Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Atlantic Shores North Project on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey, 19350-19354 [2024-05649]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
• Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19350-19354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05649]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2024-0008]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for 
the Proposed Atlantic Shores North Project on the U.S. Outer 
Continental Shelf Offshore New Jersey

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an environmental impact statement; 
request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces its 
intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a 
construction and operations plan (COP) of a proposed offshore wind 
energy project submitted by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC 
(Atlantic Shores). This notice of intent (NOI) initiates the public 
scoping and comment process under the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) and under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act 
(NHPA). Atlantic Shores proposes to construct and operate the project 
in Renewable Energy Lease Area OCS-A 0549 (Lease Area), which is 
approximately 81,129 acres and located 8.4 statute miles (mi) (7.3 
nautical miles) offshore New Jersey and approximately 60 mi offshore 
New York State. Atlantic Shores proposes to develop the entire Lease 
Area, known as the Atlantic Shores North Project (the Project).

DATES: Your comments must be received by BOEM on or before May 2, 2024 
for timely consideration.
    BOEM will hold three in-person and two virtual public scoping 
meetings for the Atlantic Shores North EIS at the following dates and 
times (eastern time):
    In Person:

 Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., The Berkeley 
Hotel, 1401 Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey 07712
 Wednesday, April 10, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Grand Oaks 
Country Club, 200 Huguenot Avenue, Staten Island, New York 10312; and
 Thursday, April 11, 2024, 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dyker Beach 
Golf Course, 86th Street and 7th Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11228;

    Virtual:

 Wednesday, April 3, 2024, 1:00 p.m., and
 Tuesday, April 16, 2024, 5:00 p.m.

    Registration for the virtual public meetings may be completed here: 
https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/new-jersey/atlantic-shores-north-ocs-0549 or by calling (888) 788-0099 (toll 
free). Registration for in-person meetings will occur on site. The 
meetings are open to the public and free to attend.

ADDRESSES: Written comments can be submitted in any of the following 
ways:
     Delivered by U.S. mail or other delivery service, enclosed 
in an envelope labeled ``ATLANTIC SHORES North EIS'' and addressed to 
Kimberly Sullivan, NEPA Coordinator, Environmental Branch for Renewable 
Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, VAM-
OREP, Sterling, Virginia 20166; or
     Through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to 
https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2024-0008. 
Select the document in the search results on which you want to comment, 
click on the ``Comment'' button, and follow the online instructions for 
submitting your comment. A commenter's checklist is available on the 
comment web page. Enter your information and comment, then click 
``Submit.''
    For more information about submitting comments, please see the 
``Public Participation'' heading under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.
    Detailed information about the proposed Project, including the COP 
and instructions for making written comments, can be found on BOEM's 
website at: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/new-jersey/atlantic-shores-north-ocs-0549.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Sullivan, Office of Renewable 
Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland 
Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166, telephone (702) 338-4766, or email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of and Need for the Proposed Action

    In Executive Order 14008, ``Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and 
Abroad,'' issued on January 27, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden stated 
that the policy of his administration is ``to organize and deploy the 
full capacity of its agencies to combat the climate crisis to implement 
a government-wide approach that reduces climate pollution in every 
sector of the economy; increases resilience to the impacts of climate 
change; protects public health; conserves our lands, waters, and 
biodiversity; delivers environmental justice; and spurs well-paying 
union jobs and economic growth, especially through innovation, 
commercialization, and deployment of clean energy technologies and 
infrastructure.''
    Through a competitive leasing process conducted under 30 CFR 
585.211-585.225, BOEM awarded US Wind, LLC, the Commercial Lease OCS-A 
0499, covering an area offshore New Jersey. BOEM approved an assignment 
of 100 percent interest in the lease to EDF Renewables Development, 
Inc., in December 2018, and then to Atlantic Shores in August 2019. 
BOEM approved the segregation of Lease OCS-A 0499 into two separate 
leases in April 2022. The northern portion of OCS-A 0499 was retained 
by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC and given a new lease number, 
OCS-A 0549. Lease OCS-A 0499 is commonly referred to as Atlantic Shores 
South, and Lease OCS-A 0549 is commonly referred to as

[[Page 19351]]

