Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore New York-Call for Information and Nominations (Call), 30645-30651 [2014-12065]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 102 / Wednesday, May 28, 2014 / Notices
environment, BOEM will issue a
Finding of No Significant Impact
(FONSI). After either a FONSI is issued
or the EIS process is completed, BOEM
may issue one or more renewable energy
leases within the Call Area. In the event
that a particular lease is issued, and the
lessee submits a SAP, BOEM will
determine whether the EA adequately
considers the environmental impacts of
the activities proposed in the lessee’s
SAP. If the analysis in the EA
adequately addresses these impacts,
then no further NEPA analysis will be
required before the SAP is approved. If
the EA requires supplementation,
additional NEPA analysis would be
conducted before the SAP could be
approved.
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3. Information That Will Be
Incorporated Into the EA
On November 6, 2007, BOEM
published a Notice of Availability
(NOA) in the Federal Register (72 FR
62,672) of the Programmatic EIS for
Alternative Energy Development and
Production and Alternate Use of
Facilities on the Outer Continental
Shelf, Final EIS (OCS Report MMS
2007–046). BOEM has prepared several
EAs for areas in the North Atlantic and
Mid-Atlantic OCS that evaluated
activities similar to those to be
addressed in the EA for which this
Notice is being published (https://
www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/Smart-from-the-Start/
Index.aspx). Additionally, BOEM has
published a Final Programmatic EIS for
proposed geological and geophysical
activities in the Mid-Atlantic and South
Atlantic OCS Planning Areas (OCS EIS/
EA BOEM 2014–001).
BOEM will incorporate the
environmental and socioeconomic
analyses of site characterization and
assessment activities from previous
NEPA documents and other public
information to help inform its analysis
in the EA.
4. Description of the Call Area
A detailed description of the Call
Area can be found in the Call that is
being published concurrently with this
Notice.
A map of the Call Area can be found
at the following URL: https://boem.gov/
Renewable-Energy-Program/StateActivities/New York.aspx.
A large-scale map of the Call Area
showing its boundaries and with
numbered blocks is available from
BOEM at the following address: Bureau
of Ocean Energy Management, Office of
Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817, Phone: (703) 787–1320.
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5. Cooperating Agencies
BOEM invites Federal, state, and local
government agencies, as well as tribal
governments, to consider becoming
cooperating agencies in the preparation
of this EA. Regulations implementing
the procedural provisions of NEPA
define cooperating agencies as those
with ‘‘jurisdiction by law or special
expertise’’ (40 CFR 1508.5). Potential
cooperating agencies should consider
their authority and capacity to assume
the responsibilities of a cooperating
agency and remember that an agency’s
role in the environmental analysis
neither enlarges nor diminishes the final
decisionmaking authority of any other
agency involved in the NEPA process.
Upon request, BOEM will provide
potential cooperating agencies with a
draft memorandum of agreement that
includes a schedule with critical action
dates and milestones, mutual
responsibilities, designated points of
contact, and expectations for handling
pre-decisional information. Agencies
should also consider the ’’Factors for
Determining Cooperating Agency
Status’’ in Attachment 1 to CEQ’s
January 30, 2002, Memorandum for the
Heads of Federal Agencies: Cooperating
Agencies in Implementing the
Procedural Requirements of the NEPA.
A copy of this document is available at:
https://ceg.hss.doe.gov/nepa/regs/
cooperating/
cooperatingagenciesmemorandum.html
and at: https://ceg.hss.doe.gov/nepa/
regs/cooperating/
cooperatingagencymemofactors.html.
BOEM, as the lead agency, will not
provide financial assistance to
cooperating agencies. If an agency is not
a cooperating agency, it may provide
information to BOEM during the public
comment period for the EA.
6. Comments
Federal, state, local government
agencies; tribal governments; and other
interested parties are requested to send
their written comments regarding
environmental issues and potential
alternatives to the proposed action
described in this Notice in one of the
following ways:
1. Electronically: https://
www.regulations.gov. In the entry
entitled ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter
BOEM–2014–0003, then click ‘‘search.’’
Follow the instructions to submit public
comments and view supporting and
related materials available for this
document.
2. In written form, delivered by hand
or by mail, enclosed in an envelope
labeled ‘‘Comments on New York EA’’
to Program Manager, Office of
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30645
Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. Comments should be
submitted no later than July 14, 2014.
Dated: April 21, 2014.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2014–12067 Filed 5–27–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM–2013–0087;
MMAA104000]
Commercial Leasing for Wind Power
Development on the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) Offshore New York—Call
for Information and Nominations (Call)
Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Call for Information and
Nominations for Commercial Leases for
Wind Power Development on the Outer
Continental Shelf Offshore New York.
AGENCY:
BOEM invites submissions of
nominations from parties interested in
obtaining one or more commercial
leases that would allow a lessee to
propose the construction of a wind
energy project(s) on the OCS offshore
New York. Although the publication of
this notice is not itself a leasing
announcement, the area described
herein may be subject to future leasing.
Parties wishing to submit a nomination
in response to this Call should submit
detailed and specific information as
described in the section entitled,
‘‘Required Nomination Information.’’
Parties that have previously submitted a
nomination in response to the Request
for Interest (RFI) (78 FR 760, published
on January 4, 2013) do not need to
resubmit their proposals unless they
wish to modify or update them.
BOEM also requests comments from
interested and affected parties regarding
site conditions, resources, and multiple
uses of the identified area that would be
relevant to BOEM’s review of the
nominations and/or to any subsequent
decision concerning whether to offer all
or part of the area for commercial wind
leasing. Information that BOEM is
requesting is described in the section
entitled, ‘‘Requested Information from
Interested or Affected Parties.’’
This Call is published pursuant to
subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act
(43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)), which was added
by section 388 of the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 (EPAct), as well as the
SUMMARY:
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implementing regulations at 30 CFR Part
585.
The Call Area described in this notice
is located on the OCS off the coast of
Long Island, New York, beginning
approximately 11 nautical miles (nmi)
south of Long Beach, New York. From
its western edge, the area extends
approximately 26 nmi southeast at its
longest portion. The project area
consists of 5 full OCS blocks and 148
sub-blocks. The entire area is
approximately 127 square miles, 81,130
acres, or 32,832 hectares. Table 1
describes the OCS lease blocks and subblocks included within the area of
interest. A detailed description of the
area is presented later in this notice.
DATES: BOEM will only consider
nominations describing interest in this
Call Area that are postmarked by July
14, 2014. BOEM requests that comments
and any other information are submitted
by this date.
Submission Procedures: If you are
submitting a nomination for a
commercial lease in response to this
Call, please submit your nomination by
mail to the following address: Bureau of
Ocean Energy Management, Office of
Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. In addition to a paper copy
of the nomination, include an electronic
copy of the nomination on a compact
disc (CD) or flash drive. Nominations
must be postmarked by July 14, 2014.
BOEM will list the parties that
submitted nominations and the location
of the proposed lease areas (OCS blocks
they nominated) on the BOEM Web site
after the 45-day comment period closes.
Comments and other submissions of
information may be submitted by either
of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. In the entry
titled ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter
BOEM–2013–0087, and then click
‘‘Search.’’ Follow the instructions to
submit public comments and view
supporting and related materials
available for this notice.
2. By U.S. Postal Service or other
delivery service, send your comments
and information to the following
address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Office of Renewable
Energy Programs, 381 Elden Street, HM
1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817.
All responses will be reported on
https://www.regulations.gov. If you wish
to protect the confidentiality of your
nomination or comment, clearly mark
the relevant sections and request that
BOEM treat them as confidential. Please
label privileged or confidential
information ‘‘Contains Confidential
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Information,’’ and consider submitting
such information as a separate
attachment. Treatment of confidential
information is addressed in the section
of this Call entitled, ‘‘Protection of
Privileged or Confidential Information.’’
Information that is not labeled as
privileged or confidential will be
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public
release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr.
Andrew Krueger, Project Coordinator,
BOEM, Office of Renewable Energy
Programs, 381 Elden Street, HM 1328,
Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817, (703)
787–1320, or andrew.krueger@
boem.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of the Call for Information and
Nominations
The OCS Lands Act requires BOEM to
award leases competitively, unless
BOEM makes a determination that there
is no competitive interest (43 U.S.C.
