UNITED STATIS Dt*. . H-JS ? OF THI XIOTRX^R MIK> KAT.i ...Oil and Oaa Laaaa Salea 123 and 125 (USDOI, MMS, 1989). It vaa concluded that tha moat affective PEA methoda (USDOI, 1987)

UNITED STATIS Dt*. . H-JS ? OF THI XIOTRX^R

MIK> KAT.i #iA*AGtfWir? s:JIVXCS

3 u l f of K S K I C O OCS Region

Mav C l w r . r , L o u i s i a n a

8 I T t - S P E C I f I C ENVI OMNKNTAL ASSESSMENT

. DANGER L '?KCISS/STRUCT! .^ REMOV7 T.

No. BS/SR 91-08/8

t r a c t vir -*«n</**l A c t i v i t y

Hafcagorda XAland Ar*- Bloc* <*64

LfMi OCS-C 3463

UNITED STATES DEPARTNENT OF THE INTERIOR

NINERALS MANAGENENT SERVICE

G u l f o f Moxlco OCS Reqion

Nov Orleans, Louis iana

FINAL

SITE-SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

ENDANGERED SPEC IES/STRUCTURE REMOVAL

No. ES/SR 91-08/S

Aa sessment of tha Environmental Iapact of tha Propoaad Raaoval of Nail No. 2 in Matagorda laland Araa, Block 664

(Laaaa OCS-G 3463) by Mobil Exploration 6 Producing Unitad Stataa Inc.

Data Submitted: January 2»J, 1991 Comm*icement Data: August, 1991

Prepared by Gary Rutherford

»

FIMDIWg QT NP SlgNiriCAjfT IMPACT

• • I'have considered the notification by Hobil Exploration fc

Producing United Stataa Inc. to remove Well No. 2 in the

Matagorda laland Area, Block 664 (Laaaa OCS-G 34C',, SEA No.

ES/SR 91-08/S. Baaad on tha environaontal analye .a and

mitigation measures contained in tho site-specific anvironmantal

assessment, thara ia no avidanca to indicata that tha propoaed

actiona v i l l aignificantly (40 CFR 1508.27) affact tha quality of

tha huaan environment i f tha applicationa ara approvad subject to

the aitigative aaaaures. Preparation of an environnental inpact

atatenent ia not required.

•

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT INPACT ; i i

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND 1

I . DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL AND NEED FOR THE, PROPOSAL 1

A. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION NITH MITIGATION 1

B. NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION(S) X

I I . ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION 2

A. NON-RENOVAL OF THE STRUCTURES 2

B. REMOVAL OF THE STRUCTURE (8) BY ALTERNATIVE NON-EXPLOSIVE METHODS 2

C. REMOVAL OF THE STRUCTURE(8) AS PROPOSED NITH ADDED NITIGATION 2

IXI. ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS, SOCIOECONOMIC CONCERNS, AND

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 3

A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 3

1. Environmental Gaology and Gaologic Hazarda 3

2. Meteorological Conditiona 3

3. Phyaical and Chamical Ocaanography 3 a. Phyaical Ocaanography 3

b. Chemical Ocaanography 3

4. watar Quality 3

5. Air Quality 3

B. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONKENT 4

1. Coaatal Habitata 4 2. Protected, Endangarad, and/or Thraatanad Speciee 4

a. Birds 4 b. Marina Mammala 4 o. Saa Turtlaa 4

3. Birds 9 4. Sanaitiva Marina Habitata 9

* »

PAGE

5. Of f shora Hsbits ts and Biota 5

C. SOCIOECONOMIC CONCERNS , 5

| 1. Employment 5

2. Economics 6

3. Onahora Support Facilities, Land Uae, and

Coaatal Communities and Services 6

D. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 6

1. Coaaarcial and Racraational Fiaheriea 6 a. Coaaarcial Fiahariaa 6

b. Racraational Fiahariaa 6

2. Archaeological Reaourcaa 6

3. Military Uae/Maming Araaa and Exploaiva Duaping Araaa 6 4. Navigation and Shipping

5. Pipalinaa and Cablaa

6. Othar Mineral Reaourcaa

7. Huaan Haalth and safety

E. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

IV. PUBLIC OPINION

V. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SPECIAL REFERENCES

VII. PREPARERS 11

VIII. APPENDICES 12

A. MOBIL EXPLORATION 4 PRODUCING UNITED STATES INC. CORRESPONDENCE 13

B. NMFS CORRESPONDENCE 25

TABLE 1 - EXPLOSIVE PROPOSED BY THE OPERATOR FOR THE STRUCTURE REMOVAL IN MATAGORDA ISLAND AREA, BLOCX 664 10

( *

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

The purpose of this Site-Specific Environaontal Assessment (SEA)1 is to assess the specific iapaets aaaociated vith proposed structure-removal activitiea. Tha SEA ia baaed on a Programmatic Envjironaental Aaaeaaaent (PEA) (USDOI, NMS, 1987) vhich evaluates a broader spectrum of potential iapaets reaulting from the removal of atructurea, e.g., platforms/caissons across the Central and Weatern Planning Araaa of the Gulf off Mexico Outer Continental Shalf. Tha PEA/SEA process ia designed to simplify and reduce the aize of environaentel assessment documents by eliminating repetitive discussions of the saaa issues. This SEA conforms to MMS and other appropriate guidelines for preparing environmental assessments by u t i l i s i n g data praaantad in tha PEA to complete the aaaeaaaent. I t preaanta site-specific data regarding tha propoaad atructura-raaoval and evaluatea tha removal's potential iapacta. Mitigation aeaauraa are contained i n thia document to leaaan potential iapacta. Preparation of thie SEA haa elloved the determination of vhether a Finding of No Significant Iapact (FONSI) ia appropriate or vhether further aaaeaaaent of the propoaal ia neceaaary.

I . DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSAL AND NEED FOR THE PROPOSAL

A. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION WITH MITIGATION

Hobil propoaee to remove Well No. 2 in Matagorda laland Araa, Block 664, Laaaa OCS-G 3463. Wall No. 2 ia locatad in a vater depth of 75 faat and l i e s approximately 10 milea aouth of Calhoun County, Taxaa. Tha oparator plana to place an axploaiva charga inaida of tha caaing atr ing 16 faet BML and detonate.

Refer to Appendix A for atructura specifications for tha ramoval, additional data on ramoval techniquea, and sequence of events. I t haa baan determined that tha propoaad oparationa f a l l v i t h i n tha category of ac t i v i t i a a covarad by tha National Marina Fiaheriea Servica (NMFS) biological opinion of July 25, 1986, which addresses "atandard" axploaiva atructura removals in tha Gulf of Mexico.

MITIGATION

Refer to tha oparator ropoaala (Appendix A) for mitigative aaaaura(a) propo*. ~ t o reduce the likelihood of death or injury to aaa turtlaa and marina mammale.

