Geological and Geophysical Exploration (G&G) on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), 3636-3637 [E9-1063]
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mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
3636
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Notices
Nantucket High School in Nantucket,
Massachusetts; the Martha’s Vineyard
Regional High School in Oak Bluffs,
Massachusetts; and at the University of
Massachusetts Boston Campus in South
Boston, Massachusetts), and via paper
copy comments mailed in. In all, more
than 42,000 comments were received.
All comments received were logged in
and responded to as appropriate and are
included in the final EIS.
Contents of the Final EIS: The final
EIS considers all reasonable alternatives
to the proposed action, including
several other offshore sites in the New
England region, as well as nongeographic alternatives at the proposed
Horseshoe Shoal site made up of a
smaller project alternative, a condensed
configuration, phased development, and
the no-action alternative. Seven
alternatives: the proposed action, no
action, a smaller project, condensed
configuration, phased development, and
alternative sites at Monomoy Shoals and
south of Tuckernuck Island—are
subjected to detailed analysis in the
final EIS, including an analysis of
direct, indirect, and cumulative
environmental effects, and
identification of the preferred
alternative (Horseshoe Shoal). Changes
in the document since the draft EIS
include the addition of a final avian and
bat monitoring plan, a finding of
adverse visual effects to 29 properties
evaluated as eligible for listing on the
National Register of Historic Places,
updated mitigation measures, and
proposed mitigation measures to ensure
navigation safety from the U.S. Coast
Guard based on a 2008 report by the
Coast Guard analyzing two existing
studies regarding the effects of wind
turbines upon shipboard radar and
navigation. Although this information
was an outgrowth of comments received
on the draft EIS and has not resulted in
significant changes to the analysis of
impacts prepared for the draft EIS, MMS
is seeking comments related to these
issues that will be considered for the
Record of Decision.
EIS Availability: To obtain a single
CD–ROM copy of the final EIS, you may
contact the Minerals Management
Service, Environmental Assessment
Branch (MS 4042), 381 Elden Street,
Herndon, Virginia 20170. An electronic
copy of the final EIS is available at the
MMS’s Internet Web site at: https://
www.mms.gov/offshore/
AlternativeEnergy/CapeWind.htm, as
are electronic copies of attachments to
the final EIS and reports used in its
preparation. For a list of libraries in
Massachusetts that were provided
copies of the final EIS, visit MMS’s
Internet Web site at: https://
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:54 Jan 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
www.mms.gov/library/ or contact MMS
as indicated below under the heading
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Comments: Although this is a final
EIS, you may provide comments. No
decision on the proposed project will be
made until at least 30 days from the
publication of this notice. Federal, state,
local government agencies, and other
interested parties may provide written
comments on the final EIS in one of the
following ways:
1. Electronically, using MMS’s on-line
commenting system at: https://
ocsconnect.mms.gov/pcs-public/.
2. In written form, mailed or delivered
to MMS Cape Wind Energy Project, TRC
Environmental Corporation,
Wannalancit Mills, 650 Suffolk Street,
Lowell, Massachusetts 01854.
Public Comment Policy: Be advised
that your entire comment—including
your personal identifying information—
may be made publicly available at any
time. While you may 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: Mr.
James F. Bennett, Minerals Management
Service, Environmental Assessment
Branch, 381 Elden Street, Mail Stop
4042, Herndon, Virginia 20710, or by
phone at (703) 787–1656.
Dated: January 5, 2009.
Chris C. Oynes,
Associate Director for Offshore Energy and
Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. E9–1065 Filed 1–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service (MMS)
Geological and Geophysical
Exploration (G&G) on the Atlantic
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service,
Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) To
Prepare a Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PEIS) and Call for
Interest for Future Industry G&G
Activity on the Atlantic OCS.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the regulations
implementing the procedural provisions
of the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA), MMS is announcing its
intent to prepare a PEIS to evaluate
potential environmental effects of
multiple G&G activities on the Atlantic
OCS. This NOI initiates the scoping
process for this PEIS and also seeks
interest from other Federal agencies,
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and State, tribal, and local governments
to consider becoming cooperating
agencies in the preparation of the EIS.