1337(p)(3)). The purpose of this notice
is to inform the public that BOEM has
determined that competitive interest
exists in the area identified, solicit any
additional expressions of interest in
obtaining a lease in the area identified,
and request information from interested
and affected parties on issues relevant to
BOEM’s review of nominations for
potential leases in the area identified.
Background
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct)
The EPAct amended the OCS Lands
Act by adding subsection 8(p)(1)(c),
which authorizes the Secretary of the
Interior (Secretary) to grant leases,
easements, or rights-of-way (ROWs) on
the OCS for activities that are not
otherwise authorized by law and that
produce or support the production,
transportation, or transmission of energy
from sources other than oil or gas.
Subsection 8(p) requires the Secretary to
issue regulations to carry out the new
energy development authority on the
OCS. The Secretary delegated the
authority to issue leases, easements, and
ROWs, and to promulgate regulations to
the Director of BOEM. On April 29,
2009, BOEM promulgated the
Renewable Energy and Alternate Uses
rule, 30 CFR Part 585, which can be
found at: https://www.boem.gov/
Renewable-Energy-Program/RegulatoryInformation/Index.aspx#Rules_
Development.
Executive Order 13547: Stewardship of
the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great
Lakes
On July 19, 2010, the President signed
an Executive Order establishing a
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national ocean policy and the National
Ocean Council (75 FR 43023). The
Order establishes a comprehensive,
integrated national policy for the
stewardship of the ocean, our coasts and
the Great Lakes. Where BOEM actions
affect the ocean, the Order requires
BOEM to take such action as necessary
to implement this policy, to adhere to
the stewardship principles and national
priority objectives adopted by the Order,
and follow guidance from the National
Ocean Council.
BOEM appreciates the importance of
coordinating its planning endeavors
with other OCS users and regulators. It
intends to follow principles of coastal
and marine spatial planning, and
coordinate with the regional planning
bodies established by the National
Ocean Council, to inform its leasing
processes. BOEM anticipates that
continued coordination with its
Intergovernmental Renewable Energy
Task Forces will help inform
comprehensive coastal and marine
spatial planning efforts.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body
The National Ocean Policy also calls
for the creation of Regional Planning
Bodies (RPBs) to coordinate and
implement regional ocean planning
with state, Federal, tribal, and Fishery
Management Council representatives.
The intergovernmental Mid-Atlantic
RPB (MidA RPB) was formally
established in April 2013 to leverage
existing state and regional ocean
planning efforts and to engage
stakeholders and technical experts at
every key step.
The MidA RPB is composed of
representatives from New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware,
Maryland, and Virginia. Representatives
from New York are actively engaged in
the regional planning body. See the
MidA RPB Web site for additional
information: https://www.boem.gov/MidAtlantic-Regional-Planning-Body/.
Actions Taken by the State of New York
in Support of Renewable Energy
Development
The State of New York has taken
important steps to study offshore wind
energy development as well as other
forms of renewable energy production.
New York State coordinates renewable
energy policies to strategically harness
the many resources that the State can
provide to solar, wind (offshore and
land-based), bioenergy, geothermal,
hydrokinetic, storage, and other power
supply options. New York has
developed strategies that take into
account the opportunities provided by
the diverse renewable resources
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available in different regions of the
State. These strategies are documented
in the 2014 Draft New York State Energy
Plan, available at: https://
energyplan.ny.gov/Plans/2014.aspx.
BOEM New York Renewable Energy
Task Force
In December 2009, the Governor of
New York requested that BOEM form a
task force to facilitate intergovernmental
communications regarding OCS
renewable energy activities and
development offshore New York. The
BOEM New York Renewable Energy
Task Force first met in November 2010
to facilitate coordination among relevant
Federal agencies and affected state,
local, and tribal governments
throughout the leasing process. Two
subsequent meetings were held in April
2012 and September 2013. Task Force
meeting materials are available on the
BOEM Web site at: https://
www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/State-Activities/NewYork.aspx.
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New York Call Area
The Call Area is the same as the area
described in the Request for Interest
(RFI) (78 FR 760), which was published
in the Federal Register on January 4,
2013, and is discussed in further detail
in the ‘‘Publication of RFI and
Responses Received’’ section below.
BOEM may adjust this potential leasing
area in response to comment
submissions and information received
from this notice and the associated
Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Assessment (NOI–EA),
described below in the section entitled,
‘‘Environmental Review.’’
Publication of RFI and Responses
Received
On September 8, 2011, BOEM
received an unsolicited request from the
New York Power Authority (NYPA) for
a commercial wind lease on the OCS
offshore New York. NYPA submitted its
request on behalf of the ‘‘Long IslandNew York City Offshore Wind
Collaborative,’’ a public-private entity
consisting of NYPA, the Long Island
Power Authority, and Consolidated
Edison Company of New York, Inc. The
Collaborative’s goal is to develop the
proposed project to supply Long Island
and New York City with renewable
energy, consistent with New York
State’s and the City of New York’s
renewable energy initiatives. NYPA’s
proposed project, the ‘‘Long Island-New
York City Offshore Wind Project,’’ is
designed to generate at least 350
megawatts (MW) of electricity from
offshore wind resources, with the ability
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to expand generation capacity to as
much as 700 MW. The project would be
located approximately 11 nmi south of
Long Beach, New York, in water depths
ranging from 60 to 120 feet.
In subsequent discussions, the U.S.
Coast Guard (USCG) recommended a
minimum one nautical mile separation
distance from designated navigation
lanes. NYPA incorporated this guidance
in their lease request by an amendment
filed on June 20, 2012, requesting
additional lease area to compensate for
the area lost by the increased setback
distance. NYPA’s unsolicited lease
request and the amendment can be
viewed at: https://www.boem.gov/
Renewable-Energy-Program/StateActivities/New-York.aspx.
In response to the unsolicited
proposal, as amended, BOEM issued an
RFI on January 4, 2013, to determine
whether any parties in addition to
NYPA are interested in developing
commercial wind facilities in the same
area. BOEM received two indications of
interest in response to that notice,
which can be viewed at: https://
www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/State-Activities/NewYork.aspx. Two companies
(Fishermen’s Energy, LLC and Energy
Management, Inc.) responded to the RFI
with indications that they were
interested in developing the same area.
BOEM reviewed the information
submitted by those companies and
determined that they demonstrated the
technical and financial capability to
hold an OCS lease for commercial wind
energy development offshore New York.
Therefore, BOEM has since determined
that there is competitive interest in
obtaining commercial wind leases in the
Call Area, and is proceeding with the
competitive renewable energy leasing
process.
In addition to indications of interest,
BOEM received 33 public comment
submissions from individuals, trade
associations, environmental groups,
local and state governments, and federal
agencies in response to the RFI. The
majority of comment submissions
indicated strong support for the
development of an offshore wind
facility for a variety of reasons. The City
of New York stated support for the
development of an offshore wind
facility in order to diversify the
electricity supply, reduce electric
constraints, and help to achieve a more
reliable electric system. Numerous
environmental groups and their
members noted their support for an
offshore wind facility as a means to
reduce the need for additional fossil
fuel-based power plants, reduce the
impacts of climate change, and improve
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air quality. Additionally, multiple labor
and environmental groups as well as
state agencies endorsed the
development of an offshore wind
facility near New York as a means to
increase economic growth in the region
through sales and wages over the course
of a wind facility’s construction and
operation.
Some comment submissions
highlighted concerns for BOEM to
consider throughout the leasing process.
Multiple commenters, including the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA), the National
Park Service (NPS), and the National
Wildlife Federation, urged BOEM to
investigate mitigation strategies to
ensure that North Atlantic right whales
are protected during the development of
offshore wind resources in the area.
Commenters highlighted that other
endangered or threatened species may
be found near the Call Area as well,
including (in no particular order of
conservation priority/concern): The fin
whale, humpback whale, piping plover,
roseate tern, Atlantic sturgeon, seabeach
amaranth, loggerhead sea turtle, green
sea turtle, leatherback sea turtle, and
Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle. Commenters
noted that several species protected
under the Marine Mammal Protection
Act may be found in the Call Area as
well.
Other commenters highlighted
possible negative impacts to valuable
sea scallop fishing activities in the Call
Area and requested that the majority of
the Call Area be excluded from further
consideration. Although BOEM is
retaining this fishing area in the Call
Area at this time, BOEM will consider
this comment and other relevant fishery
information as we move forward with
area identification.
