[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49669-49679]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16905]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service
Request for Comments on the Preparation of a New 5-Year Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2007-2012; and
on the Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
the Proposed 5-Year Program
SUMMARY: Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) requires the
Department of the Interior to solicit information from interested and
affected parties during the preparation of a 5-year OCS oil and gas
leasing program. The current 5-year program covers the period July 2002
to July 2007. The Department's MMS intends to prepare a new 5-year
program for July 2007 to July 2012 to succeed the current one.
Section 18 requires completion of a lengthy, multi-step process of
public consultation and analysis before the Secretary of the Interior
may approve a new 5-year program. The section 18 process includes the
following required steps: This initial solicitation of comments;
development of a draft proposed program, a proposed program, and a
proposed final program; and Secretarial approval. The MMS will also
prepare an EIS that analyzes the alternatives considered for the new 5-
year program. This notice announces the start of the EIS preparation
process. The MMS will consider comments received in response to this
notice in developing the draft proposed program and in determining the
scope of the EIS. The public will have additional opportunities to
comment on the draft proposed program, the draft EIS, and the proposed
program.
DATES: The MMS must receive all comments and information by October 11,
2005.
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Public Comment Procedure
The MMS will accept comments in one of two formats: By mail or our
Internet commenting system. Please submit your comments using only one
of these formats, and include full names and addresses. Comments
submitted by other means may not be considered. We will not consider
anonymous comments, and we will make available for inspection in their
entirety all comments submitted by organizations and businesses or by
individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations
and businesses.
Our practice is to make comments, including the names and home
addresses of respondents, available for public review. An individual
commenter may ask that we withhold his or her name, home address, or
both from the public record, and we will honor such a request to the
extent allowable by law. If you submit comments and wish us to withhold
such information, you must so state prominently at the beginning of
your submission.
ADDRESSES: Mail comments and information to: Ms. Renee Orr, 5-Year
Program Manager, Minerals Management Service (MS-4010), Room 3120, 381
Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170. Please label your comments and
the packaging in which they are submitted according to the subject
matter. Mark those pertaining to program preparation, ``Comments on
Preparation of the 5-Year Program for 2007-2012''; and mark those
pertaining to EIS preparation, ``Scoping Comments on the EIS for the 5-
Year Program for 2007-2012.'' If you submit any privileged or
proprietary information to be treated as confidential, please mark the
envelope, ``Contains Confidential Information.''
Internet: The MMS will accept comments submitted to our electronic
commenting system. This system can be accessed at http://www.mms.gov/5-year/2007-2012main.htm. We also will provide access to information
concerning the 5-year program and EIS, including copies of comments we
receive in response to this notice, at the MMS Internet Web site
(http://www.mms.gov).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Renee Orr, 5-Year Program Manager,
at (703) 787-1215.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS requests comments from states; local
and tribal governments; American Indian and Native Alaskan
organizations; Federal agencies; environmental and fish and wildlife
organizations; the oil and gas industry; other interested
organizations; and other parties to assist in the preparation of a 5-
year OCS oil and gas leasing program for 2007-2012, and applicable EIS.
MMS is seeking a wide range of information, including marine
productivity and environmental sensitivity. The 5-year program enables
the Federal Government, states, industry, and other interested parties
to plan for steps proposed to lead to OCS oil and gas lease sales. The
Department will make a decision on whether to proceed with a specific
lease sale on the schedule, only after meeting all of the applicable
requirements of the OCS Lands Act, the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), and other statutes.
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires that the Secretary
consider national energy needs in formulating a leasing program. The
following overview of today's energy situation provides the context in
which to consider responses to this Request for Comments. One measure
of how energy markets compare over different time periods is the
relative prices that consumers can expect to pay. In the year 2000,
when the Request for Comments for the current 5-Year Program (2002-
2007) was issued, oil prices averaged $26.72 per barrel and natural gas
prices averaged $3.68 per thousand cubic feet (mcf). Prices have
generally shown an upward trend, sometimes a steep one. Between 1999
and 2000, the price of natural gas peaked temporarily for an increase
of 68 percent. In 2004, those prices averaged $36.77 for a barrel of
oil and $5.49 per mcf of gas, and continued to increase in the first
three months of 2005, to an average of $43.21 for a barrel of oil and
$5.70 per mcf of gas (Energy Information Administration, June 2005
Monthly Energy Review). The Energy Information Administration (EIA), in
its Annual Energy Outlook 2005, projected that annual oil price levels
will reach $52 per barrel and natural gas prices will reach $8.20 per
mcf in 2025. These prices have already been exceeded. Energy prices are
a reflection of supply and demand. The recent increase in oil and
natural gas prices resulted from growing U.S. and global demand for
these products that has not been matched by an equivalent increase in
available supplies.
