Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance, Site Characterization Activities, and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Maine Offshore the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 19354-19356 [2024-05699]

Download as PDF lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 19354 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices 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/newjersey/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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 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 decisionmaking, 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 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM–2024–0020] Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance, Site Characterization Activities, and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Maine Offshore the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 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 consider the potential environmental impacts associated with possible wind energy-related leasing, site characterization activities, and site assessment activities on the U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. BOEM is seeking public input regarding SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 important environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives that should be considered in the EA. The environmental impacts of any proposed wind energy projects will be assessed after a lease is issued and before BOEM decides whether or not to approve any lessee’s project construction and operations plan. DATES: BOEM must receive your comments no later than April 17, 2024. 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–2024–0020 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandi Sangunett, BOEM, Environment Branch for Renewable Energy, 45600 Woodland Road, Mail Stop VAM–OREP, Sterling, VA 20166, (703) 787–1015 or brandi.sangunett@boem.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background: On October 19, 2023, BOEM announced a draft wind energy area (WEA) on the U.S. Gulf of Maine OCS for public review and comment. The Draft WEA is in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, covering approximately 3.5 million acres. Before finalizing the WEA, BOEM considered feedback from government partners, federally recognized Tribes, ocean users, and other stakeholders. Concurrently with this NOI, BOEM is announcing the final wind energy area (Final WEA) in the Gulf of Maine, covering approximately 2 million acres. Detailed information about the WEA can be found on BOEM’s website at: https://www.boem.gov/ renewable-energy/state-activities/ maine/gulf-maine. Proposed Action and Scope of Analysis The EA’s proposed action is issuing wind energy leases in the Gulf of Maine WEA. The EA will consider project easements and grants for subsea cable corridors associated with leasing. The EA also will consider the potential environmental impacts associated with E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archaeological, geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys) that are expected to take place following lease issuance. The EA’s proposed action does not include the installation of meteorological towers because developers prefer meteorological buoys to collect data. In addition to the no-action alternative, other alternatives may be considered, such as exclusion of certain areas. BOEM has decided to prepare an EA for this proposed action in order to assist agency planning and decisionmaking (40 CFR 1501.3). This notice starts the scoping process for the EA and solicits information regarding 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 (NHPA), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). Specific to NHPA, BOEM seeks information from the public on the identification and assessment of potential impacts to cultural resources and historic properties that might be impacted by possible wind energy-related leasing, site characterization, and site assessment activities in the WEA. The EA analyses will also support compliance with other environmental statutes (e.g., Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, and Marine Mammal Protection Act). Wind energy leases do not authorize any activities on the OCS. Instead, leases grant lessees the exclusive right to submit plans for BOEM’s consideration and approval. Prior to deciding whether to approve any plan for the construction and operation of commercial wind energy facilities, BOEM will prepare a plan-specific environmental analysis and will comply with all consultation requirements. Therefore, this EA will not consider the construction and operation of any commercial wind energy facilities in the Final WEA. Cooperating Agencies: BOEM invites Tribal governments and Federal, State, and local government agencies to consider becoming cooperating agencies in the preparation of this EA. Council VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the procedural provisions of 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. 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. Upon request, BOEM will provide potential cooperating Tribal governments and 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 [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-CEQCoopAgenciesImplem.pdf. BOEM, as the lead agency, 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. Comments: Federal agencies; Tribal, State, and local governments; and other interested parties are requested to comment on the important issues to be considered in the EA. For information on how to submit comments and the deadline, see the DATES and ADDRESSES sections above. Information on Submitting Comments a. Privileged and Confidential Information BOEM will protect privileged and confidential information in your comment under 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 and request that BOEM treat it as confidential. BOEM will not disclose PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 19355 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 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 personally identifiable information (PII) included in your comment, may be made publicly available. All submissions from identified individuals, businesses, and organizations will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov. Except for clearly identified privileged and confidential information, BOEM will make available for public inspection all comments, in their entirety, submitted by organizations and businesses, or by individuals identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or businesses. 