Through the scoping process, Federal,
state, and local government agencies
and other interested parties have the
opportunity to aid MMS in determining
the significant issues and alternatives
for analysis in the PEIS. Comments
received in response to the NOI will
assist MMS in developing the scope of
the PEIS. This early planning and
consultation step is important to ensure
that all interests and concerns are
communicated to MMS as it develops
this PEIS and ultimately for future
decisions regarding G&G operations
under MMS regulatory authority.
In order to assist MMS in developing
the scope of G&G activities to be
covered within the PEIS, we are also
using this NOI to solicit information
from industry on any potential interest
for future G&G activities on the Atlantic
OCS, including seismic surveys (highresolution surveys as well as various
types of seismic exploration and
development surveys), side-scan sonar
surveys, all types of electromagnetic
surveys, geological and geochemical
sampling, and remote sensing
(including gravity and magnetic
surveys) and the geographic areas of
these activities. The MMS will
specifically use this information to
develop the scope of the PEIS scenario
and its proposed action area. If details
on activities, desired geographic
locations, or other relevant information
are not provided to MMS through this
Call for Interest, then this information
may not be included in the PEIS
scenario and may require additional
NEPA analysis if proposed at a later
date.
With this NOI, MMS notes that this
PEIS is dependent upon availability of
funding. MMS welcomes participation
from outside sources consistent with
appropriate authorities and mechanisms
to award a contract to conduct the
essential analyses and prepare the PEIS.
The MMS would maintain sole
oversight over selection and
management of contractors and would
maintain full authority over the content
of the PEIS, protected resources
analyses, and final decisions. Outside
sources that are considering
participating in this PEIS process
should submit an expression of interest,
along with the requested information on
potential activities and geographic
scope, to the MMS, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region’s Regional Supervisor for
Leasing and Environment (see
Comments section for contact
information).
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 12 / Wednesday, January 21, 2009 / Notices
If a PEIS is funded and started in early
2009, MMS estimates completion of the
PEIS by late 2010. Without funding,
completion of the PEIS would be
uncertain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES
Authority: MMS has the authority under
the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
(OCSLA as amended; 43 U.S.C. 1331–1356,
(1994)) and its implementing regulations at
30 CFR Part 251 to issue prelease permits for
the collection of G&G data. These regulations
discuss and identify both the authority and
applicability of this responsibility as well as
discussing the types of G&G activities that
require a permit, the instructions for filing a
permit, and the obligations and rights under
a permit. This NOI is published pursuant to
the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7)
implementing the provisions of the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988))
(NEPA).
Background: This NOI is the initial
step in the NEPA process. The MMS
plans to fully comply with all pertinent
laws, rules, and regulations and will
allow the public an adequate
opportunity to participate in the NEPA
process, including through scoping
meetings and public comment periods.
The PEIS will evaluate environmental
impacts of multiple G&G activities on
the Atlantic OCS, and more specifically
the proposed action area developed for
the draft PEIS (see description of action
area), subject to MMS regulatory
authority. These activities include, but
are not limited to, seismic surveys, sidescan sonar surveys, electromagnetic
surveys, geological and geochemical
sampling, and remote sensing. More
information on G&G activities can be
found on pages 13–15 of MMS’s Leasing
Oil and Natural Gas Resources: Outer
Continental Shelf (see https://
www.mms.gov/ld/PDFs/GreenBookLeasingDocument.pdf) and MMS’s
Geological and Geophysical Exploration
for Mineral Resources on the Gulf of
Mexico Outer Continental Shelf: Final
Programmatic Environmental
Assessment (see https://
www.gomr.mms.gov/PDFs/2004/2004054.pdf).
The PEIS will be completed prior to
authorizing any new, large-scale G&G
activities on the Atlantic OCS. In the
interim, MMS may still consider small
scale, limited permit requests but only
if a NEPA environmental assessment is
conducted and finds there is no
potential for significant impacts from
that specific proposed activity nor that
the cumulative nature of a collection of
smaller, limited surveys would result in
significant impacts under NEPA.