According to EIA's Annual Energy Outlook 2005 (reference case),
over the next 20 years, U.S. demand for energy is expected to grow at
an annual rate of 1.4 percent. This growth projection incorporates
continued gains in energy efficiency and movement away from energy-
intensive manufacturing to service industries. Despite a continuing
emphasis on conservation and expanding renewable sources of energy,
petroleum products and natural gas are projected to account for almost
65 percent of domestic energy consumption in 2025, a slightly larger
share than today.
United States petroleum demand is expected to grow from 20 million
barrels per day in 2003 to 27.9 million barrels per day in 2025. In
2003, domestic production (crude oil and natural gas plant liquids)
totaled about 7.40 million barrels per day and net petroleum imports of
crude oil and petroleum products amounted to 11.23 million barrels per
day (or 56 percent of total supply). Today's domestic production is
down slightly (to about 7.31 million barrels per day) and net imports
have increased to about 58 percent of supply. An even larger share of
petroleum is projected to come from overseas in future years. Although
domestic production is expected to increase through the end of this
decade--primarily due to deep water Gulf of Mexico production--it is
expected to fall thereafter, down by almost 1 million barrels per day
by the end of the forecast period. At that time, in 2025, imports are
expected to account for 68 percent of petroleum demand.
While we will need to buy greater supplies of oil from other
countries in the future, we will be facing greater competition for
those supplies. The strongest growth in energy consumption will come
from developing nations, particularly China, India and the rest of
developing Asia, which are expected to experience strong economic
growth and rising living standards. As a result, the nations of
developing Asia will account for 40 percent of the world's growth in
energy demand.
The U.S. natural gas consumption is expected to grow from 22
trillion cubic feet (tcf) in 2003 to almost 31 tcf in 2025. Domestic
production, however, will grow only from 19.1 tcf to 21.8 tcf, meeting
only about 30 percent of demand growth. In the past, any difference
between the growth in demand and the growth in domestic production was
predominantly met by imports of natural gas from Canada. However,
Canada's National Energy Board has concluded that their future
production will not support increased U.S. imports, but will instead be
used to support Canada's energy needs. Most additional supplies will
need to come from Alaskan natural gas and from imports of liquefied
natural gas. EIA notes, ``A key issue for U.S. energy markets is
whether the investments and regulatory approvals needed to make
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those natural gas supplies available will be forthcoming, and what the
ramifications will be if they are not'' (EIA, AEO 2005, p.2).
Meeting the United States' and the world's growing demand for oil
and natural gas will require substantial investment in finding and
developing new sources of supply. In its International Energy Outlook
2004, EIA stated that the projected growth in worldwide oil use would
require an increment to global production capacity of more than 44
million barrels per day over current levels. Daniel Yergin, Chairman of
Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA), stated that, ``[W]ith as
much as a 60 percent increase in worldwide oil production needed to
meet growing energy demand in the next 25 years, and an expected
doubling in natural gas demand, $4 to $6 trillion in new exploration
and production investment will be required'' (CERA Press Release,
February 23, 2005). The OCS leasing program provides one potential
avenue for such investment. Your comments will help determine the plan
for leasing activities during 2007-2012, and, consequently, the ability
of the OCS program to meet the Nation's energy needs in the years
beyond.
OCS Planning Areas To Be Considered and Analyzed
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act requires that the 5-year schedule
of lease sales be based upon a comparative analysis of the oil and gas-
bearing regions of the OCS. Purely for administrative planning
purposes, MMS has created 26 planning areas, which are depicted on
Figures 1 and 2. The boundaries between planning areas were
administratively created and are not specified in law or regulation.
