Revised Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina, 56494-56495 [2015-22988]

Download as PDF 56494 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service [NPS–NER–PAGR–18936; PX.P0156924I. 00.1] Notice of Termination of the Environmental Impact Statement for the General Management Plan for Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, New Jersey National Park Service, Interior. Notice of Termination. AGENCY: ACTION: The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing a general management plan (GMP) for Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. A Notice of Intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the GMP was published in the Federal Register on November 14, 2011. The NPS has decided to terminate the EIS and instead, has prepared an environmental assessment (EA) for the GMP (GMP/EA). DATES: The GMP/EA is expected to be distributed for public review and comment during the fall of 2015. The NPS will provide information on when the GMP/EA will be released for public review, the dates of the public comment period, and the dates that public meetings will be held on the park’s planning Web site at https:// parkplanning.nps.gov/pagr and through local and regional media. ADDRESSES: Refer to the park’s planning Web site at https://parkplanning. nps.gov/pagrforadditionalinformationon whereandhowtoobtainacopyoftheGMP/ EA, how to comment on the GMP/EA, and locations of upcoming public meetings. SUMMARY: tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Boch, Superintendent; Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park; 72 McBride Avenue; Paterson, NJ 07501. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This is Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park’s first general management plan and will provide the framework for guiding resource management, visitor experiences, facilities and partnerships. The issues addressed by the GMP include: Sustaining the park’s fundamental resources; providing for safe, sustainable public access and recreational activities; building new and reinforcing existing partnerships to protect the park’s natural and cultural resources; and improving facilities and infrastructure that meets the needs of both visitors and the community. GMP planning and alternatives development incorporated input from park partners; participants in local community VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:47 Sep 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 meetings; consultation with local, regional, and national government agencies; and comments gathered during the Paterson Great Falls Advisory Commission meetings. The public was informed about the process and invited to participate through the park’s Web site, newsletters, emails, letters, and local media. The GMP was originally scoped as an EIS; however, internal discussions and input received during public and agency scoping did not raise any potentially significant environmental issues nor has the impact analysis identified any potentially significant adverse impacts. It is also noted that many of the actions proposed in the GMP/EA will have benefits to the park’s resources, operational needs, and visitor experiences. For these reasons the NPS determined that an EA is the appropriate level of environmental review for the GMP. Dated: July 30, 2015. Brian Strack, Associate Regional Director; Planning, Facilities & Conservation Assistance, Northeast Region, National Park Service. [FR Doc. 2015–23452 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310–WV–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [BOEM–2015–0078; MMAA104000] Revised Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Availability. AGENCY: BOEM is announcing the availability of a revised Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities (geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys), and site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of a meteorological tower and/ or buoys) on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf offshore North Carolina. The revised EA provides a discussion of potential impacts of the proposed action and an analysis of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality’s (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), BOEM issued a FONSI supported by the analysis in the revised EA. The FONSI concluded that the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives, as set forth in the EA, would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment; therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. These documents and associated information are available on BOEM’s Web site at https:// www.boem.gov/North-Carolina/. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166, (703) 787–1340 or michelle.morin@boem.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January 2015, BOEM published an EA to consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences associated with commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities, and site assessment activities in three wind energy areas (WEAs) offshore North Carolina. The 2015 EA considered all three North Carolina WEAs for leasing and approval of site assessment plans as the proposed action under NEPA. A Notice of Availability was published on January 23, 2015 to announce the availability of the EA and initiate a 30day public comment period (80 FR 3621). The EA was subsequently revised based on comments received during the comment period and public information meetings. The revised EA provides updated environmental data, additional details on how the WEAs were delineated, and analysis of potential effects to the proposed critical habitat expansion for North Atlantic right whales, which was published during the public comment period for the 2015 EA. A summary of comments received on the 2015 EA and BOEM’s responses to those comments is also provided in the revised EA. In addition to the proposed action, the revised EA considers the following alternatives: Exclusion of the Wilmington West WEA from leasing; seasonal restrictions on certain site characterization activities; and no action. BOEM’s analysis of the proposed action and alternatives takes into account standard operating conditions (SOCs) designed to avoid or minimize potential impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles. The SOCs can be found in Appendix B of the revised EA. BOEM will use the revised EA to inform decisions to issue leases in the North Carolina WEAs, and to E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 181 / Friday, September 18, 2015 / Notices subsequently approve site assessment plans on those leases. BOEM may issue one or more commercial wind energy leases in the North Carolina WEAs. The competitive leasing process is set forth at 30 CFR 585.210 through 585.225. If a lessee is prepared to propose a wind energy generation facility on its lease, the lessee can submit a Construction and Operations Plan (COP) to BOEM. BOEM would then prepare a separate site- and project-specific NEPA analysis based on the activities proposed in the COP. Authority: This Notice of Availability for an EA is in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305. Dated: August 3, 2015. