Potential Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) Research Lease on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Oregon; Request for Competitive Interest, 16050-16053 [2014-06295]
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16050
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM–2013–0090;
MMAA104000]
Potential Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK)
Research Lease on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore
Oregon; Request for Competitive
Interest
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Public Notice of an Unsolicited
Request for an OCS Renewable Energy
Research Lease, Request for Competitive
Interest (RFCI), Request for Public
Comment.
AGENCY:
The purpose of this public
notice is to: (1) Describe the proposal
submitted to BOEM by the Northwest
National Marine Renewable Energy
Center at Oregon State University
(NNMREC–OSU) to acquire an OCS
lease for MHK research activities; (2)
solicit submissions of indications of
interest in obtaining a renewable energy
lease for MHK research or commercial
activities on the OCS offshore Oregon in
the area described in this notice; and (3)
solicit public input regarding the area
described in this notice, the potential
environmental consequences of MHK
energy development in the area, and
multiple uses of the area.
On June 17, 2013, BOEM received an
unsolicited request from NNMREC–OSU
for an MHK OCS research lease offshore
Oregon. The objective of NNMREC–OSU
is to obtain a lease under 30 CFR
585.238 for renewable energy research
activities, including MHK device
installation and operational testing and
the installation of monitoring
equipment. The purpose of NNMREC–
OSU’s proposed project, the ‘‘Pacific
Marine Energy Center—South Energy
Test Site,’’ is to design, develop and
demonstrate a grid-connected MHK
research facility on the OCS
approximately five nautical miles (nmi)
southwest of Newport, Oregon. The
project would consist of four test sites
(or berths), with each test berth capable
of testing single or multiple MHK
devices and equipped with its own
subsea cable to transmit energy, as well
as performance and environmental data,
from the test berth to an onshore control
center. Each of the test berth electrical
cables would connect at a single
submerged point, with a single
transmission export cable capable of
transmitting up to 10 megawatts (MW)
of electricity to the mainland. The
export cable would cross the OCS and
state submerged lands. Additional
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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information on NNMREC–OSU’s
unsolicited lease request can be viewed
at: www.boem.gov/Oregon.
This RFCI is published pursuant to
subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act,
as amended by section 388 of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) (43 U.S.C.
1337(p)(3)), and the implementing
regulations at 30 CFR 585.238.
Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act
requires that OCS renewable energy
leases, easements and rights-of-way be
issued ‘‘on a competitive basis unless
the Secretary determines after public
notice of a proposed lease, easement, or
right-of-way that there is no competitive
interest.’’ 30 CFR 585.238(c) states that
BOEM may issue research leases if ‘‘no
competitive interest exists’’. This RFCI
provides such public notice for the
proposed lease area requested by
NNMREC–OSU and invites the
submission of indications of interest.
BOEM is soliciting submissions of
interest for MHK energy development
only with this notice. BOEM will
consider the responses to this public
notice to determine whether
competitive interest exists for the area
requested by NNMREC–OSU, as
required by 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3). Parties
wishing to obtain a lease for MHK
development for the area described
herein under ‘‘Description of the
Proposed Lease Area’’ should submit
detailed and specific information as
described in the section entitled,
‘‘Required Indication of Interest
Information.’’
BOEM has jurisdiction to issue leases
on the OCS for MHK projects under
subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act
(43 U.S.C. 13376(p)), and the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
has jurisdiction to issue licenses under
Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA),
16 U.S.C. 792–823A (2006) for the
construction and operation of
hydrokinetic projects on the OCS.
This announcement also requests that
interested and affected parties comment
and provide information about site
conditions and multiple uses within the
area identified in this notice that would
be relevant to the proposed project or its
potential impacts. A detailed
description of the proposed lease area
can be found in the section of this
notice entitled, ‘‘Description of the
Area.’’
If you are submitting an
indication of interest in acquiring an
MHK lease for the proposed lease area,
your submission must be sent by mail,
postmarked no later than April 23, 2014
for your submission to be considered. If
you are providing comments or other
submissions of information, you may
DATES:
PO 00000
Frm 00118
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send them by mail, postmarked by this
same date, or you may submit them
through the Federal Rulemaking Portal
at https://www.regulations.gov, also by
this same date.
Submission Procedures: If you are
interested in submitting an indication of
interest in a lease, please submit it by
mail to the following address: Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS
Region, Office of Strategic Resources,
770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor,
Camarillo, California, 93010.
