Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program, 13307-13308 [E7-5158]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 21, 2007 / Notices the increased rental and royalty rates cited above. No other valid lease has been issued affecting the lands. Patrick H. Geehan, Chief, Minerals Section. [FR Doc. E7–5155 Filed 3–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–33–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Public Hearings. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prepared a draft programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) in support of the proposed Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program and associated rulemaking authorized under Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and codified as new subsection 8(p) of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act. Pursuant to the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Minerals Management Service (MMS) is announcing the availability of a draft programmatic EIS for the Alternative Energy and Alternate Use (AEAU) Program and Rule. The programmatic EIS analysis focuses on the potential environmental effects of implementing the AEAU program and associated rulemaking and also analyzes alternatives to implementing the AEAU program and rule, including the ‘‘no action’’ alternative. Authority: This NOA and notice of public hearings is published pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1506.6) implementing the provisions of the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)). Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), granted the Department of the Interior (Department) discretionary authority to issue leases, easements, or rights-of-way for activities on the OCS that produce or support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil and gas, and are not otherwise authorized by other applicable law. The Department delegated this authority to the MMS. Examples of the general types of alternative energy project activities that MMS has the discretion to authorize jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:08 Mar 20, 2007 Jkt 211001 include, but are not limited to: wind energy, wave energy, ocean current energy, solar energy, and hydrogen production. The MMS was also delegated discretionary authority to issue leases, easements, or rights-of-way for other OCS project activities that make alternate use of existing OCS facilities for ‘‘energy-related purposes or for other authorized marine-related purposes,’’ to the extent such activities are not otherwise authorized by other applicable law. Such activities may include, but are not limited to: offshore aquaculture, research, education, recreation, and support for offshore operations and facilities. A new program within MMS is being proposed to oversee these potential activities on the OCS. To satisfy the requirements of the NEPA in the establishment of an AEAU program and rules on the OCS, the MMS prepared a draft programmatic EIS. The proposed action is the implementation of the AEAU program and rules in areas not excluded by Section 388 of the EPAct. The programmatic EIS focuses on generic impacts from each industry sector based on global knowledge and identifies key issues that subsequent, site-specific assessments should consider. Projections for industry activities are limited in the EIS to those anticipated to be pursued within the next 5–7 years. The programmatic EIS also addresses AEAU technology testing and site characterization. Subsequent NEPA documents prepared for sitespecific AEAU projects may tier to this programmatic EIS and the Record of Decision. The primary objectives of the programmatic EIS are to analyze and document the potential environmental, social-cultural, and economic considerations associated with the establishment of an OCS AEAU program and rules, including all foreseeable, potential monitoring, testing, construction, commercial development, operations, and decommissioning activities on the OCS. The programmatic EIS process: (1) Provides for public input concerning the scope of national issues associated with offshore alternate energy-related use activities; (2) Identifies, defines, and assesses generic environmental, socio-cultural, and economic impacts associated with offshore alternate energy-related use activities; (3) Evaluates and establishes effective mitigation measures to avoid, minimize, or compensate for potential impacts; and PO 00000 Frm 00072 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 13307 (4) Facilitates future preparation of site-specific NEPA documents; subsequent NEPA documents prepared for site-specific AEAU projects may tier to the Programmatic EIS and Record of Decision. EIS Availability: To obtain a single, printed or CD–ROM copy of the draft EIS, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, Environmental Assessment Branch Office (MS 4042), 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170. An electronic copy of the draft EIS is available at the MMS’s Internet Web site at https://ocsenergy.anl.gov/. Public Hearings: The MMS will hold public hearings to receive comments on the draft EIS. The public hearings are scheduled as follows: • Monday, April 16, 2007, Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street NW., Washington, DC, 10 a.m. • Tuesday, April 24, 2007, Monmouth University, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, New Jersey, 7 p.m. • Wednesday, April 25, 2007, Melville Marriott, 1350 Old Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York, 7 p.m. • Thursday, April 26, 2007, Marriott Boston Newton, 2345 Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts, 7 p.m. • Tuesday, May 1, 2007, Houston Airport Marriott, 18700 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Houston, Texas, 7 p.m. • Tuesday, May 1, 2007, The Presidio, 135 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, California, 7 p.m. • Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Residence Inn and Courtyard North Harbour, 1250 N. Anchor Way, Portland, Oregon, 7 p.m. • Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Holiday Inn Miami International Airport, 1111 South Royal Poinciana Blvd, Miami Springs, Florida, 7 p.m. • Thursday, May 3, 2007, Courtyard by Marriott Charleston, 35 Lockwood Drive, Charleston, South Carolina, 7 p.m. If you wish to testify at a hearing, you should register one hour prior to the meeting. Written statements submitted at a hearing will be considered part of the hearing record. If you are unable to attend the hearings, you may submit written statements. Comments: Federal, state, local government agencies, and other interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the draft EIS in one of the following three ways: 1. Electronically using MMS’s on-line commenting system at https:// ocsenergy.anl.gov/. This is the preferred method for commenting. 