81 FR 75438 - Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York; MMAA104000

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 210 (October 31, 2016)

Page Range		75438-75438
FR Document		2016-26237

BOEM is announcing the availability of a revised environmental assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities (geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys), and site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of a meteorological tower or buoys or both a tower and buoys) on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf offshore New York. The revised EA provides a discussion of potential impacts of the proposed action and an analysis of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. 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 is not required. This notice is being published concurrently with the Final Sale Notice for the New York Wind Energy Area (WEA). These documents and associated information are available on BOEM's Web site at http://www.boem.gov/New-York/.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 210 (Monday, October 31, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 210 (Monday, October 31, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 75438]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-26237]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2016-0066]


Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and 
Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf 
Offshore New York; MMAA104000

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability of a revised environmental assessment 
and a finding of no significant impact.

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SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the availability of a revised environmental 
assessment (EA) and finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for 
commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization activities 
(geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys), 
and site assessment activities (including the installation and 
operation of a meteorological tower or buoys or both a tower and buoys) 
on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf offshore New York. The revised 
EA provides a discussion of potential impacts of the proposed action 
and an analysis of reasonable alternatives to the proposed action. 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 is not required. This notice is 
being published concurrently with the Final Sale Notice for the New 
York Wind Energy Area (WEA). These documents and associated information 
are available on BOEM's Web site at http://www.boem.gov/New-York/.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of 
Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 
20166, (703) 787-1340 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June 2016, BOEM published an EA to 
consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences 
associated with commercial wind lease issuance, site characterization 
activities, and site assessment activities within the WEA offshore New 
York. A notice was published on June 6, 2016, to announce the 
availability of the EA and initiate a 30-day public comment period (81 
FR 36344). Due to requests for extension, the public comment period 
closed on July 13, 2016. The EA was subsequently revised based on 
comments received through Regulations.gov and at public information 
meetings during the comment period. The revised EA provides updated 
environmental data, incorporates the results of consultations, and 
reflects a change to the proposed lease area (i.e., removal of Cholera 
Bank sensitive habitat). The revised EA also includes a summary of 
comments received on the June 2016 EA and BOEM's responses to those 
comments.
    In addition to the proposed action, the revised EA considers two 
alternatives: (1) Restricting site assessment structure placement 
within 2 nm (3.7 km) of the traffic separation scheme, and (2) no 
action. BOEM's analysis of the proposed action and alternatives takes 
into account standard operating conditions (SOCs) designed to avoid or 
minimize potential impacts to marine mammals and sea turtles. The SOCs 
can be found in Appendix B of the revised EA.
    BOEM will use the revised EA to inform its decisions regarding 
lease issuance in the New York WEA and subsequent review of site 
assessment plans in the lease area. The competitive leasing process is 
set forth at 30 CFR 585.210-585.225. A future lessee may propose a wind 
energy generation facility on its lease by submitting a construction 
and operations plan (COP) to BOEM. BOEM would then prepare a separate 
site- and project-specific NEPA analysis of the activities proposed in 
the COP.

    Authority:  This notice of availability for an EA is in 
compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969, as amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is published pursuant 
to 43 CFR 46.305.

    Dated: October 25, 2016.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-26237 Filed 10-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P

75438 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 210 / Monday, October 31, 2016 / Notices

earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR offshore New York. A notice was
blizzards), wars, riots, acts of terrorism, published on June 6, 2016, to announce
fire, strikes, civil disorder or other Bureau of Ocean Energy Management the availability of the EA and initiate a
events of a similar nature. In case of 30-day public comment period (81 FR
[Docket No. BOEM–2016–0066]
such an event, BOEM will notify all 36344). Due to requests for extension,
bidders via email, phone, or through the Environmental Assessment for the public comment period closed on
BOEM Web site at: http:// Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and July 13, 2016. The EA was subsequently
www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy- Site Assessment Activities on the revised based on comments received
Program/index.aspx. Bidders should Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf through Regulations.gov and at public
call 703–787–1320 if they have Offshore New York; MMAA104000 information meetings during the
concerns. comment period. The revised EA
Appeals: The appeals procedures are AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management (BOEM), Interior. provides updated environmental data,
provided in BOEM’s regulations at 30 incorporates the results of consultations,
CFR 585.118(c) and 585.225. Pursuant ACTION: Notice of availability of a
and reflects a change to the proposed
to 30 CFR 585.225: revised environmental assessment and a
lease area (i.e., removal of Cholera Bank
(a) If BOEM rejects your bid, BOEM finding of no significant impact.
sensitive habitat). The revised EA also
will provide a written statement of the SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the includes a summary of comments
reasons and refund any money availability of a revised environmental received on the June 2016 EA and
deposited with your bid, without assessment (EA) and finding of no BOEM’s responses to those comments.
interest. significant impact (FONSI) for In addition to the proposed action, the
(b) You will then be able to ask the commercial wind lease issuance, site revised EA considers two alternatives:
BOEM Director for reconsideration, in characterization activities (geophysical, (1) Restricting site assessment structure
writing, within 15 business days of bid geotechnical, archaeological, and
rejection, under 30 CFR 585.118(c)(1). placement within 2 nm (3.7 km) of the
biological surveys), and site assessment traffic separation scheme, and (2) no
We will send you a written response activities (including the installation and
either affirming or reversing the action. BOEM’s analysis of the proposed
operation of a meteorological tower or
rejection. action and alternatives takes into
buoys or both a tower and buoys) on the
account standard operating conditions
The procedures for appealing final Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf
decisions with respect to lease sales are offshore New York. The revised EA (SOCs) designed to avoid or minimize
described in 30 CFR 585.118(c). provides a discussion of potential potential impacts to marine mammals
impacts of the proposed action and an and sea turtles. The SOCs can be found
Protection of Privileged or Confidential in Appendix B of the revised EA.
analysis of reasonable alternatives to the
Information
proposed action. In accordance with the BOEM will use the revised EA to
Consistent with the Freedom of requirements of the National inform its decisions regarding lease
Information Act (FOIA), BOEM will Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and issuance in the New York WEA and
protect privileged or confidential the Council on Environmental Quality’s subsequent review of site assessment
information that you submit. Exemption (CEQ) regulations implementing NEPA plans in the lease area. The competitive
4 of FOIA applies to ‘‘trade secrets and at 40 CFR 1500–1508, BOEM issued a leasing process is set forth at 30 CFR
commercial or financial information FONSI supported by the analysis in the 585.210–585.225. A future lessee may
that you submit that is privileged or revised EA. The FONSI concluded that propose a wind energy generation
confidential.’’ 5 U.S.C. 552(b)(4). If you the reasonably foreseeable facility on its lease by submitting a
wish to protect the confidentiality of environmental impacts associated with construction and operations plan (COP)
such information, clearly mark it, the proposed action and alternatives, as to BOEM. BOEM would then prepare a
‘‘Contains Privileged or Confidential set forth in the EA, would not
separate site- and project-specific NEPA
Information,’’ and consider submitting significantly impact the quality of the
analysis of the activities proposed in the
such information as a separate human environment; therefore, the
COP.
attachment. BOEM will not disclose preparation of an environmental impact
such information, except as required by statement is not required. This notice is Authority: This notice of availability for
FOIA. Information that is not labeled as being published concurrently with the an EA is in compliance with the National
privileged or confidential will be Final Sale Notice for the New York Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public Wind Energy Area (WEA). These amended (42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq.), and is
release. Further, BOEM will not treat as documents and associated information published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305.
confidential aggregate summaries of are available on BOEM’s Web site at Dated: October 25, 2016.
otherwise confidential information. http://www.boem.gov/New-York/. Abigail Ross Hopper,
Authority: This FSN is published pursuant FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy
to subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act (43 Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of Management.
U.S.C. 1337(p)) (‘‘the Act’’), as amended by Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 [FR Doc. 2016–26237 Filed 10–28–16; 8:45 am]
section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia
(EPAct), and the implementing regulations at BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P
20166, (703) 787–1340 or
30 CFR part 585, including sections 211 and michelle.morin@boem.gov.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

216.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In June
Dated: October 25, 2016. 2016, BOEM published an EA to
Abigail Ross Hopper, consider the reasonably foreseeable
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy environmental consequences associated
Management. with commercial wind lease issuance,
[FR Doc. 2016–26240 Filed 10–28–16; 8:45 am] site characterization activities, and site
BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P assessment activities within the WEA

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Document Created: 2018-02-02 12:13:43
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 12:13:43

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 availability of a revised environmental assessment and a finding of no significant impact.
Contact		Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166, (703) 787-1340 or [email protected]
FR Citation		81 FR 75438

81 FR 75438 - Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York; MMAA104000

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIORBureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 210 (October 31, 2016)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management