98-4394. Preparation of an Environmental Assessment on Exploration, Development, and Production Operations and Activities in the Deepwater Gulf of Mexico OCS

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 35 (Monday, February 23, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 9015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4394]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Preparation of an Environmental Assessment on Exploration, 
Development, and Production Operations and Activities in the Deepwater 
Gulf of Mexico OCS

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service.

ACTION: Preparation of an environmental assessment (EA).

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SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) is beginning preparation 
of an environmental assessment document on oil and gas operations and 
activities in the deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico. The National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations recommend that agencies 
prepare an EA on any action at any time in order to assist agency 
planning and decisionmaking. The objectives of this EA are to identify 
and evaluate the significance of potential impacts from exploration, 
development, and production operations in the deepwater areas 
(generally beyond 1,000 feet water depth) of the Gulf of Mexico outer 
continental shelf (OCS) and from associated support activities and 
infrastructure.
    There has been a recent upsurge of exploration and development in 
the deepwater areas of the Gulf of Mexico because of the development of 
new deepwater drilling and development technologies, the development of 
new geophysical surveying technologies, the announcement of several 
deepwater discoveries, favorable economics, the passage of the Deep 
Water Royalty Relief Act, and the opportunity to lease blocks from 
recently terminated leases. Many impacting factors associated with 
deepwater activities are identical or similar to those associated with 
conventional operations and activities on the continental shelf, which 
are evaluated in other MMS NEPA documents. Some deepwater operations 
may be significantly different from conventional operations in 
shallower waters of the shelf. For example, deepwater operations are 
farther from shore, encounter different environmental conditions, are 
technologically more sophisticated, may produce at much higher rates, 
and are subject to different economic determinants. These differences 
will present many technical and regulatory challenges. New and evolving 
technologies, larger and more complex facilities, modifications of 
procedures, and additional environmental protection issues are all 
anticipated for deepwater activities. Therefore, the EA will be used to 
determine the significance of impacts associated with deepwater 
operations. The EA will also be used to identify and eliminate from 
further detailed analysis those issues that are not deemed significant. 
If significant impacts are identified, they will be analyzed in future 
EIS's prepared for specific proposals that could cause these impacts. 
Appropriate measures to mitigate potential impacts will be developed 
and evaluated based on the analysis of the potential impacts of 
deepwater operations on the marine, coastal, and human environments.
    The EA is scheduled for completion in July 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Questions regarding the EA should be directed 
to Deborah Cranswick, Environmental Assessment Section, [phone]. 
Questions regarding deepwater operations should be directed to Jim 
Regg, Field Operations, [phone]. The mailing address is Gulf of 
Mexico OCS Region, Minerals Management Service, 1201 Elmwood Park 
Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70123-2394.

    Dated: February 9, 1998.
Chris C. Oynes,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
[FR Doc. 98-4394 Filed 2-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M