The Minerals
Management Service (MMS) announces the availability of six
Environmental Assessments (EA’s) and Findings of No Significant
Impact for processing applications for Suspensions of Production
or Operations for nine units and one non-unitized lease located
on the Pacific OCS. Each EA provides an analysis of activities
that would occur during the suspensions and includes three
alternatives: 1) Grant Suspension(s) (Proposed Action), 2) Deny
Suspension(s), and 3) No Action.
The six
available EA’s are:
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspensions of Production for Aera Energy LLC’s Lease OCS-P 0409, Lion Rock Unit, Purisima Point Unit,
Point Sal Unit, and Santa Maria Unit, Central Santa Maria
Basin, Offshore Northern Santa Barbara County and Southern San
Luis Obispo County, California
2.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for Plains
Exploration and Production Company’s Bonito Unit, Southern
Santa Maria Basin, Offshore Santa Barbara County, California
3.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for Arguello Inc.’s
Rocky Point Unit, Southern Santa Maria Basin, Offshore Santa
Barbara County, California
4.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for Samedan Oil
Corporation’s Sword Unit, Southern Santa Maria Basin, Offshore
Santa Barbara County, California
5.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Production for Samedan Oil
Corporation’s Gato Canyon Unit, Western Santa Barbara Channel,
Offshore Southern Santa Barbara County, California
6.
Environmental Assessment (Final) for the Minerals Management
Service to Grant Suspension of Operations for Venoco Inc.’s
Cavern Point Unit, Eastern Santa Barbara Channel, Offshore
Ventura County, California
A decision
by the Bureau on the suspensions will not take place until after they
have been subject to the consistency review process set forth in
the Coastal Zone Management Act.
Under the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
seq.) an EA serves as an information document for government
decision makers and the public.
Frequently
asked questions about compliance with the NEPA are provided at:
http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/faqs/nepa/index.html
The EA’s can
be accessed through our web site in a downloadable format.
Members of
the public who cannot electronically access the documents can
request a Compact Disc or a hardcopy of the document(s) by
calling the Public Information Office at 800.672.2627 or by
mailing a request to the following address.
Burea of Ocean Energy Management,
Regulation and Enforcement
Attn: Suspension EA’s
Office of Leasing and Environment
770 Paseo Camarillo
Camarillo, CA 93010-6064 |