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [USITC SE–15–031] Government in the Sunshine Act Meeting Notice United States International Trade Commission. TIME AND DATE: September 24, 2015 at 9 a.m. PLACE: Room 101, 500 E Street SW., Washington, DC 20436, Telephone: (202) 205–2000. STATUS: Open to the public. MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED: 1. Agendas for future meetings: None. 2. Minutes. 3. Ratification List. 4. Vote in Inv. Nos. 701–TA–545–547 and 731–TA–1291–1297 (Preliminary) (Certain Hot-Rolled Steel Flat Products from Australia, Brazil, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom). The Commission is currently scheduled to complete and file its determinations on September 25, 2015; views of the Commission are currently scheduled to be completed and filed on October 2, 2015. 5. Outstanding action jackets: None. In accordance with Commission policy, subject matter listed above, not disposed of at the scheduled meeting, may be carried over to the agenda of the following meeting. tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES By order of the Commission. VerDate Sep<11>2014 18:47 Sep 17, 2015 Jkt 235001 [FR Doc. 2015–23586 Filed 9–16–15; 4:15 pm] BILLING CODE 7020–02–P DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Solicitation of Nominations for Appointment to the Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), Department of Labor (DOL). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: In accordance with section 4110 of Title 38, U.S. Code, and the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and its implementing regulations issued by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA), the Secretary of Labor (the Secretary), is seeking nominations of qualified candidates to be considered for appointment as a member of the Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, Training, and Employer Outreach (ACVETEO, or the Committee). The ACVETEO’s responsibilities are to: (a) Assess employment and training needs of veterans and their integration into the workforce; (b) determine the extent to which the programs and activities of the Department are meeting such needs; (c) assist the Assistant Secretary for Veterans’ Employment and Training (ASVET) in conducting outreach to employers with respect to the training and skills of veterans and the advantages afforded employers by hiring veterans; (d) make recommendations to the Secretary of Labor, through the ASVET, with respect to outreach activities and the employment and training needs of veterans; and (e) carry out such other activities deemed necessary to making required reports and recommendations under section 4110(f) of Title 38, U.S. Code. Per section 4110(c)(1) of Title 38, U.S. Code, the Secretary shall appoint at least twelve, but no more than sixteen, individuals to serve as Special Government Employees of the ACVETEO as follows: Seven individuals, one each from the following organizations: (i) The Society for Human Resource Management; (ii) the Business Roundtable; (iii) the National Association of State Workforce SUMMARY: [FR Doc. 2015–22988 Filed 9–17–15; 8:45 am] AGENCY HOLDING THE MEETING: Issued: September 15, 2015. William R. Bishop, Supervisory Hearings and Information Officer. PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 56495 Agencies; (iv) the United States Chamber of Commerce; (v) the National Federation of Independent Business; (vi) a nationally recognized labor union or organization; and (vii) the National Governors Association. The Secretary shall appoint not more than five individuals nominated by veterans’ service organizations that have a national employment program and not more than five individuals who are recognized authorities in the fields of business, employment, training, rehabilitation, or labor and who are not employees of DOL. The term of membership for all Committee members is February 1, 2016 through January 31, 2018. DATES: Nominations for membership on the Committee must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on October 15, 2015. Packages received after this time will not be considered for the current membership cycle. Please allow three weeks for regular mail delivery to the Department of Labor. ADDRESSES: All nomination packages should be sent to the Assistant Designated Federal Official by email to green.gregory.b@dol.gov subject line ‘‘2016 ACVETEO Nomination’’ or mail to the following address: Department of Labor/VETS, Attn: Gregory Green, Room S–1312, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20210. FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Gregory B. Green, Assistant Designated Federal Official, ACVETEO, U.S. Department of Labor, 200 Constitution Ave. NW., Room S–1312, Washington, DC 20210; telephone (202) 693–4734. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DOL is soliciting nominations for members to serve on the Committee. As required by statute, the members of the Committee are appointed by the Secretary from the general public. DOL seeks nominees with the following experience: (1) Diversity in professional and personal qualifications; (2) Experience in military service); (3) Current work with Veterans; (4) Veterans disability subject matter expertise; (5) Experience working in large and complex organizations; (6) Experience in transition assistance; (7) Experience in the protection of employment and reemployment rights; and/or (8) Experience in education, skills training, integration into the workforce and outreach. Requirements for Nomination Submission: Nominations should be typewritten (one nomination per E:\FR\FM\18SEN1.SGM 18SEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 181 (Friday, September 18, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56494-56495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-22988]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[BOEM-2015-0078; MMAA104000]