Submissions must be postmarked by
April 23, 2014 to be considered by
BOEM for the purposes of determining
competitive interest. In addition to a
paper copy of your submission, include
an electronic copy; BOEM considers an
Adobe PDF file stored on a compact disc
(CD) to be an acceptable format for
submitting an electronic copy. BOEM
will list the parties submitting
indications of interest on the BOEM
Web site after the 30-day comment
period has closed.
If you are submitting comments and
other information concerning the
proposed lease area, you may use either
of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. In the entry
entitled, ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter
BOEM–2013–0090, and then click
‘‘search.’’ Follow the instructions to
submit public comments and view
supporting and related materials
available for this notice.
2. Alternatively, comments may be
submitted by mail to the following
address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Pacific OCS Region, Office
of Strategic Resources, 770 Paseo
Camarillo, Second Floor, Camarillo,
California, 93010.
If you wish to protect the
confidentiality of your submissions or
comments, clearly mark the relevant
sections and request BOEM treat them
as confidential. Please label privileged
or confidential information ‘‘Contains
Privileged or Confidential Information,’’
and consider submitting such
information as a separate attachment.
Treatment of confidential information is
addressed in the section of this notice
entitled, ‘‘Privileged or Confidential
Information.’’ BOEM will post all
comments on www.regulations.gov
unless labeled as privileged or
confidential. Information that is not
labeled as privileged or confidential will
be regarded by BOEM as suitable for
public release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Jean Thurston, Renewable Energy
Program Specialist, BOEM, Pacific OCS
Region, Office of Strategic Resources,
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices
770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor,
Camarillo, California 93010, Phone:
(805) 389–7585.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of This RFCI
Responses to this public notice will
allow BOEM to determine whether there
is competitive interest in acquiring an
OCS MHK lease in the proposed lease
area. In addition, this notice provides an
opportunity for interested stakeholders
to comment on the proposed lease area,
the proposed project and any potential
impacts MHK energy development may
have in the area. BOEM may use
comments received to further identify
and refine the area requested and inform
future environmental analyses related to
the project.
Determination of Competitive Interest
and Leasing Process
After the publication of this
announcement, BOEM will evaluate
indications of competitive interest in
acquiring an MHK lease in the proposed
lease area. At the conclusion of the
comment period for this public notice,
BOEM will review the submissions
received and undertake a completeness
review for each of those submissions
and a qualifications review for each of
the nominating entities. BOEM will then
make a determination as to whether
competitive interest exists.
If BOEM determines that there is no
competitive interest in the proposed
lease area, it will publish a
determination of no competitive interest
in the Federal Register. At that point,
BOEM may decide to proceed with the
noncompetitive lease issuance process
for a research lease pursuant to 30 CFR
585.238. If BOEM determines that there
is competitive interest, then it may
move forward with the leasing process
outlined in 30 CFR 585.211.
Whether following competitive or
non-competitive procedures, NNMREC–
OSU would need to submit any required
plan(s) to BOEM and an application for
a license to FERC. BOEM would consult
with the BOEM Oregon
Intergovernmental Renewable Energy
Task Force and comply with all
applicable requirements before making a
decision whether or not to issue a lease.
BOEM would coordinate and consult, as
appropriate, with FERC and other
relevant federal agencies, affected tribes,
affected state agencies and affected local
governments during the lease issuance
process.
Description of the Proposed Research
Lease Area
The proposed research lease area is
located off the coast of Oregon,
beginning approximately 5 nmi
southwest of Newport, Oregon. From its
most northwest point (Point number 27,
Table 2) the area extends approximately
5.18 nmi south and 5.18 nmi east. The
project area consists of two full OCS
blocks and two partial OCS blocks. The
entire area is approximately 33 square
miles (20,994 acres or 8496 hectares).
The project footprint is anticipated to be
smaller than the area described in this
RFCI. BOEM may remove any lease
blocks, or sub-blocks, from the area
prior to issuing a lease if it is larger than
needed to develop the project. The table
below describes the OCS lease blocks
and sub-blocks included within the area
of interest.
TABLE 1—LIST OF OCS BLOCKS INCLUDED IN THE REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE INTEREST
Protraction
number
Protraction name
Newport Valley ...................................
Newport Valley ...................................
Salem .................................................
Salem .................................................
NL
NL
NL
NL
The boundary of the proposed lease
area follows the points listed in Table 2
in clockwise order. Point numbers 1 and
Block
number
10–10
10–10
10–11
10–11
6481
6531
6451
6501
Sub block
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
A,B,C,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,I,J,K,M,N.
35 are the same. Coordinates are
provided in X, Y (eastings, northings)
UTM Zone 10N, NAD 83 and geographic
(latitude, longitude), NAD 83.
