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

BOEM has prepared a ROD for proposed oil and gas CPA Lease Sale 235, which is scheduled for March 18, 2015. The proposed lease sale is in the Gulf of Mexico's CPA off the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Proposed CPA Lease Sale 235 is the third CPA lease sale scheduled in the OCS Oil & Gas Leasing Program for 2012-2017 (Five-Year Program). The CPA 235, 241, and 247 Supplemental EIS evaluated the environmental and socioeconomic impacts for proposed CPA Lease Sale 235. In making its decision, BOEM considered two alternatives to the proposed action, the potential impacts as presented in the CPA 235, 241, and 247 Supplemental EIS, and all comments received throughout the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process.

BOEM is announcing the availability of and requests comments on the Draft Proposed Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2017-2022 (DPP). This draft proposal is for the 2017-2022 OCS Oil and Gas Leasing Program that will succeed the current 2012-2017 Program. The DPP provides the basis for gathering information and conducting analyses to inform the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) on which areas to include for further leasing consideration in the 2017-2022 Program. Section 18 of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1344) specifies a multi- step process of consultation and analysis that must be completed before the Secretary may approve a new Five-Year Program. The required steps following this notice include the development of a Proposed Program (PP), Proposed Final Program (PFP), and Secretarial approval. In conjunction with this notice, BOEM is publishing a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the 2017-2022 Program, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

BOEM is announcing the availability of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities (geological, geotechnical/archeological and biological surveys) and site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of a meteorological tower and/or buoys) on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf offshore North Carolina. The EA considers the potential impacts of the proposed action and analyzes reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. This Notice of Availability (NOA) also serves to announce the beginning of the public comment period on the EA. The EA and associated information are available on BOEM's Web site at https://www.boem.gov/State-Activities- North-Carolina/.

BOEM is extending the comment period on an Environmental Assessment (EA) that considers the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences associated with approval of wind energy-related research activities offshore Virginia as proposed by the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME). BOEM is seeking public input on the EA, including comments on the completeness and adequacy of the environmental analysis. BOEM will consider public comments on the EA in determining whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI), or conduct additional analysis under the National Environmental Policy Act.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is notifying the public that we have submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 551, Geological and Geophysical (G&G) Explorations of the Outer Continental Shelf. This notice provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) to consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences associated with the approval of wind energy- related research activities offshore Virginia as proposed by the Virginia Department of Mines, Mineral, and Energy (DMME). The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the EA and to solicit public comment on the EA for a 30-day public comment period.

This document is the Final Sale Notice (FSN) for the sale of four commercial wind energy leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Massachusetts, pursuant to BOEM's regulations at 30 CFR 585.216. BOEM is offering four leases for sale using a multiple factor auction format: Lease OCS-A 0500, Lease OCS-A 0501, Lease OCS-A 0502, and Lease OCS-A 0503. The four lease areas (LAs) are identical to those announced in the Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Massachusetts, which was published on June 18, 2014, in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period (79 FR 34771). This FSN contains information pertaining to the areas available for leasing, lease provisions and conditions, auction procedures, the lease form, criteria for evaluating competing bids, award procedures, appeal procedures, and lease execution. The issuance of the leases resulting from this lease sale would not constitute an approval of project-specific plans to develop offshore wind energy. Such plans, expected to be submitted by successful lessees, will be subject to subsequent environmental and public review prior to a decision to proceed with development.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is notifying the public that we have submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This ICR pertains to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 550, Subpart B, Plans and Information. This notice provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection.

Pursuant to the authority vested in the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management by the joint bidding provisions of 30 CFR 556.41, each entity within one of the following groups is restricted from bidding with any entity in any of the other following groups at Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas lease sales to be held during the bidding period November 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015. This List of Restricted Joint Bidders will cover the period November 1, 2014, through April 30, 2015, and replace the prior list published on May 5, 2014, which covered the period May 1, 2014, through October 31, 2014.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is notifying the public that we have submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR pertains to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR Part 550, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control. This notice provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is giving notice of its intent to change a criterion and to clarify selected definitions in its existing Bid Adequacy Procedures for ensuring receipt of Fair Market Value (FMV) on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leases. In particular, BOEM proposes to remove the ``Number of Bids Rule'' that is currently applicable in Phase 1 of the Bid Adequacy Procedures. A copy of current procedures, ``Modifications to the Bid Adequacy Procedures,'' published at 64 FR 37560 on July 12, 1999, can be obtained from the BOEM Web site at https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas- Energy-Program/Leasing/Regional-Leasing/Gulf-of-Mexico-Region /Bid- Adequacy-Procedures.aspx. BOEM invites comments during a 45-day comment period following publication of this notice.