Other agencies highlighted the need
for ongoing consultation throughout the
leasing process. For example, the NPS
highlighted its concern that a
commercial wind facility in the Call
Area would impact Fire Island National
Seashore and Gateway National
Recreation Area as well as a number of
National Historic Landmarks along the
New Jersey coastline. The NPS has
requested that it be consulted on these
matters and given the opportunity to
comment on future environmental
documents, site assessment plans, and
construction and operations plans
regarding protected areas as well as
viewsheds, threatened and endangered
species, sediment transport, and other
resources. BOEM will continue to work
with NPS as we move forward.
Additionally, NOAA noted that the
Call Area is designated as essential fish
habitat for several federally managed
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species that may be impacted by the
development of an offshore wind
facility. The use of the area as a fishery
is supported by fishing data previously
supplied to BOEM by NOAA. NOAA
highlighted the need to investigate these
possible impacts, including cumulative
effects and whether fishing activity may
continue within a developed wind
facility. BOEM will consult with NOAA
on these issues through statutory
consultation requirements and informal
collaboration.
Last, the USCG Sector New York
identified a portion of the Call Area that
is currently used as a weapons training
area (WTA) for maintaining law
enforcement proficiency. USCG
requested in its comment submission
that this WTA be given consideration as
an existing use, as BOEM proceeds with
the competitive leasing process offshore
New York. It is important to note that
the WTA is not an officially designated
weapons training range. USCG has
clarified to BOEM that if BOEM
ultimately issues a wind energy lease in
the Call Area, USCG has an alternate
WTA within the Sector New York area
that could be utilized instead.
For additional detail, all comment
submissions are available at: https://
www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/State-Activities/NewYork.aspx.
BOEM appreciates the submission of
these comments and will give proper
consideration to them throughout its
planning and decision-making process.
Competitive Leasing Process
The following are the next steps in the
competitive leasing process after this
Call:
(1) Area Identification: BOEM will
identify areas for environmental
analysis and consideration for leasing in
consultation with appropriate Federal
agencies, states, local governments,
affected Indian Tribes, and other
interested parties. BOEM will also
consider comments and nominations
made in response to this Call with
respect to areas that should receive
special consideration and analysis,
including but not limited to areas with
geological conditions, archeological
sites, multiple uses, and other
socioeconomic, biological, and
environmental information. The
environmental analysis and
consideration will detail the potential
effect of leasing on the human, marine,
and coastal environments, and BOEM
will develop measures to mitigate
adverse impacts, including lease
stipulations and conditions. BOEM will
comply with the requirements of the
National Environmental Policy Act
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(NEPA), the Coastal Zone Management
Act (CZMA), and any other applicable
Federal statutes for the purpose of
issuing a lease in the Call Area.
(2) Proposed Sale Notice: After the
completion of the necessary
environmental reviews, BOEM will
publish a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) in
the Federal Register and send the PSN
to the Governor of any affected state,
any affected tribes, and the executive of
any local government that might be
affected. The PSN will describe the
areas that BOEM has decided to offer for
leasing and the proposed terms and
conditions of a lease sale, including the
proposed auction format, lease form and
lease provisions. Additionally, the PSN
will describe the criteria and process for
evaluating bids. The PSN would be
issued after preparation of various
analyses of proposed lease sale
economic terms and conditions. The
comment period following issuance of a
PSN is 60 days.
(3) Final Sale Notice: If BOEM decides
to proceed with lease issuance after
considering comment submissions on
the PSN, it will publish the Final Sale
Notice (FSN) in the Federal Register at
least 30 days before the date of the sale.
BOEM will publish the criteria for
winning bid determinations in the FSN.
(4) Bid Submission and Evaluation:
Following publication of the FSN in the
Federal Register, qualified bidders may
submit their bids to BOEM in
accordance with procedures specified in
the FSN. The bids, including the bid
deposits, if applicable, would be
reviewed for technical and legal
adequacy. BOEM will evaluate each bid
to determine if the bidder has complied
with all applicable regulations and the
terms of the FSN. BOEM reserves the
right to reject any or all bids as well as
the right to withdraw an offer to lease
an area from the sale.
(5) Issuance of a Lease: Following the
selection of a winning bid or bids by
BOEM, the submitter(s) is/are notified of
the decision and provided a set of
official lease documents for execution.
The successful bidder(s) will be
required to execute the lease, pay the
remainder of the bonus bid, if
applicable, and file the required
financial assurance within 10 days of
receiving the lease documents. Upon
receipt of the required payments,
financial assurance, and properly
executed lease forms, BOEM will issue
a lease to the successful bidder(s).
Pursuant to 30 CFR 585.212, BOEM
may decide to end the competitive
leasing process prior to the publication
of a FSN if it believes that competitors
have withdrawn and competitive
interest no longer exists. A termination
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of the competitive process would
require BOEM to publish an additional
notice in the Federal Register to
confirm that competitive interest no
longer exists in the area. BOEM would
use the information received in
response to this additional notice to
determine whether it would continue
with the competitive lease sale process
or initiate the noncompetitive lease
negotiation process.
Environmental Review
BOEM is publishing concurrently
with this Call a Notice of Intent to
prepare an Environmental Assessment
(NOI–EA) to consider the environmental
impacts and socioeconomic effects of
issuing one or more renewable energy
leases in the Call Area. The EA will
investigate reasonably foreseeable site
characterization activities, such as
geophysical, geotechnical,
archaeological, and biological surveys.
The EA will also consider the
reasonably foreseeable environmental
impacts and socioeconomic effects
associated with the approval of site
assessment activities (including the
installation and operation of
meteorological towers and buoys) on
any lease that may be issued. The New
York NOI–EA can be found at: https://
www.boem.gov/Renewable-EnergyProgram/State-Activities/NewYork.aspx.
In the event that a lease is issued, and
the lessee subsequently submits a Site
Assessment Plan (SAP), pursuant to 30
CFR 585.605–618, BOEM would then
determine whether the EA adequately
considers the environmental
consequences of the activities proposed
in the lessee’s SAP. If BOEM determines
that the analysis in the EA adequately
considers these consequences, then no
further NEPA analysis would be
required before BOEM makes a decision
on the SAP. If, on the other hand, BOEM
determines that the analysis in the EA
is inadequate for that purpose, BOEM
would conduct additional NEPA
analysis before it makes a decision on
the SAP. In either event, BOEM would
then make a decision to approve,
approve with modifications, or
disapprove the SAP.
If a lessee is prepared to propose a
wind energy generation facility on its
lease, it would submit a Construction
and Operations Plan (COP). BOEM then
would prepare a separate site- and
project-specific NEPA analysis of the
proposed project. This analysis would
likely take the form of an Environmental
Impact Statement and would provide
the public and Federal officials with
comprehensive information regarding
the reasonably foreseeable
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environmental impacts of the proposed
project. At this stage, BOEM would
evaluate the potential environmental
and socioeconomic consequences of the
proposed project. This analysis would
inform BOEM’s decision to approve,
approve with modification, or
disapprove a lessee’s COP pursuant to
30 CFR 585.628. This NEPA process
also would provide additional
opportunities for public involvement
pursuant to NEPA and the White House
Council on Environmental Quality’s
regulations at 40 CFR Parts 1500–1508.
and 148 sub-blocks. The area begins
approximately 11 nmi south of Long
Beach, New York. From its western
edge, the area extends approximately 26
nmi southeast at its longest portion. The
entire area is approximately 127 square
miles, 81,130 acres, or 32,832 hectares.
Table 1 below describes the OCS lease
blocks and sub-blocks included within
the Call Area.
Description of the Call Area
The Call Area is the same as the area
described in the RFI, which was
published in the Federal Register on
January 4, 2013. The Call Area offshore
New York contains 5 whole OCS blocks
TABLE 1—LIST OF OCS BLOCKS AND SUB-BLOCKS INCLUDED IN THE CALL AREA
Protraction
name
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
New
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
York
Protraction
No.
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
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....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
....................................................
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
NK
Map of the Call Area
A map of the Call Area can be found
at: https://www.boem.gov/RenewableEnergy-Program/State-Activities/NewYork.aspx.
A large-scale map of the Call Area
showing boundaries with numbered
blocks is available from BOEM at the
following address: Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Office of
Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. Phone: (703) 787–1320,
Fax: (703) 787–1708.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
List of OCS Blocks and Sub-Blocks in
the Call Area Potentially Subject to
Limitations
The Call Area includes areas that
BOEM wishes to highlight as areas of
special interest or concern based on
responses to the RFI. These areas are
described below.