TABLE 2—LIST OF BOUNDARY POINTS INCLUDED IN THE REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE INTEREST
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Point number
X (Easting)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
VerDate Mar<15>2010
14:29 Mar 21, 2014
Y (Northing)
407600
407600
408800
408800
408800
408800
408800
407600
407600
407600
406400
406400
405200
404000
402800
402015
401600
400400
399200
399200
399200
399200
399200
Jkt 232001
PO 00000
Latitude
4939200
4938000
4938000
4936800
4935600
4934400
4933200
4933200
4932000
4930800
4930800
4929600
4929600
4929600
4929600
4929600
4929600
4929600
4929600
4929600
4930800
4932000
4933200
Frm 00119
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Longitude
44.600214
44.589413
44.589566
44.578765
44.567964
44.557163
44.546362
44.546209
44.535408
44.524607
44.524452
44.513652
44.513495
44.513336
44.513176
44.513069
44.513013
44.512848
44.512682
44.523482
44.534283
44.545083
44.555884
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
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¥124.164292
¥124.164076
¥124.148961
¥124.148749
¥124.148536
¥124.148324
¥124.148111
¥124.163215
¥124.163000
¥124.162785
¥124.177883
¥124.177665
¥124.192760
¥124.207855
¥124.222950
¥124.232819
¥124.238044
¥124.253139
¥124.268233
¥124.268468
¥124.268702
¥124.268937
¥124.269172
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices
TABLE 2—LIST OF BOUNDARY POINTS INCLUDED IN THE REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE INTEREST—Continued
Point number
X (Easting)
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
Y (Northing)
399200
399200
399200
399200
400400
401600
402800
403847
404000
405200
406400
407600
Map of the Area
A map of the area proposed by
NNMREC–OSU and included in this
RFCI can be found at the following URL:
www.boem.gov/Oregon. A large-scale
map of the proposed lease area showing
boundaries of the area with the
numbered blocks is available from
BOEM at the following address: Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific
OCS Region, Office of Strategic
Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Second
Floor, Camarillo, California, 93010.
Department of Defense Activities and
Stipulations
The Department of Defense (DOD)
conducts offshore testing, training and
operations on the OCS and may request
that BOEM condition activities that
might take place in the proposed lease
area. BOEM will consult with DOD
regarding potential issues concerning
offshore testing, training and
operational activities, and will develop
any necessary stipulations to mitigate
the potential effects of renewable energy
activities on DOD activities in the
proposed lease area.
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Required Indication of Interest
Information
If you intend to submit an indication
of interest in an MHK lease for the area
identified in this notice, you must
provide the following:
(1) A statement that you wish to
acquire an MHK lease within the
proposed lease area. For BOEM to
consider your indication of interest, it
must include a proposal for the
installation of one or more MHK devices
within the proposed lease area. Any
request for an MHK lease located
outside of the proposed lease area
should be submitted separately
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.230 or 30 CFR
585.238;
(2) A general description of your
objectives and the facilities that you
would use to achieve those objectives;
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Latitude
4934400
4935600
4936800
4938000
4939200
4939200
4939200
4939200
4939200
4939200
4939200
4939200
44.566684
44.577485
44.588285
44.599086
44.599253
44.599418
44.599581
44.599722
44.599742
44.599901
44.600058
44.600214
(3) A general schedule of proposed
activities, including those leading to
commercial operations, as applicable;
(4) Available and pertinent data and
information concerning renewable
energy resources and environmental
conditions in the area you wish to lease,
including energy and resource data and
information used to evaluate the area of
interest. Where applicable, spatial
information should be submitted in a
format compatible with ArcGIS 9.3 in a
geographic coordinate system (NAD 83);
(5) Documentation demonstrating that
you are legally qualified to hold a lease
as set forth in 30 CFR 585.106 and 107.
Examples of the documentation
appropriate for demonstrating your legal
qualifications and related guidance can
be found in Chapter 2 and Appendix B
of the Guidelines for the Minerals
Management Service Renewable Energy
Framework available at: https://
www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/Regulatory-Information/
Index.aspx. Legal qualification
documents will be placed in an official
file that may be made available for
public review. If you wish any part of
your legal qualification documentation
to be kept confidential, clearly identify
what should be kept confidential, and
submit it under separate cover (see
‘‘Protection of Privileged or Confidential
Information Section,’’ below); and
(6) Documentation demonstrating that
you are technically and financially
capable of constructing, operating,
maintaining and decommissioning the
facilities described in your submission.
