Meeting to be held in Houston, TX
02-19-2015
CONTACT: Caryl Fagot, (BOEM) (504) 736-2590
or (504) 650-7060
WASHINGTON -The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is hosting a public meeting in Houston, TX on February 23 to encourage and facilitate public input on the potential environmental impacts of the Draft Proposed Program, which is the second step in development of the nation’s 2017-2022 Oil and Gas Leasing Five-Year Program.
The meetings will feature information stations hosted by BOEM experts who will be available to informally discuss environmental issues with the public. Information gathered during this meeting will help BOEM determine which environmental issues to analyze further in the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) being prepared for the 2017-2022 oil and gas leasing program. In addition to information stations, attendees will be able to provide hand-written or electronic comments on-site and any other information they feel can assist BOEM in developing the draft PEIS.
The meeting will take place at the Houston Marriot West Loop Hotel, 1750 W Loop S Freeway, Houston, TX 77027 on Monday, February 23, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. EST.
The DPP, announced on January 27, includes 14 potential lease sales in eight planning areas – 10 sales in the Gulf of Mexico, three off the coast of Alaska, and one in a portion of the Mid- and South Atlantic.
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM will prepare a Draft PEIS and a Final PEIS over the next two years. The publication of these environmental analyses will coincide with the release of the Proposed Program and the Proposed Final Program that BOEM will develop as required by the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA). The Draft PEIS and the Final PEIS will examine the potential environmental impacts of the program options and alternatives and be available to the Secretary of the Interior prior to making decisions on Proposed Program and the Proposed Final Program.
The entire list of Scoping Meetings is available https://www.boem.gov/boemoceaninfo/.
Anyone unable to attend the meetings has four other options for participating and submitting comments, starting with the BOEM Five Year PEIS website, https://www.boem.gov/boemoceaninfo/. This site includes a web-based mapping tool that allows the user to visualize the program areas and resource information, and create maps identifying specific areas or resources of concern. The maps and comments may be submitted through Regulations.gov, by email, by traditional mail or by hand delivery.
- BOEM –
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) promotes economic development, energy independence, and environmental protection through responsible, science-based management of offshore conventional and renewable energy resources.