[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 233 (Tuesday, December 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 72649]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-6867]
[[Page 72649]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Environmental Document Prepared for Proposed Mineral Exploration
on the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of the availability of environmental document prepared
for Outer Continental Shelf mineral exploration.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), in accordance with Federal
regulations that implement the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA), announces the availability of a NEPA-related Environmental
Assessment (EA) prepared by MMS for proposed oil and gas exploration on
the Alaska Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). This listing includes the
only proposal for which a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) was
prepared by the Alaska OCS Office in the 3-month period preceding this
Notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Persons interested in reviewing
environmental documents for the proposal listed above, or in obtaining
information about EAs and FONSIs prepared for activities on the Alaska
OCS, are encouraged to contact the Alaska OCS Regional office of MMS.
The FONSI and associated EA are available for public inspection
between the hours of 7:45 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at:
Minerals Management Service, Alaska OCS Region, 3801 Centerpoint Drive,
Suite 500, Anchorage, AK 99503-5823, phone: (907) 334-5200 or contact
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Proposal. The proposal is for a geophysical
(seismic) survey of the Cosmopolitan Unit on the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) in Lower Cook Inlet. During November 2003, MMS filed with
the Environmental Protection Agency a multiple-sale EIS assessing the
general effects of leasing and exploration activities including seismic
surveys in Lower Cook Inlet. This EA tiers from the multiple-sale EIS,
incorporating it by reference. The EA examines the potential
environmental effects of the specific proposed survey of the
Cosmopolitan Unit and of alternatives with additional mitigation.
Location: Lower Cook Inlet.
EA Number: OCS EIS/EA MMS 2005-045.
FONSI Date: July 20, 2005.
The MMS prepares EAs and FONSIs on proposed seismic exploration
programs. The documents examine the potential environmental effects of
the proposed exploration and present MMS conclusions regarding the
significance of those effects. The EAs are used for determining whether
or not approvals would significantly affect the quality of the human
environment in the sense of NEPA 102(2)(C). A FONSI is prepared in
those instances where MMS finds that approval would not cause
significant effects. The FONSI briefly presents the basis for that
finding and includes a summary of the EA.
This Notice constitutes the public Notice of Availability of
environmental documents required under the NEPA regulations.
Dated: November 10, 2005.
John Goll,
Regional Director, Alaska OCS Region, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E5-6867 Filed 12-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P