The Call Area is located between two
Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) for
vessels transiting into and out of the
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Port of New York and New Jersey. The
USCG has generally recommended that
lease areas be located with a minimum
setback of 1 nmi from any adjacent TSS.
BOEM has adopted this
recommendation and NYPA filed an
amendment to their nomination adding
area to compensate for the wider setback
distance. The Call Area includes the
additional area requested in NYPA’s
amendment. For purposes of this Call,
BOEM will not consider leasing those
sub-blocks between an adjacent TSS and
the 1 nmi setback. However, BOEM is
including sub-blocks that are transected
by the setback line. BOEM reserves the
right to prohibit the installation of any
structures on the portions of those subblocks located within the recommended
setback.
Department of Defense (DOD) Activities
Traffic Separation Schemes
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18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
18–12
Block
No.
The Call Area includes OCS blocks
where site-specific conditions and
stipulations may need to be developed
and applied to any leases issued and/or
plans approved to help ensure that
projects are compatible with DOD
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6655
6656
6657
6706
6707
6708
6709
6710
6711
6712
6758
6759
6760
6761
6762
6763
6764
6810
6811
6812
6813
6814
6862
6863
Sub block
F,G,H,K,L,P.
I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
M,N,O,P.
B,C,D,H.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,P.
Entire block.
E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
M,N,O,P.
M.
A,B,C,D,G,H.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,O,P.
Entire block.
Entire block.
Entire block.
A,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
A,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,M,N.
A,B,C,D,G,H,L.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,O,P.
Entire block.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,M,N.
A.
A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,K.
A.
activities. Such stipulations may
include, but are not limited to:
1. A hold-and-save-harmless
agreement where the lessee assumes all
risks of damage or injury to persons or
property if such injury or damage to
such person or property occurs by
reason of the activities of the U.S.
Government;
2. A requirement that, at times
requested by DOD, the lessee control its
own electromagnetic emissions and
those of its agents, employees, invitees,
independent contractors, or
subcontractors when operating in
specified DOD Operating Areas
(OPAREAs) or warning areas;
3. An agreement with the appropriate
DOD commander when operating
vessels or aircraft in a designated
OPAREA or warning area requiring that
these vessel and aircraft movements be
coordinated with the appropriate DOD
commander;
4. A requirement that at times
requested by DOD, the lessee
temporarily suspends operations and/or
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 102 / Wednesday, May 28, 2014 / Notices
evacuates the lease in the interest of
safety and/or national security.
emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas
Project
Potentially interested parties should
be aware that Liberty Natural Gas, LLC
(Liberty) has submitted an application
to the USCG and the Maritime
Administration for the construction and
operation of an offshore liquefied
natural gas (LNG) facility, called the
Port Ambrose LNG Project. The
proposed facility would be located
within the Call Area, (OCS blocks 6708,
6709, and 6758), roughly 19 miles off
Jones Beach, New York, and
approximately 31 miles from the
entrance to New York Harbor. The
USCG is in the process of reviewing
Liberty’s application and determining
guidance for setbacks and other
measures that will ultimately determine
the footprint of the Port Ambrose LNG
Project.
BOEM provided scoping comments to
the USCG on July 19, 2013, in relation
to the USCG’s development of an
Environmental Impact Statement for the
proposed Port Ambrose LNG project.
BOEM’s primary concern was to
ascertain the compatibility of a
commercial wind facility with the LNG
project. Although Liberty noted their
belief that the LNG facility would be
compatible with a large wind energy
facility in their application, BOEM
highlighted concerns about navigational
challenges resulting from large LNG
vessels operating within close proximity
to offshore wind turbines. BOEM
recommended that the USCG require a
more thorough analysis of the proposed
LNG facility’s compatibility with large
scale wind development as well as an
investigation of strategies to minimize
potential conflicts.
Additional information on the Liberty
Natural Gas Deepwater Port License
Application is available at: https://
federalregister.gov/a/2013-15008.
Protected Species
As mentioned in the ‘‘Publication of
RFI and Responses Received’’ section
above, BOEM received multiple
comment submissions in response to the
RFI highlighting concerns that offshore
wind development in the Call Area may
affect threatened or endangered species
that occur within the Call Area.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(FWS) recommends that project area
data be collected to fill data gaps and
provide information on protected
species within the Call Area and that
study plans should be coordinated with
the FWS. This recommendation is
consistent with the BOEM ‘‘Guidelines
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16:58 May 27, 2014
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for Providing Avian Survey Information
for Renewable Development on the
Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf,’’
available at: https://www.boem.gov/
Regulatory-Development-Policy-andGuidelines. NOAA’s National Marine
Fisheries Service (NMFS) recommended
that BOEM refer to maps of certain
environmental and ecological
parameters generated by the NMFS
Northeast Fisheries Science Center, as
well as data from the New York
Department of State’s Offshore Atlantic
Ocean Study and the Mid-Atlantic
Regional Council on the Ocean’s data
portal during the leasing area
identification process to identify areas
that serve critical ecosystem functions.
Additional information on protected
species will be gathered by BOEM
during the NOI–EA comment period.
Any interested parties are encouraged to
provide comments in response to this
notice and the associated NOI–EA.
Call for Nominations: Required
Information for Responses
A nomination for a commercial wind
energy lease in the area identified in
this notice must include the following:
(1) The BOEM Protraction name,
number, and specific whole or partial
OCS blocks within the Call Area that are
of interest for commercial wind leasing,
including any required buffer area. This
information should be submitted as a
spatial file compatible with ArcGIS 10.1
in a geographic coordinate system (NAD
83) in addition to a hard copy submittal.
If the proposed project area includes
one or more partial blocks, please
describe those partial blocks in terms of
a sixteenth (i.e., sub-block) of an OCS
block. BOEM will not consider any
areas outside of the Call Area in this
process;
(2) A description of your objectives
and the facilities that you would use to
achieve those objectives, including your
intended project size and turbine array
configuration (i.e., conceptual turbine
spacing, number of turbines, turbine
nameplate capacity);
(3) A preliminary schedule of
proposed activities, including those
leading to commercial operations;
(4) Available and pertinent data and
information concerning renewable
energy resources and environmental
conditions in the area that you wish to
lease, including energy and resource
data and information used to evaluate
the Call Area. Where applicable, spatial
information should be submitted in a
format compatible with ArcGIS 10.1 in
a geographic coordinate system (NAD
83);
(5) Documentation demonstrating that
you are legally qualified to hold a lease
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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 BOEM Renewable Energy
Framework Guide Book available at:
https://www.boem.gov/RenewableEnergy-Program/RegulatoryInformation/Index.aspx#Notices_to_
Lessees,_Operators_and_Applicants.
Legal qualification documents will be
placed in an official file that may be
made available for public review; and
(6) Documentation demonstrating that
you are technically and financially
capable of constructing, operating,
maintaining and decommissioning the
facilities described in (2) above.
Guidance regarding the required
documentation to demonstrate your
technical and financial qualifications
can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/
Renewable-Energy-Program/RegulatoryInformation/Index.aspx#Notices_to_
Lessees,_Operators_and_Applicants.
Documentation you submit to
demonstrate your legal, technical, and
financial qualifications must be
provided to BOEM in both paper and
electronic formats. BOEM considers an
Adobe PDF file stored on a CD or flash
drive to be an acceptable format for
submitting an electronic copy.
It is critical that you submit a
complete nomination so that BOEM may
evaluate your submission in a timely
manner. If BOEM reviews your
nomination and determines that it is
incomplete, BOEM will notify you of
this determination in writing. The
notice will describe the information that
BOEM determined to be missing from
your nomination, and which you must
submit in order for BOEM to deem your
submission complete. You will be given
15 business days from the date of the
notice to submit the information that
BOEM found to be missing from your
original submission. If you do not meet
this deadline, or if BOEM determines
this second submittal is insufficient and
has failed to complete your nomination,
then BOEM retains the right to deem
your nomination invalid. In that case,
BOEM would not process your
nomination.
If you have already submitted this
information in response to the RFI or as
part of an unsolicited application, there
is no need to re-submit these materials
in response to this Call. If you wish to
include additional information or
modify any information already
submitted in response to the RFI,
including the area described in your
submission, you may do so in response
to this Call.