BOEM has prepared a Final Supplemental EIS for proposed OCS oil and gas Lease Sales 235, 241, and 247, which are tentatively scheduled to be held in March 2015, 2016, and 2017, respectively, in the Gulf of Mexico CPA offshore the States of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. This Final Supplemental EIS updates the environmental and socioeconomic analyses for proposed CPA Lease Sales 235, 241, and 247 evaluated in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2012-2017; Western Planning Area Lease Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and 248; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247, Final Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2012-019) (2012- 2017 WPA/CPA Multisale EIS) and in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2013-2014; Western Planning Area Lease Sale 233; Central Planning Area Lease Sale 231, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2013-0118) (WPA 233/CPA 231 Supplemental EIS).

Consistent with the regulations implementing the National Environmental Policy Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.) (NEPA), BOEM has prepared a Draft Supplemental EIS for proposed WPA oil and gas Lease Sales 246 and 248 in the GOM (WPA 246/248 Draft Supplemental EIS). Proposed Lease Sales 246 and 248 are tentatively scheduled to be held in August 2015 and 2016, respectively, in the WPA offshore the States of Texas and Louisiana. The WPA 246/248 Draft Supplemental EIS updates the environmental and socioeconomic analyses in the Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2012-2017; Western Planning Area Lease Sales 229, 233, 238, 246, and 248; Central Planning Area Lease Sales 227, 231, 235, 241, and 247, Final Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2012-019) (2012-2017 WPA/CPA Multisale EIS), Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2013-2014; Western Planning Area Lease Sale 233; Central Planning Area Lease Sale 231, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2013-0118) (WPA 233/CPA 231 Supplemental EIS), and Gulf of Mexico OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sales: 2014-2016; Western Planning Area Lease Sales 238, 246, and 248, Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (OCS EIS/EA BOEM 2014-009) (WPA 238/246/248 Supplemental EIS).

BOEM is seeking comments and information regarding its effort to update its regulations and program oversight for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) financial assurance requirements. When BOEM's existing bonding regulations were originally drafted and first implemented, the principal risks associated with OCS leases were non-payment of rents and royalties, noncompliance with laws and regulations, and potential problems due to bankruptcy. While potentially significant, such risks were generally well-known and of limited complexity, size and scope. Due to increasingly complex business, functional, organizational and financial issues and vast differences in costs associated with expanded and varied offshore activities, BOEM has recognized the need to develop a comprehensive program to assist in identifying, prioritizing, and managing the risks associated with industry activities on the OCS. BOEM intends to design and implement a more robust and comprehensive risk management, financial assurance and loss prevention program to address these complex issues and cost differences associated with offshore operations. To do so, BOEM is seeking stakeholder comments regarding various risk management and monitoring activities pertaining to financial risks to taxpayers that may result from activities on the OCS. This notice specifically discusses the bonding and financial assurance program for BOEM's offshore oil and gas program. However, we also welcome the submission of comments on the analogous bonding and financial assurance program for BOEM's offshore renewable energy and hard minerals programs. BOEM currently requires lessees to provide performance bonds and/or one of various alternative forms of financial assurance to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of leases, Rights-of-Use and Easements (RUEs) and Pipeline Rights-of-Way (ROWs). BOEM is seeking comments on who is best suited to mitigate risks and whether the correct parties are providing guarantees and other forms of financial assurance, as well as whether, or to what extent, the current forms of financial assurance are adequate and appropriate. Because costs and damages associated with oil spill financial responsibility (OSFR) are covered separately in the regulations, which is the subject of other proposed rulemakings on BOEM's regulatory agenda, BOEM is not soliciting comments on those regulations and their associated risk mitigation measures at this time.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is notifying the public that we have submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR pertains to a new survey to be conducted in northern coastal Alaska communities. This notice provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection.

On Wednesday, August 20, 2014, BOEM will open and publicly announce bids received for blocks offered in WPA Sale 238 in accordance with the provisions of the OCS Lands Act (OCSLA, 43 U.S.C. 1331-1356, as amended) and the implementing regulations issued pursuant thereto (30 CFR parts 550 and 556). The WPA 238 Final Notice of Sale (NOS) package (Final NOS Package) contains information essential to potential bidders, and bidders are charged with knowing the contents of the documents contained in the Final NOS Package. The Final NOS Package is available at the address and Web site below.

