Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Additional Site Assessment Activities on Beacon Wind, LLC's Renewable Energy Lease OCS-A 0520, 76852-76853 [2023-24610]

Download as PDF 76852 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 7, 2023 / Notices trace the relationship: anthropological information, archeological information, biological information, folklore, geographical information, historical information, kinship, linguistics, oral tradition, other relevant information, or expert opinion. Determinations Pursuant to NAGPRA and its implementing regulations, and after consultation with the appropriate Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations, the PMAE has determined that: • The 109 cultural items described above are reasonably believed to have been placed with or near individual human remains at the time of death or later as part of the death rite or ceremony and are believed, by a preponderance of the evidence, to have been removed from a specific burial site of a Native American individual. • There is a relationship of shared group identity that can be reasonably traced between the cultural items and the Quapaw Nation. khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Requests for Repatriation Additional, written requests for repatriation of the cultural items in this notice must be sent to the Responsible Official identified in ADDRESSES. Requests for repatriation may be submitted by any lineal descendant, Indian Tribe, or Native Hawaiian organization not identified in this notice who shows, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the requestor is a lineal descendant or a culturally affiliated Indian Tribe or Native Hawaiian organization. Repatriation of the cultural items in this notice to a requestor may occur on or after December 7, 2023. If competing requests for repatriation are received, the PMAE must determine the most appropriate requestor prior to repatriation. Requests for joint repatriation of the cultural items are considered a single request and not competing requests. The PMAE is responsible for sending a copy of this notice to the Indian Tribes and Native Hawaiian organizations identified in this notice. Authority: Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, 25 U.S.C. 3003, and the implementing regulations, 43 CFR 10.8, § 10.10, and § 10.14. Dated: October 27, 2023. Melanie O’Brien, Manager, National NAGPRA Program. [FR Doc. 2023–24532 Filed 11–6–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4312–52–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Nov 06, 2023 Jkt 262001 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2023–062] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Additional Site Assessment Activities on Beacon Wind, LLC’s Renewable Energy Lease OCS–A 0520 Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior. ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments. AGENCY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the reasonably foreseeable impacts from additional site assessment activities in Lease Area OCS–A 0520 offshore Massachusetts. Beacon Wind, LLC, (Beacon Wind), the leaseholder, requests to conduct additional site assessment activities in the lease area that were not analyzed in the initial EA. Those activities comprise temporarily installing and subsequently removing representative components of offshore wind turbine and substation foundations using a single suction bucket at locations where turbines and substations may be installed. BOEM is seeking public input regarding important environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EA. This EA is limited to site assessment activities and will be completed consistent with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing regulations of the Department of the Interior and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ). BOEM will assess the impacts of constructing and operating any wind energy project proposed by Beacon Wind in Lease Area OCS–A 0520 in an environmental impact statement before deciding whether to approve that proposed project. DATES: BOEM must receive your comments no later than December 7, 2023. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods: • Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to https:// www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM–2023–062 to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice. Click on the ‘‘Comment’’ button below the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click ‘‘Submit Comment;’’ or • By U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service: Send your comments SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00134 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Mail Stop VAM–OREP, Sterling, VA 20166. For additional information about submitting your comments, please see the discussion under the heading ‘‘Public Participation’’ in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Stromberg, BOEM, Environment Branch for Renewable Energy, 45600 Woodland Road, Mail Stop VAM–OREP, Sterling, VA 20166, (703) 787–1722 or jessica.stromberg@boem.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: On December 8, 2020, Beacon Wind submitted a site assessment plan (SAP) to install and operate one floating light detection and ranging buoy, two current meter moorings, and two meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) buoys. Beacon Wind updated this SAP on June 28, 2021, and BOEM approved it on September 24, 2021. On June 3, 2014, BOEM issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) based on a comprehensive revised Environmental Assessment titled ‘‘Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts (2014 EA).’’ 1 The 2014 EA included analysis of leasing and site assessment impacts in Lease Area OCS–A 0520. However, the suction bucket technique was not included in the analyzed site assessment activities. Proposed Action and Scope of Analysis The proposed action is approval of Beacon Wind’s amended SAP to conduct additional site assessment activities in the Lease Area. If approved, those activities will comprise foundation testing by installing and removing representative components for offshore wind turbine and substation foundations. This testing will include repeated use of a single suction bucket within the lease area at locations where wind turbines and substations may be installed. The equipment used for testing will be the same as described in Beacon Wind’s construction and operations plan 2 for suction bucket jacket foundations, which may be used to install offshore turbines and 1 https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/ revised-ma-ea-2014. 