Atlantic Shores North. This NOI only addresses activities within and in 
support of potential development of Lease OCS-A 0549, Atlantic Shores 
North.
    Atlantic Shores has the exclusive right to submit a COP for 
activities within the Lease Area. Atlantic Shores submitted a COP to 
BOEM proposing the construction, operation, maintenance, and conceptual 
decommissioning of an offshore wind energy facility in Lease Area OCS-
A-0549, known as the Atlantic Shores North Project, in accordance with 
BOEM's COP regulations under 30 CFR 585.626, et seq.
    Atlantic Shores' goal is to develop a commercial-scale offshore 
wind energy facility in the Lease Area to provide renewable energy to 
the States of New Jersey and/or New York. Atlantic Shores proposes to 
construct up to 157 wind turbine generators (WTG) in a 1.1 mil 0.7 mi 
(1 nm x 0.6 nm) grid distributed across the Lease Area. Up to 8 small, 
4 medium, or 3 large offshore substations (OSS) are proposed within 
identified rows of structures. There may also be one permanent 
meteorological (met) tower constructed and up to two temporary 
meteorological and oceanographic (metocean) buoys installed during 
construction. Together, the WTGs, OSSs, and met tower and metocean 
buoys consist of up to 168 offshore structures (Proposed Action).
    Two offshore export cable corridors (ECC) are proposed to transmit 
electricity from the lease area to shore. The proposed Monmouth ECC 
would make landfall in Sea Girt, New Jersey. The proposed Northern ECC 
may split, making landfall in the New York City area or in the Asbury 
Park, New Jersey, area. Multiple onshore interconnection cable routes 
have been identified from the landing sites to five proposed points of 
interconnection (POIs). The proposed POIs are the Larrabee and Atlantic 
substations in Monmouth County, New Jersey; Fresh Kills and Goethals 
substations in Richmond County, New York; and Gowanus substation in 
Kings County, New York. Atlantic Shores is actively seeking one or more 
offshore renewable energy credit (OREC) or power purchase agreement 
(PPA) awards for this project.
    Based on BOEM's authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands 
Act (OCSLA) (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.) to authorize renewable energy 
activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Executive Order 14008, 
the shared goals of the Federal agencies to deploy 30 gigawatts (GW) of 
offshore wind in the United States by 2030, while protecting 
biodiversity and promoting ocean co-use, and in consideration of 
applicant's goals, the purpose of BOEM's action is to determine whether 
to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove Atlantic Shores' 
COP. BOEM will make its determination after weighing the factors in 
subsection 8(p)(4) of OCSLA that are applicable to plan decisions and 
in consideration of the above goals. BOEM's action is needed to fulfill 
its duties under the lease, which requires BOEM to make a decision on 
the lessee's plan to construct and operate a commercial-scale, offshore 
wind energy facility(ies) in the Lease area.
    In addition, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's 
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) anticipates one or more 
requests for authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act 
(MMPA) (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) to take marine mammals incidental to 
construction activities related to the Project. NMFS's issuance of an 
MMPA incidental take authorization would be a major Federal action 
connected to BOEM's action (40 CFR 1501.9(e)(1)). The purpose of the 
NMFS action--which is a direct outcome of Atlantic Shores' request for 
authorization to take marine mammals incidental to specified activities 
associated with the Project (e.g., pile driving)--is to evaluate 
Atlantic Shores' request pursuant to specific requirements of the MMPA 
and its implementing regulations administered by NMFS, considering 
impacts of the Atlantic Shores North Project's activities on relevant 
resources and, if appropriate, issue the permit or authorization. NMFS 
needs to render a decision regarding the request for authorization due 
to NMFS's responsibilities under the MMPA (16 U.S.C. 1371(a)(5)(A)) and 
its implementing regulations. If NMFS makes the findings necessary to 
issue the requested authorization, NMFS intends to adopt, after 
independent review, BOEM's EIS to support that decision and fulfill its 
NEPA requirements.
    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Philadelphia District 
anticipates requests for authorizing a permit action to be undertaken 
through authority delegated to the district engineer by 33 CFR 325.8, 
under section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA) (33 U.S.C. 
403) and section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA) (33 U.S.C. 1344). In 
addition, it is anticipated that a section 408 permission will be 
required pursuant to section 14 of the RHA (33 U.S.C. 408), for any 
proposed alterations that have the potential to alter, occupy, or use 
any existing federally authorized civil works projects.
    The USACE considers issuance of permits and permissions under these 
three delegated authorities a major Federal action connected to BOEM's 
action (40 CFR 1501.9(e)(1)). The need for the project as provided by 
the applicant in volume 1, section 1.2 of the COP and reviewed by USACE 
for NEPA purposes is to provide a commercially viable offshore wind 
energy project within the Lease Area to supply electricity in support 
of renewable and offshore wind energy goals established by the State of 
New Jersey and the State of New York.
    The basic Project purpose, as determined by USACE for section 
404(b)(1) guidelines evaluation, is offshore wind energy generation. 
The overall project purpose for section 404(b)(1) guidelines 
evaluation, as determined by USACE, is the construction and operation 
of a commercial-scale, offshore wind energy project for renewable 
energy generation in Lease Area OCS-A 0549 offshore New Jersey and 
transmission to the New Jersey and/or New York energy grid.
    The purpose of USACE section 408 action as determined by Engineer 
Circular 1165-2-220 is to evaluate the applicant's request and 
determine whether the proposed alterations are injurious to the public 
interest or impair the usefulness of the USACE project. The USACE 
section 408 permission is needed to ensure that congressionally 
authorized projects continue to provide their intended benefits to the 
public.
    USACE intends to adopt BOEM's EIS to support its decision on any 
permits or permissions requested under section 10 of the RHA, section 
404 of the CWA, and section 408 of the RHA. The USACE would adopt the 
EIS per 40 CFR 1506.3 if, after its independent review of the document, 
it concludes that the EIS satisfies the USACE's comments and 
recommendations. Based on its participation as a cooperating agency and 
its consideration of BOEM's EIS, USACE intends to issue a record of 
decision (ROD) to formally document its decision on the Proposed 
Action.
    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 2 anticipates 
requests under section 402 of the CWA for an individual National 
Pollutants Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit to authorize 
discharges to surface waters from operation of a high voltage direct 
current (HVDC) OSS and the installation of suction bucket foundations 
on the U.S. OCS. EPA intends to rely on the Final EIS to support its 
decision on NPDES permit issuance.

