83_FR_53299 83 FR 53096 - Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore California-Call for Information and Nominations (Call)

83 FR 53096 - Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore California-Call for Information and Nominations (Call)

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 203 (October 19, 2018)

Page Range53096-53104
FR Document2018-22879

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) invites the submission of information and nominations for commercial wind leases that would allow a lessee to propose the construction of a wind energy project on the OCS offshore California, and to develop one or more projects, if approved, after further environmental review. This is not a leasing announcement, but the Call Areas or portions of Call Areas described may be available for future leasing. BOEM will use responses to this Call to gauge specific interest in acquiring commercial wind leases in some or all of the Call Areas. Any nominations submitted in response to this Call should provide detailed and specific information addressing the requirements described in the section of this notice entitled, ``Required Nomination Information.'' This Call also requests comments and information regarding site conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the Call Areas that would be relevant to BOEM's review of the nominations or to any subsequent decision whether to offer all or part of the Call Areas for commercial wind leasing. In providing this information, please refer to the section of this Call entitled, ``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.''

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 203 (Friday, October 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53096-53104]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-22879]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2018-0045]


Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore California--Call for Information and 
Nominations (Call)

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter referred to 
as ``Call'' or ``notice'') for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power 
Development on the OCS offshore California.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) invites the 
submission of information and nominations for commercial wind leases 
that would allow a lessee to propose the construction of a wind energy 
project on the OCS offshore California, and to develop one or more 
projects, if approved, after further environmental review. This is not 
a leasing announcement, but the Call Areas or portions of Call Areas 
described may be available for future leasing. BOEM will use responses 
to this Call to gauge specific interest in acquiring commercial wind 
leases in some or all of the Call Areas. Any nominations submitted in 
response to this Call should provide detailed and specific information 
addressing the requirements described in the section of this notice 
entitled, ``Required Nomination Information.''
    This Call also requests comments and information regarding site 
conditions, resources, and multiple uses in close proximity to, or 
within, the Call Areas that would be relevant to BOEM's review of the 
nominations or to any subsequent decision whether to offer all or part 
of the Call Areas for commercial wind leasing. In providing this 
information, please refer to the section of this Call entitled, 
``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.''

DATES: BOEM must receive nominations describing your interest in one or 
more, or any portion of, the Call Areas, by a postmarked date of 
January 28, 2019 for your nomination to be considered. BOEM requests 
comments or submissions of information to be postmarked or delivered by 
this same date.

ADDRESSES:  If you are submitting a nomination for a lease area in 
response to this Call, please submit your nomination, following the 
``Required Nomination Information'' section below, to the following 
address: BOEM, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo 
(Suite 102), Camarillo, California 93010. In addition to a paper copy 
of the nomination, include an electronic copy of the nomination on a 
data storage device. BOEM will list the parties that submitted 
nominations and the location of the proposed lease areas (i.e., OCS 
blocks nominated) on the BOEM website after the comment period has 
closed.
    Comments and other information may be submitted by either of the 
following two methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2018-0045 and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
    2. U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service. Send your 
comments and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo 
(Suite 102), Camarillo, California 93010.
    BOEM will post all responses on http://www.regulations.gov. If you 
wish to protect the confidentiality of your nominations or comments, 
clearly mark the relevant sections and request that BOEM treat them as 
confidential. Please label privileged or confidential information 
``Contains Confidential Information,'' and consider submitting such 
information as a separate attachment. Treatment of confidential 
information is addressed in the section of this Call entitled, 
``Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information.'' Information 
that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be regarded by 
BOEM as suitable for public release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean Thurston, BOEM California 
Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Coordinator, BOEM, Office 
of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (Suite 102), Camarillo, 
California 93010, (805) 384-6303 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority

    This Call is published pursuant to section 8(p)(3) of the Outer 
Continental

[[Page 53097]]

Shelf Lands Act (``OCSLA''), 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3), which was added by 
section 388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), as well as the 
implementing regulations at 30 CFR part 585.

Call Areas

    The three (3) geographically distinct Call Areas described in this 
notice are located on the OCS offshore California and are the Humboldt 
Call Area on the north coast and the Morro Bay Call Area and the Diablo 
Canyon Call Area on the central coast. These areas include 85 whole OCS 
blocks and 573 partial blocks in total, and comprise approximately 
1,073 square statute miles (mi) (687,823 acres). If BOEM determines 
that there is competitive interest in these areas, BOEM will identify 
which areas will be subject to an environmental analysis and 
consideration for leasing as part of the area identification portion of 
the competitive leasing process. A detailed description of the areas 
and how they were developed is described in the section of this Call 
entitled, ``Description of the Area.''

Purpose of the Call for Information and Nominations

    OCSLA requires BOEM to award leases competitively, unless BOEM 
determines that there is no competitive interest (43 U.S.C. 
1337(p)(3)). On January 14, 2016, BOEM received an unsolicited lease 
request from Trident Winds, LLC (Trident Winds) for the development of 
a wind energy project offshore Morro Bay, on the central coast of 
California. On August 18, 2016, BOEM published the Potential Commercial 
Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf--Request for 
Interest (``RFI'') in the Federal Register to determine if there was 
competitive interest in the area described by Trident Winds. A copy of 
BOEM's RFI is available online at: https://www.boem.gov/81-FR-55228/. 
In response to the RFI, BOEM received one additional nomination of 
competitive interest in developing wind energy in the area proposed by 
Trident Winds.
    On September 11, 2018, BOEM received an unsolicited lease request 
from the Redwood Coast Energy Authority (RCEA) for the development of a 
wind energy project offshore Humboldt County. RCEA submitted its 
request after issuing a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) on February 1, 
2018, to select one or more qualified entities to enter into a public-
private partnership pursuant to their activities to pursue developing 
an offshore wind energy project off Humboldt County. The RCEA received 
responses on their RFQ from six entities, and in April 2018 selected 
partners for the project. The area requested by RCEA in its unsolicited 
lease request is included in the Humboldt Call Area.
    BOEM will use responses to this Call to confirm competitive 
interest in the portions of the Call Areas for which BOEM already has 
information, as well as to solicit new expressions of interest in 
obtaining a lease within the Call Area(s).
    BOEM will make a formal determination of competitive interest after 
reviewing the nominations and comments provided in response to this 
Call. Depending on the nominations and comments received, BOEM may 
proceed with the competitive leasing process as set forth in 30 CFR 
585.211 through 585.225; may proceed with the noncompetitive leasing 
process as set forth in 30 CFR 585.231 and 232; or may decide not to 
proceed with leasing. BOEM may also determine that some of the Call 
Areas or portions of Call Areas have competitive interest while other 
area do not. For instance, BOEM may determine that there is no 
competitive interest in the Humboldt Call Area and that there is 
competitive interest in the Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call Areas. In 
this case, BOEM could proceed with the noncompetitive leasing process 
for the Humboldt Call Area and with the competitive leasing process for 
the Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call Areas. We explain these processes 
in detail in the section of this notice entitled, ``BOEM's Planning and 
Leasing Process.''
    We note that a lease, whether issued through a competitive or 
noncompetitive process, does not grant the lessee the right to 
construct any facilities on the lease. The lease only grants the lessee 
the exclusive right to submit site assessment and construction and 
operations plans to BOEM, which BOEM must first approve before the 
lessee may proceed to the next stages of the process (30 CFR 585.600 
and 585.601).
    Whether competitive or noncompetitive, the leasing process will 
include subsequent opportunities for public input, and any proposed 
actions will be reviewed thoroughly for potential environmental impacts 
and multiple use conflicts. BOEM has not yet determined which area(s) 
may be offered for lease, if any, has/have not yet been determined, and 
may include less than the total footprint of any Call Areas or may 
offer no leasing at all.

1 Background

1.1 Statutory Authorization

    Section 8(p) of OCSLA, authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 
(``Secretary'') to grant leases, easements, or rights-of-way (ROWs) on 
the OCS for activities not previously authorized by the OCS Lands Act 
or other applicable law. Under subsection 8(p)(1)(C), the Secretary of 
the Interior may issue leases for activities that produce or support 
production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources 
other than oil or gas, including renewable energy sources. Section 8(p) 
also requires the Secretary to issue any necessary regulations to carry 
out this authority. Regulations were issued for this purpose on April 
29, 2009, and are codified in BOEM regulations at 30 CFR part 585. The 
Secretary has delegated the authority to issue leases, easements, and 
ROWs to the Director of BOEM.

1.2 Offshore Wind Energy Planning Efforts in California

    BOEM appreciates the importance of coordinating its planning 
endeavors with other OCS users, relevant Federal and state agencies, 
and tribes. BOEM and the State of California, through the leadership of 
the California Energy Commission, have engaged in a collaborative, 
data-based offshore wind energy planning process to foster coordinated 
and informed decisions about California's shared ocean resources and 
the many users who depend on them. This outreach has consisted of 
numerous public meetings, webinars, and briefings with coastal 
communities, fishing communities, federally and non-federally 
recognized tribes, state and Federal agencies, academia and scientists, 
environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the offshore 
renewable energy industry. The summary report on this outreach can be 
viewed at: https://www.boem.gov/California-Outreach-Summary-Report/. 
Additional information gathered by BOEM and the State of California 
during the offshore wind energy planning process, including maps and 
spatially represented data, is available online at: https://caoffshorewind.databasin.org/.