2. In written form, mailed or delivered to MMS Alternative Energy and E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM 21MRN1 13308 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 54 / Wednesday, March 21, 2007 / Notices Alternate Use Programmatic EIS, Argonne National Laboratory, EVS/900, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439. 3. In person at the public hearings. Comments should be submitted no later than 60 days from the publication of this notice. Public Comment Policy: Before including your address, phone number, e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, be advised that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Mr. James F. Bennett, Environmental Assessment Branch, MS 4042, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20710, (703) 787–1660. Dated: February 26, 2007. Chris C. Oynes, Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management. [FR Doc. E7–5158 Filed 3–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Notice of Continuation of Concession Contract National Park Service, Interior. ACTION: Public Notice. AGENCY: DATES: Effective Date: April 1, 2007. Concession contract No. Concessioner name STLI001–89 ....... Circle Line—Statue of Liberty Ferry, Inc. ................................. Dated: March 14, 2007. Katherine H. Stevenson, Acting Assistant Director, Business Services. [FR Doc. 07–1370 Filed 3–20–07; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–50–M DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Bureau of Labor Statistics Proposed Collection; Comment Request ACTION: jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES Jo A. Pendry, Concession Program Manager, National Park Service, Washington, DC, 20240, Telephone 202/ 513–7156. SUMMARY: Pursuant to the terms of the existing contract, public notice is hereby given that the National Park Service intends to continue the following expiring concession contract until October 1, 2007, or until such time as a new contract is effective, whichever occurs sooner. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The listed concession contract will expire by its terms on March 31, 2007. The National Park Service has determined that the proposed short-term continuation is necessary in order to avoid interruption of visitor services and has taken all reasonable and appropriate steps to consider alternatives to avoid such interruption. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Notice. SUMMARY: The Department of Labor, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, conducts a pre-clearance consultation program to provide the general public and Federal agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing collections of information in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA95) [44 U.S.C. 3506(c) (2)(A)]. This program helps to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, reporting burden (time and financial resources) is minimized, collection instruments are clearly understood, and the impact of collection requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is soliciting comments concerning the proposed reinstatement of the ‘‘National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979.’’ A copy of the proposed VerDate Aug<31>2005 18:19 Mar 20, 2007 Jkt 211001 Park Statue of Liberty National Monument/Ellis Island. information collection request (ICR) can be obtained by contacting the individual listed in the Addresses section of this notice. DATES: Written comments must be submitted to the office listed in the ADDRESSES section below on or before May 21, 2007. ADDRESSES: Send comments to Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, Division of Management Systems, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Room 4080, 2 Massachusetts Avenue, NE., Washington, DC 20212, 202–691–7628. (This is not a toll free number.) FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy A. Hobby, BLS Clearance Officer, 202–691–7628. (See ADDRESSES section.) SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background The National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 (NLSY79) is a representative national sample of persons who were born in the years 1957 to 1964 and lived in the U.S. in 1978. These respondents were ages 14– 22 when the first round of interviews began in 1979; they will be ages 43 to 50 when the planned twenty-third round of interviews is conducted from January 2008 to January 2009. The NLSY79 was conducted annually from 1979 to 1994 and has been conducted biennially since 1994. The longitudinal focus of this survey requires information to be collected from the same individuals over many years in order to PO 00000 Frm 00073 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 trace their education, training, work experience, fertility, income, and program participation. In addition to the main NLSY79, the biological children of female NLSY79 respondents have been surveyed since 1986, when the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development began providing funding to the BLS to gather a large amount of information about the lives of these children. A battery of child cognitive, socioemotional, and physiological assessments has been administered biennially since 1986 to NLSY79 mothers and their children. Starting in 1994, children who had reached age 15 by December 31 of the survey year (the Young Adults) were interviewed about their work experiences, training, schooling, health, fertility, and selfesteem, as well as sensitive topics addressed in a supplemental, selfadministered questionnaire. The BLS contracts with the Center for Human Resource Research (CHRR) of the Ohio State University to implement the NLSY79, Child, and Young Adult surveys. Interviewing of respondents is conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) of the University of Chicago. Among the objectives of the Department of Labor (DOL) are to promote the development of the U.S. labor force and the efficiency of the U.S. labor market. The BLS contributes to these objectives by gathering information about the labor E:\FR\FM\21MRN1.SGM 21MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 54 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13307-13308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-5158]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Programmatic 
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Public Hearings.