[[Page 19352]]

Proposed Action and Preliminary Alternatives

    Atlantic Shores proposes to construct and operate an offshore wind 
energy facility within Lease Area OCS-A-0549, with up to 168 total 
foundation locations. Offshore components for the Atlantic Shores North 
Project include up to 157 WTGs and up to 8 small, 4 medium, or 3 large 
OSSs, foundations and associated scour protection for WTGs, associated 
interarray cables, up to 8 high voltage alternating current (HVAC) and 
HVDC submarine export cable routes in 2 offshore ECCs, cable 
protection, up to 1 permanent met tower, and up to 2 temporary metocean 
buoys.
    Atlantic Shores is considering monopile, piled jacket, mono-
buckets, suction-bucket jackets, suction bucket tetrahedron bases, 
gravity-based structures, or gravity-pad tetrahedron base foundation 
types to support the WTGs and OSSs. The WTGs, OSSs, foundations, and 
interarray cables would be located entirely within the Lease Area. Two 
offshore export cable corridors are proposed to transmit electricity 
from the lease areas to shore. Additional details on the ECCs and 
onshore facilities are described under the Purpose and Need section of 
this NOI.
    BOEM will evaluate reasonable alternatives to the Proposed Action 
that are identified during the scoping period and included in the draft 
EIS, including a no action alternative. Under the no action 
alternative, BOEM would disapprove the Atlantic Shores North COP, and 
the proposed wind energy facility described in the COP would not be 
built within the Lease Area.
    In addition to the Proposed Action and the no action alternative 
(i.e., disapproval of the COP), potential alternatives that the draft 
EIS could analyze include the following preliminary alternatives.
     Uniform Grid Alternative: Move all permanent structures 
that narrow any linear rows and columns to fewer than 0.6 nautical 
miles (1,100 meters) or in a layout that eliminates two distinct lines 
of orientation in a grid pattern.
     Visual Minimization Alternative: BOEM intends to examine 
height restrictions and setbacks to reduce visual impacts.
     Habitat and Fisheries Impact Minimization Alternative: 
BOEM intends to examine alternatives that would reduce impacts to 
habitat and fisheries.
    After completing the EIS and associated consultations, BOEM will 
decide through a ROD whether to approve, approve with modification, or 
disapprove the Atlantic Shores North Project COP. If BOEM approves the 
COP, Atlantic Shores must comply with all conditions of its approval.