Description of Area: The action area
to be evaluated under this PEIS may
include the entire Atlantic OCS but will
VerDate Nov<24>2008
18:54 Jan 16, 2009
Jkt 217001
ultimately be determined based on
information provided to MMS by
industry and public commentors as a
result of this NOI and Call for Interest.
Request for Cooperating Agencies:
The DOI policy is to invite other Federal
agencies, and State, tribal, and local
governments to consider becoming
cooperating agencies in the preparation
of an EIS. Per Council of Environmental
Quality (CEQ) regulations, qualified
agencies and governments are those
with ‘‘jurisdiction by law or special
expertise.’’ Cooperating agency status
neither enlarges nor diminishes the final
decisionmaking authority of any agency
involved in the NEPA process.
The MMS invites qualified
government entities to inquire about
cooperating agency status for this EIS.
Upon request, the MMS will provide
qualified cooperating agencies with a
written summary of ground rules for
cooperating agencies, including time
schedules and critical action dates,
milestones, responsibilities, scope and
detail of cooperating agencies’
contributions, and handling of
predecisional information. The MMS
anticipates this summary will form the
basis for a Memorandum of
Understanding between the MMS and
each cooperating agency. You should
also consider the CEQ’s ‘‘Factors for
Determining Cooperating Agency
Status.’’ This document is available on
the CEQ Web site at: https://
ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/cooperating/
cooperatingagencymemofactors.html.
Even if your organization is not a
cooperating agency, you will continue
to have opportunities to provide
information and comments to MMS
during the normal public input phases
of the NEPA/EIS process.
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings on
the PEIS: MMS will hold public scoping
meetings on the PEIS. The purpose of
these meetings will be to solicit
comments on the scope of the PEIS,
identify significant issues to be analyzed
in the PEIS, and identify possible
alternatives to a proposed action. The
public scoping meetings will be
scheduled at a later date and a Federal
Register notice will be published
announcing the date, time, and location
of the meetings and will include a map
of the Atlantic OCS.
Comments: In addition to
participation in the scoping meetings,
Federal, state, and local government
agencies and other interested parties are
invited to send their written comments
on the scope of the PEIS, significant
issues that should be addressed,
alternatives that should be considered,
scenario development, and the types of
G&G activities and geographical areas of
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
3637
interest on the Atlantic OCS. In
particular, MMS would like to know the
interest level and geographic location
for seismic exploration activity (2D and
3D), magnetotelluric and controlled
source electromagnetic surveys, coring,
deep and/or shallow stratigraphic test
wells, geochemical surveys,
aeromagnetic, and aerogravity surveys.
Comments may be submitted in one of
the following two ways:
1. In written form enclosed in an
envelope labeled ‘‘Comments on the
PEIS Scope’’ and mailed (or hand
carried) to the Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Environment (MS 5410),
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood
Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123–2394.
2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail
address: GGEIS@mms.gov.
If you would like your name added to
the MMS mailing list, please send an
e-mail to the MMS e-mail address:
GGEIS@mms.gov with the subject line
‘‘Atlantic OCS mailing list.’’ For further
information regarding the Atlantic OCS
G&G PEIS please visit our Web site at:
https://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/
offshore/atlocs/atlocs.html.
DATES: Comments should be submitted
no later than March 23, 2009, at the
addresses specified above. If a PEIS is
funded and started by early 2009, MMS
estimates completion of the PEIS by late
2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
information on this NOI, please contact
Mr. Casey Rowe, Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region,
1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (MS
5412), New Orleans, Louisiana 70123–
2394, telephone (504) 736–2781. For
information on MMS policies associated
with this NOI, please contact Mr. Joe
Christopher, Regional Supervisor,
Leasing and Environment (MS 5410),
Minerals Management Service, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood
Park Boulevard, New Orleans, Louisiana
70123–2394, telephone (504) 736–2759.