2 https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/stateactivities/beacon-wind-farm-construction-andoperations-plan. E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM 07NON1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 214 / Tuesday, November 7, 2023 / Notices substations. The proposed additional testing will further assess the site conditions and gather information necessary for the engineering design of turbine and substation foundations well-suited for the lease area if BOEM approves the project. BOEM decided to prepare an EA for this proposed action regarding Beacon Wind’s amended SAP to support and inform agency decision-making (40 CFR 1501.3). This notice starts the scoping process for the EA and solicits information regarding additional important environmental issues and alternatives that should be considered in the EA (43 CFR 46.305). Additionally, BOEM will use the scoping process to identify and eliminate from detailed analysis issues that are not significant or that have been analyzed by prior environmental reviews (40 CFR 1501.9(f)(1)). BOEM will use responses to this notice and the EA public input process to satisfy the public involvement requirements of the National Historic Preservation Act (see 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). Consequently, BOEM is seeking information from the public on the identification and, if applicable, the assessment, of potential impacts to cultural resources and historic properties that might be impacted by the proposed site assessment activities and foundation testing. The EA analyses will also support compliance with other environmental laws and statutes (e.g., Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act). Cooperating Agencies: BOEM invites Tribal Nations and Federal, State, and local government agencies to consider becoming cooperating agencies in the preparation of this EA. CEQ regulations for implementing NEPA define cooperating agencies as those with ‘‘jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a reasonable alternative)’’ (40 CFR 1508.1(e)). Potential cooperating agencies should consider their authority and capacity to assume the responsibilities of a cooperating agency. 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 Whether to Invite, Decline or End Cooperating Agency Status’’ in VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:30 Nov 06, 2023 Jkt 262001 CEQ’s memo, ‘‘Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the Procedural Requirements of the [NEPA],’’ dated January 30, 2002. A copy of this document is available at: https:// www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/ nepapub/nepa_documents/RedDont/GCEQ-CoopAgenciesImplem.pdf. As the lead agency, BOEM will not provide financial assistance to cooperating agencies. Even if an organization is not a cooperating agency, opportunities will exist to provide information and comments to BOEM during the normal public input phases of the NEPA process. Public Participation A. Comments Tribal Nations, Federal and State agencies, local governments, and other interested parties are requested to comment on important issues to be considered in the EA. For information on how to submit comments and deadline, see the DATES and ADDRESSES sections above. B. Privileged and Confidential Information BOEM will protect privileged and confidential information submitted in comments when required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial and financial information that is privileged or confidential. If you wish to protect the confidentiality of such information, clearly label it ‘‘Contains Confidential Information’’ and request that BOEM treat it as confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information if BOEM determines under 30 CFR 585.114(b) that it qualifies for a FOIA exemption. Consider submitting such information as a separate attachment. BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such information or comments not containing such privileged or confidential information. Information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential may be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release. C. Personally Identifiable Information BOEM does not consider anonymous comments. Please include your name and address as part of your comment. BOEM makes all comments, including names, addresses, and other personally identifiable information included in the comment, available for public review online. Individuals may request that BOEM withhold their names, addresses, or other personally identifiable information included in their comment PO 00000 Frm 00135 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 76853 from the public record; however, BOEM cannot guarantee that it will be able to do so because comment submissions are subject to FOIA. If your submission is requested under FOIA, your information will only be withheld if a determination is made that one of the FOIA exemptions to disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the Department’s FOIA regulations and applicable law. In order for BOEM to withhold from disclosure your personally identifiable information, you must identify any information contained in your comments that, if released, would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your privacy. You also must briefly describe any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. All submissions from organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be made available for public inspection in their entirety. D. Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 307103(a)) After consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, BOEM is required to withhold the location, character, or ownership of historic resources if it determines that disclosure may, among other things, cause a significant invasion of privacy, risk harm to the historic resources, or impede the use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. Tribal entities and other parties providing information on historic resources should designate information that they wish to be held as confidential and provide the reasons why BOEM should do so. Authority: NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4332); 40 CFR 1501.5; 43 CFR 46.305. Karen Baker, Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2023–24610 Filed 11–6–23; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4340–98–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation Nos. 701–TA–655 and 731– TA–1531 (Final) (Remand)] Seamless Carbon and Alloy Steel Standard, Line, and Pressure Pipe From Russia United States International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice of remand proceedings. AGENCY: E:\FR\FM\07NON1.SGM 07NON1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 214 (Tuesday, November 7, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76852-76853]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-24610]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2023-062]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for 
Additional Site Assessment Activities on Beacon Wind, LLC's Renewable 
Energy Lease OCS-A 0520