Summary of Potential Impacts

    The draft EIS will identify and describe the potential effects of 
the Proposed Action and the alternatives on the human environment. 
Those potential effects must be reasonably foreseeable and must have a 
reasonably close causal relationship to the Proposed Action and the 
alternatives. Such effects include those that occur at the same time 
and place as the Proposed Action and alternatives and those that are 
later in time or occur in a different place.
    Potential effects include, but are not limited to, impacts (whether 
beneficial or adverse) on air quality; water quality; bats; benthic 
habitat; essential fish habitat; invertebrates; finfish; birds; marine 
mammals; terrestrial and coastal habitats and fauna; sea turtles; 
wetlands and other waters of the United States; commercial fisheries 
and for-hire recreational fishing; cultural resources; Tribal issues of 
concern; demographics; employment; economics; environmental justice; 
land use and coastal infrastructure; navigation and vessel traffic; 
other marine uses; recreation and tourism; and visual resources. These 
potential effects will be analyzed in the draft and final EIS.
    Based on a preliminary evaluation of the resources listed in the 
preceding paragraph, BOEM expects potential impacts on sea turtles and 
marine mammals from underwater noise caused by construction and from 
collision risks with Project-related vessel traffic. Structures 
installed by the Project could permanently change benthic and fish 
habitats (e.g., creation of artificial reefs). Commercial fisheries and 
for-hire recreational fishing could be impacted. Project structures 
above the water could affect the visual character defining historic 
properties and recreational and tourism areas. Project structures also 
would pose an allision and height hazard to vessels passing close by, 
and vessels would, in turn, pose a hazard to the structures. 
Additionally, the Project might cause conflicts with military 
activities, air traffic, land-based radar services, cables and 
pipelines, and scientific surveys. The EIS will analyze all significant 
impacts, as well as potential measures that would avoid, minimize, or 
mitigate identified non-beneficial impacts.
    Beneficial impacts are also expected by facilitating achievement of 
State renewable energy goals, increasing job opportunities, improving 
air quality, and addressing climate change through E.O. 14008.
    (i) Anticipated Permits and Authorizations
    In addition to the requested COP approval, various other Federal, 
State, and local authorizations will be required for the Project. 
Applicable Federal laws include the Endangered Species Act, 
Magnuson[hyphen]Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, MMPA, 
RHA, CWA, Clean Air Act section 328, and the Coastal Zone Management 
Act. BOEM will also conduct government-to-government Tribal 
consultations. For a detailed listing of regulatory requirements 
applicable to the Project, please see the COP, volume I, available at 
https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/new-jersey/atlantic-shores-north-ocs-0549.
    (ii) BOEM has chosen to use the NEPA process to fulfill its 
obligations under NHPA. While BOEM's obligations under NHPA and NEPA 
are independent, regulations implementing section 106 of NHPA at 36 CFR 
800.8(c) allow the NEPA process and documentation to substitute for 
various aspects of the NHPA review. This process is intended to improve 
efficiency, promote transparency and accountability, and support a 
broadened discussion of potential effects that the Project could have 
on the human environment. During preparation of the EIS, BOEM will 
ensure that the NEPA process will fully meet all NHPA obligations.
    (iii) Schedule for the Decision-Making Process
    After the draft EIS is completed, BOEM will publish a notice of 
availability (NOA) and request public comments on the draft EIS. BOEM 
currently expects to issue the NOA for the draft EIS in June 2025. 
After the public comment period ends, BOEM will review and respond to 
comments received and will develop the final EIS. BOEM currently 
expects to make the final EIS available to the public in March 2026. A 
ROD will be completed no sooner than 30 days after the final EIS is 
released, in accordance with 40 CFR 1506.11.
    This Project is a ``covered project'' under section 41 of the 
Fixing America's Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41). FAST-41 provides 
increased transparency and predictability by requiring Federal agencies 
to publish comprehensive permitting timetables for all covered 
projects. FAST-41 also provides procedures for modifying permitting 
timetables to address the unpredictability inherent in the

