The Regulation of Seismic Exploration in the United States

The National Marine Fisheries Service has published a document containing proposed changes to its Draft Guidance for Assessing the Effects of Anthropogenic Sound on Marine Mammal Hearing.

The Guidance provides updated received levels, or thresholds, at which individual
marine mammals under NMFS’ management authority are predicted to experience changes in their hearing sensitivity (either temporary or permanent) for all underwater anthropogenic sound sources. NMFS has re-evaluated and modified several parts of the Draft Guidance and is soliciting public comment on the proposed changes. This is the third comment period on this Guidance.

NMFS must receive any comments by March 30, 2016.

The International Association of Geophysical Contractors has published an article that states, “Support for offshore energy production strong among SC voters, survey finds.”

This article, which is from the Palmetto Business Daily, discusses the results of a survey conducted by the Harris Poll for the American Petroleum Institute. The survey found that 67 percent of Palmetto State voters support offshore development of U.S. oil and natural gas resources.

The Harris Poll conducted the survey January 22 to January 31, 2016 among 600 registered South Carolina voters.

Click here to read entire IAGC article.

We wish to remind the public that the Discovery of Sound in the Sea (DOSITS) <http://www.dosits.org/> Team is facilitating a free, five-part webinar series on topics related to underwater sound.

Two webinars took place in 2015.  The first reviewed science of sound concepts, the second, sound production and reception in marine animals.  These webinars, PDF versions of the webinar presentations, and other associated resources, have been archived to the DOSITS website (http://www.dosits.org/resources/all/decisionmakers/ircwebinar/).

The third webinar will take place on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, at 12:00 pm (U.S. East Coast time).  Dr.’s Dorian Houser and Brandon Southall will review the potential effects of underwater sound on marine mammals.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has announced the availability of a Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas Central Planning Area Lease Sale 247. This Lease Sale is tentatively scheduled for March 2017. The Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement provides a discussion of potential significant impacts of the proposed action and provides an analysis of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. It also considers new information made available since the completion of earlier EISs related to CPA Lease Sale 247. The prior 2012– 2017 Gulf of Mexico EISs are available on BOEM’s Web site at http:// www.boem.gov/nepaprocess/. This Notice of Availability also serves to announce the beginning of the public comment period for the Draft Supplemental EIS.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has received a request from the U.S. Navy for authorization to take marine mammals incidental to the training activities conducted in the Gulf of Alaska Temporary Maritime Activities Area Study Area from May 2016 through May 2021. Pursuant to the Marine Mammal Protection Act, NMFS requests comments on its proposal to issue regulations and subsequent Letter of Authorization to the Navy to incidentally harass marine mammals.

NMFS must receive any Comments and information no later than March 28, 2016.

Click here to read NMFS’ Federal Register notice of this proposed action.

The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has published its Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for proposed Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Oil and Gas WPA Lease Sale 248. The Final SEIS discusses the potential significant impacts of the proposed action, provides an analysis of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, and identifies BOEM’s preferred alternative.

Click here for this Federal Register publication.

The first is the NEPA Record of Decision for proposed oil and gas EPA Lease Sale 226. This Record of Decision identifies the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s selected alternative for proposed EPA Lease Sale 226, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2016 and 2017; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 241 and 247; Eastern Planning Area Lease Sale 226; Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (CPA 241/EPA 226 Supplemental EIS).

Click here to access this Record of Decision.

The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service proposes to issue ExxonMobil Alaska LNG LLC an Incidental Harassment Authorization to take marine mammals, by harassment, incidental to a geophysical and geotechnical survey in Cook Inlet, Alaska. This action is proposed to occur for 16 weeks. NMFS proposes to issue this IHA pursuant to the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act.

NMFS is requesting comments on its proposal to issue an IHA to EMALL to incidentally take, by Level B Harassment only, marine mammals during the specified activity. Comments and information must be received no later than March 7, 2016.

President Barack Obama’s fiscal year 2017 (FY 2017) budget includes a request of $175.1 million to fund the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s mission to manage offshore energy and mineral resources. The request would provide BOEM with resources to manage oil and gas development, renewable energy, and mineral resources on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The President’s FY17 budget request for the bureau focuses on core program responsibilities, such as the Five Year Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Program, oil and gas exploration and development plans, offshore renewable energy and environmental analysis and studies. The request includes an increase of $4.1 million over the FY 2016 enacted level.
Click here to read more about this budget proposal.

President Obama’s fiscal year (FY) 2017 budget request for the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) provides resources for BSEE’s regulatory and oversight capabilities for oil, natural gas and renewable energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.

The FY 2017 budget request is $204.87 million, a $196,000 increase above the FY 2016 enacted level, and includes $96.34 million in current appropriations and $108.53 million in revenue from rental receipts, cost recoveries, and inspection fees.

The request includes $190 million for offshore safety and environmental enforcement programs. BSEE is also working collaboratively with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to establish appropriate permitting and oversight processes for offshore renewable energy projects.