BOEM Issues Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Proposed Geological and Geophysical Activities in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas; 60 day comment period ends 5/30/12

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U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region

SPECIAL INFORMATION

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is the Federal agency responsible for managing offshore energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). A Notice of Availability for the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) was published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2012, and the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS has been distributed for a 60-day comment period ending on May 30, 2012.

The proposed action is to permit geological and geophysical (G&G) activities in support of oil and gas exploration and development, renewable energy, and marine minerals in the Mid- and South Atlantic Planning Areas. The Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS will be used by BOEM and other responsible agencies to comply with various environmental laws (e.g., Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, etc.).

Public meetings during the public comment period allow Federal, State, and local government agencies, and other interested parties to comment on the Draft Programmatic EIS and assist BOEM in developing the Final Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS.

The public meetings are scheduled as follows:

• Monday, April 16, 2012, Jacksonville, Florida: Jacksonville Marriott, 4760 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT;

• Wednesday, April 18, 2012, Savannah, Georgia: Coastal Georgia Center, 305 Farm Street, Savannah, GA 31401; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT;

• Friday, April 20, 2012, Charleston, South Carolina: Embassy Suites North Charleston, 5055 International Boulevard, Charleston, SC 29418; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT;

• Tuesday, April 24, 2012, Norfolk, Virginia: Hilton Norfolk Airport, 1500 N. Military Highway, Norfolk, VA 23502; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT;

• Wednesday, April 25, 2012, Annapolis, Maryland: Doubletree Hotel Annapolis, 210 Holiday Court, Annapolis, MD 21401; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT;

• Thursday, April 26, 2012, Wilmington, North Carolina: Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 North Water Street, Wilmington, NC 28401; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT;

• Thursday, April 26, 2012, Wilmington, Delaware: Sheraton Suites Wilmington, 422 Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, DE 19801; two meetings, one beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT and one beginning at 7:00 p.m. EDT; and

• Friday, April 27, 2012, Atlantic City, New Jersey: Atlantic City Convention Center, One Convention Boulevard, Atlantic City, NJ, 08401; one meeting beginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT.

If you cannot attend the meetings, you may submit written comments within the comment period. Comments should specifically address aspects of the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS and may be submitted in one of the following two ways:

1. In an envelope labeled “Comments on the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS” and mailed (or hand carried) to Mr. Gary D. Goeke, Chief, Regional Assessment Section, Office of Environment (MS 5410), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394; or

2. BOEM email address: GGEIS@boem.gov.

The BOEM will be printing and distributing a very limited number of paper copies. In keeping with the Department of the Interior’s mission of protection of natural resources, and to limit costs while ensuring availability of the document to the public, BOEM will primarily distribute digital copies of the EIS on compact discs. However, if you require a paper copy, BOEM will provide one upon request if copies are still available.

1. You may obtain a copy of the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, Attention: Public Information Office (MS 5034), 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Room 250, New Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394 (1-800-200-GULF).

2. You may download or view the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS on BOEM’s Atlantic G&G website at http://.boem.gov/and-Gas-Energy-Program//.aspx or on BOEM’s NEPA website at http://.boem.gov/Stewardship/Assessment//.aspx.

If you have any questions, you may call Mr. Gary D. Goeke at (504) 736-3233.

You are receiving this notification if you provided us with your email address at some point during scoping for the Draft Atlantic G&G Programmatic EIS. If you would like to receive announcements for public meetings and the availability of our environmental documents for Atlantic activities, please submit your name and contact information to BOEM at the website below. You may also request to be removed from the current BOEM mailing list in the same way.

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