OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2017-047 Alaska Outer Continental Shelf Eni US Operating Company Inc ...

181 Pages·2017·3.36 MB·English

Alaska Outer Continental Shelf OCS EIS/EA
BOEM 2017-047
Eni U.S. Operating Company Inc.
Outer Continental Shelf Lease Exploration Plan
Harrison Bay Block 6423 Unit - Leases OCS-Y-1753, OCS-Y-1754, and OCS-Y-1757
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
July 2017
Alaska OCS Region

BOEM 2017 Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA
Acronyms and Abbreviations
AAAQS .........................Alaska Ambient Air Quality Standards
AAQS ............................Ambient Air Quality Standards
ACP ...............................Arctic Coastal Plain
ADEC ............................Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation
ADF&G .........................Alaska Department of Fish and Game
AEWC ...........................Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission
ANS ...............................Alaska North Slope
AQCR ............................air quality control regions
ASRC ............................Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
ASWG ...........................Alaska Shorebird Working Group
atm .................................atmosphere (of pressure)
BA .................................Biological Assessment
BACT ............................Best Available Control Technology
bbl ..................................barrels
bbls/d .............................barrels per day
BLM ..............................Bureau of Land Management
BO .................................Biological Opinion
BOEM ...........................Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
BOP ...............................blowout preventer (system)
CEQ ...............................Council on Environmental Quality
CFR ...............................Code of Federal Regulations
CO .................................carbon monoxide
CWA ..............................Clean Water Act
EA..................................Environmental Assessment
EFH ...............................Essential Fish Habitat
EIS .................................Environmental Impact Statement
EJ ...................................Environmental Justice
EP ..................................Exploration Plan
EPA ...............................U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
ESA ...............................Endangered Species Act
FEIS ...............................Final Environmental Impact Statement
FMP ...............................Fishery Management Plan
FONSI ...........................Finding of No Significant Impact
FR ..................................Federal Register
Hz ..................................Hertz
IHA ................................Incidental Harassment Authorization
IPCC ..............................Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
ITA ................................Incidental Take Authorization
ITL .................................Information to Lessees
IWC ...............................International Whaling Commission
LA..................................Launch Area
LOA ...............................Letter of Authorization
LS ..................................Land Segment
MAI ...............................Maximum Allowable Increase
MAWP ..........................Maximum Allowable Working Pressure
Mbbls .............................thousand barrels
MBTA ...........................Migratory Bird Treaty Act
Mcf ................................thousand cubic feet
MLC ..............................mudline cellar
MMbbls .........................million barrels
MMC .............................Marine Mammal Commission
MMcf .............................million cubic feet
MMPA ...........................Marine Mammal Protection Act
Acronyms i
2017 Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA BOEM
MMS ............................. Minerals Management Service
NAAQS ........................ National Ambient Air Quality Standards
NAB .............................. Northwest Arctic Borough
NEPA ............................ National Environmental Policy Act
NHPA ........................... National Historic Preservation Act
NMFS ........................... National Marine Fisheries Service
NMML .......................... National Marine Mammal Laboratory
NO .............................. nitrogen dioxide
2
NOA ............................. Nearest Onshore Area
NOAA .......................... National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration
NOI ............................... Notice of Intent
NO .............................. nitrogen oxides
X
NPDES ......................... National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System
NPFMC ........................ North Pacific Fisheries Management Council
NRC .............................. National Research Council
NSB .............................. North Slope Borough
NSIDC .......................... National Snow and Ice Data Center
NTL .............................. Notice to Lessees
O .................................. ozone
3
OCS .............................. Outer Continental Shelf
OCSLA ......................... Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
ODPCP ......................... Oil Discharge Prevention and Contingency Plan
OSRP ............................ Oil Spill Response Plan
PM ................................ particulate matter
PM .............................. particulate matter equal to or less than 10 micrometers in diameter
10
PM ............................. particulate matter equal to or less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter
2.5
Ppm ............................... Parts per million
PSD ............................... Prevention of Significant Deterioration’
PTS ............................... Permanent Threshold Shift
ROV .............................. Remotely Operated Vehicle
RUSALCA ................... Russian-American Long-term Census of the Arctic
SBS ............................... southern Beaufort Sea stock of polar bears
SEIS .............................. Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
SHPO ............................ State Historic Preservation Act
SIP ................................ State Implementation Plan
SO ................................ sulfur dioxide
2
SO ................................ sulfate
4
SO ............................... sulfur oxides
X
SS.................................. Subsea
TAPS ............................ Trans-Alaska Pipeline System
TLUI ............................. Traditional Land Use Inventory
TOC .............................. Total organic carbon
TTS ............................... temporary threshold shift
ULSD ............................ ultra-low sulfur diesel
USC. ............................. United States Code
USDOC......................... U.S. Department of Commerce
USDOI .......................... U.S. Department of the Interior
USFWS ......................... Fish and Wildlife Service
VLOS ............................ very large oil spill
VOC .............................. volatile organic compounds
WAH ............................ Western Arctic (caribou) Herd
WCD ............................. Worst Case Discharge
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BOEM 2017 Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA
Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1. Purpose and Need ......................................................................................................... 1-1
1.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 1-1