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emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Applicants who submit a nomination
in response to this Call, or who already
submitted a nomination in response to
the RFI, are invited (but not required) to
respond to this Call with a description
of the compatibility of their proposed
project with the proposed Port Ambrose
LNG Project and with commercial
fishing activity occurring, or expected to
occur, within and/or near the Call Area.
Please state whether you would
consider such activities to be
compatible with the commercial wind
activities you ultimately plan to
undertake on the lease. If you believe
that specific project design measures
would promote greater compatibility,
please specify which measures (e.g.,
notices to mariners, spacing between
individual turbines, array
configurations, cable burial depths,
routing measures, inspection protocols,
cable configurations or consolidations).
Call for Information: Requested
Information From Interested or
Affected Parties
BOEM is requesting from the public
and other interested or affected parties
specific and detailed data, or other
information regarding the following:
(1) Geological and geophysical
conditions (including bottom and
shallow hazards) in the area described
in this notice;
(2) Known archaeological and/or
cultural resource sites on the seabed in
the area described in this notice;
(3) Historic properties potentially
affected by the construction of
meteorological towers, the installation
of meteorological buoys, or commercial
wind development in the area identified
in this Call;
(4) Other uses of the area, including
navigation (in particular, commercial
and recreational vessel use), recreation,
and fisheries (commercial and
recreational);
(5) Other relevant socioeconomic,
biological, and environmental
information;
(6) Any potential conflicts or
compatibilities between the proposed
commercial wind activities and existing
fishing practices. If you believe that
specific wind project design measures
would promote greater compatibility
between these two uses, please specify
which measures (e.g., notices to
mariners, spacing between individual
turbines, array configurations, cable
burial depths, routing measures,
inspection protocols, cable
configurations or consolidations);
(7) Any potential conflicts or
compatibilities between the proposed
Port Ambrose LNG Project and proposed
commercial wind activities. If you
VerDate Mar<15>2010
16:58 May 27, 2014
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believe that specific wind project design
measures would promote greater
compatibility between these two uses,
please specify which measures (e.g.,
notices to mariners, spacing between
individual turbines, array
configurations, cable burial depths,
routing measures, inspection protocols,
cable configurations or consolidations);
and
(8) Any other relevant information
BOEM should consider during its
planning and decision-making process
for the purpose of issuing a lease in the
Call Area.
Protection of Privileged or Confidential
Information
Freedom of Information Act: BOEM
will protect privileged or confidential
information submitted 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.
However, 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 list
of whole or partial blocks that you are
nominating. Finally, information that is
not labeled as privileged or confidential
would be regarded by BOEM as suitable
for public release.
Section 304 of the National Historic
Preservation Act (NHPA) (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, risk harm to
the historic resources or impede the use
of a traditional religious site by
practitioners. Tribal entities should
designate information that falls under
Section 304 of NHPA as confidential.
Dated: May 19, 2014.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2014–12065 Filed 5–27–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
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30651
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Office of Natural Resources Revenue
[Docket No. ONRR–2011–0009; DS63610300
DR2PS0000.CH7000 134D0102R2]
Information Collection Request
Renewal; Collection of Monies Due the
Federal Government; Agency
Information Collection Activities:
Submitted for Office of Management
and Budget Review; Comment Request
Office of Natural Resources
Revenue, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of an extension of a
currently approved information
collection (OMB Control Number 1012–
0008).
AGENCY:
To comply with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995
(PRA), the Office of Natural Resources
Revenue (ONRR) is inviting comments
on the renewal of a collection of
information that we will submit to the
Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval. This
Information Collection Request (ICR)
covers the paperwork requirements in
the regulations under 30 CFR part 1218.
DATES: Submit written comments on or
before July 28, 2014.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on this ICR to ONRR by using one of the
following three methods (please
reference ICR 1012–0008 in your
comments):
• Electronically go to https://
www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled
‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter ONRR–
2011–0009, and then click search.
Follow the instructions to submit public
comments. We will post all comments.
• Mail comments to Luis Aguilar,
Regulatory Specialist, Office of Natural
Resources Revenue, P.O. Box 25165, MS
61013A, Denver, Colorado 80225.
• Hand-carry comments or use an
overnight courier service. Our courier
address is Building 85, Room A–614,
Denver Federal Center, West 6th Ave.
and Kipling St., Denver, Colorado
80225.
SUMMARY:
For
questions on technical issues, contact
Ms. Lee-Ann Martin, Reporting and
Solid Mineral Services, ONRR,
telephone (303) 231–3313, or email at
LeeAnn.Martin@onrr.gov. For other
questions, contact Mr. Luis Aguilar,
telephone (303) 231–3418, or email at
Luis.Aguilar@onrr.gov. You may also
contact Mr. Aguilar to obtain copies
(free of charge) of (1) the ICR, (2) any
associated forms, and (3) the regulations
that require the subject collection of
information.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\28MYN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30645-30651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12065]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2013-0087; MMAA104000]
Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore New York--Call for Information and
Nominations (Call)
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.
ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations for Commercial Leases for
Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New
York.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: BOEM invites submissions of nominations from parties
interested in obtaining one or more commercial leases that would allow
a lessee to propose the construction of a wind energy project(s) on the
OCS offshore New York. Although the publication of this notice is not
itself a leasing announcement, the area described herein may be subject
to future leasing. Parties wishing to submit a nomination in response
to this Call should submit detailed and specific information as
described in the section entitled, ``Required Nomination Information.''
Parties that have previously submitted a nomination in response to the
Request for Interest (RFI) (78 FR 760, published on January 4, 2013) do
not need to resubmit their proposals unless they wish to modify or
update them.
BOEM also requests comments from interested and affected parties
regarding site conditions, resources, and multiple uses of the
identified area that would be relevant to BOEM's review of the
nominations and/or to any subsequent decision concerning whether to
offer all or part of the area for commercial wind leasing. Information
that BOEM is requesting is described in the section entitled,
``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.''
This Call is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS
Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)), which was added by section 388 of the
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), as well as the
[[Page 30646]]
implementing regulations at 30 CFR Part 585.
The Call Area described in this notice is located on the OCS off
the coast of Long Island, New York, beginning approximately 11 nautical
miles (nmi) south of Long Beach, New York. From its western edge, the
area extends approximately 26 nmi southeast at its longest portion. The
project area consists of 5 full OCS blocks and 148 sub-blocks. The
entire area is approximately 127 square miles, 81,130 acres, or 32,832
hectares. Table 1 describes the OCS lease blocks and sub-blocks
included within the area of interest. A detailed description of the
area is presented later in this notice.
DATES: BOEM will only consider nominations describing interest in this
Call Area that are postmarked by July 14, 2014. BOEM requests that
comments and any other information are submitted by this date.
Submission Procedures: If you are submitting a nomination for a
commercial lease in response to this Call, please submit your
nomination by mail to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden Street, HM
1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. In addition to a paper copy of the
nomination, include an electronic copy of the nomination on a compact
disc (CD) or flash drive. Nominations must be postmarked by July 14,
2014. BOEM will list the parties that submitted nominations and the
location of the proposed lease areas (OCS blocks they nominated) on the
BOEM Web site after the 45-day comment period closes.
Comments and other submissions of information may be submitted by
either of the following two methods:
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov. In the
entry titled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2013-0087, and then
click ``Search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
2. By U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service, send your
comments and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.
All responses will be reported on https://www.regulations.gov. If
you wish to protect the confidentiality of your nomination or comment,
clearly mark the relevant sections and request that BOEM treat them as
confidential. Please label privileged or confidential information
``Contains Confidential Information,'' and consider submitting such
information as a separate attachment. Treatment of confidential
information is addressed in the section of this Call entitled,
``Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information.'' Information
that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be regarded by
BOEM as suitable for public release.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Andrew Krueger, Project
Coordinator, BOEM, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817, (703) 787-1320, or
andrew.krueger@boem.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of the Call for Information and Nominations
The OCS Lands Act requires BOEM to award leases competitively,
unless BOEM makes a determination that there is no competitive interest
(43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)). The purpose of this notice is to inform the
public that BOEM has determined that competitive interest exists in the
area identified, solicit any additional expressions of interest in
obtaining a lease in the area identified, and request information from
interested and affected parties on issues relevant to BOEM's review of
nominations for potential leases in the area identified.