1.3 BOEM California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force

    At the request of Governor Brown, BOEM established an 
Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force (Task Force) with 
California in 2016 to facilitate coordination among relevant Federal 
agencies and affected state, local, and tribal governments

[[Page 53098]]

throughout the leasing process. The first Task Force meeting was held 
on October 13, 2016, and a second Task Force meeting was held on 
September 17, 2018. Meeting materials are available on the BOEM website 
at: https://www.boem.gov/California/.

1.4 Actions Taken by the State of California in Support of Renewable 
Energy Development

    The State of California established a Renewables Portfolio Standard 
(RPS) in 2002. California expanded the RPS in 2015 through passage of 
Senate Bill 350, the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act, and 
further expanded the RPS in 2018 through passage of Senate Bill (SB) 
100. SB 100 increased the state's RPS requirements for powering the 
electricity system from renewable energy resources. The legislation 
requires 50 percent powering from renewable resources by 2025, 60 
percent by 2030, and 100 percent powering from zero-carbon resources by 
December 31, 2045, for retail sales of electricity to California end-
use customers and electricity procured to serve state agencies. 
Additional information about California's RPS is available at: 
www.cpuc.ca.gov/RPS_Homepage. The full text of SB 100 is available at: 
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB100.

2 BOEM's Environmental Review Process

    Before deciding whether and where leases may be issued within the 
Call Areas, BOEM will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) under 
the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and conduct consultations 
to consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing 
commercial wind leases. As the issuance of a lease does not grant the 
right to construct any facilities within the lease, the EA will 
consider reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences associated 
with leasing, site assessment and site characterization activities 
(including geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological 
surveys). If BOEM issues a lease and the lessee proposes the 
construction and operation of an offshore wind energy facility, BOEM 
would consider the environmental effects of such construction and 
operation under a separate, project-specific NEPA process, which would 
include additional opportunities for public involvement. BOEM would 
also conduct consultations under other authorities, including, but not 
limited to, the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), Endangered Species 
Act (ESA), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management 
Act, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and 
Executive Order 13175 (``Consultation and Coordination with Tribal 
Governments'').

3 BOEM's Planning and Leasing Process

3.1 Determination of Competitive Interest

    43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3) states that ``the Secretary shall issue a 
lease, easement, or right-of-way . . . on a competitive basis unless 
the Secretary determines after public notice of a proposed lease, 
easement, or right-of-way that there is no competitive interest.'' 
Accordingly, BOEM must first determine whether there is competitive 
interest in acquiring a lease within the Call Area to develop offshore 
wind energy. At the conclusion of the comment period for this Call, 
BOEM will review the nominations received and determine if competitive 
interest exists in any of the call areas.
    For areas with two or more valid nominations, BOEM may consider 
proceeding with competitive leasing as described in the section of this 
Call entitled, ``Competitive Leasing Process.'' For areas where BOEM 
determines that there is only one interested entity, BOEM may consider 
proceeding with noncompetitive leasing, as described in the section 
entitled ``Noncompetitive Leasing Process.''
    If BOEM determines that competitive interest exists and BOEM 
identifies those areas as appropriate to lease, BOEM may hold a 
competitive lease sale on any or all portions of the Call Area. In the 
event BOEM holds such a lease sale, all qualified bidders, including 
those bidders which did not submit a nomination in response to this 
Call, will be able to participate in the lease sale.
    BOEM will not issue any leases until it has completed all required 
consultations and environmental analysis, which include the opportunity 
for public comment. Furthermore, BOEM reserves the right not to lease 
certain nominated areas, or modify such areas from their original, 
proposed form before offering them for lease.

3.2 Competitive Leasing Process

    BOEM will follow the steps required by 30 CFR 585.211 through 
585.225 if it decides to proceed with the competitive leasing process 
for any areas after receiving responses and nominations for this Call.
    (1) Area Identification: After determining the existence of 
competitive interest based on the information it receives in response 
to this Call, BOEM will identify the area(s) that will be subject to 
environmental analysis and consideration for leasing. Any area 
identified will constitute a Wind Energy Area (WEA) and will be subject 
to environmental analysis as described above, conducted in consultation 
with appropriate Federal agencies, states, local governments, tribes, 
and other interested parties.
    (2) Proposed Sale Notice (PSN): If BOEM decides to proceed with a 
competitive lease sale within any WEA after completion of its 
environmental analysis, BOEM will publish a PSN in the Federal Register 
with a comment period of 60 days. The PSN will describe any area BOEM 
intends to offer for leasing, the proposed conditions of a lease sale, 
the proposed auction format, and the lease instrument, including lease 
addenda. Additionally, the PSN will describe the criteria and process 
for evaluating bids in the lease sale.
    (3) Final Sale Notice (FSN): After considering the comments on the 
PSN, if BOEM decides to proceed with a competitive lease sale, it will 
publish the FSN in the Federal Register at least 30 days before the 
date of the lease sale.
    (4) Bid Submission and Evaluation: Following publication of the FSN 
in the Federal Register, BOEM would offer the lease areas through a 
competitive sale process, using procedures specified in the FSN. The 
conduct of the sale, including bids and bid deposits, would be reviewed 
for technical and legal adequacy. BOEM will ensure that bidders have 
complied with all applicable regulations. BOEM reserves the right to 
reject any or all bids and/or withdraw an offer to lease an area, even 
after bids have been submitted.
    (5) Issuance of a Lease: Following the selection of any winning bid 
by BOEM, the successful bidder would be notified of the decision and 
provided a set of official lease documents for execution. Any 
successful bidder would be required to sign and return the lease, pay 
the remainder of the bonus bid, if applicable, and file the required 
financial assurance within 10 business days of receiving the lease 
documents. Upon receipt of the required payments, financial assurance, 
and properly signed lease forms, BOEM may execute a lease with the 
successful bidder.

3.3 Noncompetitive Leasing Process

    BOEM's noncompetitive leasing process would include the following 
steps:
    (1) Determination of No Competitive Interest: If, after evaluating 
all relevant

[[Page 53099]]

information, including responses to this Call, BOEM determines there is 
no competitive interest in all or a portion of the Call Areas, it may 
proceed with the noncompetitive lease issuance process pursuant to 30 
CFR 585.231 and 232. BOEM would seek to determine if the sole 
respondent, who nominated a particular area, intends to proceed with 
acquiring the lease; if so, the respondent would be required to submit 
an acquisition fee as specified in 30 CFR 585.502(a). After receiving 
the acquisition fee, BOEM would follow the process outlined in 30 CFR 
585.231(d) through (i), which would include the publication of a 
Determination of No Competitive Interest in the Federal Register.
    (2) Review of Lease Request: BOEM would comply with the relevant 
requirements of NEPA, CZMA, ESA, NHPA and other applicable Federal 
statutes before issuing a lease noncompetitively. Further, BOEM would 
coordinate and consult, as appropriate, with relevant Federal agencies, 
other affected or interested parties, and affected state and local 
governments in formulating lease terms, conditions, and stipulations.
    (3) Lease Issuance: After completing its review of the lease 
request, BOEM may offer a noncompetitive lease. Within 10 business days 
of receiving the lease, the lessee must execute it and provide a 
$100,000 lease-specific bond, pursuant to 30 CFR 585.515, to guarantee 
compliance with all terms and conditions of the lease. Within 45 days 
of receiving the lease, the lessee must pay BOEM the first 12 months' 
rent.

