Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

On June 30, 2021, BOEM published the ``Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Vineyard Wind South Project Offshore Massachusetts'' in the Federal Register. The Notice of Intent (NOI) announced that BOEM will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) to inform its review of a construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Wind, LLC (Vineyard Wind). This notice provides updated project information related to potential changes in cable routing and announces an additional EIS public scoping comment period to account for the new information. Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facilities, including an updated COP, can be found on BOEM's website at: www.BOEM.gov/New-England-Wind. Also, this notice formally announces that the project's name has changed from Vineyard Wind South to New England Wind.

This document is the proposed sale notice (PSN) for the sale of a commercial wind energy lease on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the Carolina Long Bay area offshore North Carolina (Lease Area). The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes to offer a single lease using a multiple-factor bidding auction format. The PSN contains information pertaining to the areas available for leasing, certain provisions and conditions of the lease, auction details, lease forms, criteria for evaluating competing bids, award procedures, appeal procedures, and lease execution procedures. The issuance of a lease resulting from this sale, if any, would not constitute an approval of project-specific plans to develop offshore wind energy. Such plans, if submitted by the lessee, would be subject to subsequent environmental, technical, and public reviews prior to a decision on whether the proposed development should be authorized.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) for the proposed Cook Inlet Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas Lease Sale 258 (Lease Sale 258). This notice marks the start of the public review and comment period and announces three virtual public hearings on the DEIS. After the public hearings and written comments on the DEIS have been reviewed and considered, a final EIS will be prepared. The DEIS and associated information, including the exploration, development and production, and decommissioning scenario (E&D Scenario) are available for review on the agency's website at https://www.boem.gov/ ak258.

On Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Lease Sale 257 (GOM Lease Sale 257), in accordance with the provisions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), as amended, and the implementing regulations issued pursuant thereto. The GOM Lease Sale 257 Final Notice of Sale (NOS) package contains information essential to potential bidders and consists of the Final NOS, Information to Lessees, and Lease Stipulations.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is announcing the availability of a Record of Decision for proposed Gulf of Mexico (GOM) regionwide oil and gas Lease Sale 257. This Record of Decision identifies BOEM's selected alternative for proposed Lease Sale 257, which is analyzed in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Lease Sale: Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement 2018 (2018 GOM Supplemental EIS).

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the review of a construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Sunrise Wind LLC (Sunrise Wind) for the construction, and operation of a wind energy facility offshore Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York with a proposed interconnection location at the existing Holbrook Substation. BOEM seeks public comment for the EIS scoping process as well as comment concerning compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations. Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facility, including the COP, can be found on BOEM's website at: www.boem.gov/Sunrise-Wind.

In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, BOEM announces the availability of the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the construction and operation plan (COP) submitted by South Fork Wind, LLC, (South Fork Wind) for its proposed South Fork Wind Farm (SFWF) and South Fork Export Cable (SFEC) Project (Project). The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the Project as described in the COP (the proposed action) and alternatives to the proposed action and will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the COP.

This Call is published to solicit public input and industry interest on potential offshore wind energy development on areas adjacent to the Morro Bay Call Area previously identified in 2018. These new areas are within a 399-square-mile area located off central California, identified as the Morro Bay 399 Area.