Background
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct)
The EPAct amended the OCS Lands Act by adding subsection
8(p)(1)(c), which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary)
to grant leases, easements, or rights-of-way (ROWs) on the OCS for
activities that are not otherwise authorized by law and that produce or
support the production, transportation, or transmission of energy from
sources other than oil or gas. Subsection 8(p) requires the Secretary
to issue regulations to carry out the new energy development authority
on the OCS. The Secretary delegated the authority to issue leases,
easements, and ROWs, and to promulgate regulations to the Director of
BOEM. On April 29, 2009, BOEM promulgated the Renewable Energy and
Alternate Uses rule, 30 CFR Part 585, which can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx#Rules_Development.
Executive Order 13547: Stewardship of the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the
Great Lakes
On July 19, 2010, the President signed an Executive Order
establishing a national ocean policy and the National Ocean Council (75
FR 43023). The Order establishes a comprehensive, integrated national
policy for the stewardship of the ocean, our coasts and the Great
Lakes. Where BOEM actions affect the ocean, the Order requires BOEM to
take such action as necessary to implement this policy, to adhere to
the stewardship principles and national priority objectives adopted by
the Order, and follow guidance from the National Ocean Council.
BOEM appreciates the importance of coordinating its planning
endeavors with other OCS users and regulators. It intends to follow
principles of coastal and marine spatial planning, and coordinate with
the regional planning bodies established by the National Ocean Council,
to inform its leasing processes. BOEM anticipates that continued
coordination with its Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces
will help inform comprehensive coastal and marine spatial planning
efforts.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Planning Body
The National Ocean Policy also calls for the creation of Regional
Planning Bodies (RPBs) to coordinate and implement regional ocean
planning with state, Federal, tribal, and Fishery Management Council
representatives. The intergovernmental Mid-Atlantic RPB (MidA RPB) was
formally established in April 2013 to leverage existing state and
regional ocean planning efforts and to engage stakeholders and
technical experts at every key step.
The MidA RPB is composed of representatives from New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Representatives
from New York are actively engaged in the regional planning body. See
the MidA RPB Web site for additional information: https://www.boem.gov/Mid-Atlantic-Regional-Planning-Body/.
Actions Taken by the State of New York in Support of Renewable Energy
Development
The State of New York has taken important steps to study offshore
wind energy development as well as other forms of renewable energy
production. New York State coordinates renewable energy policies to
strategically harness the many resources that the State can provide to
solar, wind (offshore and land-based), bioenergy, geothermal,
hydrokinetic, storage, and other power supply options. New York has
developed strategies that take into account the opportunities provided
by the diverse renewable resources
[[Page 30647]]
available in different regions of the State. These strategies are
documented in the 2014 Draft New York State Energy Plan, available at:
https://energyplan.ny.gov/Plans/2014.aspx.
BOEM New York Renewable Energy Task Force
In December 2009, the Governor of New York requested that BOEM form
a task force to facilitate intergovernmental communications regarding
OCS renewable energy activities and development offshore New York. The
BOEM New York Renewable Energy Task Force first met in November 2010 to
facilitate coordination among relevant Federal agencies and affected
state, local, and tribal governments throughout the leasing process.
Two subsequent meetings were held in April 2012 and September 2013.
Task Force meeting materials are available on the BOEM Web site at:
https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/New-York.aspx.
New York Call Area
The Call Area is the same as the area described in the Request for
Interest (RFI) (78 FR 760), which was published in the Federal Register
on January 4, 2013, and is discussed in further detail in the
``Publication of RFI and Responses Received'' section below. BOEM may
adjust this potential leasing area in response to comment submissions
and information received from this notice and the associated Notice of
Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (NOI-EA), described below
in the section entitled, ``Environmental Review.''
Publication of RFI and Responses Received
On September 8, 2011, BOEM received an unsolicited request from the
New York Power Authority (NYPA) for a commercial wind lease on the OCS
offshore New York. NYPA submitted its request on behalf of the ``Long
Island-New York City Offshore Wind Collaborative,'' a public-private
entity consisting of NYPA, the Long Island Power Authority, and
Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. The Collaborative's goal
is to develop the proposed project to supply Long Island and New York
City with renewable energy, consistent with New York State's and the
City of New York's renewable energy initiatives. NYPA's proposed
project, the ``Long Island-New York City Offshore Wind Project,'' is
designed to generate at least 350 megawatts (MW) of electricity from
offshore wind resources, with the ability to expand generation capacity
to as much as 700 MW. The project would be located approximately 11 nmi
south of Long Beach, New York, in water depths ranging from 60 to 120
feet.
In subsequent discussions, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) recommended
a minimum one nautical mile separation distance from designated
navigation lanes. NYPA incorporated this guidance in their lease
request by an amendment filed on June 20, 2012, requesting additional
lease area to compensate for the area lost by the increased setback
distance. NYPA's unsolicited lease request and the amendment can be
viewed at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/New-York.aspx.
In response to the unsolicited proposal, as amended, BOEM issued an
RFI on January 4, 2013, to determine whether any parties in addition to
NYPA are interested in developing commercial wind facilities in the
same area. BOEM received two indications of interest in response to
that notice, which can be viewed at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/New-York.aspx. Two companies
(Fishermen's Energy, LLC and Energy Management, Inc.) responded to the
RFI with indications that they were interested in developing the same
area. BOEM reviewed the information submitted by those companies and
determined that they demonstrated the technical and financial
capability to hold an OCS lease for commercial wind energy development
offshore New York. Therefore, BOEM has since determined that there is
competitive interest in obtaining commercial wind leases in the Call
Area, and is proceeding with the competitive renewable energy leasing
process.
In addition to indications of interest, BOEM received 33 public
comment submissions from individuals, trade associations, environmental
groups, local and state governments, and federal agencies in response
to the RFI. The majority of comment submissions indicated strong
support for the development of an offshore wind facility for a variety
of reasons. The City of New York stated support for the development of
an offshore wind facility in order to diversify the electricity supply,
reduce electric constraints, and help to achieve a more reliable
electric system. Numerous environmental groups and their members noted
their support for an offshore wind facility as a means to reduce the
need for additional fossil fuel-based power plants, reduce the impacts
of climate change, and improve air quality. Additionally, multiple
labor and environmental groups as well as state agencies endorsed the
development of an offshore wind facility near New York as a means to
increase economic growth in the region through sales and wages over the
course of a wind facility's construction and operation.
Some comment submissions highlighted concerns for BOEM to consider
throughout the leasing process. Multiple commenters, including the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National
Park Service (NPS), and the National Wildlife Federation, urged BOEM to
investigate mitigation strategies to ensure that North Atlantic right
whales are protected during the development of offshore wind resources
in the area. Commenters highlighted that other endangered or threatened
species may be found near the Call Area as well, including (in no
particular order of conservation priority/concern): The fin whale,
humpback whale, piping plover, roseate tern, Atlantic sturgeon,
seabeach amaranth, loggerhead sea turtle, green sea turtle, leatherback
sea turtle, and Kemp's Ridley sea turtle. Commenters noted that several
species protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act may be found
in the Call Area as well.
Other commenters highlighted possible negative impacts to valuable
sea scallop fishing activities in the Call Area and requested that the
majority of the Call Area be excluded from further consideration.
Although BOEM is retaining this fishing area in the Call Area at this
time, BOEM will consider this comment and other relevant fishery
information as we move forward with area identification.
Other agencies highlighted the need for ongoing consultation
throughout the leasing process. For example, the NPS highlighted its
concern that a commercial wind facility in the Call Area would impact
Fire Island National Seashore and Gateway National Recreation Area as
well as a number of National Historic Landmarks along the New Jersey
coastline. The NPS has requested that it be consulted on these matters
and given the opportunity to comment on future environmental documents,
site assessment plans, and construction and operations plans regarding
protected areas as well as viewsheds, threatened and endangered
species, sediment transport, and other resources. BOEM will continue to
work with NPS as we move forward.
Additionally, NOAA noted that the Call Area is designated as
essential fish habitat for several federally managed
[[Page 30648]]
species that may be impacted by the development of an offshore wind
facility. The use of the area as a fishery is supported by fishing data
previously supplied to BOEM by NOAA. NOAA highlighted the need to
investigate these possible impacts, including cumulative effects and
whether fishing activity may continue within a developed wind facility.
BOEM will consult with NOAA on these issues through statutory
consultation requirements and informal collaboration.
