OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-026 Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 9 Site-Specific Evaluation of Energy Resource Technology, Inc.’s Supplemental Development Operations Coordination Document, S-7156 Phoenix Project Green Canyon Blocks 236 and 237 U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region OCS EIS/EA MMS 2008-026 Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Grid 9 Site-Specific Evaluation of Energy Resource Technology, Inc.’s Supplemental Development Operations Coordination Document, S-7156 Phoenix Project Green Canyon Blocks 236 and 237 Author Minerals Management Service Gulf of Mexico OCS Region Published by U.S. Department of the Interior Minerals Management Service New Orleans Gulf of Mexico OCS Region May 2008 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ..............................................................................................iii FIGURES.....................................................................................................................................................ix TABLES ......................................................................................................................................................ix ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ....................................................................................................xi INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................1 1. PROPOSED ACTION ............................................................................................................................9 1.1. Purpose of the Proposed Action..................................................................................................9 1.2. Need for the Proposed Action.....................................................................................................9 1.3. Description of the Proposed Action ............................................................................................9 1.3.1. Proposed Action ...........................................................................................................9 1.3.2. Background ................................................................................................................10 1.3.3. Schedule of Activities ................................................................................................10 1.3.4. Equipment and Drilling System .................................................................................11 1.3.5. Support Facilities........................................................................................................11 1.3.6. Transportation Operations..........................................................................................12 1.3.7. New and Unusual Technology ...................................................................................12 1.3.8. Impacts from Potential Geological Hazards...............................................................12 1.4. Offshore Discharges and Waste Disposal.................................................................................12 1.5. Potential Impact-Producing Factors..........................................................................................13 1.6. Regulatory Framework .............................................................................................................15 2. ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED ......................................................................................................15 2.1. Nonapproval of the Proposal.....................................................................................................15 2.2. Approval with Existing Mitigation ...........................................................................................15 2.3. Approval with Existing and/or Added Mitigation ....................................................................15 3. DESCRIPTIONS AND IMPACT ANALYSES OF THE AFFECTED RESOURCES.......................15 3.1. Physical Resources....................................................................................................................15 3.1.1. Water Quality .............................................................................................................16 3.1.1.1. Coastal Waters ..........................................................................................16 3.1.1.1.1. Description .............................................................................16 3.1.1.1.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................16 3.1.1.1.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................17 3.1.1.2. Offshore Waters ........................................................................................18 3.1.1.2.1. Description .............................................................................18 3.1.1.2.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................20 3.1.1.2.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................21 v 3.1.2. Air Quality..................................................................................................................21 3.1.2.1. Description................................................................................................21 3.1.2.2. Impact Analysis.........................................................................................22 3.1.2.3. Cumulative Analysis .................................................................................22 3.2 Biological Resources.................................................................................................................22 3.2.1. Sensitive Coastal Resources.......................................................................................22 3.2.1.1. Coastal Barrier Beaches and Associated Dunes........................................23 3.2.1.1.1. Description .............................................................................23 3.2.1.1.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................24 3.2.1.1.3 Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................25 3.2.1.2. Wetlands....................................................................................................26 3.2.1.2.1 Description .............................................................................26 3.2.1.2.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................27 3.2.1.2.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................28 3.2.1.3. Alabama, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, and Perdido Key Beach Mice...29 3.2.1.3.1. Description .............................................................................29 3.2.1.3.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................30 3.2.1.3.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................30 3.2.2. Sensitive Offshore Resources.....................................................................................31 3.2.2.1. Deepwater Benthic Communities .............................................................31 3.2.2.1.1. Nonchemosynthetic Communities .........................................31 3.2.2.1.1.1. Description.......................................................31 3.2.2.1.1.2. Impact Analysis ...............................................32 3.2.2.1.1.3. Cumulative Analysis........................................33 3.2.2.1.2. Chemosynthetic Communities ...............................................33 3.2.2.1.2.1. Description.......................................................33 3.2.2.1.2.2. Impact Analysis ...............................................34 3.2.2.1.2.3. Cumulative Analysis........................................34 3.2.2.2. Marine Mammals ......................................................................................35 3.2.2.2.1. Description .............................................................................35 3.2.2.2.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................35 3.2.2.2.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................36 3.2.2.3. Sea Turtles.................................................................................................37 3.2.2.3.1. Description .............................................................................37 3.2.2.3.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................37 3.2.2.3.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................39 3.2.2.4. Essential Fish Habitat and Fish Resources................................................39 3.2.2.4.1. Description .............................................................................39 3.2.2.4.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................40 3.2.2.4.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................41 3.2.2.5. Gulf Sturgeon............................................................................................41 3.2.2.5.1. Description .............................................................................41 3.2.2.5.2. Impact Analysis......................................................................42 3.2.2.5.3. Cumulative Analysis ..............................................................43