Dated: January 9, 2009.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E9–1063 Filed 1–16–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
National Park Service
National Register of Historic Places;
Notification of Pending Nominations
and Related Actions
Nominations for the following
properties being considered for listing
E:\FR\FM\21JAN1.SGM
21JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 12 (Wednesday, January 21, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3636-3637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-1063]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Minerals Management Service (MMS)
Geological and Geophysical Exploration (G&G) on the Atlantic
Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of Intent (NOI) To Prepare a Programmatic Environmental
Impact Statement (PEIS) and Call for Interest for Future Industry G&G
Activity on the Atlantic OCS.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the regulations implementing the procedural
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), MMS is
announcing its intent to prepare a PEIS to evaluate potential
environmental effects of multiple G&G activities on the Atlantic OCS.
This NOI initiates the scoping process for this PEIS and also seeks
interest from other Federal agencies, and State, tribal, and local
governments to consider becoming cooperating agencies in the
preparation of the EIS. Through the scoping process, Federal, state,
and local government agencies and other interested parties have the
opportunity to aid MMS in determining the significant issues and
alternatives for analysis in the PEIS. Comments received in response to
the NOI will assist MMS in developing the scope of the PEIS. This early
planning and consultation step is important to ensure that all
interests and concerns are communicated to MMS as it develops this PEIS
and ultimately for future decisions regarding G&G operations under MMS
regulatory authority.
In order to assist MMS in developing the scope of G&G activities to
be covered within the PEIS, we are also using this NOI to solicit
information from industry on any potential interest for future G&G
activities on the Atlantic OCS, including seismic surveys (high-
resolution surveys as well as various types of seismic exploration and
development surveys), side-scan sonar surveys, all types of
electromagnetic surveys, geological and geochemical sampling, and
remote sensing (including gravity and magnetic surveys) and the
geographic areas of these activities. The MMS will specifically use
this information to develop the scope of the PEIS scenario and its
proposed action area. If details on activities, desired geographic
locations, or other relevant information are not provided to MMS
through this Call for Interest, then this information may not be
included in the PEIS scenario and may require additional NEPA analysis
if proposed at a later date.
With this NOI, MMS notes that this PEIS is dependent upon
availability of funding. MMS welcomes participation from outside
sources consistent with appropriate authorities and mechanisms to award
a contract to conduct the essential analyses and prepare the PEIS. The
MMS would maintain sole oversight over selection and management of
contractors and would maintain full authority over the content of the
PEIS, protected resources analyses, and final decisions. Outside
sources that are considering participating in this PEIS process should
submit an expression of interest, along with the requested information
on potential activities and geographic scope, to the MMS, Gulf of
Mexico OCS Region's Regional Supervisor for Leasing and Environment
(see Comments section for contact information).
[[Page 3637]]
If a PEIS is funded and started in early 2009, MMS estimates
completion of the PEIS by late 2010. Without funding, completion of the
PEIS would be uncertain.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Authority: MMS has the authority under the Outer Continental
Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA as amended; 43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, (1994)) and
its implementing regulations at 30 CFR Part 251 to issue prelease
permits for the collection of G&G data. These regulations discuss
and identify both the authority and applicability of this
responsibility as well as discussing the types of G&G activities
that require a permit, the instructions for filing a permit, and the
obligations and rights under a permit. This NOI is published
pursuant to the regulations (40 CFR 1501.7) implementing the
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as
amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)) (NEPA).
Background: This NOI is the initial step in the NEPA process. The
MMS plans to fully comply with all pertinent laws, rules, and
regulations and will allow the public an adequate opportunity to
participate in the NEPA process, including through scoping meetings and
public comment periods.
The PEIS will evaluate environmental impacts of multiple G&G
activities on the Atlantic OCS, and more specifically the proposed
action area developed for the draft PEIS (see description of action
area), subject to MMS regulatory authority. These activities include,
but are not limited to, seismic surveys, side-scan sonar surveys,
electromagnetic surveys, geological and geochemical sampling, and
remote sensing. More information on G&G activities can be found on
pages 13-15 of MMS's Leasing Oil and Natural Gas Resources: Outer
Continental Shelf (see https://www.mms.gov/ld/PDFs/GreenBook-
LeasingDocument.pdf) and MMS's Geological and Geophysical Exploration
for Mineral Resources on the Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf:
Final Programmatic Environmental Assessment (see https://
www.gomr.mms.gov/PDFs/2004/2004-054.pdf).