Last, the USCG Sector New York identified a portion of the Call
Area that is currently used as a weapons training area (WTA) for
maintaining law enforcement proficiency. USCG requested in its comment
submission that this WTA be given consideration as an existing use, as
BOEM proceeds with the competitive leasing process offshore New York.
It is important to note that the WTA is not an officially designated
weapons training range. USCG has clarified to BOEM that if BOEM
ultimately issues a wind energy lease in the Call Area, USCG has an
alternate WTA within the Sector New York area that could be utilized
instead.
For additional detail, all comment submissions are available at:
https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/New-York.aspx.
BOEM appreciates the submission of these comments and will give
proper consideration to them throughout its planning and decision-
making process.
Competitive Leasing Process
The following are the next steps in the competitive leasing process
after this Call:
(1) Area Identification: BOEM will identify areas for environmental
analysis and consideration for leasing in consultation with appropriate
Federal agencies, states, local governments, affected Indian Tribes,
and other interested parties. BOEM will also consider comments and
nominations made in response to this Call with respect to areas that
should receive special consideration and analysis, including but not
limited to areas with geological conditions, archeological sites,
multiple uses, and other socioeconomic, biological, and environmental
information. The environmental analysis and consideration will detail
the potential effect of leasing on the human, marine, and coastal
environments, and BOEM will develop measures to mitigate adverse
impacts, including lease stipulations and conditions. BOEM will comply
with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA),
the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), and any other applicable
Federal statutes for the purpose of issuing a lease in the Call Area.
(2) Proposed Sale Notice: After the completion of the necessary
environmental reviews, BOEM will publish a Proposed Sale Notice (PSN)
in the Federal Register and send the PSN to the Governor of any
affected state, any affected tribes, and the executive of any local
government that might be affected. The PSN will describe the areas that
BOEM has decided to offer for leasing and the proposed terms and
conditions of a lease sale, including the proposed auction format,
lease form and lease provisions. Additionally, the PSN will describe
the criteria and process for evaluating bids. The PSN would be issued
after preparation of various analyses of proposed lease sale economic
terms and conditions. The comment period following issuance of a PSN is
60 days.
(3) Final Sale Notice: If BOEM decides to proceed with lease
issuance after considering comment submissions on the PSN, it will
publish the Final Sale Notice (FSN) in the Federal Register at least 30
days before the date of the sale. BOEM will publish the criteria for
winning bid determinations in the FSN.
(4) Bid Submission and Evaluation: Following publication of the FSN
in the Federal Register, qualified bidders may submit their bids to
BOEM in accordance with procedures specified in the FSN. The bids,
including the bid deposits, if applicable, would be reviewed for
technical and legal adequacy. BOEM will evaluate each bid to determine
if the bidder has complied with all applicable regulations and the
terms of the FSN. BOEM reserves the right to reject any or all bids as
well as the right to withdraw an offer to lease an area from the sale.
(5) Issuance of a Lease: Following the selection of a winning bid
or bids by BOEM, the submitter(s) is/are notified of the decision and
provided a set of official lease documents for execution. The
successful bidder(s) will be required to execute the lease, pay the
remainder of the bonus bid, if applicable, and file the required
financial assurance within 10 days of receiving the lease documents.
Upon receipt of the required payments, financial assurance, and
properly executed lease forms, BOEM will issue a lease to the
successful bidder(s).
Pursuant to 30 CFR 585.212, BOEM may decide to end the competitive
leasing process prior to the publication of a FSN if it believes that
competitors have withdrawn and competitive interest no longer exists. A
termination of the competitive process would require BOEM to publish an
additional notice in the Federal Register to confirm that competitive
interest no longer exists in the area. BOEM would use the information
received in response to this additional notice to determine whether it
would continue with the competitive lease sale process or initiate the
noncompetitive lease negotiation process.
Environmental Review
BOEM is publishing concurrently with this Call a Notice of Intent
to prepare an Environmental Assessment (NOI-EA) to consider the
environmental impacts and socioeconomic effects of issuing one or more
renewable energy leases in the Call Area. The EA will investigate
reasonably foreseeable site characterization activities, such as
geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys. The
EA will also consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts
and socioeconomic effects associated with the approval of site
assessment activities (including the installation and operation of
meteorological towers and buoys) on any lease that may be issued. The
New York NOI-EA can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/New-York.aspx.
In the event that a lease is issued, and the lessee subsequently
submits a Site Assessment Plan (SAP), pursuant to 30 CFR 585.605-618,
BOEM would then determine whether the EA adequately considers the
environmental consequences of the activities proposed in the lessee's
SAP. If BOEM determines that the analysis in the EA adequately
considers these consequences, then no further NEPA analysis would be
required before BOEM makes a decision on the SAP. If, on the other
hand, BOEM determines that the analysis in the EA is inadequate for
that purpose, BOEM would conduct additional NEPA analysis before it
makes a decision on the SAP. In either event, BOEM would then make a
decision to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the SAP.
If a lessee is prepared to propose a wind energy generation
facility on its lease, it would submit a Construction and Operations
Plan (COP). BOEM then would prepare a separate site- and project-
specific NEPA analysis of the proposed project. This analysis would
likely take the form of an Environmental Impact Statement and would
provide the public and Federal officials with comprehensive information
regarding the reasonably foreseeable
[[Page 30649]]
environmental impacts of the proposed project. At this stage, BOEM
would evaluate the potential environmental and socioeconomic
consequences of the proposed project. This analysis would inform BOEM's
decision to approve, approve with modification, or disapprove a
lessee's COP pursuant to 30 CFR 585.628. This NEPA process also would
provide additional opportunities for public involvement pursuant to
NEPA and the White House Council on Environmental Quality's regulations
at 40 CFR Parts 1500-1508.
Description of the Call Area
The Call Area is the same as the area described in the RFI, which
was published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2013. The Call Area
offshore New York contains 5 whole OCS blocks and 148 sub-blocks. The
area begins approximately 11 nmi south of Long Beach, New York. From
its western edge, the area extends approximately 26 nmi southeast at
its longest portion. The entire area is approximately 127 square miles,
81,130 acres, or 32,832 hectares. Table 1 below describes the OCS lease
blocks and sub-blocks included within the Call Area.
Table 1--List of OCS Blocks and Sub-blocks Included in the Call Area
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protraction name Protraction No. Block No. Sub block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6655 F,G,H,K,L,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6656 I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6657 M,N,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6706 B,C,D,H.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6707 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,J,K,L,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6708 Entire block.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6709 E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6710 I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6711 M,N,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6712 M.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6758 A,B,C,D,G,H.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6759 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6760 Entire block.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6761 Entire block.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6762 Entire block.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6763 A,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6764 A,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,M,N.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6810 A,B,C,D,G,H,L.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6811 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,O,P.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6812 Entire block.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6813 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,M,N.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6814 A.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6862 A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,K.
New York...................... NK 18-12........ 6863 A.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Map of the Call Area
A map of the Call Area can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/New-York.aspx.
A large-scale map of the Call Area showing boundaries with numbered
blocks is available from BOEM at the following address: Bureau of Ocean
Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Phone: (703) 787-1320,
Fax: (703) 787-1708.
List of OCS Blocks and Sub-Blocks in the Call Area Potentially Subject
to Limitations
The Call Area includes areas that BOEM wishes to highlight as areas
of special interest or concern based on responses to the RFI. These
areas are described below.
Traffic Separation Schemes
The Call Area is located between two Traffic Separation Schemes
(TSS) for vessels transiting into and out of the Port of New York and
New Jersey. The USCG has generally recommended that lease areas be
located with a minimum setback of 1 nmi from any adjacent TSS. BOEM has
adopted this recommendation and NYPA filed an amendment to their
nomination adding area to compensate for the wider setback distance.
The Call Area includes the additional area requested in NYPA's
amendment. For purposes of this Call, BOEM will not consider leasing
those sub-blocks between an adjacent TSS and the 1 nmi setback.
However, BOEM is including sub-blocks that are transected by the
setback line. BOEM reserves the right to prohibit the installation of
any structures on the portions of those sub-blocks located within the
recommended setback.