[[Page 19353]]

environmental review and permitting process for significant 
infrastructure projects. To view the FAST-41 Permitting Dashboard for 
the Project, visit: https://www.permits.performance.gov/permitting-project/fast-41-covered-projects/atlantic-shores-north.

Scoping Process

    This NOI commences the public scoping process to identify issues 
and potential alternatives for consideration in the Atlantic Shores 
North EIS. BOEM will hold three in-person and two virtual public 
scoping meetings at the times and dates described above under the 
``DATES'' heading. Throughout the scoping process, Federal agencies, 
Tribes, State and local governments, and the public will have the 
opportunity to help BOEM identify significant resources and issues, 
impact-producing factors, reasonable alternatives (e.g., size, 
geographic, seasonal, or other restrictions on construction and siting 
of facilities and activities), and potential mitigation measures to be 
analyzed in the EIS, as well as to provide additional information.
    As noted above, BOEM will use the NEPA process to comply with NHPA. 
BOEM will consider all written requests from individuals and 
organizations to participate as consulting parties under NHPA and, as 
discussed below, will determine who among those parties will be a 
consulting party in accordance with NHPA regulations.

NEPA Cooperating Agencies

    BOEM invites other Federal agencies and State and local governments 
to consider becoming cooperating agencies and invites federally 
recognized Tribes to become cooperating Tribal governments in the 
preparation of this EIS. The Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) 
NEPA regulations specify that cooperating agencies and governments are 
those with ``jurisdiction by law or special expertise.'' Potential 
cooperating agencies should consider their authority and capacity to 
assume the responsibilities of a cooperating agency and should be aware 
that an agency's role in the environmental analysis neither enlarges 
nor diminishes the final decision-making authority of any other agency 
involved in the NEPA process.
    BOEM has provided potential cooperating agencies with a written 
summary of expectations for cooperating agencies, including schedules, 
milestones, responsibilities, scope and detail of cooperating agencies' 
expected contributions, and availability of pre-decisional information. 
BOEM anticipates this summary will form the basis for a memorandum of 
agreement between BOEM and any non-Department of the Interior 
cooperating agency. Agencies should also consider the factors for 
determining cooperating agency status in the CEQ memorandum entitled 
``Cooperating Agencies in Implementing the Procedural Requirements of 
the National Environmental Policy Act,'' dated January 30, 2002. This 
document is available on the internet at: https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/nepapub/nepa_documents/RedDont/G-CEQ-CoopAgenciesImplem.pdf. 
BOEM, as the lead agency, does not provide financial assistance to 
cooperating agencies.
    Governmental entities that are not cooperating agencies will have 
opportunities to provide information and comments to BOEM during the 
public input stages of the NEPA process.

NHPA Consulting Parties

    Individuals and organizations with a demonstrated interest in the 
Project can request to participate as NHPA consulting parties under 36 
CFR 800.2(c)(5) based on their legal or economic stake in historic 
properties affected by the Project.
    Before issuing this NOI, BOEM compiled a list of potential 
consulting parties and invited them to become consulting parties. To 
become a consulting party, those invited must respond in writing by the 
requested response date.
    Interested individuals and organizations that did not receive a 
written invitation can request to be consulting parties by writing to 
the staff NHPA contact at ICF International, Inc., the third-party EIS 
contractor supporting BOEM in its administration of this review. ICF's 
NHPA contact for this review is Maureen McCoy at 
[email protected]. BOEM will determine which interested 
parties should be consulting parties.

Public Participation

    Federal agencies, Tribes, State and local governments, interested 
parties, and the public are requested to comment on the scope of this 
EIS, significant issues that should be addressed, and alternatives that 
should be considered.