B. NEED FOR THE PROPOSED ACTION(8)

A dlacuaaion of tha lagal and regulatory mandates to remova abandoned o i l and gaa atructuraa from Fadaral vatara can ba found i n tha PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987),

1

I I . ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROPOSED ACTION

Alternatives to the propoeed structure reaovel(e) with mitigation originally submitted ara:

A. 1 NON-REMOVAL OF THE STRUCTURES

Mobil would not proceed vith tha propoaad removal (s). This altarnativa would eliminate tha possibility that aea turtles, marine mammala or othar marina l i f e would ba harmed by reaoval of tha atructura (a) aa propoaad. However, non-removal of the atructure (a) would rapraaent a conflict with Fadaral lagal and regulatory requirements, vhich mandate the timely removal of obaolate or abandoned atructuraa vithin a period of one year aftar termination of the leaae, or upon termination of a right of uaa or easement. Therefore, non-removal doae not appear to be a valid alternativa.

B. REMOVAL OF THE STRUCTURE(S) BY ALTERNA" 2 NON-EXPLOSIVE METHODS

The MMS haa diacuaaed various atructura raaoval techniques in tha Final Environmental Impact Stataaent (FEIS) for Propoaad Oil and Oaa Laaaa Salea 123 and 125 (USDOI, MMS, 1989). I t vaa concluded that tha moat affective PEA methoda (USDOI, 1987) of atructura removaia ara tha uaa of axploaivaa, either bulk or ahapad chargaa, and undervater arc cutting. Othar aethoda appear promiaing but require additional developaent to aolve the operational and logiatical problama essocieted vith thaaa techniques. Primarily for thia raaaon, i t doaa not appear to ba a feaaible altarnativa for tha ramoval of tha aubject atructura.

Rafar to tha FEIS (USDOI, MMS, 1989) and PEA (USDOI, MMS, 19S7) for datailad information concerning alternative aethoda of atructura ramoval.

C. REMOVAL OF THI STRUCTURE (8) AS PROPOSED NITH ADDED MITIGATION

Refer to tha tarma and conditiona of tha "generic" Incldantal taka atataaant (Appendix B), and any a i t icat ion identified by thia SEA nacaaaary to reduce tha likelihood of death or injury to aea turtlaa and aarina mammala.

Tha lassae v i l l ensure that a l l aircraft uaad in aupport of thair OCS oparationa maintain a ainiaua altitude of 2000 faat over a l l national wildlife refugee and national park landa.

Transportation operationa conducted thrdugh Araneae or Cavello Paaaaa w i l l avoid diaturbance of tha following ialanda uaad for neating by tha andangarad brown pelican: Sundown laland in Matagorda Bay, Second Chain of Islands in San Antonio Bay,

2

»

Long Reef in Aransas County, and Pelican Island, in Nuacas County, Taxaa.

• Tha oparator v i l l contact Lt. Coaaander Hill laaa or Major 'Danuser, Corpus Christi, Taxaa 78419-5100 regarding control of electromagnetic emissions and oparationa of boat and/or aircraft traffic into tha daaignatsd lilitary Warning Araa W-228 or antar into an agreement vith tha ailitary inatallatlon.

I I I . ENVIRONMENTAL EF1 ECTS, SOCIOECONOMIC CONCERNS, AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 4

A. PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

1. Environaontal Gaology and Gaologic Hasarda

A dlacuaaion of environmental geology and geologic hasarda can be found in the PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). The propoeed atructure-reaoval activity ia not in an aree of eediaent instability (aud flows, slumps, or slidee). Therefore, geologic conditione are not expected to have en iapact on the propoeed atructure-reaoval activity.

2. Meteorological Conditiona

No iapacta ara expected aa a raault of the propoeed activitiea. Por analyaia inforaation, aee the PEA referenced in

the Introduction.

3. Phyaical and Cheaical Ocaanography

a. Phyaical Ocaanography No iapacta ara axpactad aa a raault of tha propoaed

activitiea. Por analyaia inforaation, aee tha PEA referenced in the Introduction.

b. Chamical Ocaanography

Iapacta ara expected to ba vary lov aa a raault of the propoaad activitiaa. Por analyaia inforaation, aae the PEA referenoed in tha Introduction.

4. water Quality

Impacta ara axpactad to ba low aa a raault of tha propoaad activitiaa. For analyaia Information, aae the PEA referenced in tha Introduction.

i

5. Air Quality

Iapacta ara axpactad to ba vary low aa a raault of tha

3

•

proposod a c t i v i t i s s . For analyaia infornation, aaa tha PEA rafarancad in tha Introduction.

B r BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT i

| 1. Coaatal Habitata

No iapacta ara axpactad aa a raault of tha propoaad a c t i v i t i a a . For analyaia inforaation, aas tha PEA rafarancad in tha Introduction.

2. Protactad, Endangarad, and/or Thraatanad Spaciaa

a. Birda

Tha PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987) delineatee aanaitiva araaa along tha Taxaa coaatlina whara whooping cranaa and brown palicana could ba advaraaly iapactad by atructura-raaoval aupport activitiaa. Tha oparator haa indicated that halicoptar flighta and boat traffic would utilize a ahorebaae in Rockport, Texaa. Mitigationa to protect the endangered birda and their habitata ara invoked.

b. Marina Mammals

A discussion of aarina aaaaala occurring acroaa the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) and an aaaaaaaant of the potential iapacta of atructure-reaoval activitiaa on aarina aaaaala can ba found in tha PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). Fritta at a l . (1983) conducted aarial aurvaya acroaa a 9,514 square aile araa of watara lying in tha central GOM. Raaulta of thaaa aurveya indicate that the bottlenose dolphin ia by far tha aoat likaly aarine aaaael to be encountered at tha propoaad atructura reaoval. MMS observers aay ba utilized to look for aarina aaaaala prior to detonation of the priaary charge(a) at tha reaoval aita(a). I f aarina aaaaala are detected at tha atructure-reaoval aita (a), detonation of tha priaary charga(a) would ba delayed until the animals ara reaoved froa the araa(a). In apita of thaaa precautions, a low probability axiats that aarina aaaaala could enter the blaat araa (a) undetected and could ba injured or killed by the underwater, aubaurfaca detonation(a). Such an occurrence ia conaidered highly unlikaly and with the Indicated protective aitigation aeaaure(a), the propoaed atructure-reaoval activitiaa are expected to have only a low iapact on aarine aaaaala.

o. Sea Turtlaa

A dlacuaaion of aea turtlea occurring acroaa the central and weatern GOM and an aaaeaaaent of the potential iapacta of atructure-reaoval activitiaa on aea turtlea can be found in the PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). Studiee by Fritta at a l . (1983) and Puller and Tappan (1988) aa well aa atranding data froa tha Sea

4

Turtle Stranding and Salvage Network (Teaa and Martinez 1990) indicate that aea turtlee occur in the vicinity of the proposed activities end therefore could be impacted by the structure-reaoval operationa. Definitive inforaation on the probability of encountering eea turtlea at the reaoval aite during reaoval operationa is scarce. NMFS end/or MMS observers may be utilized toilook for eee turtlee prior to detonation of the primary charge(a). I f aea turtlea are detected at the atructure-removal site(s), detonation of the priaary charge(s) will be delayed until the eniaals ere reaoved froa the aree (a). As in the case of aarine mammals, the possibility exista that aea turtles could enter the bleat area(a) undetected and could be injured or killed by the underwater, subsurface detonation (a) . Thia occurrence is considered unlikely, and with the indicated protective aitigation measure(s), the propoeed etructure-reaoval activitiee are expected to have only a low iapact on aee turtles. A cuaulative incidental take haa been authorised by NMFS for thia category action, out with a l l the preceutione to be taken aa aitigation measure(s), i t ie unlikely thet any aea turtlee will be affected by theae propoaed operetiona.