4 Development of the Call Areas

    BOEM delineated the Call Areas in consultation with several 
parties, including the State of California and the Task Force. In 
coordination with the State of California, BOEM held multiple 
stakeholder outreach meetings in northern and central California to 
obtain input into the development of the Call Areas and gather data and 
information to use in BOEM's decision making process. More information 
on these meetings can be found in this notice under ``Offshore Wind 
Energy Planning Efforts in California.'' The Call Areas represent 
portions of the OCS that BOEM has identified to solicit information and 
nominations so that potential use conflicts can be analyzed and 
considered in the Area ID stage of the leasing process. During the 
process of delineating the California Call Areas, BOEM determined that 
the following areas would not be appropriate for leasing and 
development at this time:
    1. Areas in water depths beyond 1,100 meters. Based on a National 
Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) technical report (NREL, TP-6A20-
55049, Improved Offshore Wind Resource Assessment in Global Climate 
Stabilization Scenarios, 2012), BOEM considers 1,100 meters to be a 
reasonable limit on water depth based on technological feasibility at 
this time.
    2. National Marine Sanctuaries. BOEM lacks the authority to lease 
within the boundaries of National Marine Sanctuaries, and removed these 
areas offshore California from consideration, including: Greater 
Farallones, Cordell Bank, Monterey Bay, and Channel Islands National 
Marine Sanctuaries.
    3. Areas on the OCS that have wind speeds estimated at less than 7 
meters per second. These areas were excluded based on a NREL's 2016 
Offshore Wind Energy Resource Assessment for the United States, 
available at: www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/66599.pdf.
    4. Nearshore areas with high levels of fishing activity. BOEM 
recognizes that several commercial and recreational fisheries operate 
within, or in proximity to, the Call Areas. Fishing industry 
representatives have provided comments and information to BOEM during 
meetings and discussions during outreach in 2017 and 2018. Based on 
these discussions thus far, and data and information gathered during 
the offshore wind energy planning efforts, areas closer to shore tend 
to have higher concentrations of commercial and recreational fishing 
activities and were removed from consideration for leasing. Fishing 
information, including maps and spatially represented data, gathered 
during the offshore wind energy planning process is available online 
at: https://databasin.org/galleries/ae21ddeb4fd642f1a382f96adc898dbe. 
BOEM will continue with outreach to the fishing industry throughout the 
leasing and planning process. BOEM is requesting additional information 
regarding recreational and commercial fisheries that operate within the 
Call Areas and will consider that information at the Area 
Identification stage of its planning process. If BOEM concludes that 
fisheries conflicts cannot be properly mitigated in certain portions of 
the Call Areas, it may exclude those areas from leasing consideration 
at the Area Identification stage, during the environmental review 
process under NEPA, and as a result of essential fish habitat 
consultations under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act. BOEM may also require measures to mitigate or avoid 
fishery conflicts at the construction and operations phase of the 
regulatory process.
    5. High concentrations of undersea cables. BOEM removed from 
consideration, at this time, the portion of the OCS offshore Morro Bay 
that has a large concentration of undersea cables. Information, 
including a map of these cable locations, is available online at: 
https://databasin.org/maps/706cd85b8b2b4d1dbeb7eba7b68cb934/active.
    6. Santa Barbara Channel. BOEM removed the OCS blocks adjacent to 
the entrance and exit of the Santa Barbara Channel due to vessel 
traffic transiting the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach (LA/LB) based on 
automated identification system (AIS) vessel information provided to 
BOEM from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). These blocks include all OCS 
sub-blocks that overlap with a 1 nautical mile buffer along all outer 
edges and a 5 nautical mile buffer at the entrances and exits of the 
Santa Barbara Channel Traffic Separation Scheme. BOEM coordinates with 
the USCG on navigational issues and will continue its engagement 
through all phases of its leasing process. Pending the outcome of 
further analysis, BOEM may decide not offer some portions of the Call 
Areas for leasing or development based on information provided in 
response to the Call regarding safety concerns and historic routes of 
vessel traffic. AIS vessel traffic information is available online at: 
https://databasin.org/maps/new#datasets=422db447c151412d918a3085b31429f8.
    Conversely, BOEM gave preference to areas within close proximity to 
existing transmission infrastructure that could provide for potential 
integration into California's existing electrical grid. These are, on 
the north coast, Humboldt Bay substation, and on the central coast, 
Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon substations. Transmission infrastructure 
information is available online at: https://caoffshorewind.databasin.org/datasets/45590a5de70b4cf7863bf79f3c444030.
    BOEM also endeavored to exclude from Call Areas those places where 
preliminary analysis indicated the presence of high concentrations of 
marine mammal and avian species potentially impacted by offshore wind 
development. These preliminary analyses were based on data found online 
at: https://caoffshorewind.databasin.org/galleries/e1e3eab6e86446e7905c824474f70428#expand=136932. BOEM is presently 
working with partners developing new environmental datasets and 
modeling tools, and will further analyze and

[[Page 53100]]

assess data received in response to the Call during its Area 
Identification process. BOEM will utilize information received in 
response to the Call to assist with verification of migratory periods, 
persistent or seasonally occurring oceanic habitat features associated 
with marine birds, mammals, sea turtles, and fish, and periods of high 
species abundance or diversity that may occur within the Call Areas. 
BOEM will consider the best available information to identify and 
assess potential areas of conflict with marine protected species within 
the Call Areas and consult with resource agencies during the Area 
Identification process, as necessary.
    BOEM's subsequent analysis during Area Identification will evaluate 
the Call Areas for their appropriateness for offshore wind development, 
balanced against potential ocean user conflicts. After conducting 
environmental reviews and associated consultations, analyzing public 
comments, and continuing to coordinate with other government agencies 
through the Task Force, BOEM anticipates developing and requiring terms 
and conditions at the leasing, site assessment, and/or construction and 
operations phases of its leasing process to avoid or lessen impacts. 
This Call will allow stakeholders to provide additional input on these 
areas prior to further modification during the Area Identification 
process.

4.1 Department of Defense

    The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts offshore testing, 
training, and operations within all or portions of the Call Areas. BOEM 
is working with DoD to determine potential compatible areas or 
mitigating measures between military activities and offshore wind 
development areas. While conflicting uses may require some areas of the 
OCS to be deferred from leasing, development in other areas where 
military activities occur may eventually be compatible with conditions 
and stipulations. These stipulations could include, but may not be 
limited to: Hold and save harmless agreements; mandatory coordination 
with DoD on specified activities; restrictions on electromagnetic 
emissions; curtailment of wind farm operations during specific DoD 
events; and evacuation procedures from the lease area for safety 
reasons when notified by the DoD. Interested parties should also be 
aware that the Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call Areas on the central 
coast contain OCS blocks that have been assessed as incompatible with 
wind energy development by DoD. DoD is currently reviewing additional 
detailed project information supplied by the offshore wind energy 
industry to determine if any of the areas previously identified by DoD 
as incompatible in the Morro Bay Call Area may be identified as 
compatible after further analyses. The Diablo Canyon area is heavily 
utilized by multiple DoD components and based upon current and future 
expected use, previous assessments have found development there to be 
incompatible with the wide array of critical DoD activities. The 
Humboldt Call Area on the north coast is currently designated as 
``Site-Specific Stipulations'' by DoD. This designation means DoD may 
recommend additional mitigation measures, but does not presently deem 
offshore wind to be incompatible with its missions.

5 Description of the Area

    The Humboldt, Morro Bay, and Diablo Canyon. These Call Areas 
include 85 whole OCS blocks and 573 partial blocks in total, and 
comprise approximately 1,073 square statute miles (mi) (687,823 acres). 
A map of the Call Areas, and associated GIS files, which are located in 
UTM Zone 10N, NAD 83 Datum, can be found at the following URL: https://www.boem.gov/California/.

Call Area Humboldt

    The boundary of Call Area Humboldt begins at 21 mi offshore the 
city of Eureka in northern California. The area is about 28 mi in 
length from north to south and about 14 mi in width from east to west. 
The entire area is approximately 206 square mi (132,369 acres) and is 
described in the table below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Protraction name               Protraction No.    Block No.                                      Sub-block
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         6975  I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         6976  B, C, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7023  L, M, N, O, P.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7024  C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7025  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7026  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7072  D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7073  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7074  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7075  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7076  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7122  C, D, G, H, J, K, L, O, P.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7123  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7124  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7125  All.
Crescent City...........................            NK10-07         7126  A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6023  D.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6024  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6025  All.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6026  All.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6027  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, M, N.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6074  B, C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6075  All.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6076  All.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6077  A, B, E.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6124  D, H.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6125  All.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6126  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6175  All.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6176  A, B, E, I.
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6225  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N.

[[Page 53101]]

 
Eureka..................................            NK10-10         6275  A, B.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call Area Morro Bay

    The boundary of Call Area Morro Bay begins 24 mi offshore Cambria, 
California. The area is about 27 mi in length from north to south and 
about 27 mi in width from east to west. The entire area is 
approximately 311 square mi (199,266 acres) and is described in the 
table below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Protraction name               Protraction No.    Block No.                                      Sub-block
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6102  L, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6103  M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6152  D, L, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6153  A, B, E, F, I, J, K, M, N, O.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6202  D, G, H, K, L, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6203  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6204  I, M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6251  D, H, K, L, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6252  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6253  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6254  A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6301  C, D, G, H, K, L, M, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6302  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6303  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6304  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6305  A, E, I, M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6351  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6352  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6353  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6354  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6355  A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6401  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6402  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6403  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6404  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6405  A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6406  M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6451  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6452  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6453  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6454  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6455  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6456  A, B, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6457  E, F, I, J, M, N, O.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6501  B, C, D, G, H.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6502  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6503  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6504  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6505  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6506  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6507  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6508  I, M, N.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6554  D.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6555  A, B, C, D, G, H.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6556  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6557  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6558  A, B, C, E, F, G, H.
Sur Canyon..............................            NI10-02         6340  O, P.
Sur Canyon..............................            NI10-02         6390  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Sur Canyon..............................            NI10-02         6440  A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O, P.
Sur Canyon..............................            NI10-02         6490  C, D, H.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call Area Diablo Canyon

    The boundary of Call Area Diablo Canyon begins 22 mi offshore Los 
Osos, California. The area is about 23 mi in length from north to south 
and about 30 mi in width from east to west. The entire area is 
approximately 556 square mi (356,188 acres) and is described in the 
table below:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Protraction name               Protraction No.    Block No.                                      Sub-block
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6756  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6757  M, N, O, P.