Guidance regarding the documentation
that could be used to demonstrate your
technical and financial qualifications
can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/
Renewable-Energy-Program/RegulatoryInformation/Index.aspx. If you wish
that any part of your technical and
financial qualification documentation
be kept confidential, clearly identify
what should be kept confidential, and
submit it under separate cover (see
PO 00000
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Longitude
¥124.269406
¥124.269641
¥124.269877
¥124.270112
¥124.254995
¥124.239878
¥124.224761
¥124.211568
¥124.209644
¥124.194527
¥124.179409
¥124.164292
‘‘Protection of Privileged or Confidential
Information Section,’’ below).
Your complete submission, including
the items identified in (1) through (6)
above, must be provided to BOEM in
both paper and electronic formats.
BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file
stored on a CD to be an acceptable
format for submitting an electronic
copy.
It is critical that you provide a
complete submission of interest so that
BOEM may consider your submission in
a timely manner. If BOEM reviews your
submission and determines it is
incomplete, BOEM will inform you of
this determination in writing and
describe the information BOEM needs
from you in order for BOEM to deem
your submission complete. You will be
given 15 business days from the date of
the letter to provide the requested
information. If you do not meet this
deadline, or if BOEM determines your
second submission is also insufficient,
BOEM may deem your submission
invalid. In such a case, BOEM would
not consider your submission.
Requested Information From Interested
or Affected Parties
BOEM is also requesting from the
public and other interested or affected
parties specific and detailed comments
regarding the following:
(1) Geological and geophysical
conditions (including seabed conditions
and shallow hazards) in the area
described in this notice;
(2) Historic properties, archaeological,
historic and/or cultural resources
potentially affected by the development
of the area identified in this notice;
(3) Other uses of the area described in
this notice, including navigation
(commercial and recreational vessel
usage) and commercial and recreational
fishing; recreational activities (e.g.,
wildlife viewing and scenic areas),
scientific research and utilities and
communications infrastructure (e.g.,
undersea cables);
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 56 / Monday, March 24, 2014 / Notices
(4) Other relevant environmental
information, including but not limited
to: protected species and habitats,
marine mammals, sea turtles, birds and
fish; and
(5) Socioeconomic information, such
as demographics and employment, or
information relevant to environmental
justice considerations.
Protection of Privileged or Confidential
Information
Freedom of Information Act
BOEM will protect privileged or
confidential information that you
submit as required by the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA). Exemption 4 of
FOIA applies to trade secrets and
commercial or financial information
that you submit that is privileged or
confidential. If you wish to protect the
confidentiality of such information,
clearly mark it, and request that BOEM
treat it as confidential. BOEM will not
disclose such information, subject to the
requirements of FOIA. Please label
privileged or confidential information,
‘‘Contains Confidential Information,’’
and consider submitting such
information as a separate attachment.
BOEM will not treat as confidential
any aggregate summaries of such
information or comments not containing
such information. Additionally, BOEM
will not treat as confidential: (1) The
legal title of the nominating entity (for
example, the name of your company); or
(2) the geographic location of nominated
facilities. Information that is not labeled
as privileged or confidential will be
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public
release.
Section 304 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470w–3(a))
BOEM is required, after consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior, to
withhold the location, character or
ownership of historic resources, if it
determines that disclosure may, among
other things, cause a significant
invasion of privacy, risk harm to the
historic resources or impede the use of
a traditional religious site by
practitioners. Tribal entities and other
interested parties should designate
information that they wish to be held as
confidential.
Dated: March 13, 2014.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2014–06295 Filed 3–21–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
[Docket No. ONRR–2011–0012; DS63610000
DR2PS0000.CH7000 145DO102R2]
Major Portion Prices and Due Date for
Additional Royalty Payments on Indian
Gas Production in Designated Areas
Not Associated With an Index Zone
Office of the Secretary, Office
of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR),
Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Final regulations for valuing
gas produced from Indian leases,
published August 10, 1999, require
ONRR to determine major portion prices
and notify industry by publishing the
prices in the Federal Register. The
regulations also require ONRR to
publish a due date for industry to pay
additional royalties based on the major
portion prices. This notice provides
major portion prices for the 12 months
of calendar year 2012.
DATES: The due date to pay additional
royalties based on the major portion
prices is May 31, 2014.