3. Birda

Mitigatione to protect endengered birda and their habitata are invoked. For enelyaia inforaation, aee the PEA referenced in the Introduction.

4. Seneitive Marina Habitata

A dlacuaaion of aanaitiva aarine habitata occurring in the central and weatern GOM and an aaaaaaaant of the potential iapacta of atructure-reaoval ectivitiea on theae areaa can be found in the PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). The propoaed activitiaa are not near any aanaitiva aarine habitata. Therefore, the aubject atructure-reaoval will not iapact any aanaitiva aarina habitata or thair resident biota.

5. Offahora Habitata and Biota

Iapacta ara expected to be low aa a reault of t' *d activitiea. For analyaia inforaation, aee the PEA 7 >d in the Introduction.

C. SOCIOECONOMIC CONCERNS

1. Employment

Iapacta are expected to be very lov aa a reault of tha propoaed activitiaa. For analyaia inforaation, aee the PEA referenced in the Introduction.

5

2. Economics

Impacts ara axpactad to ba vary low as a rssul t of the propoaad a c t i v i t i a a . Por analyaia inforaation, seo the PEA referenced in the Introduction. ,

j 3. Onshore Support F a c i l i t i e s , Land Use and Coastal ' Communities and Services

The operator hae indicated that Rockport, Texas, would be the shore baae for the propoeed structure-removal a c t i v i t i e s . No impacts are expected as a reeult of the propoeed a c t i v i t i e s . For analysis informetion, see the PEA referenced in the Introduction.

D. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

1. Commercial and Recreational Fiaheriee

a. Coaaercial Fiaheriea

Inpacta are expected to be lov aa a reeult of the propoaed activitiee. For analyaia information, s«te the PEA referenced in the Introduction.

b. Recreetionel Fiaheriee

Iapacta are expected to low aa a reeult of the propoeed activitiea. For analyaie inf iation, oee the PEA referenced in tne Introduction.

2. Archaeological Resource

Iapacta are expected to ba low aa a reault of the propoeed activitiea. For analyaia information, aee the PEA referenced in the Introduction.

3. Military Use/Warning Areee end Exploeive Dumping Areee

A deecription of military uae/warning areaa and exploaiva dumping areaa, their locations and potentiel impacta of structure-removal a c t i v i t i a a on these srees can be found in the PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). The propoaed etructure-removal activitiaa v i l l taka place in warning aree w-228.

4. Navigation and Shipping

The propoaad atructure-removal a c t i v i t i e a are not located adjacent to a veuael safety fairway or in an anchorage araa. Structuree locatad nearshore may serve aa "landmarks" to vaaaale or helicopters operating in tha araa on a regular baaia. The overall impacta of the propoaad work on navigation and ahipping ia expected to be very low. More inforaation on the iapacta of

6

»

structure reaovala r»i nevigetion end s ipping cen be foi nd ir ths PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987).

•5. Pipelines and Cablea t

| The PEA (USDOI MMS, 1987) contains a description of the imoacts of *truetur > removals on pipelinee and cables. Since the operator auat adhere to exieting lavs and regulations for abandonment of atructuree (including procedures required by Notice tc Lessees and Operatora 83-3), the proposed vork vill not pose a hazard to pipelines or cablee in the ar %9

6. Other Mineral Reaourcaa

No iapacta are expected aa a result of the proposed activitiee. For analyaia information, aee the PEA referenced i -the Introduction.

7. Human Heelth ani Sefety

The PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987) describes th'. hazardous conditiona for workers during structure-removal activities. Ths opsrator haa propoaed the uae of exploaivea in conjunction vith the wi.*.ucture-removal activitiee. Exiating lagal and regulatory aafety requirements v i l l keep the iapacta rf tha propoaed vork on huaan health nnd aafety at a vary lov 1AV«U.

E. UNAVOIDABLE ADVERSE IMPACTS

A dlacuaaion of unavoidable edveraa iapacta can be fcur»d i the PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). Two araaa of prim-ry concert arc v potential iapact to protected, threatened, and/or endanger it apeciea and potential loaa tf ua'jitat to the aarine «mvir*?:.*ier.t Both topica ara discus *ed <~. *'it PEA and pravioualy in thia docuaent. Othar unavo^drjla diverse iapacta ara conaidereJ to \>* ainor.

IV. PUBLIC OPINION

A dlacuaaion of pu'/i.'.c concerna regarding atructura reaavale can ba found in the PEA (USDOI, MMS, 1987). The propoeed atructura-raaoval haa generated no coaaente froa the public.

V. CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION

In accordance vich the provlaiona ?f Saction ? of tha Endangarad Species* Act, thia propoaad struoture-re^oval ia coveted by tha biological opinion iaauad by NMFS on July 25,1988, vhlch aatabllahad a category of "atandard" »>xplocive atructura-raaoval oparationa. Thair coaaente ara included in Appendix h. The NMFS concluded that thia category of etructure-reaoval activitiea v i l l not likaly jeopardise the continued existence of

7

any thraatanad or endanger* c speciea under their purview. Additionally, *h«y concl that thia type of "etandard" structure-reaoval act ivi ty eay reeult in injury nr mortality of loggerhead, Keap'e ridley, green, hawkshill, Mnd leatherback turt les . Therefore, they eetabliahed a cumulative, level of incidental take and diacut»ed various aaasurej neceeeery to mon iit or and minimize thie iapact (se l Append . «*) . The NMFS noted that no incidental taking of aarine aaaaals vas auth• r under Sect ->n 101 (a) (5) of the Marine Mammal Protection i c t of 1972 in coimection with thie category of w tructure-reaovjl ac t iv i t i ee . Therefore, taking of aarine " i s by the operator: would be prohibited unleee they success £ >.»: I v apply for anc ob<*./>in a permit or waiver to do eo from NMFS.

8

VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SPECIAL R£FEV/!NCES

Fritts, T.H., A.B. Irvine, R.D. Jennings, L.A. Collun, w. Hoffman, and M.A. McGehee. 1983. Turtlee, birde, and aaaaals in the northern Gulf of Mexico and neerby Atlantic waters. U.S. Fiah and Wildlife Service, DivisiT of Biological Services, Washington, D.C.

i

Fuller, D.A. and A.M. happen. 19Jf. lhe occurrence of aea turt]e« In Louiaiana coaatal vetere. Cceetal Fiaheriea Znatltacv. Center for Wetl&iia Reeourcee. Louiaiana State University. Baton Rouge, LA

T*ae, Wendy G. an* Anthony Kartinaz, ,590 1989 third-quarter report of the aea v«. tio stranding and salvages network. Atlantic end Gulf • oasts of the United States. January-September 1989. National Matine Fiaheriee Service. Southeeet Fieheriee Center, Miaai Laboratory, 75 Virginia Beech Drive, Mieai.