[[Page 53102]]

 
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6758  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6759  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6760  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6761  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6762  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6763  M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6764  M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6806  A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6807  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6808  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6809  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6810  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6811  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6812  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6813  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6814  A, E, I, M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6856  C, D, G, H, K, L, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6857  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6858  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6859  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6860  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6861  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6862  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6863  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6864  A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6906  D, H.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6907  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6908  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6909  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6910  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6911  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6912  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6913  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6914  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6957  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6958  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6959  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6960  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6961  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6962  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6963  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6964  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         6965  A, E, F, I, J, K, M, N, O.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7007  C, D, H.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7008  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7009  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7010  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7011  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7012  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7013  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7014  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7015  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7016  I, M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7058  A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7059  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7060  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7061  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7062  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7063  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7064  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7065  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7066  A, E, I, M.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7108  C, D, G, H, K, L, N, O, P.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7109  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7110  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7111  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7112  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7113  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7114  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7115  All.
San Luis Obispo.........................            NI10-03         7116  A, E, I, M.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6008  B, C, D, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6009  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6010  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.

[[Page 53103]]

 
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6011  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6012  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6013  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6014  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6015  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Santa Maria.............................            NI10-06         6016  A, E.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6 Requested Information From Interested or Affected Parties

    BOEM requests specific and detailed comments from the public and 
other interested or affected parties regarding the following features, 
activities, or concerns in or around Call Areas:
    1. Geological, geophysical, and biological conditions (including 
bottom and shallow hazards and live bottom).
    2. Known archaeological and/or cultural resource sites on the 
seabed.
    3. Historic properties potentially affected by site 
characterization (surveys), site assessment (buoy installation), or 
commercial wind development. This information will inform BOEM's review 
of future undertakings under Section 106 of the NHPA and under NEPA.
    4. Other uses, including navigation (in particular, commercial and 
recreational vessel use), recreation, and fisheries (commercial and 
recreational).
    5. Additional information regarding recreational and commercial 
fisheries including, but not limited to, the use of the areas, the 
fishing gear types used, seasonal use, and recommendations for reducing 
use conflicts.
    6. Available and pertinent data and information concerning 
renewable energy resources and environmental conditions. Where 
applicable, spatial information should be submitted in a format 
compatible with ArcGIS 10.5 in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83).
    7. Information relating to visual resources and aesthetics, the 
potential impacts of wind turbines to those resources, and potential 
strategies to help mitigate or minimize any visual effects.
    8. Other relevant socioeconomic, biological, and environmental 
information.
    9. Any other relevant information BOEM should consider during its 
planning and decision-making process for the purpose of issuing leases 
in the Call Area.

7 Required Nomination Information

    If you intend to submit one or more nominations for a commercial 
wind energy lease within any Call Areas identified in this notice, you 
must provide the following information for each nomination:
    1. The BOEM Protraction name, number, and specific whole or partial 
OCS blocks within the Call Area(s) that you are interested in leasing, 
inclusive of any potential buffers with adjacent leases. This 
information should be submitted as a spatial file compatible with 
ArcGIS 10.5 in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83) in addition to 
your hard copy submittal. If your nomination includes one or more 
partial blocks, please describe those partial blocks in terms of a 
sixteenth (i.e., sub-block) of an OCS block.
    2. A description of your objectives and the facilities that you 
would use to achieve those objectives.
    3. A preliminary schedule of proposed activities, including those 
leading to commercial operations.
    4. Available and pertinent data and information concerning 
renewable energy resources and environmental conditions in the area(s) 
that you wish to lease, including energy and resource data and 
information used to evaluate the area. Where applicable, spatial 
information should be submitted in a format compatible with ArcGIS 10.5 
in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83).
    5. Documentation demonstrating that you are legally qualified to 
hold a lease in accordance with the requirements of forth in 30 CFR 
585.106 and 585.107(c). Examples of the documentation appropriate for 
demonstrating your legal qualifications and related guidance can be 
found in Chapter 2 and Appendix B of the BOEM Renewable Energy 
Framework Guide Book available at: http://www.boem.gov/REnGuidebook_03/. The documents you provide to demonstrate your 
qualifications to lease will be placed in a file kept by BOEM that may 
be made available for public review. If you wish that any part of your 
legal qualification documentation be kept confidential, clearly 
identify what should be kept confidential, and submit it under separate 
cover (see ``Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information 
Section,'' below).
    6. Documentation demonstrating that you are technically and 
financially capable of constructing, operating, maintaining, and 
decommissioning the facilities described in (2) above, in accordance 
with the requirements of 30 CFR 585.107(a). Guidance regarding the 
documentation to demonstrate your technical and financial 
qualifications can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/QualificationGuidelines-pdf.aspx. Any 
documentation you submit to demonstrate your legal, technical, and 
financial qualifications must be provided to BOEM in both paper and 
electronic formats. BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file on a storage media 
device to be an acceptable format for an electronic copy.
    You are not required to submit a nomination in response to this 
Call in order to participate in a potential future competitive lease 
sale offshore California. You will not be able to participate in such a 
competitive lease sale, however, unless you demonstrate prior to the 
sale that you are legally, technically, and financially qualified to 
hold a BOEM renewable energy lease. To ensure that BOEM has sufficient 
time to process your qualifications package, you should submit this 
package during the PSN 60-day public comment period. More information 
can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/QualificationGuidelines-pdf.aspx.

8 Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information

8.1 Freedom of Information Act

    BOEM will not disclose privileged or confidential information that 
you submit if it qualifies for when required by the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) exemption for trade secrets and commercial or 
financial information provided that you clearly label the submission 
with ``Contains Confidential Information'' and request that BOEM treat 
it as confidential. Please consider submitting such information as a 
separate attachment.
    BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of such 
information or comments not containing such confidential or privileged 
information. Additionally, BOEM will not treat as confidential (1) the 
legal title of the nominating entity (for example,

[[Page 53104]]

the name of your company), or (2) the list of whole or partial blocks 
that you are nominating. Information that is not labeled as privileged 
or confidential will be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public 
release.

8.2 Personal Identifying Information

    BOEM does not consider anonymous comments; please include your name 
and address as part of your submittal. You should be aware that your 
entire comment, including your name, address, and your personal 
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. 
All submissions from identified individuals, businesses and 
organizations will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov. 
In order for BOEM to withhold from disclosure your personal identifying 
information, you must identify any information contained in the 
submittal of your comments that, if released, would constitute a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also 
briefly describe any possible harmful consequence of the disclosure of 
information, such as embarrassment, injury or other harm.

8.3 Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 
470w-3(a))

    BOEM is required, after consultation with the Secretary, to 
withhold the location, character, or ownership of historic resources if 
it determines that disclosure may, among other things, risk harm to the 
historic resources or impede the use of a traditional religious site by 
practitioners. Tribal entities should designate information that falls 
under Section 304 of NHPA as confidential.

    Dated: October 15, 2018.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-22879 Filed 10-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P