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 the 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 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 E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1 19356 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 53 / Monday, March 18, 2024 / Notices 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: This notice of intent to prepare an EA is published pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., 40 CFR part 1500, and 43 CFR 46.305. Karen Baker, Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2024–05699 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4340–98–P INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION [Investigation No. 337–TA–1393] Certain Vehicle Telematics, Fleet Management, and Video-Based Safety Systems, Devices, and Components Thereof, Notice of Institution of Investigation U.S. International Trade Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: Notice is hereby given that a complaint was filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission on February 9, 2024, under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, on behalf of Samsara Inc. of San Francisco, California. A supplement to the complaint was filed on February 29, 2024. The complaint, as supplemented, alleges violations of section 337 based upon the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, and the sale within the United States after importation of certain vehicle telematics, fleet management, and video-based safety systems, devices, and components thereof by reason of the infringement of certain claims of U.S. Patent No. 11,190,373 (‘‘the ’373 patent’’); U.S. Patent No. 11,127,130 (‘‘the ’130 patent’’); and U.S. Patent No. 11,611,621 (‘‘the ’621 patent’’). The complaint further alleges that an industry in the United States exists as required by the applicable Federal Statute. The complainant requests that the Commission institute an investigation and, after the investigation, issue a limited exclusion order and a cease and desist order. ADDRESSES: The complaint, except for any confidential information contained therein, may be viewed on the Commission’s electronic docket (EDIS) lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:07 Mar 15, 2024 Jkt 262001 at https://edis.usitc.gov. For help accessing EDIS, please email EDIS3Help@usitc.gov. Hearing impaired individuals are advised that information on this matter can be obtained by contacting the Commission’s TDD terminal on (202) 205–1810. Persons with mobility impairments who will need special assistance in gaining access to the Commission should contact the Office of the Secretary at (202) 205– 2000. General information concerning the Commission may also be obtained by accessing its internet server at https://www.usitc.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pathenia M. Proctor, The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, telephone (202) 205–2560. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Authority: The authority for institution of this investigation is contained in section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, 19 U.S.C. 1337, and in section 210.10 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10 (2023). Scope of Investigation: Having considered the complaint, the U.S. International Trade Commission, on March 12, 2024, ordered that— (1) Pursuant to subsection (b) of section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended, an investigation be instituted to determine whether there is a violation of subsection (a)(1)(B) of section 337 in the importation into the United States, the sale for importation, or the sale within the United States after importation of certain products identified in paragraph (2) by reason of infringement of one or more of claims 15, 17, and 18 of the ’373 patent; claims 1 and 5 of the ’130 patent; and claims 1–5, 8–12, and 15–19 of the ’621 patent, and whether an industry in the United States exists as required by subsection (a)(2) of section 337; (2) Pursuant to section 210.10(b)(1) of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.10(b)(1), the plain language description of the accused products or category of accused products, which defines the scope of the investigation, is ‘‘AI dashcams, vehicle gateways, and corresponding software’’; (3) Pursuant to Commission Rule 210.50(b)(l), 19 CFR 210.50(b)(1), the presiding administrative law judge shall take evidence or other information and hear arguments from the parties or other interested persons with respect to the public interest in this investigation, as appropriate, and provide the Commission with findings of fact and a recommended determination on this issue, which shall be limited to the PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 statutory public interest factors set forth in 19 U.S.C. l337(d)(l), (f)(1), (g)(1); (4) For the purpose of the investigation so instituted, the following are hereby named as parties upon which this notice of investigation shall be served: (a) The complainant is: Samsara Inc., 1 De Haro Street, San Francisco, CA 94107. (b) The respondent is the following entity alleged to be in violation of section 337, and is the party upon which the complaint is to be served: Motive Technologies Inc., 55 Hawthorne Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94105. (c) The Office of Unfair Import Investigations, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Suite 401, Washington, DC 20436; and (5) For the investigation so instituted, the Chief Administrative Law Judge, U.S. International Trade Commission, shall designate the presiding Administrative Law Judge. Responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation must be submitted by the named respondent in accordance with section 210.13 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure, 19 CFR 210.13. Pursuant to 19 CFR 201.16(e) and 210.13(a), as amended in 85 FR 15798 (March 19, 2020), such responses will be considered by the Commission if received not later than 20 days after the date of service by the complainant of the complaint and the notice of investigation. Extensions of time for submitting responses to the complaint and the notice of investigation will not be granted unless good cause therefor is shown. Failure of the respondent to file a timely response to each allegation in the complaint and in this notice may be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to appear and contest the allegations of the complaint and this notice, and to authorize the administrative law judge and the Commission, without further notice to the respondent, to find the facts to be as alleged in the complaint and this notice and to enter an initial determination and a final determination containing such findings, and may result in the issuance of an exclusion order or a cease and desist order or both directed against the respondent. By order of the Commission. Issued: March 12, 2024. Lisa Barton, Secretary to the Commission. [FR Doc. 2024–05660 Filed 3–15–24; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 7020–02–P E:\FR\FM\18MRN1.SGM 18MRN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 53 (Monday, March 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19354-19356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-05699]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2024-0020]


Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Assessment for 
Commercial Wind Lease Issuance, Site Characterization Activities, and 
Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf in 
the Gulf of Maine Offshore the States of Maine, New Hampshire, and the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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 consider the potential 
environmental impacts associated with possible wind energy-related 
leasing, site characterization activities, and site assessment 
activities on the U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the 
Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and New Hampshire and the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. BOEM is seeking public input regarding 
important environmental issues and the identification of reasonable 
alternatives that should be considered in the EA. The environmental 
impacts of any proposed wind energy projects will be assessed after a 
lease is issued and before BOEM decides whether or not to approve any 
lessee's project construction and operations plan.