Note that precise marine boundaries between the United States and
nearby or adjacent nations have not been determined in all cases. The
depicted maritime boundaries and limits, as well as divisions between
planning areas, where shown, are for planning and administrative
purposes only. These limits do not affect or prejudice in any manner
the position of the United States, or its individual States, with
respect to the nature or extent of internal waters or of sovereign
rights or jurisdiction.
Many planning areas currently are subject to a 1998 presidential
withdrawal from leasing through June 30, 2012, under the authority of
Section 12 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1341). The presidential
withdrawal bars leasing activities. These areas include all National
Marine Sanctuaries and the following planning areas: North Aleutian
Basin (Bristol Bay, Alaska); Washington-Oregon; Northern, Central, and
Southern California; South, Mid-, and North Atlantic; and Eastern Gulf
of Mexico, except for a portion located off Alabama and another one
more than 100 miles off Florida initially proposed in Lease Sale 181 in
2001.
In addition, most of those areas have been closed to leasing
pursuant to congressional moratoria in annual appropriations statutes
since the 1980's, and as recently as Public Law 109-54 signed into law
on August 2, 2005. The first congressional moratorium was enacted in
Fiscal Year (FY) 1982, prohibiting leasing in the Central and Northern
California Planning Areas. The Southern California, North Atlantic, and
part of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (south of 26[deg] N latitude)
Planning Areas were first subject to moratoria in FY 1984. The North
Aleutian Basin and the Mid-Atlantic Planning Areas were added in FY
1990. The Washington-Oregon Planning Area and the Florida Panhandle
area of the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area were added in FY 1991.
The South Atlantic Planning Area was added in FY 1992. With slight
adjustments in some areas, all these areas have been subject to yearly
moratoria, with the exception of the North Aleutian Basin, which has
not been included since FY 2004. See Figures 3 and 4 for maps showing
the areas currently subject to presidential withdrawal and/or
congressional moratoria. The Administration has repeatedly stated its
support for the existing moratoria, based upon deference to the wishes
of the states to determine what activities take place off their coasts.
Given that the presidential withdrawals bar the conduct of lease
sales in those areas for the entire 5-year planning period until 2012,
and that most of the areas have been subject to congressional
moratoria, a full analysis of these areas under section 18 of the OCS
Lands Act may not be necessary. However, in the Energy Policy Act of
2005, Congress required the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a
comprehensive inventory of oil and gas resources beneath all the waters
of the OCS, taking into account considerations such as the potential
for discovery of oil and gas and state laws and policies. Therefore,
consistent with the purposes of both the OCS Lands Act and the recently
enacted Energy Policy Act of 2005, MMS is soliciting information from
governors, local officials, and other interested parties concerning all
areas of the OCS.
As set forth in more detail later in this notice, the information
needed is wide-ranging, including other uses of the sea, marine
productivity, and environmental sensitivity. Accordingly, this notice
provides an opportunity for a governor or anyone else to comment on any
area of the OCS, whether to reaffirm longstanding positions or to bring
other information or positions to the Secretary's attention. Such
information is therefore solicited and will be considered in light of
the factors specified by section 18 of the OCS Lands Act, discussed
later in this notice and in light of existing moratoria. Based upon the
analysis of these factors, the Secretary will decide which areas to
exclude from the draft proposed program. Pursuant to section 18,
excluded areas will not require any further analysis. The Secretary
also seeks comments on whether the existing presidential withdrawals or
Congressional moratoria should be modified or expanded to include other
areas in the OCS. Finally, the Secretary has no intention of offering
for leasing areas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico Planning Area within
100 miles of the coast of the State of Florida.
Section 18
As previously noted, the program preparation process will follow
all the procedural steps required by section 18 of the OCS Lands Act.
This notice solicits comments early in the preparation process pursuant
to section 18(c)(1) of that Act. The MMS will prepare a draft proposed
program based on consideration of the comments we receive and analysis
of the principles and factors specified in section 18. The draft
proposed program will present for review and comment a preliminary
schedule of lease sales and potential alternatives.
Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act lists the factors to be
considered--the economic, social, and environmental values of all of
the resources of the OCS and the potential impact of oil and gas
exploration on the environment. Specific factors which must be analyzed
and considered in deciding where and when to lease include: (1)
Existing information on the geographical, geological, and ecological
characteristics of such regions; (2) equitable sharing of developmental
benefits and environmental risks among the various regions; (3)
location of such regions and regional and national energy markets; (4)
location with respect to other current and anticipated uses of the sea
and seabed; (5) expressed industry interest; (6) laws, goals, and
policies of affected states specifically identified by governors; (7)
relative environmental sensitivity and marine productivity of
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different areas of the OCS; and (8) environmental and predictive
information for different areas of the OCS. The OCS Lands Act requires
the Secretary to obtain a proper balance among the potentials for
environmental damage, the discovery of oil and gas, and adverse impact
on the coastal zone, using cost-benefit analysis.
Types of Information Requested
The MMS invites comments from anyone who would like to submit
information for us to consider in determining the appropriate size,
timing, and location of OCS leasing for the 5-year period July 2007
through June 2012. The types of information we seek are described
below, using general and specific headings. Regardless of these
headings, all respondents are welcome to comment on any aspect of
program preparation and to submit any type of pertinent information.
General
The MMS would like to receive comments and suggestions of national
or regional application that would be useful in formulating the new 5-
year program. The types of information that would be most useful to us
in conducting the analysis pursuant to section 18 of the OCS Lands Act
relate to the following factors:
(1) National energy needs for the period relevant to the new
program (in particular for this program, the role of OCS leasing in
achieving national energy policy goals, including its potential for
contributing to increased domestic natural gas supplies); the economic,
social, and environmental values of the renewable and nonrenewable
resources contained in the OCS; and the potential impact of oil and gas
exploration on other resource values of the OCS and the marine,
coastal, and human environments;
(2) Geographical, geological, and ecological characteristics of the
planning areas of the OCS and near shore and coastal environments;
(3) Equitable sharing of developmental benefits and environmental
risks among the various planning areas;
(4) Location of planning areas with respect to, and the relative
needs of, regional and national energy markets;
(5) Other uses of the sea and seabed, including fisheries,
navigation, military activities, existing or proposed sealanes,
potential sites of deepwater ports (including liquefied natural gas
facilities), potential offshore wind and wave energy sites, and other
anticipated uses of OCS resources and locations; and any information
that could be useful for future rulemaking concerning offshore
alternative energy as authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005;
(6) Relative environmental sensitivity and marine productivity of
the different planning areas and/or specific section of a given
planning area of the OCS;
(7) Environmental and predictive information pertaining to offshore
and coastal areas potentially affected by OCS development (including,
but not limited to, socio-cultural and archaeological information); and
(8) Methods and procedures for assuring the receipt of fair market
value for lands leased.
The MMS also invites commenters to respond to the following
questions:
(i) What do you think is the proper role of the OCS as part of a
comprehensive national energy policy? How should the 5-year program for
2007-2012 be structured to fulfill this role?
(ii) Since recent studies have projected shortfalls in meeting
energy needs, particularly natural gas, how should such needs be
balanced with the laws, goals, and policies influencing the management
of the OCS? How should long-term planning address the current energy
supply situation?
(iii) Although OCS oil and gas leasing is typically conducted
through an extensive, long-established process, are there alternative
ways to ensure appropriate consultation and to streamline our leasing
procedures? Should the OCS Lands Act be amended to allow changes in the
5-year plan without starting the process all over again in cases of
acute supply or demand shift affecting national security? How might we
best meet the purpose of the OCS Lands Act ``to insure that the extent
of oil and gas resources of the outer Continental Shelf is assessed at
the earliest practicable time''?
(iv) If new areas are leased for exploration and potential
development, what short-term and long-term impacts do you foresee for
the economies of coastal communities?
(v) How should ecological considerations be weighed against
national and local economic benefits, if new areas are considered for
oil and gas leasing?
Specific
Inventory Provision of Energy Policy Act of 2005
Section 357 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 directs the Secretary
to ``conduct an inventory and analysis of oil and natural gas resources
beneath all of the waters'' of the OCS. The statute requires that the
analysis ``identify and explain how legislative, regulatory, and
administrative programs and processes restrict or impede development''
of OCS resources and ``the extent that they affect domestic supply.''
Comments are solicited on how legislative, regulatory, and
administrative programs or processes of the Federal Government or
coastal states, as well as local zoning restrictions on onshore
processing facilities and pipeline landings, restrict domestic energy
production from the OCS. Further, what recommendations should be
considered to ensure that domestic resource potential is adequately
assessed?