U.S. Departaent of the Interior. Minerele Manageaent Service. 1989. Finel Env iron*—tel Iapact Statea** ' Gulf of Mexico. Salee 123 end 125: Cer.ere 1 end Weatern P* fining Areea. OCS EIS/EA/MMS 89-0053. Kauhington D.C. Avaliable froa NTIS, Springfield, VA? PB-F9914900/Aa.

U.S. Department of the Interior. Minerele H*i.ag aaent Service. 1987. Programmatic Environmental Aaaeaaaent. *itructure-i-<***oval activitieL Central an" Weatern Gulf of Mexico Manning Areea. ncs/EA 87-002.. Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, Nev Orleans, LA.

J

Table 1

Explosive Proposed by the; Operator or ths Structure- Reaova J. i n

Matagorda Island Area, Block -.64 (OCS-G 3-,'3)

a of Eaploeivee;

Coapoaition B or KMX exploaivee ^

MuMbtr ind Biit of Chargt§; i-49lb charge for the 4 caaing ac ings

f PlQTBtnX 9f Charges;

Inaide caainge, 16 feet belov the audiine

itqyongo of PttaaitlQM;

The detonetion v i i . take piece in 1 eingle ehot.

V I I . PREPARERS

Author:

Gary Rutherford - Ge ogist

\nr\9 Ktranto - Clerk Typiet

VIII.APPENDIX

A. MOBIL EXPLORATION & PRODUCING UNITED STATES INC ! CORRESPONDENCE

j

B. NMFS CORRESPONDENCE

12

I

APPENDIX A

MOBIL EXPLORATION & PRODUCING UNITED STATES INC. CORRESPONDENCE

13

I To: Environmental Operations Sect ico (LE-5) i

Frca: Office of Structural and Technical Support, Field tperaticca, Culf of Mexico OCS Region (OSTS)

C 4 S ' / V ^ S T U B Subject: Reeae*** Reaoral

OPERATORS

Control lo: ES/3I g g ^ g " f e * " ^ *

C j / I S l / V ^ S T U B ock

Shore Baat: JZozA'f* A r - T ~ X

The attached application ia forwarded to jour office ao that the Finding ef Io

Significant Iapact aaa be prepared. Va bailers thia propoaed actiTitr aeeta

the requireatata ef tba generic Endamage red Speelee Aet Seotion 7 Conaultatlon

Document. ThereJBfe/are no exiating pipelined) within 500 feet of the propoaed

removal location. C f L ^ \ J

m m ^rj_A_ sV

«»*a>J5Cv»** aV e*cev

(OSTS) Extenaioo _

Enclosure

a ( „ B E S T AVAILABLE COPY

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t R l ' U T 4 F f « u I L H T I u N W I T H ; H £

BtST AMIABLE COPY

15

fic-1 i oe h em a f i

S o n a r b l i e d - . n e e G ^ i d

N e s o t e c f i j u n i r Le«sr i p t i o n

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u. case- Q p e r a t t o r . s i i 1 ' s ^ o c s o r t B a s e c O C K p o r t , T n .

I den t i * . c: at . i on o* S t r 'L j i . t u r e t o De Remo v e d :

M . P i a t »• w r ,r, N a m e : N,^

M a t a g o r d a I s l a n d o o J *" i

3 . L o c a t i o n - e a s e . A r e a , B l o c * and B l o c k C o o r d i n r i u - a : ZL 6 - o - *,4o3 , M a t a g o r d a I s l a n d , B l o c * od>4

* - : * • 2 , 7 6 0 , 9 3 6 ' * = 6 2 , 7 5 7 *

C. Dat i? !--stalled (Year): 19"/B

Proposed Date of Removal I Month/vear): 6/91 X,

E. water Depth: 75 f t .

D

I I I . description of Structure to be Removed:

A. Configuration: ( Schematic Included >

B. Size: well stub cutoff •) • 5' above mudline with a well net protector over stub.

Number of Casinqs : 1

D. Diameter of Casinos :

Casinq: ^ S 2 : 30 Q.D.

j^e ' -o .D . BEST AVAILABLE COPY 9 - 5 / 8 - 0 . 0 .

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. * E x p l o s i v e s A r e t o b e u s e d , P r o v i d e t h e P o l l o w i ^ g !

K i n d o f E x p l o s i v e s : C o m p . B c r HMX e x p l o s i v e s w i l l De u s e d .

Z , N u m b e r a n d S i z e s o f C h a r g e s : i - 4 9 l b . , B u l k c h a r g e

a . S i n g l e S h o t s o r M u l t i p l e S h o t s " S i n g l e

b . I f m u l t i p l e s h o t s , s e q u e n c e a n d t i m i n g o f d e t o n a t i o n s :

3 . B u l k o r S h a p e d C h a r g e s ? : B u l t .

a . D e p t h o f D e t o n a t i o n B e l o w M u d l i n e : 16 f t .

b . I n s i d e o r O u t s i d e P i l i n g a n d / o r M e l l C a s i n g t s ; ' :

- n s i d e w e l l c a s i n g s

KST AVAILABLE COPY

18

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i * • t , ^ e s _ i l e *. •' • e

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a r . q d » t ? - J t - t j r a t I O T ; w i l l b r C O r i J u C t e d ct-. nt ' . i ; ,

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» e s .

Di *er s n i i 1 oe a v a i l a b l e t o pur f o r m a sur.ey • o l I o w i n g .ne d e t o n a t i o n . An y e f f e c t s on marine l i f e m i l l be r e c o r d e d d u r i n g u u e s made i n t h e co u r s e ot i a i v o ^ e «yr * . M

I . B10' OG I CAL INFORMATION

.• a v a i l a b l e , p r o v i d e t n e r e s u l t s of any r e c e n t b i o l o g i c a l s u r v e y s conducted i n t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e s t r u c t u r e . It- a v a i l a D l e , d e s c r i b e any r e c e n t o b s e r v a t i o n s of sea t u r t l e s or mar i n e mammals at t h e s t r u c t u r e s i t e .

Th* t i e l d p e r s o n n e l nave oeen i n s t r u c t e d t o r e p o r t t o t h e r e s p e c t i v e M o b i l p e r s o n n e l any sea t u r t l e or marine mammal s i g h t i n g s i n t h e area.

V I I . SITE CLEARANCE

See a t t a c h e d bottom c l e a r a n c e p r o c e d u r e . Tne s p e c i f i c d e t a i l s on tne sonar c o n t r a c t o r and p o s i t i o n i n g d e v i c e s t o be «,sed w i l l be be •orwardec t o the MMS a t t h e t i m e t h e s e s p e c i f i c s a^* f i n a l i s e d .