SUMMARY:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael Curry, Manager, Denver B,
Western Audit & Compliance, ONRR;
telephone (303) 231–3741; fax number
(303) 231–3473; email Michael.Curry@
onrr.gov; or Rob Francoeur, Denver B,
Team 2, Western Audit & Compliance,
ONRR; telephone (303) 231–3723; fax
(303) 231–3473; email Rob.Francoeur@
onrr.gov. Mailing address: Office of
Natural Resources Revenue, Western
Audit and Compliance Management,
Denver B, P.O. Box 25165, MS 62520B,
Denver, Colorado 80225–0165.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On August
10, 1999, ONRR published a final rule
titled ‘‘Amendments to Gas Valuation
Regulations for Indian Leases’’ effective
January 1, 2000 (64 FR 43506). The gas
valuation regulations apply to all gas
production from Indian (tribal or
allotted) oil and gas leases, except leases
on the Osage Indian Reservation.
The regulations require ONRR to
publish major portion prices for each
designated area not associated with an
index zone for each production month
beginning January 2000, as well as the
due date for additional royalty
payments. See 30 CFR 1206.174(a)(4)(ii).
If you owe additional royalties based on
a published major portion price, you
must submit to ONRR by the due date
an amended Form ONRR–2014, Report
of Sales and Royalty Remittance
(formerly Form MMS–2014). If you do
not pay the additional royalties by the
due date, ONRR will bill you late
payment interest under 30 CFR 1218.54.
The interest will accrue from the due
date until ONRR receives your payment
and an amended Form ONRR–2014. The
table below lists the major portion
prices for all designated areas not
associated with an index zone. The due
date is the end of the month following
60 days after the publication date of this
notice.
GAS MAJOR PORTION PRICES ($/MMBTU) FOR DESIGNATED AREAS NOT ASSOCIATED WITH AN INDEX ZONE
Jan
2012
WREIER-AVILES on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
ONRR-Designated areas
Blackfeet Reservation ......................................................................................
Fort Belknap ....................................................................................................
Fort Berthold ....................................................................................................
Fort Peck Reservation .....................................................................................
Navajo Allotted Leases in the Navajo Reservation .........................................
Turtle Mountain Reservation ...........................................................................
Blackfeet Reservation ......................................................................................
Fort Belknap ....................................................................................................
Fort Berthold ....................................................................................................
Fort Peck Reservation .....................................................................................
Navajo Allotted Leases in the Navajo Reservation .........................................
14:29 Mar 21, 2014
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2.07
4.58
4.06
5.22
3.29
4.40
May
2012
ONRR-Designated areas
VerDate Mar<15>2010
Feb
2012
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Mar
2012
1.84
4.44
3.82
5.17
2.70
4.57
Jun
2012
1.65
4.11
2.85
4.27
2.09
E:\FR\FM\24MRN1.SGM
Apr
2012
1.56
4.17
4.05
5.09
2.50
4.85
Jul
2012
1.52
4.31
2.36
3.69
2.52
24MRN1
1.40
4.15
3.36
4.14
2.02
4.06
Aug
2012
1.90
4.47
2.68
4.30
2.64
1.88
4.54
2.96
4.36
2.83
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 56 (Monday, March 24, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16050-16053]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-06295]
[[Page 16050]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2013-0090; MMAA104000]
Potential Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) Research Lease on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Oregon; Request for Competitive
Interest
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Public Notice of an Unsolicited Request for an OCS Renewable
Energy Research Lease, Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI), Request
for Public Comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The purpose of this public notice is to: (1) Describe the
proposal submitted to BOEM by the Northwest National Marine Renewable
Energy Center at Oregon State University (NNMREC-OSU) to acquire an OCS
lease for MHK research activities; (2) solicit submissions of
indications of interest in obtaining a renewable energy lease for MHK
research or commercial activities on the OCS offshore Oregon in the
area described in this notice; and (3) solicit public input regarding
the area described in this notice, the potential environmental
consequences of MHK energy development in the area, and multiple uses
of the area.
On June 17, 2013, BOEM received an unsolicited request from NNMREC-
OSU for an MHK OCS research lease offshore Oregon. The objective of
NNMREC-OSU is to obtain a lease under 30 CFR 585.238 for renewable
energy research activities, including MHK device installation and
operational testing and the installation of monitoring equipment. The
purpose of NNMREC-OSU's proposed project, the ``Pacific Marine Energy
Center--South Energy Test Site,'' is to design, develop and demonstrate
a grid-connected MHK research facility on the OCS approximately five
nautical miles (nmi) southwest of Newport, Oregon. The project would
consist of four test sites (or berths), with each test berth capable of
testing single or multiple MHK devices and equipped with its own subsea
cable to transmit energy, as well as performance and environmental
data, from the test berth to an onshore control center. Each of the
test berth electrical cables would connect at a single submerged point,
with a single transmission export cable capable of transmitting up to
10 megawatts (MW) of electricity to the mainland. The export cable
would cross the OCS and state submerged lands. Additional information
on NNMREC-OSU's unsolicited lease request can be viewed at:
www.boem.gov/Oregon.