The inventory and analysis must use available data on oil and gas
resources including those data offshore Mexico and Canada that can aid
in establishing trends of hydrocarbon accumulations in the U.S. areas
of the OCS. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 also authorizes use of
available technologies, except drilling, to establish a comprehensive
inventory, specifically 2-D and 3-D seismic surveys. MMS seeks comments
and information regarding availability of these technologies to obtain
more precise resource estimates.
Gas-Only Leasing
MMS also seeks input on ways the leasing program can be designed to
promote increased production of natural gas from the OCS. Natural gas
has been identified as the environmentally preferred fossil fuel and
currently accounts for at least 25 percent of the Nation's fuel needs.
It is expected to remain a critical component of the Nation's energy
demand well into the 21st century. MMS is interested in comments on the
possibility of ``gas-only'' leasing, particularly in light of the
dramatic rise in natural gas costs. There may be some areas very
sensitive to potential accidental oil spills that may be suited to gas-
only production, since natural gas would not pollute neighboring land
areas in case of the loss of control of a well. It is recognized that
the current law covers ``oil and gas'' leasing, and that the OCS Lands
Act may need to be amended to allow leasing of the separate
commodities. MMS requests any comments, but especially on the following
questions:
(1) Can gas-only production be realistically anticipated?
(2) Where on the OCS should such leases be offered?
(3) What technological obstacles may exist?
(4) What steps would have to be taken if significant amounts of oil
are encountered? Would the well have to be capped?
[[Page 49673]]
(5) What steps would have to be taken if condensate is encountered?
(6) How would gas-only production affect the OCS Lands Act
requirement for ``prevention of waste and conservation of the natural
resources''?
Alaska Specific
In several areas offshore Alaska, the current program includes a
``special'' sales process to provide the Secretary flexibility to offer
such areas if the interest is sufficient. Should the ``special'' lease
sale process used in the current 5-year program be continued or amended
to reflect regional needs?
Restricted Joint Bidders
It has been suggested that the inability of the larger oil and gas
companies to submit joint bids may be an important factor in the low
interest in some Alaska OCS lease sales, given the lack of
infrastructure and the cost and risk of operating in frontier areas.
Should MMS consider dropping the current joint bidding restrictions for
such companies in certain areas of the Alaska offshore? If so, where
and why?
Affected Coastal States
As specified in section 18(a)(2)(F) of the OCS Lands Act, the MMS
requests the governors of affected states to identify state laws,
goals, and policies relevant to OCS oil and gas. A letter soliciting
such information has been sent to those governors. Pursuant to section
18(f)(5) of the OCS Lands Act and implementing regulations at 30 CFR
256.20, MMS requests information concerning the relationship between
OCS oil and gas activity and the states' coastal zone management
programs that are being developed or administered under the Coastal
Zone Management Act. We also request the affected states to submit
information concerning environmental risk and potential for damage to
coastal and marine resources associated with development of the OCS,
information related to other uses of the sea, and any information that
is relevant to equitable sharing of developmental benefits and
environmental risks associated with OCS oil and gas activity.
Oil and Gas Industry
As specified in section 18(a)(2)(E) of the OCS Lands Act, the MMS
requests oil and gas industry respondents to provide information
indicating interest in the opportunity to lease and develop additional
OCS oil and gas resources. Respondents should base this information on
their expectations as of 2007. For each area in which a company is
interested, please submit information concerning unleased hydrocarbon
potential, future oil and gas price expectations, and other relevant
information that the company uses in making OCS oil and gas leasing
decisions. The MMS requests industry respondents to provide additional
information as specified below. On request such information will be
treated confidentially, as explained further below:
(1) Indicate the OCS planning area(s) where the company would be
interested in acquiring oil and gas leases during the period 2007-2012.
If more than one planning area is of interest, rank the areas in order
of preference.
(2) Indicate the number and timing of lease sales in the period
2007-2012 that would be appropriate for each planning area. If only one
lease sale in a planning area is appropriate, indicate whether that
area should be considered for leasing early or late in the 5-year
program schedule. If more than one lease sale in a planning area is
suggested, indicate the preferred interval between lease sales.
