Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore South Carolina; MMAA104000, 73817-73818 [2015-29907]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 227 / Wednesday, November 25, 2015 / Notices Nominations for the Coeur d’Alene RAC should be sent to Coeur d’Alene RAC, Attn. Suzanne Endsley, BLM Coeur d’Alene District Office, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83835, (208) 769–5004. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Endsley, U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Coeur d’Alene District Public Affairs Officer, 3815 Schreiber Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815, 208– 769–5004. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) directs the Secretary of the Interior to involve the public in planning and issues related to management of lands administered by the BLM. Section 309 of FLPMA (43 U.S.C. 1739) directs the Secretary to establish 10- to 15-member citizenbased advisory councils that are consistent with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). As required by FACA, Resource Advisory Council (RAC) membership must be balanced and representative of the various interests concerned with the management of the public lands. The rules governing RACs are found at 43 CFR 1784 and include the following three membership categories: Category One—Holders of Federal grazing permits and representatives of organizations associated with energy and mineral development, timber industry, transportation or rights-ofway, developed outdoor recreation, offhighway vehicle use, and commercial recreation; Category Two—Representatives of nationally or regionally recognized environmental organizations, archaeological and historic organizations, dispersed recreation activities, and wild horse and burro organizations; and Category Three—Representatives of State, county, or local elected office, employees of a state agency responsible for management of natural resources, representatives of Indian tribes within or adjacent to the area for which the council is organized, representatives of academia who are employed in natural sciences, and the public-at-large. Those who have already submitted a nomination in response to the first or second call for nominations (published in the Federal Register on February 3, 2015 and on May 21, 2015, respectively) do not need to resubmit. Individuals may nominate themselves or others. Nominees must be residents of the State of Idaho. The BLM will evaluate nominees based on their education, training, experience, and knowledge of tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:15 Nov 24, 2015 Jkt 238001 the geographical area of the RAC. Nominees should demonstrate a commitment to collaborative resource decision-making. Current Presidential policies prohibit individuals who are currently federally registered lobbyists from being appointed or re-appointed to FACA and non-FACA boards, committees, or councils. The following must accompany all nominations for the RAC: —Letters of reference from represented interests or organizations; —A completed Resource Advisory Council application; and —Any other information that addresses the nominee’s qualifications. Simultaneous with this notice, the BLM Idaho State Office will issue news releases providing additional information for submitting nominations, with specifics about the number and categories of member positions available for the RAC. If you have already submitted your RAC nomination materials for 2015, you will not need to resubmit. Authority: 43 CFR 1784.4–1 Jeffery L. Foss, Acting BLM Idaho State Director. [FR Doc. 2015–30012 Filed 11–24–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–GG–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2015–0125] Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore South Carolina; MMAA104000 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment. AGENCY: BOEM is announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) for potential commercial wind leasing and site assessment activities on the Atlantic OCS offshore South Carolina. The EA will address environmental and socioeconomic effects related to the proposed action, issuance of commercial wind energy leases, and approval of site assessment activities on those leases. This notice serves to announce the beginning of the formal scoping process. The scope of the EA is the range of issues, alternatives, impacts, and mitigation measures to be considered. Scoping will help identify reasonable alternatives and focus the SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00120 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 73817 analysis in the EA on potentially significant issues and eliminate from detailed consideration those issues that are insignificant, irrelevant, or that have not changed from previous analyses. BOEM will also use the scoping process to seek public comment and input under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Additional information on the proposed action may be found at https://www.boem.gov/South-Carolina/. DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than January 25, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM–OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166, (703) 787–1722, or michelle.morin@boem.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Proposed Action The proposed action that will be the subject of the EA is the issuance of wind energy leases within all or some of the Call Areas offshore South Carolina and the approval of site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of a meteorological tower and/or buoys) on those leases. BOEM will also consider the environmental impacts associated with the site characterization activities (including geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys) that it anticipates lessees might eventually undertake to fulfill the information requirements for Site Assessment Plans and Construction and Operations Plans found at 30 CFR 585.610 and 585.626 respectively. 2. Description of the Call Areas A detailed description of the Call Areas can be found in the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore South Carolina—Call for Information and Nominations that is being published concurrently with this notice. A map of the Call Areas can be found at: https:// www.boem.gov/South-Carolina/. BOEM identified the four Call Areas in consultation with other Federal agencies and the BOEM South Carolina Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force. 