The PEIS will be completed prior to authorizing any new, large-
scale G&G activities on the Atlantic OCS. In the interim, MMS may still
consider small scale, limited permit requests but only if a NEPA
environmental assessment is conducted and finds there is no potential
for significant impacts from that specific proposed activity nor that
the cumulative nature of a collection of smaller, limited surveys would
result in significant impacts under NEPA.
Description of Area: The action area to be evaluated under this
PEIS may include the entire Atlantic OCS but will ultimately be
determined based on information provided to MMS by industry and public
commentors as a result of this NOI and Call for Interest.
Request for Cooperating Agencies: The DOI policy is to invite other
Federal agencies, and State, tribal, and local governments to consider
becoming cooperating agencies in the preparation of an EIS. Per Council
of Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations, qualified agencies and
governments are those with ``jurisdiction by law or special
expertise.'' Cooperating agency status neither enlarges nor diminishes
the final decisionmaking authority of any agency involved in the NEPA
process.
The MMS invites qualified government entities to inquire about
cooperating agency status for this EIS. Upon request, the MMS will
provide qualified cooperating agencies with a written summary of ground
rules for cooperating agencies, including time schedules and critical
action dates, milestones, responsibilities, scope and detail of
cooperating agencies' contributions, and handling of predecisional
information. The MMS anticipates this summary will form the basis for a
Memorandum of Understanding between the MMS and each cooperating
agency. You should also consider the CEQ's ``Factors for Determining
Cooperating Agency Status.'' This document is available on the CEQ Web
site at: https://ceq.eh.doe.gov/nepa/regs/cooperating/
cooperatingagencymemofactors.html. Even if your organization is not a
cooperating agency, you will continue to have opportunities to provide
information and comments to MMS during the normal public input phases
of the NEPA/EIS process.
Notice of Public Scoping Meetings on the PEIS: MMS will hold public
scoping meetings on the PEIS. The purpose of these meetings will be to
solicit comments on the scope of the PEIS, identify significant issues
to be analyzed in the PEIS, and identify possible alternatives to a
proposed action. The public scoping meetings will be scheduled at a
later date and a Federal Register notice will be published announcing
the date, time, and location of the meetings and will include a map of
the Atlantic OCS.
Comments: In addition to participation in the scoping meetings,
Federal, state, and local government agencies and other interested
parties are invited to send their written comments on the scope of the
PEIS, significant issues that should be addressed, alternatives that
should be considered, scenario development, and the types of G&G
activities and geographical areas of interest on the Atlantic OCS. In
particular, MMS would like to know the interest level and geographic
location for seismic exploration activity (2D and 3D), magnetotelluric
and controlled source electromagnetic surveys, coring, deep and/or
shallow stratigraphic test wells, geochemical surveys, aeromagnetic,
and aerogravity surveys.
Comments may be submitted in one of the following two ways:
1. In written form enclosed in an envelope labeled ``Comments on
the PEIS Scope'' and mailed (or hand carried) to the Regional
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394.
2. Electronically to the MMS e-mail address: GGEIS@mms.gov.
If you would like your name added to the MMS mailing list, please
send an e-mail to the MMS e-mail address: GGEIS@mms.gov with the
subject line ``Atlantic OCS mailing list.'' For further information
regarding the Atlantic OCS G&G PEIS please visit our Web site at:
https://www.gomr.mms.gov/homepg/offshore/atlocs/atlocs.html.
DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than March 23, 2009, at
the addresses specified above. If a PEIS is funded and started by early
2009, MMS estimates completion of the PEIS by late 2010.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on this NOI, please
contact Mr. Casey Rowe, Minerals Management Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS
Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard (MS 5412), New Orleans, Louisiana
70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2781. For information on MMS policies
associated with this NOI, please contact Mr. Joe Christopher, Regional
Supervisor, Leasing and Environment (MS 5410), Minerals Management
Service, Gulf of Mexico OCS Region, 1201 Elmwood Park Boulevard, New
Orleans, Louisiana 70123-2394, telephone (504) 736-2759.
Dated: January 9, 2009.
Randall B. Luthi,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. E9-1063 Filed 1-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
