MMS Publishes Final Seismic EIS for Chukchi Oil and Gas Leases
On February 14, 2007, the U.S. Minerals Management Service published notice that the Agency's Final Environmental Impact Statement was available for Chukchi Sea Planning Area Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 and for Seismic Surveying Activities in the Chukchi Sea.

The FEIS addresses MMS' proposed lease of areas in the Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf that might contain oil and gas resources. The MMS Federal Register notice explains that the FEIS

"provides NEPA evaluation for exploration activities in the Chukchi Sea, including seismic survey geophysical permitting (30 CFR part 251), ancillary activities (30 CFR 250.207), and exploration plans (30 CFR 250.214). In addition, the FEIS provides information that the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) may possibly use for issuance of Incidental Harassment Authorizations to the seismic-survey industry to take marine mammals by harassment, incidental to conducting prelease and ancillary on-lease oil and gas seismic surveys in the Chukchi Sea."