NOTICE OF INTENT: Notice of Intent to Prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement and Conduct Public Scoping Meetings, and Notice of Floodplain and Wetlands Involvement: Site Selection for the Expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (DOE/EIS-0385-S1) (March 5, 2008). The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT, P.L. 109-58) required the Department of Energy (DOE) to expand the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) from its current 727 million-barrel capacity to 1 billion barrels. In order to fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the expansion project, DOE prepared the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Site Selection for the Expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (DOE/EIS-0385). In the Record of Decision (ROD), published in the Federal Register on February 22, 2007, 72 FR 7964, DOE announced its selection of Richton, Mississippi, as the location of a new SPR facility as part of the expansion project. The site was selected for its large and undeveloped salt dome, enhanced oil distribution capabilities, and inland location that is less vulnerable to the damaging effects of hurricanes. Since selecting the Richton site, DOE has engaged in further consultations with Federal and Mississippi state agencies and is now considering different locations from those addressed in DOE/EIS-0385 for certain facilities associated with the Richton SPR expansion site. This Notice announces DOE's intent to prepare a supplemental environmental impact statement (SEIS) in accordance with NEPA, Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) NEPA regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500- 1508), and the DOE NEPA regulations (10 CFR Part 1021). Some of the potential new locations may be in floodplains or wetlands. DOE hereby gives notice that it will include in the SEIS a floodplain assessment and a wetland assessment prepared in accordance with the DOE Regulations for Compliance with Floodplain and Wetland Environmental Review Requirements (10 CFR Part 1022). DOE invites interested agencies, organizations, Native American tribes, and members of the public to submit comments or suggestions to assist in identifying alternatives, significant environmental issues, and the appropriate scope of the SEIS.

OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT: The public scoping period starts March 5, 2008 and will continue until April 29, 2008. Written and oral comments will be given equal weight and DOE will consider all comments received or postmarked by April 29, 2008, in defining the scope of the SEIS. Written comments postmarked or sent after this date will be considered to the degree practicable. The dates for public meetings are as follows:

The locations of the public scoping meetings were selected based on their proximity to the locations of proposed facilities under consideration. If an agency, organization, or a member of the general public wishes to request that DOE have an additional scoping meeting at a specific location, please contact Donald Silawsky. If DOE decides to hold public meetings in addition to those listed above, DOE will publish an amendment to this Notice and make other public announcements. Written comments or suggestions on the scope and content of the SEIS should be directed to Donald Silawsky at the Office of Petroleum Reserves (FE-47), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0301. Mr. Silawsky may also be contacted by telephone at 202-586-1892, by facsimile at 202- 586-4446, or by electronic mail at: donald.silawsky@hq.doe.gov. Envelopes and the subject line of e-mails or faxes should be labeled "Scoping for the SPR SEIS." Please note that conventional mail to DOE may be delayed by anthrax screening.

For information on the proposed project or to receive a copy of the Draft SEIS when it is issued, contact Donald Silawsky. Additional information may also be found on the DOE Fossil Energy Web site at: http://www.fe.doe.gov. For further information on the expansion of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, contact David Johnson at the Office of Petroleum Reserves (FE- 42), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0301, by telephone at: 202-586-4733, by facsimile at: 202-586-7919, or by electronic mail at: david.johnson@hq.doe.gov. [For more details, see the Notice of Intent in the Federal Register at 73 FR 11895, March 4, 2008].