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I

»

i

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- 4 _

20

f ' .4

Hatagord* Island Block 664 No. 2 0CS-G*3**J

Nat Prottctor 6 Corrosion Cap

EZSV P1u9 9 i*2'

Cedent Plug 212-362*

30" Driv* Pip* $ 313'

20" Conductor 9 702'

^ 3/8" Surfac* 9 H06'

5/8" t »960'

BEST AVAILABLE COPY

Float ColUr * Ml52'

Float Sho* • **82'

T.O. W O '

21

SKETCH VI G.A. Mayon Fab. 20. 1980

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t \< iu ;• • • ' n . :_*

Uul « . •« ! . ; iikz j e " * o « ' t i e d t o i s c i i . f e a : , e a r D u i ? c "> *•*<--• • - '•'«» t ago* Ca i s l a n d t>o«4 * t ? ' r-. . or a • c>r y r*e i i s t «*C . «

• r " • • ' • a -. 1 . a * t c-> t h e we I 1 s t u O ? c u n d u : t c an j c a s i n g ar • e ^ . j - e c : . a o... w / • v * I D s . *if?i gn-1 w i l l De d r o p p e d a t w h a t was t ' e . s tur . -s

j t ' - ' >e' ' i-i - en t e r . The b u o y w i 1 . oe s e d a*! J > e • «--• • e c e c c 1 "< t »0 ' t h e • J J . • s -ao^ar s u r v e y o f t r e s e a t i o o r . r- s t a t i o n a r y c o t ton i so f «ar - d e s c . s 11 on •" a...! — d . - . i l l De I owe i e a t o a p o i n t 5 aoe ve t h e m t i j i i n e , a n j t r e «»' ea

• e . - - d * - ' d e D - - i s . A l l d e b r i = , . o c a t e c d u r 4 o g f > e t->r v e , c e p i c - e a c , : i vei s . r» . 4 d a t a " c m t"»e *»~eec i l l c e ^ a r d o op I ed on j . >_R ' . H i

' • = " . . - ' J e t * .

••' i ' " • JdvS o* t h e b o t t o m c . e a r a r . - e o p e r a t . <* r e p o r t * < iff. t n e •:->. • c o t t r a c t o r b e S u b m i t t e d r. c t h e MMS, a l o n g w i t " /e-- I • . c a t i on •»-c i a n a u t h o r i z e d Company R e p r e s e i t a t i . - e c e n t t •• m: f i e N o r t o n c . e a r ar .ee a : t i * i t l fe 3 ^ ad t a - e n p l a c e .

22

N O T * : T H U * tTc tuiAftr « J U U J I U . AcQuinar- cwcy ONf Dior ot* TV*T 36O* - j o o ' **0/uS_,

23

Description of Stationary 360° Bottom Scanning SONAR Equipment

The Stationary Bottom SONAR is a 360° Color Scanning SONAR. The head of the SONAR i s positioned approximately five (5) feet above the seabed. In water depths less than three hundred (300) feet, a gimbled mounted tripod is used to ensure near level orientation. In vater depths greater than three hundred (300) feet, a d r i l l star mount is generally used to ensure near level orientation.

The SONAR transducer converts electrically transmitted pulses to acoustic signals. These signals are reflected and received back to the head and up to the SONAR Processor via an electrical cable. The SONAR Processor converts the data i t receives from the SONAR head ( :ranse ncer) into video images. The RGB Video Monitor displays SONAR 1 mages and profiles tn-i objects according to size end shape. These i .cages provide the SONAR Operator vith a visual representation of the swefloor object's size cs veil as an indirect measurement of its censity.

The Transducer (Head) ujes a 675 KHz transducer standard, vith 3 30 KHz optional.

The 360° Color Scanning SONAR contains a number of optional useful features. A compass in the head provides azmiths in degrees (000.0°) from the head to the object. Dual cursors are used to aeasure distance and sise in feet (000.0').

A l l data and screens are recorded on a four head High Quality (HQ) VCR VHS format to provide a record. A Hard Copy machine is used to provide a real time print of the RGB data as the VCR tape loses significant resolution due tc the encoder's, NTSC format.

APPENDIX P

NMFS CORRESPONDENCE

2 C

- .(.-.

U N I T I O t T A T p i O t P A f t ' M f AIT ( j f C O M M C R C I N a i l a n a l Ce««nle mt%4 S t m t ^ p h t r i c A fmln l t t r f t t .o * HiTlONAL MAAiNf < S H € » C S <Cf W«i^9taf» QC K»3S

JUL 2 5 1S83

BEST AVAILABLE COPV Kr. William o. Bettenbero , Director Minerals Management Service U.S. Department of the Interior Heehington, D.C. 20340

Dear Mr- Bettenberg:

Inclosed is the Biological Opinion prepared by the National Marine Fiaheriee Servica (NMPf) pursuant to Seetion 7 of the endangered Species Act (BSA) concerning potential Impacts on endanoered and threatened species associated with removal of certain oil and ges platforme end related stxuotures ln the Oulf of Mexico (OON) using exploeives.

This "standard" coneultation eovere only thoee removsl operations that meet specified erlterle pertaining to the else of explosive cherge used, detonetlon depth, end numbor of blasts per structural grouping. Consultation must be initiated on a case-by-eaee baeie for a l l dlementling operationo requiring the use of exploslvoo thet do not moot tho eotabl lshed cr i ter ia .

KMPS concludaa thet structure removals in tho COM thet fa l l .within the established erlterle sro not likely to ?eoperdlse the continued exletoneo of listed speelee under too jurisdiction of MMFS. However, i t i s our opinion thet tbe proposed ectivities aey rssult ln the injury or sorts 1 ity of endangered end threetened eee turtloo. Therefore, pureuent to Soctlon 7(b)(4) of the BSA, ve hove established s lov level ef lneidentel teke, which ls cuaulative fer s l l rem evils eevered by this coneultation, end terme snd oonditions neceeeery te minimise end monitor sny impacts, ehould tbey occur. Tbe terme end conditions ere oonteinod ln the encloeed lneidentel teke eteteeent. Alee encloeed le s l i s t ef mending coneultetione thet meet, with noted except lone, the erlterle eetebllehed ln the "etandard" eeneultetlen. Thie biological opinion end the mitigating measures end terme end conditions eontelned ln the releted lneidentel tske stetement apply te theee propoeed removal operations. Therefore, formal eonsultstion i s concluded for these proposed sctions.

i

* Yt»r» SliObUtiag A S W i C t % Profrtfti • I f l M t M

26

5o 12 la 4 f z a£Pv

BEST AVAILABLE COPY Conaultatlon aust be reinitiated i f : (l) tha aaount or extent of taking apacifiad in tha incidental taka atataaant ls exceeded; (3) new Information reveals impacts of tha proposed .activities that may affect listed epeciee in a aanner or to an extant not coneidered thus fer in our opinione; \3) tha identified activitiee are modified ln a manner thet causes an advarae affect to listed epeciee not previouely coneidered; or (4) a naw species ls listed or critlcel habitat is designated that aay be affected by the project.

Z look forward to your continuod cooperation in future consultations.

