82 FR 10763 - Notice of Public Scoping, Request for Comment, and Announcement of Public Scoping Meetings for the U.S. Department of Energy Environmental Assessment for New England Aqua Ventus I (DOE/EA-2049)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 30 (February 15, 2017)

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is proposing to authorize the expenditure of federal funding for the development of New England Aqua Ventus I, an offshore wind advanced technology demonstration project consisting of two turbines on floating foundations in the Gulf of Maine, approximately 2.5 miles south of Monhegan Island, Lincoln County, Maine and 12 miles off the mainland. Development actions include design, construction, and commissioning of the proposed project; environmental monitoring; and up to five years of post- construction structural and performance monitoring data collection by the University of Maine. This project is also known as the Maine Aqua Ventus I project. The proposed project would consist of up to two wind turbine generators and the necessary electrical transmission facilities (i.e. underwater and underground cable) to connect to the Central Maine Power distribution line located in Port Clyde within the town of St. George, Maine. Additional project activities and/or potential impacts from the proposed project would occur in or near Hampden, Searsport, Monhegan Island, Port Clyde and Pemaquid, Maine. The operation, maintenance and eventual decommissioning of the proposed project are considered connected actions under the Council on Environmental Quality's Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act and will be analyzed in this Environmental Assessment (EA) as part of the proposed action. Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), DOE is preparing an EA to identify and analyze potential impacts to the human environment that may occur if DOE authorizes the expenditure of federal funding in support of New England Aqua Ventus I. DOE is requesting public input on the scope of the EA for New England Aqua Ventus I. The notice of public scoping for the EA, a description of the proposed project, and additional meeting information, including inclement weather delays or postponements, are posted at: www.energy.gov/node/2053718.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 15, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10763-10764]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03040]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Notice of Public Scoping, Request for Comment, and Announcement 
of Public Scoping Meetings for the U.S. Department of Energy 
Environmental Assessment for New England Aqua Ventus I (DOE/EA-2049)

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public scoping, request for comment, and announcement 
of public scoping meetings.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is proposing to authorize the 
expenditure of federal funding for the development of New England Aqua 
Ventus I, an offshore wind advanced technology demonstration project 
consisting of two turbines on floating foundations in the Gulf of 
Maine, approximately 2.5 miles south of Monhegan Island, Lincoln 
County, Maine and 12 miles off the mainland. Development actions 
include design, construction, and commissioning of the proposed 
project; environmental monitoring; and up to five years of post-
construction structural and performance monitoring data collection by 
the University of Maine. This project is also known as the Maine Aqua 
Ventus I project. The proposed project would consist of up to two wind 
turbine

[[Page 10764]]

generators and the necessary electrical transmission facilities (i.e. 
underwater and underground cable) to connect to the Central Maine Power 
distribution line located in Port Clyde within the town of St. George, 
Maine. Additional project activities and/or potential impacts from the 
proposed project would occur in or near Hampden, Searsport, Monhegan 
Island, Port Clyde and Pemaquid, Maine. The operation, maintenance and 
eventual decommissioning of the proposed project are considered 
connected actions under the Council on Environmental Quality's 
Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of the National 
Environmental Policy Act and will be analyzed in this Environmental 
Assessment (EA) as part of the proposed action.
    Pursuant to the requirements of the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA), DOE is preparing an EA to identify and analyze potential 
impacts to the human environment that may occur if DOE authorizes the 
expenditure of federal funding in support of New England Aqua Ventus I. 
DOE is requesting public input on the scope of the EA for New England 
Aqua Ventus I.
    The notice of public scoping for the EA, a description of the 
proposed project, and additional meeting information, including 
inclement weather delays or postponements, are posted at: 
www.energy.gov/node/2053718.

DATES: 
    Meetings: DOE will hold the following public meetings: February 28, 
2017 from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Tenants 
Harbor, Maine; and March 1, 2017 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Monhegan, 
Maine.
    Comments: Comments regarding scoping must be received on or before 
March 22, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 
    Meetings: The public meetings will be held at (1) The Fire 
Department Meeting Room at the Town of St. George Office, 3 School 
Street, Tenants Harbor, Maine 04860 on February 28.
    (2) Monhegan Island School, 1 Monhegan Avenue, Maine 04852 on March 
1.
    Written Comments: Written comments should be sent to Diana Heyder 
at U.S. Department of Energy, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO 
80401, or by email to [email protected].
    Full Notice: The notice is available for viewing at: 
www.energy.gov/node/2053718.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Diana Heyder at [email protected].

    Issued in Golden, CO on February 7, 2017.
Robin L. Sweeney,
Director, Environment, Safety and Health Office, Office of Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 2017-03040 Filed 2-14-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P