The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) released a Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) for proposed oil and gas Lease Sale 218 in the Western Planning Area in the Gulf of Mexico. The SEIS updates the findings in several previously published environmental reviews covering the Gulf of Mexico. It also incorporates the latest available information pertaining to the Western Gulf of Mexico Planning Area following the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill.
“The analysis contained in this Final SEIS incorporates new research and reflects broad public input on the environmental effects of oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico,” said BOEMRE Director Michael R. Bromwich. “These findings will allow us to make well-supported decisions based on a broad array of scientific information regarding the proposed Western Gulf Sale.”
Lease Sale 218 is the last remaining Western Gulf Planning Area sale scheduled in the 2007 – 2012 Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Natural Gas Leasing Program. The sale was delayed due to the Deepwater Horizon tragedy.
A Federal Register notice announcing the availability of the Final SEIS will be published on August 11, 2011.
The SEIS is available to view online: Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale: 2011 Western Planning Area Lease Sale 218 Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (BOEMRE 2011-034) Volume I: Chapters 1-4 http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/PDFs/2011/2011-034-v1.pdf and Volume II: Chapters 5-8 and Appendices http://www.gomr.boemre.gov/PDFs/2011/2011-034-v2.pdf.