The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said it would allow 15 additional days for public comments on its request for information and comments on preparation of its 2012-17 US Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leasing program.
BOEM issued the call for information and comments in June (OGJ Online, June 13, 2014) with a 45-day comment period ending July 30. It extended that period by 15 days in response to requests from several states. Comments now will be accepted until Aug. 15.
Using the information it receives, BOEM said it will prepare a draft proposed program, followed by a proposed program and a proposed final program. Concurrently, the US Department of the Interior agency will prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement required by the National Environmental Policy Act to evaluate potential environmental impacts of various OCS leasing alternatives under the proposed program and to help inform decisions on the proposed final program.
Substantial public involvement and extensive analysis will accompany all stages of the planning process, which will take as many as 3 years to complete, it said