•lncax „y,

enclosures

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Biological Opinion

Mineral* Menegeaent Service, U.S. Departaent of the Interior

Activity! Coneultetlon for Beaeval of Cartaln Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gee Structures ln the Oulf of Mexico

Coneultation Conducted By: Netlonel Marine Fleheries Service (MMFS)

Dete Ieeued: I

Background Information:

Zn a letter detod November IS, ISSS, the Minerele Menegement Servloe (MMS) made en Initiel requeet for formal ooneultetion pureuent to Soctlon 7 of the Endangered Speelee Act (BSA) for tho removel of sn offehore oil end gee pletform loceted in the Federel vetere ef the Oulf of Mexico (OOM). MMS end MMFS determined thet removal of oil end eee pletforme end releted otruetureo in the OOM mey effeet endangered end threetened merino epeclaa. Thie "aey effect11 determination vee me eed en s peeelble relationship between endengered end threetened eea turtlo •aortalitiaa and the dismantling ef pletforme ueing exploeives. On November i f , its*, MMFS issued tbe firet ef e series of biologieel oplnlone addressing, in detail, tbe potential impacts to listed merino epoolee thst aey occur es s rooult of OCS ebendonaent activitiee.

MMS and NMFS eetebllehed proceduree fer expediting Section 7 coneultetione ea pletform abandonment ectivitiee in the OOM referred te ee •expedited coneultetione." Following thoee procedures, epproximetely 44 eeneul tet lone heve been eeapletod for reaovsl operetione in tbe OOM region. All ef tbe coneultetione heve concluded thet the propeeed abandonment ectivltlee were net likely te jeopardise tbe continued existance of eny listed speciee, but thet tae prop a a sS ectivitles asy reeult ln the lneidentel taking of endangered and threetened see turtles.

Agincy:

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The dismantling of platforms and ralatad atructuraa uaing explosives has svolvad to a point whara a "atandard- protocol can ba astablishsd for ramoval operations maating cartain criteria. Sated upoo raaoval tachniquas davelopad and reviewed in conjunction with the previously conducted "expedited consultations, • HMS hss requested, by letter of May 24, 19M, • •'generic eonaultation" that would be applicable to a l l future removal operations that f a l l within a distinc? category, defined by apecific paraaetere. A category haa been designed to include thoss structure typee snd removal techniquee aoet commonly encountered during the expedited coneultationa and dlementling operatione elready completed. Since epproximetely 1000 atructuree thet mey be echeduled for future removal f a l l within tha paraaetere of the eetebllehed cetegory, MMFS agreee that a "generic" coneultatlon ia expropriate et thie time. The objective of the consulta <o to reduce the edmlnletrative burden on both MMS and NF r conducting repetitive coneultetione on ectlvltlt* net aey rooult ln similar lepecte to lieted epeciee and thet require identicel mitigating meeeures to mainta'in adequate protection for euch epecles. Thie biologicel opinion reeponde to MMS' Mey 34, ISSS, coneultetlon requeat. The opinion is beeed on the beet eclontlflo and commercial date preeently evelleble end lncorporetee informetion from: l) previous MMS Summary tvaluetlone, 3) previoue NMFS biological opinione on pletform removel, 3) tho eclentifle literature, end 4) other pertinent end evelleble informetion. Coneultetlon muet be reinitiated l f nev information bocomee available concerning impecte to lieted epeciee thet would elter tht conclusions reached ln this opinion or require modifleetion

he meeeuree identified ln the attached lneidentel teke *ent. Coneultetlon v i l l continue en e case-by-case baaia tooe etructure removele thet do not moot tho criteria lehed for "etenderd" reaovsls.

D*sc. >»>tion ef Propossd Actions

The propeeed ectlon involvee the reaovsl, by explosivs means, of offehore o i l end eee structuree loceted in Peeersl vetere ln tbe oulf of Mexlee. Remova! ef the etructuree v l l l be ecceapllehed by severing, tae supp art pilings, ceieeone, veil conductors, etc., using varying amounts ef exploeivee te peralt eelvege ef tbe atructuree. Tille involvee the pleoeaent of exploeivee inside er outelde of supporting etruetureo end detonating ehergeo primarily using electronically controlled signals.

This "generic" ooneultetion eoneidere only thoee removsl operetione thet aeet certein erlterle pertaining to tbe else of the exploeive charge ueed, detenetien depths, end number of blssts per structural grouping. Tae epeeifie erlterle establiahed to cover sueh reaovele ere ae follows:

a

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1) Use of high velocity sxplosivss (dstonstion rate grester than 7,§00 eaters/second). *

2) | A Bexioue of eight Individual blasts per group of datonatlone with ehargee eteggered at an Interval of 0.9 saconds (700 sillifeconds).

3) Changes oust be eet et e olnleua dspth of i s feet bel v ssdioent surface. Severing of etructuree ebove the eedimen aurfaca "opon weter" ouet be ecconpllehed by rechanical (non-explosive) eethode. ^

4) The oexiouo aaount of exploeivee per detonetion le not to exceed SO pounds.

Speciee Occurring ln tho Fro j ect Areei

Listed epecles under the juriedlotion of the project area:

NMFS thet aey occur in

right vhele

finback whele

huapbeek whele

eel v ale

spore whale

green turtle

Keep's ridle" turtle

leatherback turtle loggerheed turtle

hewkebill turtle

"All ef the U.S. threatened except lieted ee endengered

aciPfTinc rjatt ibaaUsons sUegieiii aalasnftptsrs

iiliSnOPtSri boreal!•

t

I

8

Tb t"

S

•/a/7o

s/a/7o

•/a/7o

•/a/70

•/a/7o

7/as/7s

12/2/70

o/a/70

vas/7s

•/a/70

turtle populations axe lieted es tbo Florida breeding population, which is

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No cr i t i ca l ha&itat has baan designated in ths project area for ths abovs apecies.

.Asssssssnt of Ispacts: i

Biaed upon their known distribution snd sbundsnes in the COM, endangered whales ars believed unlikely to occur in the vicinity of tha propossd structurs rsoovsl sctivltiss, snd, thsrsfore, unlikaly to be edvereely affected by the propoeed action.

Previoue HMFS biological opinione (November as, and February 24, 1917) heve addressed, in detail, reaovsl of etructuree ln ths COM. Aooounts of endsngsrsd end threetened epecles which eccur ln ths project eree, snd the "Aeeeeeeent ef Iapects" eontelned ln theee prior oplnlone eleo spply to this eeneultetlen end ere incorporated by referenee.

In euamary, the oplnlone referenced ebove acknowledge ths existence of s possible reletlonship between the use c* undervstsr explosives ln removing pletforme end related structu—s end the occurrence of otrondod eee turtlee, marine aaaaala fTuralope truncatus^ and fieh. Limited experimenta conducted by MMFS, Oelveeton Laboretory confirm thet eee turtlee (and other merino vertebrates) found ln proximity to petroleum pletforme een be Injured or killed by reeevel operetione employing underveter exploeivee (XIime, ISSS).