                                              53096                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices

                                              persons with whom the lessee does                        Dated: October 15, 2018.                             postmarked or delivered by this same
                                              business relating to this lease, by                     Walter D. Cruickshank,                                date.
                                              including this term as a condition in                   Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy               ADDRESSES: If you are submitting a
                                              their contracts and other transactions.                 Management.                                           nomination for a lease area in response
                                                 Force Majeure: The Program Manager                   [FR Doc. 2018–22878 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am]          to this Call, please submit your
                                              of BOEM’s Office of Renewable Energy                    BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P                                nomination, following the ‘‘Required
                                              Programs has the discretion to change                                                                         Nomination Information’’ section below,
                                              any auction details specified in the FSN,                                                                     to the following address: BOEM, Office
                                              including the date and time, in case of                 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                            of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo
                                              a force majeure event that the Program                                                                        Camarillo (Suite 102), Camarillo,
                                                                                                      Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
                                              Manager deems may interfere with a fair                                                                       California 93010. In addition to a paper
                                              and proper lease sale process. Such                     [Docket No. BOEM–2018–0045]                           copy of the nomination, include an
                                              events may include, but are not limited                                                                       electronic copy of the nomination on a
                                              to: Natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes,               Commercial Leasing for Wind Power                     data storage device. BOEM will list the
                                              hurricanes, floods, blizzards), wars,                   Development on the Outer Continental                  parties that submitted nominations and
                                              riots, acts of terrorism, fire, strikes, civil          Shelf (OCS) Offshore California—Call                  the location of the proposed lease areas
                                              disorder or other events of a similar                   for Information and Nominations (Call)                (i.e., OCS blocks nominated) on the
                                              nature. In case of such events, BOEM                    AGENCY:    Bureau of Ocean Energy                     BOEM website after the comment period
                                              will notify all qualified bidders via                   Management, Interior.                                 has closed.
                                              email, phone, or through the BOEM                       ACTION: Call for Information and                         Comments and other information may
                                              website at: http://www.boem.gov/                        Nominations (hereinafter referred to as               be submitted by either of the following
                                              Renewable-Energy-Program/index.aspx.                    ‘‘Call’’ or ‘‘notice’’) for Commercial                two methods:
                                              Bidders should call 703–787–1320 if                     Leasing for Wind Power Development                       1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://
                                              they have concerns.                                     on the OCS offshore California.                       www.regulations.gov. In the entry
                                                 Appeals: The appeals procedures are                                                                        entitled, ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter
                                              provided in BOEM’s regulations at 30                    SUMMARY:    The Bureau of Ocean Energy                BOEM–2018–0045 and then click
                                              CFR 585.225 and 585.118(c). Pursuant                    Management (BOEM) invites the                         ‘‘search.’’ Follow the instructions to
                                              to 30 CFR 585.225:                                      submission of information and                         submit public comments and view
                                                 (a) If BOEM rejects your bid, BOEM                   nominations for commercial wind leases                supporting and related materials
                                              will provide a written statement of the                 that would allow a lessee to propose the              available for this notice.
                                              reasons and refund any money                            construction of a wind energy project on                 2. U.S. Postal Service or other
                                              deposited with your bid, without                        the OCS offshore California, and to                   delivery service. Send your comments
                                              interest.                                               develop one or more projects, if                      and information to the following
                                                                                                      approved, after further environmental                 address: Bureau of Ocean Energy
                                                 (b) You will then be able to ask the                                                                       Management, Office of Strategic
                                                                                                      review. This is not a leasing
                                              BOEM Director for reconsideration, in                                                                         Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (Suite
                                                                                                      announcement, but the Call Areas or
                                              writing, within 15 business days of bid                                                                       102), Camarillo, California 93010.
                                                                                                      portions of Call Areas described may be
                                              rejection, under 30 CFR 585.118(c)(1).                                                                           BOEM will post all responses on
                                                                                                      available for future leasing. BOEM will
                                              We will send you a written response                                                                           http://www.regulations.gov. If you wish
                                                                                                      use responses to this Call to gauge
                                              either affirming or reversing the                                                                             to protect the confidentiality of your
                                                                                                      specific interest in acquiring
                                              rejection.                                                                                                    nominations or comments, clearly mark
                                                                                                      commercial wind leases in some or all
                                                 The procedures for appealing final                   of the Call Areas. Any nominations                    the relevant sections and request that
                                              decisions with respect to lease sales are               submitted in response to this Call                    BOEM treat them as confidential. Please
                                              described in 30 CFR 585.118(c).                         should provide detailed and specific                  label privileged or confidential
                                                 Protection of Privileged or                          information addressing the                            information ‘‘Contains Confidential
                                              Confidential Information: BOEM will                     requirements described in the section of              Information,’’ and consider submitting
                                              protect privileged or confidential                      this notice entitled, ‘‘Required                      such information as a separate
                                              information that you submit, as required                Nomination Information.’’                             attachment. Treatment of confidential
                                              by the Freedom of Information Act                         This Call also requests comments and                information is addressed in the section
                                              (FOIA). Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to                  information regarding site conditions,                of this Call entitled, ‘‘Protection of
                                              ‘‘trade secrets and commercial or                       resources, and multiple uses in close                 Privileged or Confidential Information.’’
                                              financial information that you submit                   proximity to, or within, the Call Areas               Information that is not labeled as
                                              that is privileged or confidential.’’ 5                 that would be relevant to BOEM’s                      privileged or confidential will be
                                              U.S.C. 552(b)(4).                                       review of the nominations or to any                   regarded by BOEM as suitable for public
                                                 If you wish to protect the                           subsequent decision whether to offer all              release.
                                              confidentiality of such information,                    or part of the Call Areas for commercial              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jean
                                              clearly mark it ‘‘Contains Privileged or                wind leasing. In providing this                       Thurston, BOEM California
                                              Confidential Information’’ and consider                 information, please refer to the section              Intergovernmental Renewable Energy
                                              submitting such information as a                        of this Call entitled, ‘‘Requested                    Task Force Coordinator, BOEM, Office
                                              separate attachment. BOEM will not                      Information from Interested or Affected               of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo
                                              disclose such information, except as                    Parties.’’                                            Camarillo (Suite 102), Camarillo,
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              required by FOIA. Information that is                   DATES: BOEM must receive nominations                  California 93010, (805) 384–6303 or
                                              not labeled as privileged or confidential               describing your interest in one or more,              jean.thurston@boem.gov.
                                              may be regarded by BOEM as suitable                     or any portion of, the Call Areas, by a               SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                              for public release. Further, BOEM will                  postmarked date of January 28, 2019 for
                                              not treat as confidential aggregate                     your nomination to be considered.                     Authority
                                              summaries of otherwise confidential                     BOEM requests comments or                               This Call is published pursuant to
                                              information.                                            submissions of information to be                      section 8(p)(3) of the Outer Continental


                                         VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:25 Oct 18, 2018   Jkt 247001   PO 00000   Frm 00070   Fmt 4703   Sfmt 4703   E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM   19OCN1


                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices                                            53097

                                              Shelf Lands Act (‘‘OCSLA’’), 43 U.S.C.                  RFQ from six entities, and in April 2018              1   Background
                                              1337(p)(3), which was added by section                  selected partners for the project. The                1.1 Statutory Authorization
                                              388 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005                    area requested by RCEA in its
                                              (EPAct), as well as the implementing                    unsolicited lease request is included in                 Section 8(p) of OCSLA, authorizes the
                                              regulations at 30 CFR part 585.                         the Humboldt Call Area.                               Secretary of the Interior (‘‘Secretary’’) to
                                                                                                                                                            grant leases, easements, or rights-of-way
                                              Call Areas                                                 BOEM will use responses to this Call               (ROWs) on the OCS for activities not
                                                 The three (3) geographically distinct                to confirm competitive interest in the                previously authorized by the OCS Lands
                                              Call Areas described in this notice are                 portions of the Call Areas for which                  Act or other applicable law. Under
                                              located on the OCS offshore California                  BOEM already has information, as well                 subsection 8(p)(1)(C), the Secretary of
                                              and are the Humboldt Call Area on the                   as to solicit new expressions of interest             the Interior may issue leases for
                                              north coast and the Morro Bay Call Area                 in obtaining a lease within the Call                  activities that produce or support
                                              and the Diablo Canyon Call Area on the                  Area(s).                                              production, transportation, or
                                              central coast. These areas include 85                      BOEM will make a formal                            transmission of energy from sources
                                              whole OCS blocks and 573 partial                        determination of competitive interest                 other than oil or gas, including
                                              blocks in total, and comprise                           after reviewing the nominations and                   renewable energy sources. Section 8(p)
                                              approximately 1,073 square statute                                                                            also requires the Secretary to issue any
                                                                                                      comments provided in response to this
                                              miles (mi) (687,823 acres). If BOEM                                                                           necessary regulations to carry out this
                                                                                                      Call. Depending on the nominations and
                                              determines that there is competitive                                                                          authority. Regulations were issued for
                                              interest in these areas, BOEM will                      comments received, BOEM may proceed                   this purpose on April 29, 2009, and are
                                              identify which areas will be subject to                 with the competitive leasing process as               codified in BOEM regulations at 30 CFR
                                              an environmental analysis and                           set forth in 30 CFR 585.211 through                   part 585. The Secretary has delegated
                                              consideration for leasing as part of the                585.225; may proceed with the                         the authority to issue leases, easements,
                                              area identification portion of the                      noncompetitive leasing process as set                 and ROWs to the Director of BOEM.
                                              competitive leasing process. A detailed                 forth in 30 CFR 585.231 and 232; or may
                                                                                                      decide not to proceed with leasing.                   1.2 Offshore Wind Energy Planning
                                              description of the areas and how they
                                                                                                      BOEM may also determine that some of                  Efforts in California
                                              were developed is described in the
                                              section of this Call entitled,                          the Call Areas or portions of Call Areas                 BOEM appreciates the importance of
                                              ‘‘Description of the Area.’’                            have competitive interest while other                 coordinating its planning endeavors
                                                                                                      area do not. For instance, BOEM may                   with other OCS users, relevant Federal
                                              Purpose of the Call for Information and                                                                       and state agencies, and tribes. BOEM
                                                                                                      determine that there is no competitive
                                              Nominations                                                                                                   and the State of California, through the
                                                                                                      interest in the Humboldt Call Area and
                                                 OCSLA requires BOEM to award                         that there is competitive interest in the             leadership of the California Energy
                                              leases competitively, unless BOEM                       Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call                      Commission, have engaged in a
                                              determines that there is no competitive                 Areas. In this case, BOEM could                       collaborative, data-based offshore wind
                                              interest (43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)). On                     proceed with the noncompetitive                       energy planning process to foster
                                              January 14, 2016, BOEM received an                      leasing process for the Humboldt Call                 coordinated and informed decisions
                                              unsolicited lease request from Trident                                                                        about California’s shared ocean
                                                                                                      Area and with the competitive leasing
                                              Winds, LLC (Trident Winds) for the                                                                            resources and the many users who
                                                                                                      process for the Morro Bay and Diablo
                                              development of a wind energy project                                                                          depend on them. This outreach has
                                                                                                      Canyon Call Areas. We explain these
                                              offshore Morro Bay, on the central coast                                                                      consisted of numerous public meetings,
                                              of California. On August 18, 2016,                      processes in detail in the section of this
                                                                                                                                                            webinars, and briefings with coastal
                                              BOEM published the Potential                            notice entitled, ‘‘BOEM’s Planning and
                                                                                                                                                            communities, fishing communities,
                                              Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on                    Leasing Process.’’
                                                                                                                                                            federally and non-federally recognized
                                              the Outer Continental Shelf—Request                        We note that a lease, whether issued               tribes, state and Federal agencies,
                                              for Interest (‘‘RFI’’) in the Federal                   through a competitive or                              academia and scientists, environmental
                                              Register to determine if there was                      noncompetitive process, does not grant                non-governmental organizations
                                              competitive interest in the area                        the lessee the right to construct any                 (NGOs), and the offshore renewable
                                              described by Trident Winds. A copy of                   facilities on the lease. The lease only               energy industry. The summary report on
                                              BOEM’s RFI is available online at:                      grants the lessee the exclusive right to              this outreach can be viewed at: https://
                                              https://www.boem.gov/81-FR-55228/. In                   submit site assessment and construction               www.boem.gov/California-Outreach-
                                              response to the RFI, BOEM received one                  and operations plans to BOEM, which                   Summary-Report/. Additional
                                              additional nomination of competitive                    BOEM must first approve before the                    information gathered by BOEM and the
                                              interest in developing wind energy in                   lessee may proceed to the next stages of              State of California during the offshore
                                              the area proposed by Trident Winds.                     the process (30 CFR 585.600 and                       wind energy planning process,
                                                 On September 11, 2018, BOEM                          585.601).                                             including maps and spatially
                                              received an unsolicited lease request                                                                         represented data, is available online at:
                                              from the Redwood Coast Energy                              Whether competitive or
                                                                                                                                                            https://caoffshorewind.databasin.org/.
                                              Authority (RCEA) for the development                    noncompetitive, the leasing process will
                                              of a wind energy project offshore                       include subsequent opportunities for                  1.3 BOEM California
                                              Humboldt County. RCEA submitted its                     public input, and any proposed actions                Intergovernmental Renewable Energy
                                              request after issuing a Request for                     will be reviewed thoroughly for                       Task Force
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                                              Qualifications (RFQ) on February 1,                     potential environmental impacts and                     At the request of Governor Brown,
                                              2018, to select one or more qualified                   multiple use conflicts. BOEM has not                  BOEM established an Intergovernmental
                                              entities to enter into a public-private                 yet determined which area(s) may be                   Renewable Energy Task Force (Task
                                              partnership pursuant to their activities                offered for lease, if any, has/have not yet           Force) with California in 2016 to
                                              to pursue developing an offshore wind                   been determined, and may include less                 facilitate coordination among relevant
                                              energy project off Humboldt County.                     than the total footprint of any Call Areas            Federal agencies and affected state,
                                              The RCEA received responses on their                    or may offer no leasing at all.                       local, and tribal governments