This RFCI is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS
Lands Act, as amended by section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005
(EPAct) (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)), and the implementing regulations at 30
CFR 585.238. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act requires that OCS
renewable energy leases, easements and rights-of-way be issued ``on a
competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after public notice
of a proposed lease, easement, or right-of-way that there is no
competitive interest.'' 30 CFR 585.238(c) states that BOEM may issue
research leases if ``no competitive interest exists''. This RFCI
provides such public notice for the proposed lease area requested by
NNMREC-OSU and invites the submission of indications of interest. BOEM
is soliciting submissions of interest for MHK energy development only
with this notice. BOEM will consider the responses to this public
notice to determine whether competitive interest exists for the area
requested by NNMREC-OSU, as required by 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3). Parties
wishing to obtain a lease for MHK development for the area described
herein under ``Description of the Proposed Lease Area'' should submit
detailed and specific information as described in the section entitled,
``Required Indication of Interest Information.''
BOEM has jurisdiction to issue leases on the OCS for MHK projects
under subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 13376(p)), and
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has jurisdiction to
issue licenses under Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C.
792-823A (2006) for the construction and operation of hydrokinetic
projects on the OCS.
This announcement also requests that interested and affected
parties comment and provide information about site conditions and
multiple uses within the area identified in this notice that would be
relevant to the proposed project or its potential impacts. A detailed
description of the proposed lease area can be found in the section of
this notice entitled, ``Description of the Area.''
DATES: If you are submitting an indication of interest in acquiring an
MHK lease for the proposed lease area, your submission must be sent by
mail, postmarked no later than April 23, 2014 for your submission to be
considered. If you are providing comments or other submissions of
information, you may send them by mail, postmarked by this same date,
or you may submit them through the Federal Rulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov, also by this same date.
Submission Procedures: If you are interested in submitting an
indication of interest in a lease, please submit it by mail to the
following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS
Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Second
Floor, Camarillo, California, 93010. Submissions must be postmarked by
April 23, 2014 to be considered by BOEM for the purposes of determining
competitive interest. In addition to a paper copy of your submission,
include an electronic copy; BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file stored on
a compact disc (CD) to be an acceptable format for submitting an
electronic copy. BOEM will list the parties submitting indications of
interest on the BOEM Web site after the 30-day comment period has
closed.
If you are submitting comments and other information concerning the
proposed lease area, you may use either of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the
entry entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2013-0090, and then
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
2. Alternatively, comments may be submitted by mail to the
following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS
Region, Office of Strategic Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Second
Floor, Camarillo, California, 93010.
If you wish to protect the confidentiality of your submissions or
comments, clearly mark the relevant sections and request BOEM treat
them as confidential. Please label privileged or confidential
information ``Contains Privileged or Confidential Information,'' and
consider submitting such information as a separate attachment.
Treatment of confidential information is addressed in the section of
this notice entitled, ``Privileged or Confidential Information.'' BOEM
will post all comments on www.regulations.gov unless labeled as
privileged or confidential. Information that is not labeled as
privileged or confidential will be regarded by BOEM as suitable for
public release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Thurston, Renewable Energy
Program Specialist, BOEM, Pacific OCS Region, Office of Strategic
Resources,
[[Page 16051]]
770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor, Camarillo, California 93010, Phone:
(805) 389-7585.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of This RFCI
Responses to this public notice will allow BOEM to determine
whether there is competitive interest in acquiring an OCS MHK lease in
the proposed lease area. In addition, this notice provides an
opportunity for interested stakeholders to comment on the proposed
lease area, the proposed project and any potential impacts MHK energy
development may have in the area. BOEM may use comments received to
further identify and refine the area requested and inform future
environmental analyses related to the project.
Determination of Competitive Interest and Leasing Process
After the publication of this announcement, BOEM will evaluate
indications of competitive interest in acquiring an MHK lease in the
proposed lease area. At the conclusion of the comment period for this
public notice, BOEM will review the submissions received and undertake
a completeness review for each of those submissions and a
qualifications review for each of the nominating entities. BOEM will
then make a determination as to whether competitive interest exists.
If BOEM determines that there is no competitive interest in the
proposed lease area, it will publish a determination of no competitive
interest in the Federal Register. At that point, BOEM may decide to
proceed with the noncompetitive lease issuance process for a research
lease pursuant to 30 CFR 585.238. If BOEM determines that there is
competitive interest, then it may move forward with the leasing process
outlined in 30 CFR 585.211.