1.2. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action ........................................................................... 1-1
1.3. Background ............................................................................................................................ 1-2
1.4. Previous Applicable Analyses ............................................................................................... 1-3
1.5. Regulatory and Administrative Framework ........................................................................... 1-4
CHAPTER 2. Proposed Action and Alternatives ................................................................................ 2-1
2.1. Description of the Alternatives .............................................................................................. 2-1
2.1.1. Proposed Action ......................................................................................................... 2-1
2.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................................ 2-4
2.3. Other Alternatives Considered But Not Analyzed in Detail .................................................. 2-4
2.4. Spill Prevention and Response ............................................................................................... 2-4
2.5. Oil Spill Response and Exercise Requirements ..................................................................... 2-5
CHAPTER 3. Affected Environment .................................................................................................. 3-1
3.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 3-1
3.2. Meteorology and Oceanography ............................................................................................ 3-1
3.2.1. Meteorology ............................................................................................................... 3-1
3.2.2. Oceanography ............................................................................................................ 3-2
3.2.3. Climate Change.......................................................................................................... 3-3
3.3. Air Quality ............................................................................................................................. 3-4
3.4. Water Quality ......................................................................................................................... 3-6
3.5. Vegetation and Wetlands ....................................................................................................... 3-7
3.6. Lower Trophic Organisms ..................................................................................................... 3-7
3.7. Fish ......................................................................................................................................... 3-8
3.8. Birds ..................................................................................................................................... 3-10
3.8.1. ESA-Listed Birds ..................................................................................................... 3-11
3.8.2. Other Birds ............................................................................................................... 3-12
3.9. Marine Mammals ................................................................................................................. 3-17
3.9.1. Cetaceans ................................................................................................................. 3-18
3.9.2. Ice Seals ................................................................................................................... 3-20
3.9.3. Polar Bear and Polar Bear Critical Habitat .............................................................. 3-22
3.9.4. Pacific Walrus .......................................................................................................... 3-23
3.10. Subsistence-Harvest Patterns ............................................................................................. 3-23
3.11. Sociocultural System ......................................................................................................... 3-27
3.12. Population and Economy ................................................................................................... 3-28
3.13. Community Health ............................................................................................................. 3-29
3.14. Environmental Justice ........................................................................................................ 3-31
CHAPTER 4. Environmental Consequences ...................................................................................... 4-1
4.1. Air Quality ............................................................................................................................. 4-2
4.1.1. Proposed Action ......................................................................................................... 4-2
4.1.2. No Action Alternative ................................................................................................ 4-4
4.1.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................... 4-5
4.2. Water Quality ......................................................................................................................... 4-7
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2017 Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA BOEM
4.2.1. Proposed Action ........................................................................................................ 4-7
4.2.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................... 4-8
4.2.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................... 4-8
4.3. Vegetation and Wetlands ....................................................................................................... 4-8
4.3.1. Proposed Action ........................................................................................................ 4-8
4.3.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................... 4-9
4.3.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................... 4-9
4.4. Lower Trophic Organisms ................................................................................................... 4-10
4.4.1. Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4-10
4.4.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 4-10
4.4.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 4-11
4.5. Fish ...................................................................................................................................... 4-11
4.5.1. Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4-11
4.5.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 4-13
4.5.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 4-13
4.6. Birds .................................................................................................................................... 4-14
4.6.1. Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4-14
4.6.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 4-19
4.6.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 4-19
4.7. Marine Mammals ................................................................................................................ 4-20
4.7.1. Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4-20
4.7.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 4-24
4.7.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 4-24
4.8. Subsistence-Harvest Patterns ............................................................................................... 4-26
