Offshore staff

NEW ORLEANS – The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will open a comment period and schedule public meetings regarding the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement for two proposed Gulf of Mexico Eastern Planning Area lease sales.

“BOEM will use this information to help determine the scope of the issues to be addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement, and to identify and evaluate potential environmental effects related to the proposed sales,” said BOEM Director Tommy P. Beaudreau.

The proposed sales area includes 657,905 acres (2,662 sq km) that are more than 120 mi (193 km) offshore Alabama and Florida, where there are currently active leases. Other areas in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico — including the Straits of Florida — are not included in the proposed five-year leasing program.

Details on the scheduled public meetings and the address for written comments can be found at http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/public-inspection/index.html.

3/20/2012