Teehnology moot commonly ueed ln the dlementling of pletforme lncludeei bulk exploeives, eheped exploeive cherges, mechanical end abrasive cutters snd underveter ere euttere. Tbe uee ef bulk exploeivee hee becems the industry's etenderd procedure fer eevering pllInge, veil conductore end releted eupporting - structurss (epprox. SOS use), when ueing bulk charges, the ineide of the etructure een be jetted out to et leeet IS feet below the sediment fleer te ellov pltceeont ef exploeivee ineide of ths structure, rssult ing ln e decree ee ln tae lmpulee end pressurs foreee -Pleased inte tbe veter column upon detenetien. The uee ef high velocity ehspsi ohergee le repeeted o have eeme advantages ever bulk explosivss end bee been nod «n eeablnetion with smeller bulk charge*. Tbe cutting eetlon obtained by a ehaped charge ie eocoaplishsd by focusing tbe explo*'ve orgy with a eenloel metallic liner. A major advantage enr elated vith uee of high velocity shspsd chergee le thet e smeller amount of exploeive emerge ie reguired to eever tbe etructure, vhlch aleo rssults in reeuetlono in the lmpulee end preeeure foroee releeeed inte the wster column. Oee ef msehinloal euttere end underveter ere euttere le successful in seme cl roues tansss and do net produce tho iapulee and preeeure fereee eeeocieted vith detonetlon of exploeives, however theee aethode sre, ln aeet lnetsnees, acre tlae consuming, eeetly and more heaerdoue to divers. As s reeult, theee methods ere net used on e routine besls (MMS Bepert on Platform Beaovel Techniquee).

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Based upon dsts obtained during prsviously conductsd "expedited" consultations on plstform reaovsls, ths following ls s comparison .of ths typos of sxplosivss most l lksly to bs ussd in ths propossd removsl opsretionot •

rjploelva Patanafelwq Velocity Brlaaneee

ROX spprox. 1,199 m/sec. 1.35

c-4 epprox. i,ooi m/eec. i 1.15

Comp.-B epprox. 7,103 m/eec. 1.32

a Brieence ie the measure of shattering power ee compared to TNT which hae brieence of 1.00. (MMS Report on Pletform Removel Techniquee, ISSS.)

The proposed reaovel operetione wi l l be accomplished ueing high velocity exploeivee. Ooo ef thie type of exploeive cherge ehould minimise the durotion of tho impulse end preoouro foreee produced by detonetlon ef the ehergeo, while providing tbe amount of forse required to eever the etruetureo. According to MMS, restricting the grouping of detonetione to eight individual bleete per group end etaggering bleete by O.S sseende (SOO mlllleeconde) wil l ainialte the eree effected by the bleete end euppreee pheslng ef ehock vsvss, thereby decrees ine the cumulative effects of tho bleete. Xn addition, since s l l detonetione wil l occur st leeet IS foot below the eediaent eurfece end ne more then so pounde of explooives per bleet v i l l be permitted, the aaount of reelduel energy releeeed inte tbe aerine environaent ehould be reduced eignifleently. ae e reeult, bMPS believes thet alniasl shock end lapulse fereee v l l l be releeeed in tbe vieinlty ef reaovel operetione et eay wlven tiae.

To dete, ef approxlmetsly 44 previously eendueted coneultetione covering ib and ona ent eetivltlee, sbout SS etructure reaovsls heve been completed. Been rsa oval operation vee monitored by MMFS observers ead vaa lines otii ueing eppropriete mitigating aeeeuree. bt tae preoent tiae, eight turtlee have been i lea ted ln ereee neer etructuree being d lament led. et leeet tvo of vhich were green turtlee. Of the eight documented sightings, one turtle wee reported ta ba fleeting en lt 'e beck neer e pletfera efter detonetlon ef ens roes, apparently stunned er injured. No other incidents ef ace turtle Injury er mortality nave been reported. Therefore, MMFS bellevee thet tbe prepeeed ectlene ere net likoly to reeult ln significant adverse impacts te endengered end thrsstsnsd see turtle populetione.

s

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BEST AVAILABLE COPY Conclusions;

l t }* o u r °Pi"ion thst rsoovsl of platforms snd rslstsd jtyucturcs ir. tho OOM is not likoly to ioomordiso th. t S S ^ J i i d l S t i c r S ; S m s ? " - ' " * * M •^ngorJd spi2iK 2n5:r t h* ths jurisdiction of NMFS. Howsvsr, MMFS concludes thst th* proposed ectivitiee msy rooult in tho Injury or sorts 1 ity of

turtlss. ^Thdfdforo, pursusnt co ioctlon 7(b) (4) of ths CSA vs ^ I M ? ^ 1 1 ^ * 4 * l o w o f liwidontsl tiio'snd terme snd conditiono nocoooory to mlnlmlso snd monitor thSs implct

o T m ^ S J f f s x S K s ^ c s n l . ^ 1 1 1 ^ U * *

Reinitiation of Conoultotiont

eonsultstion auot bo reinitiated ff: 1) tbo eaount or extent of taking specified ln the incidentel take steteaent is mot or exceeded!)) nev informetion reveele Impecte of tbo projeet thet

•»•?*•• i» s mennor or te en ext^Hot ^rf!T?« Ar 3 ) eetivltlee ere modified in e aenner thet causae en adveree effeet en lieted epeciee not previouely eoneideredi or 4) e nev epeciee ie lieted p r o ^ o o ^ k ^ thet aey be sfrected by J h o ^

33

'JL I"" '56 ;S?4* - r T 5 S£PO

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INCIDENTAL TAKE STATEMENT

Section 7(b)(4) of tho Sndsngsrsd Spocloo Act requires thot whon * propoood egency oetlon lo found to bo consistent with Sec .on 7(e)(2) of the Act end the propoeed ectlone oey incidentelly tsks individuals of lieted epeciee, NMFS vl l l issue e ststsnsnt thst spsclfiss the iopoct (eaount or extent) of euch. lneidentel tsklng. incidentel tsklng by tho Pederel agency or eppllcent thst cooplleo vith the epecified terae end eonditione of thie etstsnent ls euthorltod and ext Apt froa tho taking prohibitions of ths BSA.

Besed on stranding records, incidentel eeptures aboard commercial shrimp vessele end historicsl dete, five species of eee turtles srs knovn to occur ln northern Oulf ef Mexieo vetere. Current evelleble informetion on the reletlonohlp between eee turtle mortality end tho uee of hich-veloeity exploeivee to remove oil pletforme irdlcetee thet Injury end/or death ef eee turtlee aey reeult froa the propoeed ectlone. Therefore, pursusnt te Section 7(b)(4) of tho ISA, en lneidentel take (by Injury er mortality) level of ono deeuaented Keep's ridley, green, hevksbill or leatherback turtle or ton loggerheed turtlee le eet for ell reaoval operetione eonduetod under tbo terae and eonditione ef thia lneidentel teka atatesent. Tbe level ef teking specified here le eumulative for all reaovele eovered by thia ooneultetion. zf the lneidental teke meete or exceeds this epeelfled level, MMS must reinitiate eeneultetlen. Tbe Southeeet Beg ion, MMPS, vl l l cooperate vith MMS ln the rev lev of the Incident te determine the need for developing further mitlgetion aeeeuree.

