81 FR 41334 - Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore the Island of Oahu, Hawaii; MMAA104000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 122 (June 24, 2016)
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 122 (June 24, 2016)
| Page Range | 41334-41335 | |
| FR Document | 2016-14829 |
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 122 (Friday, June 24, 2016)] [Notices] [Pages 41334-41335] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2016-14829] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2016-0049] Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore the Island of Oahu, Hawaii; MMAA104000 AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior. ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing its intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) of potential commercial wind leasing and site assessment activities on the OCS offshore the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The EA will address environmental impacts and socioeconomic effects related to the proposed action, issuance of one or more commercial wind energy leases and approval of site assessment activities on those leases. This notice serves to announce the beginning of the formal scoping process. Scoping will help identify reasonable alternatives to the proposed action, focus the analysis in the EA on potentially significant issues, and eliminate those issues that are determined to be insignificant or considered irrelevant to the analysis. BOEM will also use the scoping process to seek public comment on the full range of potential environmental impacts, including input relevant to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). Additional information on the proposed action may be found at http://www.boem.gov/Hawaii/. DATES: Comments should be submitted no later than August 8, 2016. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mark Eckenrode, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, California 93010, (805) 384-6388, or [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 1. Proposed Action The proposed action that will be the subject of the EA consists of (a) the issuance of a wind energy lease or leases within some or all of the Call Area (see below) offshore the island of Oahu; and (b) the approval of site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of a meteorological tower and/or one or more meteorological buoys) on the lease or leases. BOEM will also consider the environmental impacts associated with potential site characterization activities--including geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys--that a lessee may undertake to fulfill the information requirements for its Site Assessment Plan and Construction and Operation Plan at 30 CFR 585.610 and .626 respectively. 2. Description of the Call Area A detailed description of the Call Area can be found in the Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore the Island of Oahu, Hawaii--Call for Information and Nominations that is being published concurrently with this notice. A map of the Call Area can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/Hawaii/. 3. National Historic Preservation Act BOEM will use the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to inform its Section 106 consultation pursuant to the NHPA (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), as provided for in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). BOEM will consider the potential effects of wind energy development on historic properties early in the planning process. BOEM is seeking public comment and input regarding the identification of historic properties or potential impacts to historic properties located in nearshore and coastal areas adjacent to the Call Area from the proposed action. 4. Cooperating Agencies BOEM invites other Federal, State, and local governments to consider becoming cooperating agencies in the preparation of this EA. CEQ regulations implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA define cooperating agencies as those with ``jurisdiction by law or special expertise'' (40 CFR 1508.5). [[Page 41335]] Potential cooperating agencies should consider their authority and capacity to assume the responsibilities of a cooperating agency and remember that an agency's role in the environmental analysis neither enlarges nor diminishes the final decision-making authority of any agency involved in the NEPA process. 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. 5. Public Scoping Meetings BOEM will hold public meetings on Oahu. The specific dates, times, and locations of the scoping meetings will be advertised at least two weeks in advance of each event. 6. Comments Federal, State, and local governments, Native Hawaiians, and the public are requested to send their written comments regarding environmental issues and the identification of reasonable alternatives related to the proposed action described in this notice through one of the following methods: 1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the field entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2016-0049, and then click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this notice; or 2. U.S. mail in an envelope labeled ``Comments on Hawaii EA'' and addressed to Regional Director, BOEM Pacific OCS Region, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, California 93010. Comments must be postmarked by the last day of the comment period to be considered. This date is August 8, 2016. Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment, including your personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so. Authority: This Notice of Intent to prepare an EA is in compliance with NEPA, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305. Dated: June 16, 2016. Abigail Ross Hopper, Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. [FR Doc. 2016-14829 Filed 6-23-16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
![41334 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2016 / Notices
The area described contains 107.02 acres in published in the Federal Register and a DATES: Comments should be submitted
Lemhi County. newspaper having a general circulation no later than August 8, 2016.
The purpose of the withdrawal is to in the vicinity of the land at least 30 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
ensure the continued conservation of days before the scheduled date of the Mark Eckenrode, Bureau of Ocean
the aquatic and riparian habitats, and to meeting. Energy Management, Pacific OCS
protect the USFS watershed investments For a period until June 25, 2018, the Region, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102,
in the Salmon River Drainage. National Forest System land described Camarillo, California 93010, (805) 384–
The use of a right-of-way, interagency in this notice will be segregated from 6388, or mark.eckenrode@boem.gov.
agreement, or cooperative agreement location and entry under the United SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
would not adequately protect the land States mining laws, but not from
discretionary uses, unless the 1. Proposed Action
from nondiscretionary uses which could
result in a permanent loss of significant application is denied or canceled or the The proposed action that will be the
values and capital investments. withdrawal is approved prior to that subject of the EA consists of (a) the
There are no suitable alternative sites date. issuance of a wind energy lease or leases
with equal or greater benefit to the The application will be processed in within some or all of the Call Area (see
government and the structures needing accordance with the regulations set below) offshore the island of Oahu; and
protection already exist on this site. It forth in 43 CFR part 2300. (b) the approval of site assessment
is not economically feasible to construct activities (including the installation and
James M. Fincher,
the necessary watershed protection dam operation of a meteorological tower and/
Chief, Branch of Lands, Minerals and Water or one or more meteorological buoys) on
and other related improvements on Rights, Resource Services.
alternative sites because of the the lease or leases. BOEM will also
[FR Doc. 2016–15015 Filed 6–23–16; 8:45 am] consider the environmental impacts
topography and hydrologic conditions.