This final rule amends the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regulations that set maximum daily civil penalty (MDCP) amounts for violations of the Federal Oil and Gas Royalty Management Act (FOGRMA). The amended BOEM regulations will cross-reference regulations of the Office of Natural Resources Revenue (ONRR) that also set MDCP amounts for FOGRMA violations. This cross-reference will ensure consistency between BOEM's FOGRMA MDCP amounts and ONRR's FOGRMA MDCP amounts. It will also ensure consistent compliance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (Inflation Adjustment Act) and related Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance, while reducing unnecessary duplication of effort and costs to BOEM.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), BOEM announces its intent to prepare an EIS for the review of a construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Wind, LLC (Vineyard Wind) for its Vineyard Wind South Project. The COP proposes the phased development, construction, and operation of wind energy facilities offshore Massachusetts with export cables connecting to the onshore electric grid in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. This NOI announces the EIS scoping process for the Vineyard Wind South COP. Additionally, this NOI seeks public comment and input under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations. Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facilities, including the COP, can be found on BOEM's website at: www.BOEM.gov/Vineyard-Wind- South.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces its intent to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the review of a construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Empire Offshore Wind, LLC (Empire). The COP proposes the construction and operation of two wind energy facilities offshore New York with two export cable routes and up to three export cable landfalls in New York. This notice of intent (NOI) announces the EIS scoping process for the Empire Wind COP. Additionally, this NOI seeks public comment and input under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and its implementing regulations. Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facilities, including the COP, can be found on BOEM's website at: https://www.boem.gov/Empire- Wind/.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issues this request for interest (RFI) to assess interest in, and to invite public comment on, possible commercial wind energy leasing on the Gulf of Mexico OCS. BOEM will consider information received in response to this RFI to determine whether to schedule a competitive lease sale or to issue a noncompetitive lease for any portion of the area described in this RFI (RFI Area). Even if you are not interested in identifying specific acreage for leasing consideration, BOEM is interested in understanding potential opportunities for all types of renewable energy development throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Those interested in leasing within the RFI Area for a commercial wind energy project should provide detailed and specific information described in the section of this RFI entitled ``Required Indication of Interest Information.'' Those interested in providing public comments and information regarding site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the RFI Area should provide information requested in the section of this RFI entitled ``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.'' As a result of this RFI, BOEM may or may not issue a lease for a commercial wind energy project within the RFI Area; a lease is the first step in BOEM's process to review and approve a commercial wind energy project. See the section of this RFI entitled ``BOEM's Planning and Leasing Process.''

BOEM announces the availability of the joint ROD on the final environmental impact statement (FEIS) for the construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Wind LLC (Vineyard Wind). The joint ROD includes the decisions of the Department of the Interior (DOI), USACE, and NMFS regarding the Vineyard Wind COP. The USACE has adopted the FEIS to support its permitting actions under the River and Harbors Act of 1899 (RHA) and the Clean Water Act (CWA). NMFS has adopted the FEIS to support its decision to issue an incidental take authorization under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The joint ROD concludes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process for each agency and is available with associated information on BOEM's website at https://www.boem.gov/Vineyard-Wind/.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is proposing a new information collection request (ICR).

This final rule implements the 2021 inflation adjustments to the maximum daily civil monetary penalties contained in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) regulations for violations of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA), pursuant to the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 (FCPIAA Improvements Act) and relevant Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidance. The 2021 adjustment multiplier of 1.01182 accounts for one year of inflation from October 2019 through October 2020.

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the review of a construction and operations plan (COP) submitted by Ocean Wind, LLC, (Ocean Wind). The COP proposes the construction and operation of a wind energy facility offshore New Jersey with export cables connecting to the onshore electric grid in Ocean and Cape May Counties, New Jersey. This notice of intent (NOI) announces the EIS scoping process for the Ocean Wind COP. Additionally, this NOI seeks public comment and input under section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (16 U.S.C. 470f) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR part 800). Detailed information about the proposed wind energy facility, including the COP, can be found on BOEM's website at: https://www.boem.gov/Ocean-Wind/.

In accordance with National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, BOEM announces the availability of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) prepared for the Vineyard Wind Offshore Wind Energy Project Construction and Operation Plan (COP) submitted by Vineyard Wind LLC (Vineyard Wind). The FEIS analyzes the potential environmental impacts of the COP (the proposed action) and alternatives to it and will inform BOEM's decision whether to approve, approve with modifications, or disapprove the COP.

BOEM is withdrawing the public review period and virtual public hearings announced in the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Cook Inlet Lease Sale 258.

The Department of the Interior (DOI or Department), acting through BSEE and BOEM, is reopening the comment period for Proposed Rule: Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental ShelfRevisions to the Requirements for Exploratory Drilling on the Arctic Outer Continental Shelf, which was published in the Federal Register on December 9, 2020.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) proposes to renew its information collection control number 1010-0057 through the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).