DATES: BOEM must receive your comments no later than April 17, 2024.

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-2024-0020 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandi Sangunett, BOEM, Environment 
Branch for Renewable Energy, 45600 Woodland Road, Mail Stop VAM-OREP, 
Sterling, VA 20166, (703) 787-1015 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Background: On October 19, 2023, BOEM announced a draft wind energy 
area (WEA) on the U.S. Gulf of Maine OCS for public review and comment. 
The Draft WEA is in the Gulf of Maine offshore the States of Maine and 
New Hampshire and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, covering 
approximately 3.5 million acres. Before finalizing the WEA, BOEM 
considered feedback from government partners, federally recognized 
Tribes, ocean users, and other stakeholders. Concurrently with this 
NOI, BOEM is announcing the final wind energy area (Final WEA) in the 
Gulf of Maine, covering approximately 2 million acres. Detailed 
information about the WEA can be found on BOEM's website at: https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/maine/gulf-maine.

Proposed Action and Scope of Analysis

    The EA's proposed action is issuing wind energy leases in the Gulf 
of Maine WEA. The EA will consider project easements and grants for 
subsea cable corridors associated with leasing. The EA also will 
consider the potential environmental impacts associated with

[[Page 19355]]

site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archaeological, 
geological, and geophysical surveys and core samples) and site 
assessment activities (i.e., installation of meteorological buoys) that 
are expected to take place following lease issuance. The EA's proposed 
action does not include the installation of meteorological towers 
because developers prefer meteorological buoys to collect data. In 
addition to the no-action alternative, other alternatives may be 
considered, such as exclusion of certain areas.
    BOEM has decided to prepare an EA for this proposed action in order 
to assist agency planning and decision-making (40 CFR 1501.3). This 
notice starts the scoping process for the EA and solicits information 
regarding 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 (NHPA), as provided in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). 
Specific to NHPA, BOEM seeks information from the public on the 
identification and assessment of potential impacts to cultural 
resources and historic properties that might be impacted by possible 
wind energy-related leasing, site characterization, and site assessment 
activities in the WEA.
    The EA analyses will also support compliance with other 
environmental statutes (e.g., Coastal Zone Management Act, Endangered 
Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 
and Marine Mammal Protection Act).
    Wind energy leases do not authorize any activities on the OCS. 
Instead, leases grant lessees the exclusive right to submit plans for 
BOEM's consideration and approval. Prior to deciding whether to approve 
any plan for the construction and operation of commercial wind energy 
facilities, BOEM will prepare a plan-specific environmental analysis 
and will comply with all consultation requirements. Therefore, this EA 
will not consider the construction and operation of any commercial wind 
energy facilities in the Final WEA.
    Cooperating Agencies: BOEM invites Tribal governments and Federal, 
State, and local government agencies to consider becoming cooperating 
agencies in the preparation of this EA. Council on Environmental 
Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the procedural provisions of 
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. 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.
    Upon request, BOEM will provide potential cooperating Tribal 
governments and 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 [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.
    BOEM, as the lead agency, 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.
    Comments: Federal agencies; Tribal, State, and local governments; 
and other interested parties are requested to comment on the important 
issues to be considered in the EA. For information on how to submit 
comments and the deadline, see the DATES and ADDRESSES sections above.

Information on Submitting Comments

a. Privileged and Confidential Information
    BOEM will protect privileged and confidential information in your 
comment under 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 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
    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 personally identifiable 
information (PII) included in your comment, may be made publicly 
available. All submissions from identified individuals, businesses, and 
organizations will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov. 
Except for clearly identified privileged and confidential information, 
BOEM will make available for public inspection all comments, in their 
entirety, submitted by organizations and businesses, or by individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives of organizations or 
businesses.
    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 the 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 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

[[Page 19356]]

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: This notice of intent to prepare an EA is published 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et 
seq., 40 CFR part 1500, and 43 CFR 46.305.

Karen Baker,
Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy 
Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-05699 Filed 3-15-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P

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