Department of Defense (DOD) Activities
The Call Area includes OCS blocks where site-specific conditions
and stipulations may need to be developed and applied to any leases
issued and/or plans approved to help ensure that projects are
compatible with DOD activities. Such stipulations may include, but are
not limited to:
1. A hold-and-save-harmless agreement where the lessee assumes all
risks of damage or injury to persons or property if such injury or
damage to such person or property occurs by reason of the activities of
the U.S. Government;
2. A requirement that, at times requested by DOD, the lessee
control its own electromagnetic emissions and those of its agents,
employees, invitees, independent contractors, or subcontractors when
operating in specified DOD Operating Areas (OPAREAs) or warning areas;
3. An agreement with the appropriate DOD commander when operating
vessels or aircraft in a designated OPAREA or warning area requiring
that these vessel and aircraft movements be coordinated with the
appropriate DOD commander;
4. A requirement that at times requested by DOD, the lessee
temporarily suspends operations and/or
[[Page 30650]]
evacuates the lease in the interest of safety and/or national security.
Port Ambrose Liquefied Natural Gas Project
Potentially interested parties should be aware that Liberty Natural
Gas, LLC (Liberty) has submitted an application to the USCG and the
Maritime Administration for the construction and operation of an
offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility, called the Port Ambrose
LNG Project. The proposed facility would be located within the Call
Area, (OCS blocks 6708, 6709, and 6758), roughly 19 miles off Jones
Beach, New York, and approximately 31 miles from the entrance to New
York Harbor. The USCG is in the process of reviewing Liberty's
application and determining guidance for setbacks and other measures
that will ultimately determine the footprint of the Port Ambrose LNG
Project.
BOEM provided scoping comments to the USCG on July 19, 2013, in
relation to the USCG's development of an Environmental Impact Statement
for the proposed Port Ambrose LNG project. BOEM's primary concern was
to ascertain the compatibility of a commercial wind facility with the
LNG project. Although Liberty noted their belief that the LNG facility
would be compatible with a large wind energy facility in their
application, BOEM highlighted concerns about navigational challenges
resulting from large LNG vessels operating within close proximity to
offshore wind turbines. BOEM recommended that the USCG require a more
thorough analysis of the proposed LNG facility's compatibility with
large scale wind development as well as an investigation of strategies
to minimize potential conflicts.
Additional information on the Liberty Natural Gas Deepwater Port
License Application is available at: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-15008.
Protected Species
As mentioned in the ``Publication of RFI and Responses Received''
section above, BOEM received multiple comment submissions in response
to the RFI highlighting concerns that offshore wind development in the
Call Area may affect threatened or endangered species that occur within
the Call Area.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) recommends that project
area data be collected to fill data gaps and provide information on
protected species within the Call Area and that study plans should be
coordinated with the FWS. This recommendation is consistent with the
BOEM ``Guidelines for Providing Avian Survey Information for Renewable
Development on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf,'' available at:
https://www.boem.gov/Regulatory-Development-Policy-and-Guidelines.
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) recommended that BOEM
refer to maps of certain environmental and ecological parameters
generated by the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center, as well as
data from the New York Department of State's Offshore Atlantic Ocean
Study and the Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean's data portal
during the leasing area identification process to identify areas that
serve critical ecosystem functions. Additional information on protected
species will be gathered by BOEM during the NOI-EA comment period. Any
interested parties are encouraged to provide comments in response to
this notice and the associated NOI-EA.
Call for Nominations: Required Information for Responses
A nomination for a commercial wind energy lease in the area
identified in this notice must include the following:
(1) The BOEM Protraction name, number, and specific whole or
partial OCS blocks within the Call Area that are of interest for
commercial wind leasing, including any required buffer area. This
information should be submitted as a spatial file compatible with
ArcGIS 10.1 in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83) in addition to a
hard copy submittal. If the proposed project area includes one or more
partial blocks, please describe those partial blocks in terms of a
sixteenth (i.e., sub-block) of an OCS block. BOEM will not consider any
areas outside of the Call Area in this process;
(2) A description of your objectives and the facilities that you
would use to achieve those objectives, including your intended project
size and turbine array configuration (i.e., conceptual turbine spacing,
number of turbines, turbine nameplate capacity);
(3) A preliminary schedule of proposed activities, including those
leading to commercial operations;
(4) Available and pertinent data and information concerning
renewable energy resources and environmental conditions in the area
that you wish to lease, including energy and resource data and
information used to evaluate the Call Area. Where applicable, spatial
information should be submitted in a format compatible with ArcGIS 10.1
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
BOEM Renewable Energy Framework Guide Book available at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx#Notices_to_Lessees,_Operators_and_Applicants. Legal
qualification documents will be placed in an official file that may be
made available for public review; and
(6) Documentation demonstrating that you are technically and
financially capable of constructing, operating, maintaining and
decommissioning the facilities described in (2) above. Guidance
regarding the required documentation to demonstrate your technical and
financial qualifications can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx#Notices_to_Lessees,_Operators_and_Applicants.
Documentation you submit to demonstrate your legal, technical, and
financial qualifications must be provided to BOEM in both paper and
electronic formats. BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file stored on a CD or
flash drive to be an acceptable format for submitting an electronic
copy.
It is critical that you submit a complete nomination so that BOEM
may evaluate your submission in a timely manner. If BOEM reviews your
nomination and determines that it is incomplete, BOEM will notify you
of this determination in writing. The notice will describe the
information that BOEM determined to be missing from your nomination,
and which you must submit in order for BOEM to deem your submission
complete. You will be given 15 business days from the date of the
notice to submit the information that BOEM found to be missing from
your original submission. If you do not meet this deadline, or if BOEM
determines this second submittal is insufficient and has failed to
complete your nomination, then BOEM retains the right to deem your
nomination invalid. In that case, BOEM would not process your
nomination.
If you have already submitted this information in response to the
RFI or as part of an unsolicited application, there is no need to re-
submit these materials in response to this Call. If you wish to include
additional information or modify any information already submitted in
response to the RFI, including the area described in your submission,
you may do so in response to this Call.
[[Page 30651]]
Applicants who submit a nomination in response to this Call, or who
already submitted a nomination in response to the RFI, are invited (but
not required) to respond to this Call with a description of the
compatibility of their proposed project with the proposed Port Ambrose
LNG Project and with commercial fishing activity occurring, or expected
to occur, within and/or near the Call Area. Please state whether you
would consider such activities to be compatible with the commercial
wind activities you ultimately plan to undertake on the lease. If you
believe that specific project design measures would promote greater
compatibility, please specify which measures (e.g., notices to
mariners, spacing between individual turbines, array configurations,
cable burial depths, routing measures, inspection protocols, cable
configurations or consolidations).
Call for Information: Requested Information From Interested or Affected
Parties
BOEM is requesting from the public and other interested or affected
parties specific and detailed data, or other information regarding the
following:
(1) Geological and geophysical conditions (including bottom and
shallow hazards) in the area described in this notice;
(2) Known archaeological and/or cultural resource sites on the
seabed in the area described in this notice;
(3) Historic properties potentially affected by the construction of
meteorological towers, the installation of meteorological buoys, or
commercial wind development in the area identified in this Call;
(4) Other uses of the area, including navigation (in particular,
commercial and recreational vessel use), recreation, and fisheries
(commercial and recreational);
(5) Other relevant socioeconomic, biological, and environmental
information;
(6) Any potential conflicts or compatibilities between the proposed
commercial wind activities and existing fishing practices. If you
believe that specific wind project design measures would promote
greater compatibility between these two uses, please specify which
measures (e.g., notices to mariners, spacing between individual
turbines, array configurations, cable burial depths, routing measures,
inspection protocols, cable configurations or consolidations);
(7) Any potential conflicts or compatibilities between the proposed
Port Ambrose LNG Project and proposed commercial wind activities. If
you believe that specific wind project design measures would promote
greater compatibility between these two uses, please specify which
measures (e.g., notices to mariners, spacing between individual
turbines, array configurations, cable burial depths, routing measures,
inspection protocols, cable configurations or consolidations); and
(8) Any other relevant information BOEM should consider during its
planning and decision-making process for the purpose of issuing a lease
in the Call Area.
Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information
Freedom of Information Act: BOEM will protect privileged or
confidential information submitted 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.
However, 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 list of whole or partial blocks that you are
nominating. Finally, information that is not labeled as privileged or
confidential would be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.
Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (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, risk harm to the historic resources or impede the
use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. Tribal entities
should designate information that falls under Section 304 of NHPA as
confidential.
Dated: May 19, 2014.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2014-12065 Filed 5-27-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
