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An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century - California Ocean ...

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Figure 24.2 A “Process Rich” but Clear Path to Offshore Leasing,Exploration, and Development ActivitiesPre-LeaseDevelop 5-Year ProgramSolicitCommentsPlanning <strong>for</strong> Specific SaleCall <strong>for</strong>In<strong>for</strong>mationPublished45-dayCommentPeriod45-dayCommentPeriodDefineSale AreaDraftProposedProgramPublishedDraft EIS60-dayCommentPeriod45-dayCommentPeriodProposedProgramDraft EISPublishedFinal EISPublishedCD toStatesProposedNoticeDistributed90-dayCommentPeriod30-dayPre-decisionPeriod90-dayReview*60-dayCommentPeriodProposedFinal ProgramNotice ofSaleFinal EIS30-dayCommentPeriod60-dayWaitingPeriodSale5-YearProgram<strong>An</strong>nouncedLeasesIssuedExploration Plan ApprovalExplorationPlan SubmittedEnvironmentalAssessmentExplorationPlan Approved90-day CZMReviewApprovedAPD ApprovedExplorationDrilling StartsFirst ExplorationWell CompletedDelineationDrillingPost-LeaseDevelopment and Production Plan ApprovalDevelopmentand ProductionPlanCZM ReviewStartsCZMConsistencyReview StartsDraft EISPublished90-dayCommentPeriodPermits GrantedFinal EISPublishedCZMConsistencyObtainedProduction WellApplicationFirst Oil/GasProductionDevelopment &Production PlanApprovedAbbreviations:APD: Application <strong>for</strong> Permit to DrillCD: Consistency DeterminationCZM: Coastal Zone ManagementEIS: Environmental Impact StatementThe process <strong>for</strong> companies and o<strong>the</strong>r stakeholders to comment on proposed sales, and to lease, explore, and develop <strong>the</strong> outerContinental Shelf, is clearly defined in <strong>the</strong> Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Although <strong>the</strong> process involves many steps, itscomprehensiveness and transparency not only set out clear comment periods <strong>for</strong> coastal states and o<strong>the</strong>r interestedstakeholders, but also provide companies greater predictability about <strong>the</strong> procedures <strong>the</strong>y must follow to receive approval <strong>for</strong><strong>the</strong>ir exploration and production work.* Includes 60-day comment period and 15-day automatic extension. Unless state concurs, no decision can be made until 90 days after beginning ofstate review.Source: Minerals Management Service, Washington, DC.After an initial bumpy start in <strong>the</strong> implementation of major amendments to its basiclaw, <strong>the</strong> problems encountered by <strong>the</strong> offshore oil and gas program today are generallyexternal to its day-to-day administration and regulatory requirements. Although a numberof different variables have to be taken into consideration in crafting a regime <strong>for</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rocean uses, <strong>the</strong> scope and comprehensiveness of <strong>the</strong> OCS oil and gas program can be amodel <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> management of a wide variety of offshore activities.356 A N O CEAN B LUEPRINT FOR THE 21ST C ENTURY

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