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                                              53098                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices

                                              throughout the leasing process. The first               (CZMA), Endangered Species Act (ESA),                 competitive interest based on the
                                              Task Force meeting was held on October                  the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery                          information it receives in response to
                                              13, 2016, and a second Task Force                       Conservation and Management Act,                      this Call, BOEM will identify the area(s)
                                              meeting was held on September 17,                       Section 106 of the National Historic                  that will be subject to environmental
                                              2018. Meeting materials are available on                Preservation Act (NHPA), and Executive                analysis and consideration for leasing.
                                              the BOEM website at: https://                           Order 13175 (‘‘Consultation and                       Any area identified will constitute a
                                              www.boem.gov/California/.                               Coordination with Tribal                              Wind Energy Area (WEA) and will be
                                                                                                      Governments’’).                                       subject to environmental analysis as
                                              1.4 Actions Taken by the State of
                                                                                                                                                            described above, conducted in
                                              California in Support of Renewable                      3 BOEM’s Planning and Leasing
                                                                                                                                                            consultation with appropriate Federal
                                              Energy Development                                      Process
                                                                                                                                                            agencies, states, local governments,
                                                 The State of California established a                3.1 Determination of Competitive                      tribes, and other interested parties.
                                              Renewables Portfolio Standard (RPS) in                  Interest                                                 (2) Proposed Sale Notice (PSN): If
                                              2002. California expanded the RPS in                                                                          BOEM decides to proceed with a
                                                                                                         43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3) states that ‘‘the
                                              2015 through passage of Senate Bill 350,                                                                      competitive lease sale within any WEA
                                                                                                      Secretary shall issue a lease, easement,
                                              the Clean Energy and Pollution                                                                                after completion of its environmental
                                                                                                      or right-of-way . . . on a competitive
                                              Reduction Act, and further expanded                                                                           analysis, BOEM will publish a PSN in
                                                                                                      basis unless the Secretary determines
                                              the RPS in 2018 through passage of                                                                            the Federal Register with a comment
                                                                                                      after public notice of a proposed lease,
                                              Senate Bill (SB) 100. SB 100 increased                                                                        period of 60 days. The PSN will
                                                                                                      easement, or right-of-way that there is
                                              the state’s RPS requirements for                                                                              describe any area BOEM intends to offer
                                                                                                      no competitive interest.’’ Accordingly,
                                              powering the electricity system from                                                                          for leasing, the proposed conditions of
                                                                                                      BOEM must first determine whether
                                              renewable energy resources. The                                                                               a lease sale, the proposed auction
                                                                                                      there is competitive interest in acquiring
                                              legislation requires 50 percent powering                                                                      format, and the lease instrument,
                                                                                                      a lease within the Call Area to develop
                                              from renewable resources by 2025, 60                                                                          including lease addenda. Additionally,
                                                                                                      offshore wind energy. At the conclusion
                                              percent by 2030, and 100 percent                                                                              the PSN will describe the criteria and
                                                                                                      of the comment period for this Call,
                                              powering from zero-carbon resources by                                                                        process for evaluating bids in the lease
                                                                                                      BOEM will review the nominations
                                              December 31, 2045, for retail sales of                                                                        sale.
                                                                                                      received and determine if competitive
                                              electricity to California end-use                                                                                (3) Final Sale Notice (FSN): After
                                                                                                      interest exists in any of the call areas.
                                              customers and electricity procured to                      For areas with two or more valid                   considering the comments on the PSN,
                                              serve state agencies. Additional                        nominations, BOEM may consider                        if BOEM decides to proceed with a
                                              information about California’s RPS is                   proceeding with competitive leasing as                competitive lease sale, it will publish
                                              available at: www.cpuc.ca.gov/RPS_                      described in the section of this Call                 the FSN in the Federal Register at least
                                              Homepage. The full text of SB 100 is                    entitled, ‘‘Competitive Leasing Process.’’            30 days before the date of the lease sale.
                                              available at: https://leginfo.legis                     For areas where BOEM determines that                     (4) Bid Submission and Evaluation:
                                              lature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?                there is only one interested entity,                  Following publication of the FSN in the
                                              bill_id=201720180SB100.                                 BOEM may consider proceeding with                     Federal Register, BOEM would offer the
                                              2 BOEM’s Environmental Review                           noncompetitive leasing, as described in               lease areas through a competitive sale
                                              Process                                                 the section entitled ‘‘Noncompetitive                 process, using procedures specified in
                                                                                                      Leasing Process.’’                                    the FSN. The conduct of the sale,
                                                 Before deciding whether and where                                                                          including bids and bid deposits, would
                                                                                                         If BOEM determines that competitive
                                              leases may be issued within the Call                                                                          be reviewed for technical and legal
                                                                                                      interest exists and BOEM identifies
                                              Areas, BOEM will prepare an                                                                                   adequacy. BOEM will ensure that
                                                                                                      those areas as appropriate to lease,
                                              environmental assessment (EA) under                                                                           bidders have complied with all
                                                                                                      BOEM may hold a competitive lease
                                              the National Environmental Policy Act                                                                         applicable regulations. BOEM reserves
                                                                                                      sale on any or all portions of the Call
                                              (NEPA) and conduct consultations to                                                                           the right to reject any or all bids and/
                                                                                                      Area. In the event BOEM holds such a
                                              consider the environmental                                                                                    or withdraw an offer to lease an area,
                                                                                                      lease sale, all qualified bidders,
                                              consequences associated with issuing                                                                          even after bids have been submitted.
                                                                                                      including those bidders which did not
                                              commercial wind leases. As the                                                                                   (5) Issuance of a Lease: Following the
                                                                                                      submit a nomination in response to this
                                              issuance of a lease does not grant the                                                                        selection of any winning bid by BOEM,
                                                                                                      Call, will be able to participate in the
                                              right to construct any facilities within                                                                      the successful bidder would be notified
                                                                                                      lease sale.
                                              the lease, the EA will consider                            BOEM will not issue any leases until               of the decision and provided a set of
                                              reasonably foreseeable environmental                    it has completed all required                         official lease documents for execution.
                                              consequences associated with leasing,                   consultations and environmental                       Any successful bidder would be
                                              site assessment and site characterization               analysis, which include the opportunity               required to sign and return the lease,
                                              activities (including geophysical,                      for public comment. Furthermore,                      pay the remainder of the bonus bid, if
                                              geotechnical, archaeological, and                       BOEM reserves the right not to lease                  applicable, and file the required
                                              biological surveys). If BOEM issues a                   certain nominated areas, or modify such               financial assurance within 10 business
                                              lease and the lessee proposes the                       areas from their original, proposed form              days of receiving the lease documents.
                                              construction and operation of an                        before offering them for lease.                       Upon receipt of the required payments,
                                              offshore wind energy facility, BOEM                                                                           financial assurance, and properly signed
                                              would consider the environmental                        3.2 Competitive Leasing Process
                                                                                                                                                            lease forms, BOEM may execute a lease
                                              effects of such construction and                          BOEM will follow the steps required                 with the successful bidder.
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                                              operation under a separate, project-                    by 30 CFR 585.211 through 585.225 if it
                                              specific NEPA process, which would                      decides to proceed with the competitive               3.3 Noncompetitive Leasing Process
                                              include additional opportunities for                    leasing process for any areas after                     BOEM’s noncompetitive leasing
                                              public involvement. BOEM would also                     receiving responses and nominations for               process would include the following
                                              conduct consultations under other                       this Call.                                            steps:
                                              authorities, including, but not limited                   (1) Area Identification: After                        (1) Determination of No Competitive
                                              to, the Coastal Zone Management Act                     determining the existence of                          Interest: If, after evaluating all relevant