The USFS would not need to acquire
BILLING CODE 3411–15–P associated with potential site
water rights to fulfill the purpose of the characterization activities—including
requested withdrawal. geophysical, geotechnical,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR archaeological, and biological surveys—
Records related to the application
may be examined by contacting the that a lessee may undertake to fulfill the
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Salmon-Challis National Forest, Forest information requirements for its Site
Supervisor’s Office, at 1206 S. Challis [Docket No. BOEM–2016–0049] Assessment Plan and Construction and
St. Salmon, ID 83467, or by contacting Operation Plan at 30 CFR 585.610 and
Environmental Assessment for .626 respectively.
Jeff Cartwright at the above BLM
Commercial Wind Leasing and Site
address or by phone number. 2. Description of the Call Area
Assessment Activities on the Outer
For a period until September 22, A detailed description of the Call
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore the
2016, all persons who wish to submit Area can be found in the Commercial
Island of Oahu, Hawaii; MMAA104000
comments, suggestions, or objections in Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer
connection with the withdrawal AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Continental Shelf Offshore the Island of
application may present their views in Management (BOEM), Interior. Oahu, Hawaii—Call for Information and
writing to the BLM State Director at the ACTION: Notice of Intent to prepare an Nominations that is being published
address indicated above. Environmental Assessment. concurrently with this notice. A map of
Comments, including names and the Call Area can be found at: http://
street addresses of respondents, will be SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing its www.boem.gov/Hawaii/.
available for public review during intent to prepare an Environmental
regular business hours. Before including Assessment (EA) of potential 3. National Historic Preservation Act
your address, phone number, email commercial wind leasing and site BOEM will use the National
address, or other personal identifying assessment activities on the OCS Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
information in your comment, you offshore the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The process to inform its Section 106
should be aware that your entire EA will address environmental impacts consultation pursuant to the NHPA (54
comment—including your personal and socioeconomic effects related to the U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), as provided for
identifying information—may be made proposed action, issuance of one or in 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3). BOEM will
publicly available at any time. While more commercial wind energy leases consider the potential effects of wind
you may ask us in your comment to and approval of site assessment energy development on historic
withhold your personal identifying activities on those leases. This notice properties early in the planning process.
information from public review, we serves to announce the beginning of the BOEM is seeking public comment and
cannot guarantee that we will be able to formal scoping process. Scoping will input regarding the identification of
do so. help identify reasonable alternatives to historic properties or potential impacts
Notice is hereby given that an the proposed action, focus the analysis to historic properties located in
opportunity for a public meeting is in the EA on potentially significant nearshore and coastal areas adjacent to
afforded in connection with the issues, and eliminate those issues that the Call Area from the proposed action.
withdrawal application. All interested are determined to be insignificant or
persons who desire a public meeting for considered irrelevant to the analysis. 4. Cooperating Agencies
the purpose of being heard on the BOEM will also use the scoping process BOEM invites other Federal, State,
sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
withdrawal application must submit a to seek public comment on the full and local governments to consider
written request to the BLM State range of potential environmental becoming cooperating agencies in the
Director at the address indicated above impacts, including input relevant to the preparation of this EA. CEQ regulations
by September 22, 2016. Upon National Historic Preservation Act implementing the procedural provisions
determination by the authorized officer (NHPA). Additional information on the of NEPA define cooperating agencies as
that a public meeting will be held, a proposed action may be found at http:// those with ‘‘jurisdiction by law or
notice of the time and place will be www.boem.gov/Hawaii/. special expertise’’ (40 CFR 1508.5).
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![Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 122 / Friday, June 24, 2016 / Notices 41335
Potential cooperating agencies should Dated: June 16, 2016. conditions, resources, and existing uses
consider their authority and capacity to Abigail Ross Hopper, within or in close proximity to the Oahu
assume the responsibilities of a Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Call Area that would be relevant to
cooperating agency and remember that Management. BOEM’s review of any nominations
an agency’s role in the environmental [FR Doc. 2016–14829 Filed 6–23–16; 8:45 am] submitted and/or to BOEM’s subsequent
analysis neither enlarges nor diminishes BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P decision to offer all or part of the Oahu
the final decision-making authority of Call Area for commercial wind leasing.
any agency involved in the NEPA The information BOEM is requesting is
process. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR described in the section of this Call
BOEM, as the lead agency, will not entitled, ‘‘Requested Information from
provide financial assistance to Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Interested or Affected Parties.’’
