FEIS).
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Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations
(40 CFR 1506) implementing the provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321
et seq. (1988)).
SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a ROD for oil and gas WPA Lease Sale 229
scheduled for November 28, 2012. WPA Lease Sale 229 is the first WPA
lease sale in the 2012-2017 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program. The
proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's WPA off the States of
Texas and Louisiana. In making its decision, BOEM considered
alternatives to the proposed action and the potential impacts as
presented in the Multisale FEIS and all comments received throughout
the NEPA process. The Multisale FEIS evaluated the environmental and
socioeconomic impacts for WPA Lease Sale 229.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Multisale FEIS, BOEM evaluated three
alternatives, which are summarized below:
Alternative A--The Proposed Action: This is BOEM's preferred
alternative identified in the Multisale FEIS. This alternative would
offer for lease all unleased blocks within the WPA for oil and gas
operations, with the following exceptions:
(1) Whole and partial blocks within the boundary of the Flower
Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (i.e., the boundary as of the
publication date of the Multisale FEIS); and
(2) whole and partial blocks that lie within the 1.4 nautical mile
buffer zone north of the maritime boundary between the United States
and Mexico.
The proposed WPA lease sale area encompasses virtually all of the
WPA's 28.58 million acres. As of August 2012, approximately 20.8
million acres of the WPA lease sale area are currently unleased. The
estimated amount of resources projected to be developed as a result of
proposed WPA Lease Sale 229 is 0.116-0.200 BBO and 0.538-0.938 Tcf of
gas.
Alternative B--The Proposed Action Excluding the Unleased Blocks
Near Biologically Sensitive Topographic Features: This alternative
would offer for lease all unleased blocks in the WPA, as described for
the proposed action (Alternative A), with the exception of any unleased
blocks subject to the Topographic Features Stipulation.
Alternative C--No Action: This alternative would cancel the
proposed WPA Lease Sale 229 and is identified as the environmentally
preferred alternative.
After careful consideration, BOEM has selected the proposed action,
identified as BOEM's preferred alternative (Alternative A) in the
Multisale FEIS. BOEM's selection of the preferred alternative reflects
an orderly resource development with protection
[[Page 68148]]
of the human, marine, and coastal environments, while also ensuring
that the public receives an equitable return for these resources and
that free-market competition is maintained.
Record of Decision Availability: To obtain a single printed or CD-
ROM copy of the ROD for proposed WPA Lease Sale 229, you may contact
the BOEM, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Public Information Office (GM
250I), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394
(1-800-200-GULF). An electronic copy of the ROD is available on BOEM's
Internet Web site at http://boem.gov/Environmental-Stewardship/Environmental-Assessment/NEPA/nepaprocess.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on the ROD, you
may contact Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf
of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (GM 623E), New
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394. You may also contact Mr. Goeke by
telephone at (504) 736-3233.
Dated: November 8, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-27755 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P