Whether following competitive or non-competitive procedures,
NNMREC-OSU would need to submit any required plan(s) to BOEM and an
application for a license to FERC. BOEM would consult with the BOEM
Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force and comply with
all applicable requirements before making a decision whether or not to
issue a lease. BOEM would coordinate and consult, as appropriate, with
FERC and other relevant federal agencies, affected tribes, affected
state agencies and affected local governments during the lease issuance
process.
Description of the Proposed Research Lease Area
The proposed research lease area is located off the coast of
Oregon, beginning approximately 5 nmi southwest of Newport, Oregon.
From its most northwest point (Point number 27, Table 2) the area
extends approximately 5.18 nmi south and 5.18 nmi east. The project
area consists of two full OCS blocks and two partial OCS blocks. The
entire area is approximately 33 square miles (20,994 acres or 8496
hectares). The project footprint is anticipated to be smaller than the
area described in this RFCI. BOEM may remove any lease blocks, or sub-
blocks, from the area prior to issuing a lease if it is larger than
needed to develop the project. The table below describes the OCS lease
blocks and sub-blocks included within the area of interest.
Table 1--List of OCS Blocks Included in the Request for Competitive Interest
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protraction Block
Protraction name number number Sub block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Newport Valley.................................. NL 10-10 6481 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
Newport Valley.................................. NL 10-10 6531 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
Salem........................................... NL 10-11 6451 A,B,C,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
Salem........................................... NL 10-11 6501 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,I,J,K,M,N.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The boundary of the proposed lease area follows the points listed
in Table 2 in clockwise order. Point numbers 1 and 35 are the same.
Coordinates are provided in X, Y (eastings, northings) UTM Zone 10N,
NAD 83 and geographic (latitude, longitude), NAD 83.
Table 2--List of Boundary Points Included in the Request for Competitive
Interest
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Point
number X (Easting) Y (Northing) Latitude Longitude
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 407600 4939200 44.600214 -124.164292
2 407600 4938000 44.589413 -124.164076
3 408800 4938000 44.589566 -124.148961
4 408800 4936800 44.578765 -124.148749
5 408800 4935600 44.567964 -124.148536
6 408800 4934400 44.557163 -124.148324
7 408800 4933200 44.546362 -124.148111
8 407600 4933200 44.546209 -124.163215
9 407600 4932000 44.535408 -124.163000
10 407600 4930800 44.524607 -124.162785
11 406400 4930800 44.524452 -124.177883
12 406400 4929600 44.513652 -124.177665
13 405200 4929600 44.513495 -124.192760
14 404000 4929600 44.513336 -124.207855
15 402800 4929600 44.513176 -124.222950
16 402015 4929600 44.513069 -124.232819
17 401600 4929600 44.513013 -124.238044
18 400400 4929600 44.512848 -124.253139
19 399200 4929600 44.512682 -124.268233
20 399200 4929600 44.523482 -124.268468
21 399200 4930800 44.534283 -124.268702
22 399200 4932000 44.545083 -124.268937
23 399200 4933200 44.555884 -124.269172
[[Page 16052]]
24 399200 4934400 44.566684 -124.269406
25 399200 4935600 44.577485 -124.269641
26 399200 4936800 44.588285 -124.269877
27 399200 4938000 44.599086 -124.270112
28 400400 4939200 44.599253 -124.254995
29 401600 4939200 44.599418 -124.239878
30 402800 4939200 44.599581 -124.224761
31 403847 4939200 44.599722 -124.211568
32 404000 4939200 44.599742 -124.209644
33 405200 4939200 44.599901 -124.194527
34 406400 4939200 44.600058 -124.179409
35 407600 4939200 44.600214 -124.164292
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Map of the Area
A map of the area proposed by NNMREC-OSU and included in this RFCI
can be found at the following URL: www.boem.gov/Oregon. A large-scale
map of the proposed lease area showing boundaries of the area with the
numbered blocks is available from BOEM at the following address: Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, Office of Strategic
Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor, Camarillo, California,
93010.
Department of Defense Activities and Stipulations
The Department of Defense (DOD) conducts offshore testing, training
and operations on the OCS and may request that BOEM condition
activities that might take place in the proposed lease area. BOEM will
consult with DOD regarding potential issues concerning offshore
testing, training and operational activities, and will develop any
necessary stipulations to mitigate the potential effects of renewable
energy activities on DOD activities in the proposed lease area.