Information on Submitting Comments

a. Freedom of Information Act
    BOEM will protect your privileged and confidential information as 
required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exemption 4 of FOIA 
applies to trade secrets and commercial or financial information that 
is privileged or confidential. If you wish to protect the 
confidentiality of such information, clearly label it 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 
exemption from disclosure under FOIA. Please label privileged or 
confidential information ``Contains Confidential Information'' and 
consider submitting such information as a separate attachment.
    BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such 
information or comments not containing such privileged or confidential 
information. Information that is not labeled as privileged or 
confidential may be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.
b. Personally Identifiable Information (PII)
    BOEM discourages anonymous comments. Please include your name and 
address as part of your comment. You should be aware that your entire 
comment, including your name, address, and any other personally 
identifiable information included in your comment, may be made publicly 
available. All comments from individuals, businesses, and organizations 
will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov.
    For BOEM to consider withholding your PII from disclosure, you must 
identify any information contained in your comments that, if released, 
would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal 
privacy. You must also briefly describe any possible harmful 
consequences of the disclosure of information, such as embarrassment, 
injury, or other harm.
    Even if BOEM withholds your information in the context of this 
notice, your submission is subject to FOIA. If your submission is 
requested under FOIA, your information will only be withheld if a 
determination is made that one of FOIA's exemptions to disclosure 
applies. Such a determination will be made in accordance with the 
Department's FOIA regulations and applicable law.
c. Section 304 of the NHPA (54 U.S.C. 307103(a))
    After consultation with the Secretary, BOEM is required 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

[[Page 19354]]

designate information that falls under section 304 of NHPA as 
confidential.
    (i) Request for Identification of Potential Alternatives, 
Information, and Analyses Relevant to the Proposed Action
    BOEM requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, 
alternatives, or suggestions relevant to the Proposed Action from the 
public; affected Federal, Tribal, State, and local governments, 
agencies, and offices; the scientific community; industry; or any other 
interested party. Specifically, BOEM requests information on the 
following topics:
    1. Potential effects that the Proposed Action could have on 
biological resources, including bats, birds, coastal fauna, finfish, 
invertebrates, essential fish habitat, marine mammals, and sea turtles.
    2. Potential effects that the Proposed Action could have on 
physical resources and conditions including air quality, water quality, 
wetlands, and other waters of the United States.
    3. Potential effects that the Proposed Action could have on 
socioeconomic and cultural resources, including commercial fisheries 
and for-hire recreational fishing, demographics, employment, economics, 
environmental justice, land use and coastal infrastructure, navigation 
and vessel traffic, other uses (marine minerals, military use, 
aviation), recreation and tourism, and scenic and visual resources.
    4. Other possible reasonable alternatives to the Proposed Action 
that BOEM should consider, including additional or alternative 
avoidance, minimization, and mitigation measures.
    5. As part of its compliance with NHPA section 106 and its 
implementing regulations (36 CFR part 800), BOEM seeks comment and 
input from the public and consulting parties regarding the 
identification of historic properties within the Proposed Action's area 
of potential effects, the potential effects on those historic 
properties from the activities proposed in the COP, and any information 
that supports identification of historic properties under NHPA. BOEM 
also solicits proposed measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any 
adverse effects on historic properties. BOEM will present available 
information regarding known historic properties during the public 
scoping period at https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/new-jersey/atlantic-shores-north-ocs-0549. BOEM's effects 
analysis for historic properties will be available for public and 
consulting party comment with the draft EIS.
    6. Information on other current or planned activities in, or in the 
vicinity of, the Proposed Action, their possible impacts on the 
Project, and the Project's possible impacts on those activities.
    7. Other information relevant to the Proposed Action and its 
impacts on the human environment.
    To promote informed decision-making, comments should be as specific 
as possible and should provide as much detail as necessary to 
meaningfully and fully inform BOEM of the commenter's position. 
Comments should explain why the issues raised are important to the 
consideration of potential environmental impacts and possible 
alternatives to the Proposed Action, as well as economic, employment, 
and other impacts affecting the quality of the human environment.
    The draft EIS will include a summary of all alternatives, 
information, and analyses submitted during the scoping process for 
consideration by BOEM and the cooperating agencies.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and 40 CFR 1501.9.

Karen J. Baker,
Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-05649 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P