Section 18(g) of the OCS Lands Act authorizes confidential
treatment of privileged or proprietary information. In order to protect
the confidentiality of privileged or proprietary information, include
such information as an attachment to other comments submitted so that
there is no ambiguity about what portions of the comments are
confidential or proprietary. On request, the MMS will treat the
privileged or proprietary information that is attached to a response as
confidential from the time of its receipt until 5 years after approval
of the 2007-2012 leasing program, subject to the standards of the
Freedom of Information Act. However, the MMS will not treat as
confidential any aggregate summaries of such information, the names of
respondents, or comments not containing such information. As noted
above, there should be affixed the label ``Contains Confidential
Information'' on any envelope containing privileged or proprietary
information that a respondent wishes to be treated as confidential.
Department of Commerce
Pursuant to section 18(f)(5) of the OCS Lands Act and implementing
regulations at 30 CFR 256.20, the MMS requests information concerning
relationships between affected states' coastal zone management programs
and OCS oil and gas activities. We have sent a letter to the Secretary
of Commerce soliciting such information.
Department of Energy
Pursuant to implementing regulations at 30 CFR 256.16, the MMS
requests information concerning regional and national energy markets,
OCS production goals, and oil and gas transportation networks. We have
sent a letter to the Secretary of Energy soliciting such information.
EIS Preparation
Pursuant to section 102(2)(C) of NEPA, the MMS intends to prepare
an EIS for the new 5-year OCS oil and gas leasing program for 2007-
2012. This notice starts the scoping process for the EIS under 40 CFR
1501.7, and solicits information regarding issues and alternatives that
should be evaluated in the EIS. The EIS will address the potential
impacts of the adoption of the proposed 5-year program. The MMS
requests respondents to focus their comments on the significant
environmental issues attendant to OCS oil and gas leasing and
development and on alternative options for the size, timing, and
location of lease sales that should be evaluated in the EIS. Please
label and submit comments as indicated above. The MMS will consider
these comments for the purposes of determining the scope of the EIS we
plan to prepare and the schedule for scoping. For further information
about preparation of the EIS, please contact Mr. Jim Bennett, Chief,
Branch of Environmental Assessment at the Minerals Management Service,
381 Elden Street, MS 4042, Herndon, Virginia 20170, telephone (703)
787-1660.
Cooperating Agency
The Department of the Interior invites other Federal agencies and
state, tribal, and local governments to consider becoming cooperating
agencies in the preparation of the EIS. We invite qualified government
entities to inquire about cooperating agency status for the EIS for the
proposed 5-year program. Per guidelines from the Council of
Environmental Quality (CEQ), qualified agencies and governments are
those with ``jurisdiction by law or special expertise.'' Potential
cooperating agencies should consider their authority and capacity to
assume the responsibilities of a cooperating agency and to remember
that an agency's role in the environmental analysis neither enlarges
nor diminishes the final decision making authority of any other agency
involved in the NEPA process. Upon request, MMS will provide potential
cooperating agencies with a written summary of ground rules for
[[Page 49674]]
cooperating agencies, including time schedules and critical action
dates, milestones, responsibilities, scope and detail of cooperating
agencies' contributions, and availability of pre-decisional
information. MMS anticipates this summary will form the basis for a
Memorandum of Understanding between the MMS and each cooperating
agency. Agencies should also consider the ``Factors for Determining
Cooperating Agency Status'' in Attachment 1 to CEQ's January 30, 2002,
Memorandum for the Heads of Federal Agencies: Cooperating Agencies in
Implementing the Procedural Requirements of the National Environmental
Policy Act. A copy of this document is available at: http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/cooperating/cooperatingagenciesmemorandum.html
and http://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/cooperating/cooperatingagencymemofactors.html.
The MMS, as the lead agency, will not be providing financial
assistance to cooperating agencies. Even if an organization is not a
cooperating agency, opportunities will exist to provide information and
comments to MMS during the normal public input phases of the NEPA/EIS
process. MMS will also consult with tribal governments on a government-
to-government basis. If further information about cooperating agencies
is needed, please contact Mr. Jim Bennett, at (703) 787-1660.
Dated: August 22, 2005.
R.M. ``Johnnie'' Burton,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
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[FR Doc. 05-16905 Filed 8-22-05; 12:07 pm]
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