Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2009-2012. Central Planning Area Sales 208, 213, 216, and 222, Western Planning Area Sales 210, 215, and 218. Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement

摘要

This Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) covers the proposed 2009-2012 Gulf of Mexico OCS oil and gas lease sales in the Central and Western Planning Areas. The proposed Central Planning Area lease sales are Sale 208 in 2009, Sale 213 in 2010, Sale 216 in 2011, and Sale 222 in 2012; and the proposed Western Planning Area lease sales are Sale 210 in 2009, Sale 215 in 2010, and Sale 218 in 2011. This SEIS supplements the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2007-2012; Western Planning Area Sales 204, 207, 210, 215, and 218; Central Planning Area Sales 205, 206, 208, 213, 216, and 222, Final Environmental Impact Statement (Multisale EIS). The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-432, December 20, 2006) repeals the Congressional moratorium on certain areas of the Gulf of Mexico. One of those areas, the 181 South Area, was not analyzed in the Multisale EIS. Therefore, MMS has prepared this SEIS to analyze the potential environmental effects of oil and natural gas leasing, exploration, development, and production in the 181 South Area for the proposed Central Planning Area sales. This SEIS also analyzes any new information available for the Central and Western Planning Areas since the publication of the Multisale EIS. The proposed actions are major Federal actions requiring an EIS. This document provides the following information in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act and its implementing regulations, and it will be used in making decisions on the proposal. This document includes the purpose and background of the proposed actions, identification of the alternatives, description of the affected environment, and an analysis of the potential environmental impacts of the proposed actions, alternatives, and associated activities, including proposed mitigating measures and their potential effects. Potential contributions to cumulative impacts resulting from activities associated with the proposed actions are also analyzed. Hypothetical scenarios were developed on the levels of activities, accidental events (such as oil spills), and potential impacts that might result if a proposed action is adopted. Activities and disturbances associated with a proposed action on biological, physical, and socioeconomic resources are considered in the analyses.