[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Page 71698]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-24501]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Extension of Post-Sale Evaluation Period for Central Gulf of 
Mexico Lease Sale 205

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice to Extend Post-Sale Evaluation Period for Central Gulf 
of Mexico Lease Sale 205.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends by 45 days, the post-sale evaluation 
period for Central Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 205. The Minerals 
Management Service (MMS) will complete evaluating all the bids received 
in this sale by February 15, 2008. This action is necessary due to the 
unusually high number of bids received in this lease sale.

DATES: The post-sale evaluation period ends on January 1, 2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Marin, Regional Supervisor, 
Resource Evaluation, Gulf of Mexico Region, telephone 504-736-2710.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In the Central Gulf of Mexico Sale 205, held 
October 3, 2007, we received 1428 bids on 723 tracts, 616 tracts of 
which passed to a second phase requiring additional detailed 
evaluations. The aggressive bidding activity is due, in part, to the 
high number of quality prospects on recently expired unexplored tracts 
in newly established deepwater hydrocarbon plays and to the cost saving 
technological advances related to hydrocarbon exploration and 
development in the Gulf of Mexico's deepwater environment. The 
unusually high number of bids received on a large number of tracts, and 
the high volume of exclusively reprocessed data identified on Sale 205, 
significantly increases the workload for reviewing the adequacy of 
bids. Consequently, MMS is unable to conduct and complete the bid 
review process within the 90 days, i.e., by January 1, 2008. Under the 
provisions of Sec.  256.47 (e) (2), MMS is extending the bid evaluation 
period until February 15, 2008.

    Dated: November 26, 2007.
Lars Herbst,
Regional Director, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region.
 [FR Doc. E7-24501 Filed 12-17-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P