This document is the Final Sale Notice (FSN) for the sale of two commercial wind energy leases on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Maryland, pursuant to BOEM's regulations at 30 CFR 585.216. BOEM is offering Lease OCS-A 0489 (North Lease Area) and Lease OCS-A 0490 (South Lease Area) for sale using a multiple factor auction format. The two lease areas (LAs) together comprise the Maryland Wind Energy Area (WEA) described in the Call for Information and Nominations (Call) published on February 3, 2012 (see ``Area Offered for Leasing'' below for a description of the WEA and LAs) (77 FR 5552). The two LAs are identical to those announced in the Proposed Sale Notice (PSN) for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Maryland, which was published on December 18, 2013, in the Federal Register with a 60-day public comment period (78 FR 76643). This FSN contains information pertaining to the areas available for leasing, lease provisions and conditions, auction details, the lease form, criteria for evaluating competing bids, award procedures, appeal procedures, and lease execution. The issuance of the leases resulting from this lease sale would not constitute an approval of project- specific plans to develop offshore wind energy. Such plans, expected to be submitted by successful lessees, will be subject to subsequent environmental and public review prior to a decision to proceed with development.

BOEM is giving notice of its intent to prepare a Supplemental EIS for OCS Oil and Gas Lease Sale 193 in the Chukchi Sea Planning Area, Alaska. This Supplemental EIS will provide new analysis in response to a remand by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

This notice provides BOEM's determination that there is no competitive interest in the area requested by the Northwest National Marine Renewable Energy Center at Oregon State University (NNMREC-OSU) to acquire an Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) marine hydrokinetic (MHK) research lease as described in the Potential Marine Hydrokinetic (MHK) Research Lease on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Oregon, Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) that BOEM published on March 24, 2014 (79 FR 16050). The RFCI described NNMREC-OSU's request to obtain a lease for renewable energy research activities approximately five nautical miles offshore Newport, Oregon and provided an opportunity for the public to submit comments about the proposal.

BOEM has prepared a revised EA considering the reasonably foreseeable environmental and socioeconomic effects of issuing renewable energy leases and lessees' subsequent site characterization activities (e.g., geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys) and site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of meteorological towers and buoys) on those leases that may be issued in the Wind Energy Area (WEA) on the OCS offshore Massachusetts (MA). The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the revised EA and FONSI, which can be accessed online at: https://www.boem.gov/State-Activities- Massachusetts. In accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Council on Environmental Quality's (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA at 40 CFR 1500-1508, BOEM issued a FONSI supported by the analysis in the revised EA. The FONSI concluded that the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with the proposed action and alternatives, as set forth in the EA, would not significantly impact the quality of the human environment; therefore, the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is not required.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 550, Subpart B, Plans and Information.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFR 550, Subpart C, Pollution Prevention and Control.

This Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (Notice) is being published as an initial step to involve Federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, and the public in an early and transparent process to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) in accordance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq., and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA, 40 CFR parts 1500-1508. This process includes determining the scope of issues and identifying potentially significant issues related to a proposed project on the OCS offshore New York. This public and expert input will help inform BOEM decision-making with regard to issuing leases and approving site assessment activities. In consultation with other Federal agencies and BOEM's New York Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force, BOEM has identified an area for consideration for potential future wind energy leasing offshore New York (Call Area). The Call Area is identified in Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New YorkCall for Information and Nominations (Call), which is being published concurrently with this Notice. The leasing process provides several opportunities for public involvement before leasing can occur, including the publication of a Call and proposed sale notice. A commercial lease gives the lessee the exclusive right, subsequently, to seek BOEM approval for the development of the leasehold. The lease does not grant the lessee the right to construct any facilities; rather, the lease grants the lessee the right to use the leased area to develop its plans, which BOEM must approve before the lessee can move on to the next stage of the process. (See 30 CFR 585.600 and 585.601.) BOEM intends to prepare an EA to consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing commercial wind leases, associated site characterization activities (i.e., biological, archeological, geological and geophysical surveys and core samples), and approving site assessment activities on those leases within the Call Area. If a lessee proposes commercial wind development activity, the specific proposal will be subject to an environmental review at that time. At a minimum, the EA will consider the alternatives of (1) no action (i.e., no issuance of a lease) and (2) the issuance of a lease, associated site characterization activities and approval of certain site assessment activities within the lease area, such as installation of a fixed meteorological tower and/or deployment of a meteorological buoy. With this notice, BOEM requests comments and input from Federal, state, and local government agencies; tribal governments; and other interested parties on environmental issues and alternatives that may be appropriate for consideration in the EA. BOEM also requests information pertaining to measures (e.g., limitations on activities based on technology, siting, or timing) that would minimize the impacts to environmental resources and socioeconomic conditions that could result from the proposed activity. Additionally, as part of its compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f), and its implementing regulations (36 CFR part 800), BOEM is seeking public comment and input regarding the identification of historic properties or potential effects to historic properties from leasing and site assessment activities in the proposed lease area.

To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is notifying the public that we have submitted an information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The ICR pertains to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under 30 CFRpart 582, Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf for Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur. This notice provides the public a second opportunity to comment on the paperwork burden of this collection.