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) intends to 
prepare an environmental assessment (EA) to analyze the reasonably 
foreseeable impacts from additional site assessment activities in Lease 
Area OCS-A 0520 offshore Massachusetts. Beacon Wind, LLC, (Beacon 
Wind), the leaseholder, requests to conduct additional site assessment 
activities in the lease area that were not analyzed in the initial EA. 
Those activities comprise temporarily installing and subsequently 
removing representative components of offshore wind turbine and 
substation foundations using a single suction bucket at locations where 
turbines and substations may be installed. BOEM is seeking public input 
regarding important environmental issues and the identification of 
reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EA. This EA is 
limited to site assessment activities and will be completed consistent 
with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and implementing 
regulations of the Department of the Interior and the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ). BOEM will assess the impacts of 
constructing and operating any wind energy project proposed by Beacon 
Wind in Lease Area OCS-A 0520 in an environmental impact statement 
before deciding whether to approve that proposed project.

DATES: BOEM must receive your comments no later than December 7, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by either of the following methods:
     Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to 
https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2023-062 to 
submit public comments and view supporting and related materials 
available for this notice. Click on the ``Comment'' button below the 
document link. Enter your information and comment, then click ``Submit 
Comment;'' or
     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, 45600 Woodland 
Road, Mail Stop VAM-OREP, Sterling, VA 20166.
    For additional information about submitting your comments, please 
see the discussion under the heading ``Public Participation'' in the 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jessica Stromberg, BOEM, Environment 
Branch for Renewable Energy, 45600 Woodland Road, Mail Stop VAM-OREP, 
Sterling, VA 20166, (703) 787-1722 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: On December 8, 2020, Beacon Wind 
submitted a site assessment plan (SAP) to install and operate one 
floating light detection and ranging buoy, two current meter moorings, 
and two meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) buoys. Beacon Wind 
updated this SAP on June 28, 2021, and BOEM approved it on September 
24, 2021.
    On June 3, 2014, BOEM issued a Finding of No Significant Impact 
(FONSI) based on a comprehensive revised Environmental Assessment 
titled ``Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities 
on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts (2014 
EA).'' \1\ The 2014 EA included analysis of leasing and site assessment 
impacts in Lease Area OCS-A 0520. However, the suction bucket technique 
was not included in the analyzed site assessment activities.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/revised-ma-ea-2014.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed Action and Scope of Analysis

    The proposed action is approval of Beacon Wind's amended SAP to 
conduct additional site assessment activities in the Lease Area. If 
approved, those activities will comprise foundation testing by 
installing and removing representative components for offshore wind 
turbine and substation foundations. This testing will include repeated 
use of a single suction bucket within the lease area at locations where 
wind turbines and substations may be installed. The equipment used for 
testing will be the same as described in Beacon Wind's construction and 
operations plan \2\ for suction bucket jacket foundations, which may be 
used to install offshore turbines and