Tho reeeonoble end prudent aeeeuree that MMPS believes are necessary to ainiaise the impect ef incidental takings have been discuaaad with MMS end v i l l be incorporated in the reaovel design for •standard" etructure reaovele. fbe folloving terme aad eonditione ere eatabllebed for theee reaovele to implement the identified mitlgetion meeeuree and te doouaant ths lneidentel teke eheuld euch teke occurs

1) Quelified ebesrver(e), ee epprovod by MMPS, auet be used te aonitor tbe eree eveuad tbe elte prior to, during end efter detonation Cf ohergee. Obeervor coverage v l l l begin 4B hours prler to detonetlon ef chergee. Zf see turtlee ere obeerved in the vicinity ef tbe pletfora end thought to bo reeident et the elte, pre- end poet-de tons tion diver eurveye auet bo eendueted.

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2) On days that blssting operetione occur, a 20-ainute aorial survey ouot bo conducted vithin one hour before and one hour aftar eech Uaa ting epieode. The NMPS-approved obaervor and/or

, *MFS on-elte pereonnel (KMFS employee only) auot be used to check for the p'ooencc of turtleo end, lf possible, tb identify spsciss. Zf veether conditiono (fog, oxceeelve vinds, ste.) asks it lapoeslble to conduct eeriel eurveye, bleeting sctlvitiee asy be allov*d to proceed if epproved by the NMPS end/or MMS personnel on-elte.

3) If eee turtlee ere obeerved ln the vicinity of the plstfora (within 1000 yerde of tho site) prior to dotoneting chergee, bleoting v l l l be deleyed until atteapta ere sueoeeeful ln removing thea et leest 1000 yerde froa tho bleet elte. The eeriel eurvey muet be repeeted prler to reeunlng detonetlon of chergee•

4) Detonetlon ef exploeivee v i l l oeeur no sooner then l ?ur folloving eunrlee end no later then 1 hour prior to mv set However, If i t le do to rained by MMPS sndVor MMS on- reennel thst spoolel clroumetencee justify a aodlflestion e* \ . tiae restrict lone end that euoh aodlf ioetloa le net UV^s edvereely impact lieted apeciee, bleeting na> wov to proceed outside of thio tiae frame.

5) During e l l diving operetione (workire dlvoe es required ln the course ef tbe reaavale) , divere v l l l bo instructed to oeen the eubeurfeee ereee surrounding tbe pie .fojv (blasting) eltee fer turtlee end aerine memmele. any elghtlnge aust be reported to the NMPS er MMS on-eite personnel. Open completion ef bleeting, divere muet revert ead atteapt te reoever sny sighted Injured er deed eee turtlee or aerine aeaaels.

S) Caeraee auet bo staggered O.t sseende (too Billiseconds) fer esch group ef structuree, te ainiaise the cumulative effecta of the bleete. Zf e reasvsl operstlon involvee aultiple troupinge ef etmeturee, tbe lntervel be tvo on detenetien ef chsrgss for eeeh group eheuld be minimised te eveld the •chumming- effeet. abenever oueh lntervele exceed SO-alnutee, the serisl eurvey auet be repeated.

?) fbe uae ef eoere ohergee ehould be evoided te minimise the •chumming effeet.• Oee ef eoere sm erfOS aay be elloved only if epproved by tba aVI and/or IMS on-elte personnel.

S) A report SIBUMrising tbe reeulte ef the reaevel end sit if a tion aeeeuree auet be aubmitted te the MMS oulf of Mexlee legion vithln IS working deye ef tbe reaevel. A copy ef tbe report muet be forwarded te NMPS, Southeeet nog len.

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T h U incidental take atateeent applies only to endangered and threstsnsd sss t u r t l s s . Xn ordor to el low an iei dental tske of e eerine aaamal species, the teking aust b« authorised undsr Seetion 101(e)(8) of the Merino Mamas 1 Protection Act of 1972. 'Althbuoh lntereet hee been expressed ir obtaining an exception euthoritlng a l imited teke of dolpnine incidental to abandonaant act iv i t i es , no merino aaaaa1 take ie authoriied unt i l appropriate smell tsks rsgulstions sre in place snd rs ls tsd 'Letters of Authori tst ion" ere ieeued.

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REFERENCES 9CST M'/Uf A9[t QQpy

Caillouet, C.V., A.M. Unary, N.J. Ouronolot, S.A. Hinuui, c.T Fontaine, D.I. Rovoro, K.L. Indelicate, T.D. Kill lees, ond 0

, Forcuccl, Iff*. Preliminary Evaluation of Siologicel Ispacts j of Undorvotor Explosions Aaaoclated with Reeoval of an Oil I Fiold Structure Froe the Gulf of Nexico Neer Crystal Beach

Tones. Notional Narine Flshsriss Ssrvlcs, Southeast Fiohsriss Csntsr, Cslvsston Lsborstory 32 pp.

Duronelet, M.J.. C.W. Ceillouet, S. Nenselle, X.v. Xndeliceto, C.T. Pentelne, D.S. Revere, T. Willieee end D. toes, ISSS. Ths Effecte of an Undervater Explosion on the Turtles Upldochalv* ASAfii and CAXSHA CAXtllA vith Obssrvatlon of Sf fecte on othar Narine Oreenlees. Unpublished Trip Report - Reeovel of Tenneoo Oil Pletfere on Juno 21, 1SSS. NNPS, OXPC, Oelveeton Laboretory. IS pp.

Fontaine', C.T., ISSS. Obeervatione en tho Reeovel of Tenneco Oil Pletform 4S3-S. eeet Ceneron Pield, 20-23 July its*. Unpuhllehed Trip Report to NNPS, SSPC, Oelveeten Laboratory • PP«

XIlee, t.P., ISSS. Summary Report en Slologleel Xepecte of Offehore Petroleum Pletform Severenee Oelnc Explosives. Unpubllehed beport to leXFS, SSPC, Oelveeton Uboretory is pr.

NinsrslS Manageeent Serviee, ISSS. Plstform Rsmovsl Techniques. Unpubliehed Report, MMS Oulf ef Mexieo Region, 14 pp.

Netlonel Nerlno Pieheriee Serviee, ISSS. 1101001001 Opinion Concerning Ispacta of FT op OS OS Rsmovsl ef Cities Services oil snd Oee Corporation's Offehore Pletform S-l, Locatsd In Oelveeton block 144, Oulf ef Mexloo. 14 pp.

Netlonel Nerlno Pieheriee tervlee, Ite?. Slologleel Opinion Concerning Proposal Removel of Pennsoll Cimpany's Pletform A, Located in Vermillion Slock SSS, Oulf ef Mexieo. 24 pp.

Renaud, N. endO. Gitschlag, itt?. Study of Slologleel Iepects ef the Bmmleeive Removel ef en Offehore Plstform (Pennsoll Plstform - Vermilllen SSOA) . unpublished Trip Report to NMFS, SSFC, Celveeton Uboretory. Sep.

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Coneultetione whoee wt ess era include on parameters of this •etenderd • consultation, pa r a w t ere sre epprovod end further coneultetlon w i l l bo