cooperating agencies. Even if an [Docket No. BOEM–2016–0036]; This Call is published pursuant to
organization is not a cooperating [MMAA104000] subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act
agency, opportunities will exist to (OCSLA), 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3), as well
provide information and comments to Commercial Leasing for Wind Power as the implementing regulations at 30
BOEM during the normal public input on the Outer Continental Shelf CFR part 585.
phases of the NEPA process. Offshore the Island of Oahu, Hawaii— The Oahu Call Area described in this
Call for Information and Nominations notice is located on the OCS offshore
5. Public Scoping Meetings (Call) the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The Oahu
BOEM will hold public meetings on Call Area consists of two subareas, the
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy area to the north of Oahu (‘‘Oahu
Oahu. The specific dates, times, and Management (BOEM), Interior.
locations of the scoping meetings will North’’) and the area to the south of
ACTION: Call for Information and Oahu (‘‘Oahu South’’). Oahu North is
be advertised at least two weeks in Nominations for Commercial Leasing for
advance of each event. approximately 7 to 24 nautical miles
Wind Power on the Outer Continental Northwest of Kaena Point and consists
6. Comments Shelf, Offshore the Island of Oahu, of 17 full and 20 partial OCS blocks.
Hawaii. Oahu South is approximately 7 to 35
Federal, State, and local governments,
nautical miles South of Diamond Head
Native Hawaiians, and the public are SUMMARY: With this Call for Information
and consists of 44 full and 32 partial
requested to send their written and Nominations (Call), BOEM invites
OCS blocks. In total, the Oahu Call Area
comments regarding environmental the submission of information and
consists of the sum of these two
issues and the identification of nominations from parties interested in
subareas, totaling 61 full and 52 partial
reasonable alternatives related to the obtaining one or more commercial wind
OCS blocks. A detailed description of
proposed action described in this notice energy leases that would allow lessees
the area and how it was developed is
through one of the following methods: to propose the construction of wind
described in the section of this Call
1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// energy projects on the Outer Continental
entitled, ‘‘Description of the Oahu Call
www.regulations.gov. In the field Shelf (OCS) 1 offshore the island of
Area.’’
entitled, ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter Oahu, Hawaii. In general, the OCS is
defined as 3—200 nautical miles from DATES: BOEM must receive nominations
BOEM–2016–0049, and then click
shore. Although this announcement is describing your interest within the
‘‘search.’’ Follow the instructions to
not itself a leasing announcement, the Oahu Call Area by a postmarked date of
submit public comments and view
area described herein as the ‘‘Oahu Call August 8, 2016 for your nomination to
supporting and related materials
Area,’’ or portions thereof, may be made be considered. BOEM will consider only
available for this notice; or
available for future leasing. BOEM will those nominations received by August
2. U.S. mail in an envelope labeled 8, 2016. BOEM requests comments or
use responses to this Call to gauge
‘‘Comments on Hawaii EA’’ and other submissions of information by this
specific interest in acquiring
addressed to Regional Director, BOEM same date. Parties having already
commercial wind leases in some or all
Pacific OCS Region, 760 Paseo submitted unsolicited lease requests
of the Oahu Call Area, as required by 43
Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, prior to this publication do not need to
U.S.C. 1337(p)(3).
California 93010. Comments must be resubmit the areas previously requested
Parties wishing to submit a
postmarked by the last day of the in their unsolicited lease requests.
nomination in response to this Call
comment period to be considered. This However, such parties may submit
should submit detailed and specific
date is August 8, 2016. modifications to the areas they are
information as described in the section
Before including your address, phone entitled, ‘‘Required Nomination requesting for lease during the comment
number, email address, or other Information.’’ A ‘‘nomination’’ for period associated with this notice. Such
personal identifying information in your purpose of this Call would be a modifications must conform to the first
comment, you should be aware that submission from a company interested requirement of the section in this Call
your entire comment, including your in a commercial wind energy lease entitled, ‘‘Required Nomination
personal identifying information, may within the Oahu Call Area. Information.’’
be made publicly available at any time. This announcement also requests Submission Procedures: If you are
While you can ask us in your comments comments and information from submitting a nomination for a lease in
to withhold your personal identifying response to this Call, you must submit
sradovich on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
interested and affected parties about site
information from public review, we your nomination to the following
cannot guarantee that we will be able to 1 As defined in 43 U.S.C. 1331(a), the term OCS address: BOEM, Pacific OCS Region,
do so. means ‘‘all submerged lands lying seaward and 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102 (CM
outside of the area of lands beneath navigable 102), Camarillo, California 93010. A
Authority: This Notice of Intent to prepare waters, as defined in section 1301 of this title, and
an EA is in compliance with NEPA, as of which the subsoil and seabed appertain to the
paper copy submitted to this address,
amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is United States and are subject to its jurisdiction and postmarked by the deadline noted
published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305. control.’’ above, is the only method for submitting
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Document Created: 2016-06-24 00:52:50
Document Modified: 2016-06-24 00:52:50
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Assessment. | |
| Dates | Comments should be submitted no later than August 8, 2016. | |
| Contact | Mark Eckenrode, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific OCS Region, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, California 93010, (805) 384-6388, or [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 81 FR 41334 |
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