4.8.1. Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4-26
4.8.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 4-27
4.8.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 4-28
4.9. Sociocultural System ........................................................................................................... 4-29
4.9.1. Proposed Action ...................................................................................................... 4-29
4.9.2. No Action Alternative ............................................................................................. 4-29
4.9.3. Cumulative Effects .................................................................................................. 4-29
4.10. Population and Economy ................................................................................................... 4-30
4.10.1. Proposed Action .................................................................................................... 4-30
4.10.2. No Action Alternative ........................................................................................... 4-30
4.10.3. Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................ 4-30
4.11. Community Health ............................................................................................................ 4-31
4.11.1. Proposed Action .................................................................................................... 4-31
4.11.2. No Action Alternative ........................................................................................... 4-32
4.11.3. Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................ 4-32
4.12. Environmental Justice ....................................................................................................... 4-33
4.12.1. Proposed Action .................................................................................................... 4-33
4.12.2. No Action Alternative ........................................................................................... 4-33
4.12.3. Cumulative Effects ................................................................................................ 4-33
CHAPTER 5. Consultation and Coordination .................................................................................... 5-1
5.1. Endangered Species Act Consultation ................................................................................... 5-1
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BOEM 2017 Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA
5.2. Essential Fish Habitat Consultation ....................................................................................... 5-1
5.3. National Historic Preservation Act Consultation ................................................................... 5-4
5.4. Tribal Consultation ................................................................................................................ 5-4
5.5. ANCSA Consultation............................................................................................................. 5-4
5.6. Public Involvement ................................................................................................................ 5-5
5.7. Preparers ................................................................................................................................ 5-6
CHAPTER 6. References .................................................................................................................... 6-1
A-1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ A-1
A-2. Summary: Potential Oil Spill Size Categories ........................................................................... A-1
A-2.1. Summary: Small Spills (<1,000 bbl) From Exploration Activities .................................. A-2
A-2.2. Summary: Large Spills (≥1,000 bbl) From Exploration Activities .................................. A-2
A-2.3. Summary: Very Large Oil Spills (≥150,000 Bbl) From Exploration Activities ............... A-2
A-3. Oil-Spill Volume and Type Estimates ....................................................................................... A-3
A-3.1. Oil Spill Potential Discharge Volume .............................................................................. A-3
A-3.2. Worst-Case Discharge Calculation for the Oil Spill Response Plan ................................ A-3
A-3.3. Comparison of WCD to Very Large Oil Spill .................................................................. A-4
A-4. Historical and Modeled Oil Spill Information ........................................................................... A-4
A-5. Oil-Spill Analysis Framework ................................................................................................... A-5
A-5.1. Small Oil Spills ................................................................................................................. A-5
A-5.1.1. Modeling Simulations of Oil Weathering ............................................................. A-6
A-5.1.2. Spill Prevention and Response for Small Oil Spills ............................................. A-7
A-5.2. Large and Very Large Oil Spills ....................................................................................... A-7
A-5.2.1. Conditional Probabilities ...................................................................................... A-8
A-5.2.2. Large Accidental Oil Spills ................................................................................ A-10
A-5.2.3. Very Large Accidental Oil Spills ....................................................................... A-25
A-6. References ................................................................................................................................ A-34
B-1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ B-1
B-2. Impact Sources ........................................................................................................................... B-1
B-2.1. Marine Vessel Traffic ....................................................................................................... B-2
B-2.2. Aircraft Traffic .................................................................................................................. B-3
B-2.3. Subsistence Activities ....................................................................................................... B-3
B-2.4. Scientific Research Activities ........................................................................................... B-3
B-3. Oil and Gas Related Activities ................................................................................................... B-3
B-3.1. Nikaitchuq Development .................................................................................................. B-4
B-3.2. Pikka Unit and Nanushuk Development ........................................................................... B-4
B-3.3. Alpine Satellite Development ........................................................................................... B-5
B-3.4. Liberty Development ........................................................................................................ B-5
B-4. Climate Change and Ocean Acidification .................................................................................. B-5
B-5. References .................................................................................................................................. B-6
C-1. Lease Stipulations ....................................................................................................................... C-1