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

SUMMARY: The Minerals Management Service (MMS) has prepared a draft 
programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) in support of the 
proposed Alternative Energy and Alternate Use Program and associated 
rulemaking authorized under Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 
2005, and codified as new subsection 8(p) of the Outer Continental 
Shelf Lands Act. Pursuant to the regulations implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Minerals Management Service (MMS) 
is announcing the availability of a draft programmatic EIS for the 
Alternative Energy and Alternate Use (AEAU) Program and Rule. The 
programmatic EIS analysis focuses on the potential environmental 
effects of implementing the AEAU program and associated rulemaking and 
also analyzes alternatives to implementing the AEAU program and rule, 
including the ``no action'' alternative.

    Authority: This NOA and notice of public hearings is published 
pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1506.6) implementing the 
provisions of the NEPA of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. 
(1988)).


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(EPAct), granted the Department of the Interior (Department) 
discretionary authority to issue leases, easements, or rights-of-way 
for activities on the OCS that produce or support production, 
transportation, or transmission of energy from sources other than oil 
and gas, and are not otherwise authorized by other applicable law. The 
Department delegated this authority to the MMS. Examples of the general 
types of alternative energy project activities that MMS has the 
discretion to authorize include, but are not limited to: wind energy, 
wave energy, ocean current energy, solar energy, and hydrogen 
production.
    The MMS was also delegated discretionary authority to issue leases, 
easements, or rights-of-way for other OCS project activities that make 
alternate use of existing OCS facilities for ``energy-related purposes 
or for other authorized marine-related purposes,'' to the extent such 
activities are not otherwise authorized by other applicable law. Such 
activities may include, but are not limited to: offshore aquaculture, 
research, education, recreation, and support for offshore operations 
and facilities.
    A new program within MMS is being proposed to oversee these 
potential activities on the OCS. To satisfy the requirements of the 
NEPA in the establishment of an AEAU program and rules on the OCS, the 
MMS prepared a draft programmatic EIS. The proposed action is the 
implementation of the AEAU program and rules in areas not excluded by 
Section 388 of the EPAct. The programmatic EIS focuses on generic 
impacts from each industry sector based on global knowledge and 
identifies key issues that subsequent, site-specific assessments should 
consider. Projections for industry activities are limited in the EIS to 
those anticipated to be pursued within the next 5-7 years. The 
programmatic EIS also addresses AEAU technology testing and site 
characterization. Subsequent NEPA documents prepared for site-specific 
AEAU projects may tier to this programmatic EIS and the Record of 
Decision.
    The primary objectives of the programmatic EIS are to analyze and 
document the potential environmental, social-cultural, and economic 
considerations associated with the establishment of an OCS AEAU program 
and rules, including all foreseeable, potential monitoring, testing, 
construction, commercial development, operations, and decommissioning 
activities on the OCS. The programmatic EIS process:
    (1) Provides for public input concerning the scope of national 
issues associated with offshore alternate energy-related use 
activities;