Required Indication of Interest Information
If you intend to submit an indication of interest in an MHK lease
for the area identified in this notice, you must provide the following:
(1) A statement that you wish to acquire an MHK lease within the
proposed lease area. For BOEM to consider your indication of interest,
it must include a proposal for the installation of one or more MHK
devices within the proposed lease area. Any request for an MHK lease
located outside of the proposed lease area should be submitted
separately pursuant to 30 CFR 585.230 or 30 CFR 585.238;
(2) A general description of your objectives and the facilities
that you would use to achieve those objectives;
(3) A general schedule of proposed activities, including those
leading to commercial operations, as applicable;
(4) Available and pertinent data and information concerning
renewable energy resources and environmental conditions in the area you
wish to lease, including energy and resource data and information used
to evaluate the area of interest. Where applicable, spatial information
should be submitted in a format compatible with ArcGIS 9.3 in a
geographic coordinate system (NAD 83);
(5) Documentation demonstrating that you are legally qualified to
hold a lease as set forth in 30 CFR 585.106 and 107. Examples of the
documentation appropriate for demonstrating your legal qualifications
and related guidance can be found in Chapter 2 and Appendix B of the
Guidelines for the Minerals Management Service Renewable Energy
Framework available at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx. Legal qualification documents will
be placed in an official file that may be made available for public
review. If you wish any part of your legal qualification documentation
to be kept confidential, clearly identify what should be kept
confidential, and submit it under separate cover (see ``Protection of
Privileged or Confidential Information Section,'' below); and
(6) Documentation demonstrating that you are technically and
financially capable of constructing, operating, maintaining and
decommissioning the facilities described in your submission. Guidance
regarding the documentation that could be used to demonstrate your
technical and financial qualifications can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx. If you wish that any part of your technical and financial
qualification documentation be kept confidential, clearly identify what
should be kept confidential, and submit it under separate cover (see
``Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information Section,''
below).
Your complete submission, including the items identified in (1)
through (6) above, must be provided to BOEM in both paper and
electronic formats. BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file stored on a CD to
be an acceptable format for submitting an electronic copy.
It is critical that you provide a complete submission of interest
so that BOEM may consider your submission in a timely manner. If BOEM
reviews your submission and determines it is incomplete, BOEM will
inform you of this determination in writing and describe the
information BOEM needs from you in order for BOEM to deem your
submission complete. You will be given 15 business days from the date
of the letter to provide the requested information. If you do not meet
this deadline, or if BOEM determines your second submission is also
insufficient, BOEM may deem your submission invalid. In such a case,
BOEM would not consider your submission.
Requested Information From Interested or Affected Parties
BOEM is also requesting from the public and other interested or
affected parties specific and detailed comments regarding the
following:
(1) Geological and geophysical conditions (including seabed
conditions and shallow hazards) in the area described in this notice;
(2) Historic properties, archaeological, historic and/or cultural
resources potentially affected by the development of the area
identified in this notice;
(3) Other uses of the area described in this notice, including
navigation (commercial and recreational vessel usage) and commercial
and recreational fishing; recreational activities (e.g., wildlife
viewing and scenic areas), scientific research and utilities and
communications infrastructure (e.g., undersea cables);
[[Page 16053]]
(4) Other relevant environmental information, including but not
limited to: protected species and habitats, marine mammals, sea
turtles, birds and fish; and
(5) Socioeconomic information, such as demographics and employment,
or information relevant to environmental justice considerations.
Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information
Freedom of Information Act
BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that you
submit as required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exemption
4 of FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial or financial
information that you submit that is privileged or confidential. If you
wish to protect the confidentiality of such information, clearly mark
it, and request that BOEM treat it as confidential. BOEM will not
disclose such information, subject to the requirements of FOIA. Please
label privileged or confidential information, ``Contains Confidential
Information,'' and consider submitting such information as a separate
attachment.
BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such
information or comments not containing such information. Additionally,
BOEM will not treat as confidential: (1) The legal title of the
nominating entity (for example, the name of your company); or (2) the
geographic location of nominated facilities. Information that is not
labeled as privileged or confidential will be regarded by BOEM as
suitable for public release.
Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470w-
3(a))
BOEM is required, after consultation with the Secretary of the
Interior, to withhold the location, character or ownership of historic
resources, if it determines that disclosure may, among other things,
cause a significant invasion of privacy, risk harm to the historic
resources or impede the use of a traditional religious site by
practitioners. Tribal entities and other interested parties should
designate information that they wish to be held as confidential.
Dated: March 13, 2014.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-06295 Filed 3-21-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