3. National Historic Preservation Act BOEM will use the NEPA process to inform the Section 106 consultation process of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). BOEM is seeking public comment and input regarding the identification of historic properties or potential impacts to historic properties from the proposed action, as defined by the NHPA. E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM 25NON1 73818 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 227 / Wednesday, November 25, 2015 / Notices 4. Cooperating Agencies BOEM invites other Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments to consider becoming cooperating agencies in the preparation of this EA. We invite qualified government entities to inquire about cooperating agency status. You may contact OREP (listed above). tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 5. Public Scoping Meetings BOEM will hold public scoping meetings in South Carolina on the following dates: • Tuesday, January 5, 2016; Mason Preparatory School; 56 Halsey Boulevard, Charleston, South Carolina 29401; 6:00–8:00 p.m.; • Wednesday, January 6, 2016; St. James High School; 10800 SC–707, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina 29576; 6:00–8:00 p.m.; and • Thursday, January 7, 2016; Boulineau’s (Second Floor Meeting Room); 212 Sea Mountain Highway, North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina 29582; 6:00–8:00 p.m. 6. Comments Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and/or agencies and the public are requested to send their written comments regarding environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives related to the proposed action described in this notice through one of the following methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the field entitled ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter BOEM–2015–0125, and then click ‘‘search.’’ Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice; 2. U.S. mail in an envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on South Carolina EA’’ and addressed to Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM–OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Comments must be postmarked by the last day of the comment period to be considered. This date is January 25, 2016. Before including your address, phone number, email address or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: This Notice of Intent to prepare an EA is in compliance with NEPA, as VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:15 Nov 24, 2015 Jkt 238001 amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305. Dated: November 18, 2015. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2015–29907 Filed 11–24–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2015–0134] Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore South Carolina—Call for Information and Nominations (Call) MMAA104000 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf, Offshore South Carolina. AGENCY: BOEM invites the submission of nominations for commercial wind leases that would allow a lessee to propose the construction of a wind energy project on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore South Carolina, and to develop the project if approved after further environmental review. Although this announcement is not itself a leasing announcement, the Call Areas described herein, or portions thereof, may be available for future leasing. BOEM will use responses to this Call for Information and Nominations (Call) to gauge specific interest in acquiring commercial wind leases in some or all of the Call Areas, as required by 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3). Parties wishing to submit a nomination in response to this Call should submit detailed and specific information in response to the requirements described in the section entitled, ‘‘Required Nomination Information.’’ This announcement also requests comments and information from interested and affected parties about site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the Call Areas that would be relevant to BOEM’s review of any nominations submitted and/or to BOEM’s subsequent decision to offer all or part of the Call Areas for commercial wind leasing. The information that BOEM is requesting is described in the section of this Call entitled, ‘‘Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.’’ This Call is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act, SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00121 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3), which was added by section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), as well as the implementing regulations at 30 CFR part 585. The Call Areas described in this notice are located on the OCS offshore South Carolina and are delineated as Grand Strand, Cape Romain, Winyah, and Charleston. The four Call Areas include 110 whole OCS blocks and 84 partial blocks in total and comprise approximately 1,007.56 square nautical miles (nmi) (345,584 hectares). These Call Areas were established in consultation with the BOEM South Carolina Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force (Task Force). A detailed description of the areas and how they were developed is described in the section of this Call entitled, ‘‘Description of the Area.’’ DATES: BOEM must receive nominations describing your interest in one or more, or any portion of the Call Areas, by a postmarked date of January 25, 2016 January 25, 2016 for your nomination to be considered. BOEM requests comments or submissions of information to be postmarked or delivered by this same date. BOEM will consider only those nominations received that conform to this requirement. Submission Procedures: If you are submitting a nomination for a lease in response to this Call, please submit your nomination to the following address: BOEM, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road (VAM–OREP), Sterling, Virginia 20166. In addition to a paper copy of the nomination, include an electronic copy of the nomination on a data storage device. BOEM will list the parties that submitted nominations and the location of the proposed lease areas (i.e., OCS blocks nominated) on the BOEM Web site after the 60-day comment period has closed. Comments and other submissions of information may be submitted by either of the following two methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https:// www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter BOEM– 2015–0134, and then click ‘‘search.’’ Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice. 2. U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service. Send your comments and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road (VAM–OREP), Sterling, Virginia 20166. E:\FR\FM\25NON1.SGM 25NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 227 (Wednesday, November 25, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73817-73818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-29907]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2015-0125]


Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site 
Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 
Offshore South Carolina; MMAA104000

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for potential commercial wind leasing and site 
assessment activities on the Atlantic OCS offshore South Carolina. The 
EA will address environmental and socioeconomic effects related to the 
proposed action, issuance of commercial wind energy leases, and 
approval of site assessment activities on those leases. This notice 
serves to announce the beginning of the formal scoping process. The 
scope of the EA is the range of issues, alternatives, impacts, and 
mitigation measures to be considered. Scoping will help identify 
reasonable alternatives and focus the analysis in the EA on potentially 
significant issues and eliminate from detailed consideration those 
issues that are insignificant, irrelevant, or that have not changed 
from previous analyses. BOEM will also use the scoping process to seek 
public comment and input under the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA). Additional information on the proposed action may be found at 
https://www.boem.gov/South-Carolina/.

DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than January 25, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of 
Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-OREP, Sterling, 
Virginia 20166, (703) 787-1722, or michelle.morin@boem.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

1. Proposed Action

    The proposed action that will be the subject of the EA is the 
issuance of wind energy leases within all or some of the Call Areas 
offshore South Carolina and the approval of site assessment activities 
(including the installation and operation of a meteorological tower 
and/or buoys) on those leases. BOEM will also consider the 
environmental impacts associated with the site characterization 
activities (including geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and 
biological surveys) that it anticipates lessees might eventually 
undertake to fulfill the information requirements for Site Assessment 
Plans and Construction and Operations Plans found at 30 CFR 585.610 and 
585.626 respectively.

2. Description of the Call Areas

    A detailed description of the Call Areas can be found in the 
Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf 
Offshore South Carolina--Call for Information and Nominations that is 
being published concurrently with this notice. A map of the Call Areas 
can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/South-Carolina/. BOEM identified 
the four Call Areas in consultation with other Federal agencies and the 
BOEM South Carolina Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force.

3. National Historic Preservation Act

    BOEM will use the NEPA process to inform the Section 106 
consultation process of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), as 
provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). BOEM is seeking public comment and 
input regarding the identification of historic properties or potential 
impacts to historic properties from the proposed action, as defined by 
the NHPA.

[[Page 73818]]

4. Cooperating Agencies

    BOEM invites other Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments to 
consider becoming cooperating agencies in the preparation of this EA. 
We invite qualified government entities to inquire about cooperating 
agency status. You may contact OREP (listed above).

5. Public Scoping Meetings

    BOEM will hold public scoping meetings in South Carolina on the 
following dates:
     Tuesday, January 5, 2016; Mason Preparatory School; 56 
Halsey Boulevard, Charleston, South Carolina 29401; 6:00-8:00 p.m.;
     Wednesday, January 6, 2016; St. James High School; 10800 
SC-707, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina 29576; 6:00-8:00 p.m.; and
     Thursday, January 7, 2016; Boulineau's (Second Floor 
Meeting Room); 212 Sea Mountain Highway, North Myrtle Beach, South 
Carolina 29582; 6:00-8:00 p.m.

6. Comments

    Federal, State, Tribal, and local governments and/or agencies and 
the public are requested to send their written comments regarding 
environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives 
related to the proposed action described in this notice through one of 
the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the 
field entitled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2015-0125, and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this notice;
    2. U.S. mail in an envelope labeled ``Comments on South Carolina 
EA'' and addressed to Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy 
Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-
OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Comments must be postmarked by the last 
day of the comment period to be considered. This date is January 25, 
2016.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.

    Authority:  This Notice of Intent to prepare an EA is in 
compliance with NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is 
published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305.

    Dated: November 18, 2015.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-29907 Filed 11-24-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.