Document x121g6jbaBGgEV3LEkmxoy9M6

INFORMATION/BRIEFING MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR DATE: July 20, 2017 FROM: Kristin Bail, Assistant Director - Resources and Planning SUBJECT: Integrating Greenhouse Gas emissions analysis in NEPA This memo provides information about the development of updated guidance for considering greenhouse gas emissions in NEPA reviews, and rescission of Permanent Instruction Memorandum 2017-003, which transmitted and stepped down to the BLM The Council on Environmental Quality Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews. The CEQ guidance was formally withdrawn in the Federal Register dated April 5, 2017 (see attached), and is no longer in effect. BACKGROUND Permanent Instruction Memorandum (IM) No. 2017-003 transmitted guidance related to the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) August 2016 Guidance on Consideration of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and the Effects of Climate Change in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews. In addition to transmitting the CEQ guidance, this IM provided additional, specific guidance related to BLM oil, gas, and coal-related decisions. DISCUSSION 1 2 IM 2017-xxx Instruction Memorandum United States Department of the Interior BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT Washington, D.C. 20240 http://www.blm.gov xxx xx, 2017 In Reply Refer To: 1601, 1790 (210) P EMS Transmission xx/xx/2017 Instruction Memorandum No. 2017-xxx To: All Washington Office and Field Officials From: Assistant Director for Resources and Planning Subject: Guidance on Considering Greenhouse Gas Emissions in National Environmental Policy Act Reviews, and rescission of Permanent Instruction Memorandum 2017-003. Program Areas: National Environmental Policy Act and Planning (b) (5) (b) (5) generally does not provide production estimates or combustion rates. Combustion rates may not be directly proportional to production estimates, as not all fluid resources produced are combusted. As in all NEPA documents, analytical assumptions, including their limitations, must be disclosed. 2 http://energy.usgs.gov/OilGas/AssessmentsData/NationalOilGasAssessment.aspx#.WDNQbE2QzX7 3 https://www.eia.gov/naturalgas/crudeoilreserves/top100/ 4 http://www.eia.gov/oiaf/1605/coefficients.html. 5 https://www.epa.gov/energy/ghg-equivalencies-calculator-calculations-and-references.