[[Page 76853]]

substations. The proposed additional testing will further assess the 
site conditions and gather information necessary for the engineering 
design of turbine and substation foundations well-suited for the lease 
area if BOEM approves the project.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/beacon-wind-farm-construction-and-operations-plan.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BOEM decided to prepare an EA for this proposed action regarding 
Beacon Wind's amended SAP to support and inform agency decision-making 
(40 CFR 1501.3). This notice starts the scoping process for the EA and 
solicits information regarding additional important environmental 
issues and alternatives that should be considered in the EA (43 CFR 
46.305). Additionally, BOEM will use the scoping process to identify 
and eliminate from detailed analysis issues that are not significant or 
that have been analyzed by prior environmental reviews (40 CFR 
1501.9(f)(1)).
    BOEM will use responses to this notice and the EA public input 
process to satisfy the public involvement requirements of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (see 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3)). Consequently, BOEM 
is seeking information from the public on the identification and, if 
applicable, the assessment, of potential impacts to cultural resources 
and historic properties that might be impacted by the proposed site 
assessment activities and foundation testing. The EA analyses will also 
support compliance with other environmental laws and statutes (e.g., 
Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and Marine Mammal Protection 
Act).
    Cooperating Agencies: BOEM invites Tribal Nations and Federal, 
State, and local government agencies to consider becoming cooperating 
agencies in the preparation of this EA. CEQ regulations for 
implementing NEPA define cooperating agencies as those with 
``jurisdiction by law or special expertise with respect to any 
environmental impact involved in a proposal (or a reasonable 
alternative)'' (40 CFR 1508.1(e)). Potential cooperating agencies 
should consider their authority and capacity to assume the 
responsibilities of a cooperating agency.
    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 Whether to 
Invite, Decline or End Cooperating Agency Status'' in CEQ's memo, 
``Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the Procedural Requirements of 
the [NEPA],'' dated January 30, 2002. A copy of this document is 
available at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/nepapub/nepa_documents/RedDont/G-CEQ-CoopAgenciesImplem.pdf.
    As the lead agency, BOEM will not provide financial assistance to 
cooperating agencies. Even if an organization is not a cooperating 
agency, opportunities will exist to provide information and comments to 
BOEM during the normal public input phases of the NEPA process.

Public Participation

A. Comments

    Tribal Nations, Federal and State agencies, local governments, and 
other interested parties are requested to comment on important issues 
to be considered in the EA. For information on how to submit comments 
and deadline, see the DATES and ADDRESSES sections above.

B. Privileged and Confidential Information

    BOEM will protect privileged and confidential information submitted 
in comments when required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). 
Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial and 
financial information that is privileged or confidential. If you wish 
to protect the confidentiality of such information, clearly label it 
``Contains Confidential Information'' and request that BOEM treat it as 
confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information if BOEM 
determines under 30 CFR 585.114(b) that it qualifies for a FOIA 
exemption. Consider submitting such information as a separate 
attachment.
    BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such 
information or comments not containing such privileged or confidential 
information. Information that is not labeled as privileged or 
confidential may be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.

C. Personally Identifiable Information

    BOEM does not consider anonymous comments. Please include your name 
and address as part of your comment. BOEM makes all comments, including 
names, addresses, and other personally identifiable information 
included in the comment, available for public review online. 
Individuals may request that BOEM withhold their names, addresses, or 
other personally identifiable information included in their comment 
from the public record; however, BOEM cannot guarantee that it will be 
able to do so because comment submissions are subject to FOIA. If your 
submission is requested under FOIA, your information will only be 
withheld if a determination is made that one of the FOIA exemptions to 
disclosure applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance 
with the Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
    In order for BOEM to withhold from disclosure your personally 
identifiable information, you must identify any information contained 
in your comments that, if released, would constitute a clearly 
unwarranted invasion of your privacy. You also must briefly describe 
any possible harmful consequences of the disclosure of information, 
such as embarrassment, injury, or other harm. All submissions from 
organizations or businesses and from individuals identifying themselves 
as representatives or officials of organizations or businesses will be 
made available for public inspection in their entirety.

D. Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 
307103(a))

    After consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, BOEM is 
required to withhold the location, character, or ownership of historic 
resources if it determines that disclosure may, among other things, 
cause a significant invasion of privacy, risk harm to the historic 
resources, or impede the use of a traditional religious site by 
practitioners. Tribal entities and other parties providing information 
on historic resources should designate information that they wish to be 
held as confidential and provide the reasons why BOEM should do so.
    Authority: NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4332); 40 CFR 1501.5; 43 CFR 46.305.

Karen Baker,
Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2023-24610 Filed 11-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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