    (2) Identifies, defines, and assesses generic environmental, socio-
cultural, and economic impacts associated with offshore alternate 
energy-related use activities;
    (3) Evaluates and establishes effective mitigation measures to 
avoid, minimize, or compensate for potential impacts; and
    (4) Facilitates future preparation of site-specific NEPA documents; 
subsequent NEPA documents prepared for site-specific AEAU projects may 
tier to the Programmatic EIS and Record of Decision.
    EIS Availability: To obtain a single, printed or CD-ROM copy of the 
draft EIS, you may contact the Minerals Management Service, 
Environmental Assessment Branch Office (MS 4042), 381 Elden Street, 
Herndon, Virginia 20170. An electronic copy of the draft EIS is 
available at the MMS's Internet Web site at https://ocsenergy.anl.gov/.
    Public Hearings: The MMS will hold public hearings to receive 
comments on the draft EIS. The public hearings are scheduled as 
follows:
     Monday, April 16, 2007, Main Interior Building, 1849 C 
Street NW., Washington, DC, 10 a.m.
     Tuesday, April 24, 2007, Monmouth University, 400 Cedar 
Avenue, West Long Branch, New Jersey, 7 p.m.
     Wednesday, April 25, 2007, Melville Marriott, 1350 Old 
Walt Whitman Road, Melville, New York, 7 p.m.
     Thursday, April 26, 2007, Marriott Boston Newton, 2345 
Commonwealth Avenue, Newton, Massachusetts, 7 p.m.
     Tuesday, May 1, 2007, Houston Airport Marriott, 18700 John 
F. Kennedy Blvd, Houston, Texas, 7 p.m.
     Tuesday, May 1, 2007, The Presidio, 135 Fisher Loop, San 
Francisco, California, 7 p.m.
     Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Residence Inn and Courtyard North 
Harbour, 1250 N. Anchor Way, Portland, Oregon, 7 p.m.
     Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Holiday Inn Miami International 
Airport, 1111 South Royal Poinciana Blvd, Miami Springs, Florida, 7 
p.m.
     Thursday, May 3, 2007, Courtyard by Marriott Charleston, 
35 Lockwood Drive, Charleston, South Carolina, 7 p.m.

    If you wish to testify at a hearing, you should register one hour 
prior to the meeting. Written statements submitted at a hearing will be 
considered part of the hearing record. If you are unable to attend the 
hearings, you may submit written statements.

    Comments: Federal, state, local government agencies, and other 
interested parties are requested to send their written comments on the 
draft EIS in one of the following three ways:
    1. Electronically using MMS's on-line commenting system at https://
ocsenergy.anl.gov/. This is the preferred method for commenting.
    2. In written form, mailed or delivered to MMS Alternative Energy 
and

[[Page 13308]]

Alternate Use Programmatic EIS, Argonne National Laboratory, EVS/900, 
9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439.
    3. In person at the public hearings.
    Comments should be submitted no later than 60 days from the 
publication of this notice.
    Public Comment Policy: Before including your address, phone number, 
e-mail address, or other personal identifying information in your 
comment, be advised that your entire comment--including your personal 
identifying information--may be made publicly available at any time. 
While you can ask us in your comment to withhold from public review 
your personal identifying information, we cannot guarantee that we will 
be able to do so.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Minerals Management Service, Mr. James 
F. Bennett, Environmental Assessment Branch, MS 4042, 381 Elden Street, 
Herndon, Virginia 20710, (703) 787-1660.

    Dated: February 26, 2007.
Chris C. Oynes,
Associate Director for Offshore Minerals Management.
 [FR Doc. E7-5158 Filed 3-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

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