Table of Contents iii

BOEM Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA
CHAPTER 1. PURPOSE AND NEED
1.1. Introduction
On June 12, 2017, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) deemed “submitted” a proposed
exploration plan from Eni U.S. Operating Co. Inc. entitled “Nikaitchuq North Exploration Plan”
(hereafter, the “EP”) for exploration drilling activities in the Harrison Bay Block 6423 Unit (leases
OCS-Y-1753, OCS-Y-1754, and OCS-Y-1757). The EP proposes drilling up to four exploration wells,
consisting of two extended reach mainbores and two sidetracks, to evaluate the oil and gas resource
potential of three of the company’s Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) leases in the U.S. Beaufort Sea.
Eni is proposing to start the Nikaitchuq North Exploration project from its existing 11-acre Spy Island
Drillsite (SID). The SID is a man-made, land-based gravel island, constructed in shallow (6-8 feet),
State of Alaska coastal waters, approximately three miles north of Oliktok Point and just south of the
Spy Island barrier island. The SID is 100% owned and operated by Eni and supports ongoing
production from State of Alaska leases in Eni’s Nikaitchuq Unit. The exploration wells proposed in the
EP would begin from the SID and extend subsurface of the ocean floor, ending in the federal leases.
1.2. Purpose and Need for the Proposed Action
The purpose of the activities described in Eni’s proposed EP, which is the Proposed Action evaluated in
this Environmental Assessment (EA), is to evaluate the oil and gas resource potential of its federal
leases within the Nikaitchuq North Harrison Bay Block 6423 Unit (Figure 1-1). The need for this action
is established by BOEM’s responsibility under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) to
make OCS lands available for expeditious and orderly development, subject to environmental
safeguards, in a manner which is consistent with the maintenance of competition and other national
needs.
The Department of the Interior (DOI) has delegated its OCSLA authority to several bureaus, including
BOEM. BOEM is responsible for managing the mineral and energy resources located on the Nation's
OCS in an environmentally sound and safe manner. To these ends, BOEM has promulgated regulations
implementing certain provisions of OCSLA.
BOEM regulations pertaining to review of proposed EPs are codified at 30 CFR Part 550, where
BOEM establishes requirements for the submittal of an EP, the EP review process, and performance
standards that an EP must meet in order to be approved.
BOEM has prepared this EA to assist with bureau planning and decision making in accordance with
the:
• National Environmental Policy Act (1970) (NEPA) (P.L. 91-190, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.),
• Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations at 40 CFR 1501.3(b) and 1508.9,
• Department of the Interior (DOI) regulations at 43 CFR Part 46, and
• DOI manual at 516 DM 15.

Purpose and Need 1-1
Eni Beaufort Sea EP EA BOEM

Figure 1-1. Location of Eni’s proposed exploratory drilling in the Beaufort Sea.
1.3. Background
The Nikaitchuq oilfield lies offshore of the North Slope of Alaska in the Beaufort Sea. The discovery
and development of the field dates back to the mid-2000s, when Armstrong Oil and Gas partnered with
Kerr-McGee for exploration drilling. Leases OCS-Y-1753, OCS-Y-1754, and OCS-Y-1757 were
initially acquired by Armstrong Oil & Gas through the Beaufort Sea OCS Lease Sale 195, held in
March 2005, and later sold to the Kerr McGee Oil and Gas Corporation. Eni subsequently purchased a
40% interest in the leases. Eni’s partners in the federal leases are Shell Offshore (40%) and Repsol E&P
USA, Inc. (20%). Kerr-McGee submitted a proposal for the development of the Nikaitchuq
Development Project in 2005; the leases were later assigned to Eni in 2006.

1-2 Purpose and Need