Revised Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease 
Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer 
Continental Shelf Offshore North Carolina

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

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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

SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the availability of a revised Environmental 
Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for 
commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities 
(geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys), 
and site assessment activities (including the installation and 
operation of a meteorological tower and/or buoys) on the Atlantic Outer 
Continental Shelf offshore North Carolina. The revised EA provides a 
discussion of potential impacts of the proposed action and an analysis 
of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. In accordance with 
the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and 
the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations implementing 
NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500 through 1508), BOEM issued a FONSI supported by 
the analysis in the revised EA. The FONSI concluded that the reasonably 
foreseeable environmental impacts associated with the proposed action 
and alternatives, as set forth in the EA, would not significantly 
impact the quality of the human environment; therefore, the preparation 
of an Environmental Impact Statement is not required. These documents 
and associated information are available on BOEM's Web site at https://www.boem.gov/North-Carolina/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of 
Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 
20166, (703) 787-1340 or michelle.morin@boem.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In January 2015, BOEM published an EA to 
consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences 
associated with commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization 
activities, and site assessment activities in three wind energy areas 
(WEAs) offshore North Carolina. The 2015 EA considered all three North 
Carolina WEAs for leasing and approval of site assessment plans as the 
proposed action under NEPA. A Notice of Availability was published on 
January 23, 2015 to announce the availability of the EA and initiate a 
30-day public comment period (80 FR 3621). The EA was subsequently 
revised based on comments received during the comment period and public 
information meetings. The revised EA provides updated environmental 
data, additional details on how the WEAs were delineated, and analysis 
of potential effects to the proposed critical habitat expansion for 
North Atlantic right whales, which was published during the public 
comment period for the 2015 EA. A summary of comments received on the 
2015 EA and BOEM's responses to those comments is also provided in the 
revised EA.
    In addition to the proposed action, the revised EA considers the 
following alternatives: Exclusion of the Wilmington West WEA from 
leasing; seasonal restrictions on certain site characterization 
activities; and no action. BOEM's analysis of the proposed action and 
alternatives takes into account standard operating conditions (SOCs) 
designed to avoid or minimize potential impacts to marine mammals and 
sea turtles. The SOCs can be found in Appendix B of the revised EA.
    BOEM will use the revised EA to inform decisions to issue leases in 
the North Carolina WEAs, and to

[[Page 56495]]

subsequently approve site assessment plans on those leases. BOEM may 
issue one or more commercial wind energy leases in the North Carolina 
WEAs. The competitive leasing process is set forth at 30 CFR 585.210 
through 585.225. If a lessee is prepared to propose a wind energy 
generation facility on its lease, the lessee can submit a Construction 
and Operations Plan (COP) to BOEM. BOEM would then prepare a separate 
site- and project-specific NEPA analysis based on the activities 
proposed in the COP.

    Authority:  This Notice of Availability for an EA is in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as 
amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is published pursuant to 43 
CFR 46.305.

    Dated: August 3, 2015.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2015-22988 Filed 9-17-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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