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                                                                            Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices                                            53099

                                              information, including responses to this                   1. Areas in water depths beyond 1,100              operations phase of the regulatory
                                              Call, BOEM determines there is no                       meters. Based on a National Renewable                 process.
                                              competitive interest in all or a portion                Energy Laboratory (NREL) technical                       5. High concentrations of undersea
                                              of the Call Areas, it may proceed with                  report (NREL, TP–6A20–55049,                          cables. BOEM removed from
                                              the noncompetitive lease issuance                       Improved Offshore Wind Resource                       consideration, at this time, the portion
                                              process pursuant to 30 CFR 585.231 and                  Assessment in Global Climate                          of the OCS offshore Morro Bay that has
                                              232. BOEM would seek to determine if                    Stabilization Scenarios, 2012), BOEM                  a large concentration of undersea cables.
                                              the sole respondent, who nominated a                    considers 1,100 meters to be a                        Information, including a map of these
                                              particular area, intends to proceed with                reasonable limit on water depth based                 cable locations, is available online at:
                                              acquiring the lease; if so, the respondent              on technological feasibility at this time.            https://databasin.org/maps/
                                              would be required to submit an                             2. National Marine Sanctuaries.                    706cd85b8b2b4d1dbeb7eba7b68cb934/
                                              acquisition fee as specified in 30 CFR                  BOEM lacks the authority to lease                     active.
                                              585.502(a). After receiving the                         within the boundaries of National                        6. Santa Barbara Channel. BOEM
                                              acquisition fee, BOEM would follow the                  Marine Sanctuaries, and removed these                 removed the OCS blocks adjacent to the
                                              process outlined in 30 CFR 585.231(d)                   areas offshore California from                        entrance and exit of the Santa Barbara
                                              through (i), which would include the                    consideration, including: Greater                     Channel due to vessel traffic transiting
                                              publication of a Determination of No                    Farallones, Cordell Bank, Monterey Bay,               the Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach
                                              Competitive Interest in the Federal                     and Channel Islands National Marine                   (LA/LB) based on automated
                                              Register.                                               Sanctuaries.                                          identification system (AIS) vessel
                                                 (2) Review of Lease Request: BOEM                       3. Areas on the OCS that have wind                 information provided to BOEM from the
                                              would comply with the relevant                          speeds estimated at less than 7 meters                U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). These blocks
                                              requirements of NEPA, CZMA, ESA,                        per second. These areas were excluded                 include all OCS sub-blocks that overlap
                                              NHPA and other applicable Federal                       based on a NREL’s 2016 Offshore Wind                  with a 1 nautical mile buffer along all
                                              statutes before issuing a lease                         Energy Resource Assessment for the                    outer edges and a 5 nautical mile buffer
                                              noncompetitively. Further, BOEM                         United States, available at:                          at the entrances and exits of the Santa
                                              would coordinate and consult, as                        www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/66599.pdf.                 Barbara Channel Traffic Separation
                                              appropriate, with relevant Federal                         4. Nearshore areas with high levels of             Scheme. BOEM coordinates with the
                                              agencies, other affected or interested                  fishing activity. BOEM recognizes that                USCG on navigational issues and will
                                              parties, and affected state and local                   several commercial and recreational                   continue its engagement through all
                                              governments in formulating lease terms,                 fisheries operate within, or in proximity             phases of its leasing process. Pending
                                              conditions, and stipulations.                           to, the Call Areas. Fishing industry                  the outcome of further analysis, BOEM
                                                 (3) Lease Issuance: After completing                 representatives have provided                         may decide not offer some portions of
                                              its review of the lease request, BOEM                   comments and information to BOEM                      the Call Areas for leasing or
                                              may offer a noncompetitive lease.                       during meetings and discussions during                development based on information
                                              Within 10 business days of receiving the                outreach in 2017 and 2018. Based on                   provided in response to the Call
                                              lease, the lessee must execute it and                   these discussions thus far, and data and              regarding safety concerns and historic
                                              provide a $100,000 lease-specific bond,                 information gathered during the                       routes of vessel traffic. AIS vessel traffic
                                              pursuant to 30 CFR 585.515, to                          offshore wind energy planning efforts,                information is available online at:
                                              guarantee compliance with all terms                     areas closer to shore tend to have higher             https://databasin.org/maps/new#
                                              and conditions of the lease. Within 45                  concentrations of commercial and                      datasets=422db447c151412d918a3085b
                                              days of receiving the lease, the lessee                 recreational fishing activities and were              31429f8.
                                              must pay BOEM the first 12 months’                      removed from consideration for leasing.                  Conversely, BOEM gave preference to
                                              rent.                                                   Fishing information, including maps                   areas within close proximity to existing
                                                                                                      and spatially represented data, gathered              transmission infrastructure that could
                                              4   Development of the Call Areas                       during the offshore wind energy                       provide for potential integration into
                                                BOEM delineated the Call Areas in                     planning process is available online at:              California’s existing electrical grid.
                                              consultation with several parties,                      https://databasin.org/galleries/                      These are, on the north coast, Humboldt
                                              including the State of California and the               ae21ddeb4fd642f1a382f96adc898dbe.                     Bay substation, and on the central coast,
                                              Task Force. In coordination with the                    BOEM will continue with outreach to                   Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon
                                              State of California, BOEM held multiple                 the fishing industry throughout the                   substations. Transmission infrastructure
                                              stakeholder outreach meetings in                        leasing and planning process. BOEM is                 information is available online at:
                                              northern and central California to obtain               requesting additional information                     https://caoffshorewind.databasin.org/
                                              input into the development of the Call                  regarding recreational and commercial                 datasets/45590a5de70b4cf7863bf79
                                              Areas and gather data and information                   fisheries that operate within the Call                f3c444030.
                                              to use in BOEM’s decision making                        Areas and will consider that                             BOEM also endeavored to exclude
                                              process. More information on these                      information at the Area Identification                from Call Areas those places where
                                              meetings can be found in this notice                    stage of its planning process. If BOEM                preliminary analysis indicated the
                                              under ‘‘Offshore Wind Energy Planning                   concludes that fisheries conflicts cannot             presence of high concentrations of
                                              Efforts in California.’’ The Call Areas                 be properly mitigated in certain portions             marine mammal and avian species
                                              represent portions of the OCS that                      of the Call Areas, it may exclude those               potentially impacted by offshore wind
                                              BOEM has identified to solicit                          areas from leasing consideration at the               development. These preliminary
                                              information and nominations so that                     Area Identification stage, during the                 analyses were based on data found
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                                              potential use conflicts can be analyzed                 environmental review process under                    online at: https://
                                              and considered in the Area ID stage of                  NEPA, and as a result of essential fish               caoffshorewind.databasin.org/galleries/
                                              the leasing process. During the process                 habitat consultations under the                       e1e3eab6e86446e7905c824474f70428#
                                              of delineating the California Call Areas,               Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation                 expand=136932. BOEM is presently
                                              BOEM determined that the following                      and Management Act. BOEM may also                     working with partners developing new
                                              areas would not be appropriate for                      require measures to mitigate or avoid                 environmental datasets and modeling
                                              leasing and development at this time:                   fishery conflicts at the construction and             tools, and will further analyze and


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                                              53100                                   Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices

                                              assess data received in response to the                                  4.1     Department of Defense                             Diablo Canyon area is heavily utilized
                                              Call during its Area Identification                                                                                                by multiple DoD components and based
                                              process. BOEM will utilize information                                      The Department of Defense (DoD)                        upon current and future expected use,
                                              received in response to the Call to assist                               conducts offshore testing, training, and                  previous assessments have found
                                              with verification of migratory periods,                                  operations within all or portions of the                  development there to be incompatible
                                              persistent or seasonally occurring                                       Call Areas. BOEM is working with DoD                      with the wide array of critical DoD
                                                                                                                       to determine potential compatible areas                   activities. The Humboldt Call Area on
                                              oceanic habitat features associated with
                                                                                                                       or mitigating measures between military                   the north coast is currently designated
                                              marine birds, mammals, sea turtles, and
                                                                                                                       activities and offshore wind                              as ‘‘Site-Specific Stipulations’’ by DoD.
                                              fish, and periods of high species
                                                                                                                       development areas. While conflicting                      This designation means DoD may
                                              abundance or diversity that may occur                                    uses may require some areas of the OCS
                                              within the Call Areas. BOEM will                                                                                                   recommend additional mitigation
                                                                                                                       to be deferred from leasing,                              measures, but does not presently deem
                                              consider the best available information                                  development in other areas where                          offshore wind to be incompatible with
                                              to identify and assess potential areas of                                military activities occur may eventually                  its missions.
                                              conflict with marine protected species                                   be compatible with conditions and
                                              within the Call Areas and consult with                                   stipulations. These stipulations could                    5   Description of the Area
                                              resource agencies during the Area                                        include, but may not be limited to: Hold                    The Humboldt, Morro Bay, and Diablo
                                              Identification process, as necessary.                                    and save harmless agreements;                             Canyon. These Call Areas include 85
                                                 BOEM’s subsequent analysis during                                     mandatory coordination with DoD on                        whole OCS blocks and 573 partial
                                              Area Identification will evaluate the                                    specified activities; restrictions on                     blocks in total, and comprise
                                              Call Areas for their appropriateness for                                 electromagnetic emissions; curtailment                    approximately 1,073 square statute
                                              offshore wind development, balanced                                      of wind farm operations during specific                   miles (mi) (687,823 acres). A map of the
                                              against potential ocean user conflicts.                                  DoD events; and evacuation procedures                     Call Areas, and associated GIS files,
                                              After conducting environmental reviews                                   from the lease area for safety reasons                    which are located in UTM Zone 10N,
                                              and associated consultations, analyzing                                  when notified by the DoD. Interested                      NAD 83 Datum, can be found at the
                                              public comments, and continuing to                                       parties should also be aware that the                     following URL: https://www.boem.gov/
                                                                                                                       Morro Bay and Diablo Canyon Call                          California/.
                                              coordinate with other government
                                                                                                                       Areas on the central coast contain OCS
                                              agencies through the Task Force, BOEM                                                                                              Call Area Humboldt
                                                                                                                       blocks that have been assessed as
                                              anticipates developing and requiring                                     incompatible with wind energy                                The boundary of Call Area Humboldt
                                              terms and conditions at the leasing, site                                development by DoD. DoD is currently                      begins at 21 mi offshore the city of
                                              assessment, and/or construction and                                      reviewing additional detailed project                     Eureka in northern California. The area
                                              operations phases of its leasing process                                 information supplied by the offshore                      is about 28 mi in length from north to
                                              to avoid or lessen impacts. This Call                                    wind energy industry to determine if                      south and about 14 mi in width from
                                              will allow stakeholders to provide                                       any of the areas previously identified by                 east to west. The entire area is
                                              additional input on these areas prior to                                 DoD as incompatible in the Morro Bay                      approximately 206 square mi (132,369
                                              further modification during the Area                                     Call Area may be identified as                            acres) and is described in the table
                                              Identification process.                                                  compatible after further analyses. The                    below:

                                                                       Protraction name                                        Protraction No.         Block No.                                Sub-block

                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                6975   I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                6976   B, C, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7023   L, M, N, O, P.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7024   C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7025   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7026   A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7072   D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7073   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7074   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7075   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7076   A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7122   C, D, G, H, J, K, L, O, P.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7123   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7124   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7125   All.
                                              Crescent City ...........................................................                   NK10–07                7126   A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6023   D.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6024   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6025   All.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6026   All.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6027   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, M, N.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6074   B, C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6075   All.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6076   All.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6077   A, B, E.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6124   D, H.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6125   All.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6126   A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6175   All.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6176   A, B, E, I.
                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6225   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N.



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                                                                                      Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices                                                         53101

                                                                       Protraction name                                        Protraction No.         Block No.                                Sub-block

                                              Eureka ......................................................................               NK10–10                6275   A, B.



                                              Call Area Morro Bay                                                      California. The area is about 27 mi in                    entire area is approximately 311 square
                                                The boundary of Call Area Morro Bay                                    length from north to south and about 27                   mi (199,266 acres) and is described in
                                              begins 24 mi offshore Cambria,                                           mi in width from east to west. The                        the table below:

                                                                       Protraction name                                        Protraction No.         Block No.                                Sub-block

                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6102   L, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6103   M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6152   D, L, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6153   A, B, E, F, I, J, K, M, N, O.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6202   D, G, H, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6203   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6204   I, M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6251   D, H, K, L, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6252   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6253   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6254   A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6301   C, D, G, H, K, L, M, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6302   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6303   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6304   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6305   A, E, I, M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6351   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6352   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6353   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6354   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6355   A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6401   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6402   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6403   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6404   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6405   A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6406   M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6451   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6452   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6453   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6454   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6455   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6456   A, B, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6457   E, F, I, J, M, N, O.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6501   B, C, D, G, H.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6502   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6503   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, L.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6504   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6505   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6506   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6507   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6508   I, M, N.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6554   D.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6555   A, B, C, D, G, H.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6556   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6557   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6558   A, B, C, E, F, G, H.
                                              Sur Canyon ..............................................................                   NI10–02                6340   O, P.
                                              Sur Canyon ..............................................................                   NI10–02                6390   B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
                                              Sur Canyon ..............................................................                   NI10–02                6440   A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              Sur Canyon ..............................................................                   NI10–02                6490   C, D, H.



                                              Call Area Diablo Canyon                                                  California. The area is about 23 mi in                    entire area is approximately 556 square
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                                The boundary of Call Area Diablo                                       length from north to south and about 30                   mi (356,188 acres) and is described in
                                              Canyon begins 22 mi offshore Los Osos,                                   mi in width from east to west. The                        the table below:

                                                                       Protraction name                                        Protraction No.         Block No.                                Sub-block

                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6756   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                      NI10–03                6757   M, N, O, P.



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                                              53102                                 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices

                                                                      Protraction name                                     Protraction No.         Block No.                               Sub-block

                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6758   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6759   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6760   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6761   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6762   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6763   M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6764   M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6806   A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6807   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6808   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6809   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6810   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6811   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6812   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6813   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6814   A, E, I, M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6856   C, D, G, H, K, L, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6857   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6858   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6859   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6860   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6861   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6862   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6863   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6864   A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6906   D, H.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6907   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6908   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6909   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6910   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6911   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6912   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6913   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6914   A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6957   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6958   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6959   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6960   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6961   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6962   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6963   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6964   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                6965   A, E, F, I, J, K, M, N, O.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7007   C, D, H.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7008   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7009   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7010   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7011   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7012   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7013   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7014   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7015   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7016   I, M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7058   A, B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7059   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7060   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7061   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7062   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7063   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7064   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7065   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7066   A, E, I, M.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7108   C, D, G, H, K, L, N, O, P.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7109   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7110   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7111   All.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7112   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7113   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7114   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7115   All.
                                              San Luis Obispo ......................................................                  NI10–03                7116   A, E, I, M.
                                              Santa Maria .............................................................               NI10–06                6008   B, C, D, F, G, H.
                                              Santa Maria .............................................................               NI10–06                6009   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
                                              Santa Maria .............................................................               NI10–06                6010   A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.



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                                                                                    Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices                                                                   53103

                                                                    Protraction name                                            Protraction No.         Block No.                                                Sub-block

                                              Santa   Maria    .............................................................               NI10–06                6011   A,   B,   C,   D,   E,   F,   G,   H.
                                              Santa   Maria    .............................................................               NI10–06                6012   A,   B,   C,   D,   E,   F,   G,   H.
                                              Santa   Maria    .............................................................               NI10–06                6013   A,   B,   C,   D,   E,   F,   G,   H.
                                              Santa   Maria    .............................................................               NI10–06                6014   A,   B,   C,   D,   E,   F,   G,   H.
                                              Santa   Maria    .............................................................               NI10–06                6015   A,   B,   C,   D,   E,   F,   G,   H.
                                              Santa   Maria    .............................................................               NI10–06                6016   A,   E.



                                              6 Requested Information From                                              provide the following information for                           facilities described in (2) above, in
                                              Interested or Affected Parties                                            each nomination:                                                accordance with the requirements of 30
                                                                                                                           1. The BOEM Protraction name,                                CFR 585.107(a). Guidance regarding the
                                                 BOEM requests specific and detailed
                                                                                                                        number, and specific whole or partial                           documentation to demonstrate your
                                              comments from the public and other
                                                                                                                        OCS blocks within the Call Area(s) that                         technical and financial qualifications
                                              interested or affected parties regarding
                                                                                                                        you are interested in leasing, inclusive                        can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/
                                              the following features, activities, or
                                                                                                                        of any potential buffers with adjacent                          Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-
                                              concerns in or around Call Areas:
                                                                                                                        leases. This information should be                              Information/QualificationGuidelines-
                                                 1. Geological, geophysical, and                                        submitted as a spatial file compatible                          pdf.aspx. Any documentation you
                                              biological conditions (including bottom                                   with ArcGIS 10.5 in a geographic                                submit to demonstrate your legal,
                                              and shallow hazards and live bottom).                                     coordinate system (NAD 83) in addition                          technical, and financial qualifications
                                                 2. Known archaeological and/or                                         to your hard copy submittal. If your                            must be provided to BOEM in both
                                              cultural resource sites on the seabed.                                    nomination includes one or more partial                         paper and electronic formats. BOEM
                                                 3. Historic properties potentially                                     blocks, please describe those partial                           considers an Adobe PDF file on a
                                              affected by site characterization                                         blocks in terms of a sixteenth (i.e., sub-                      storage media device to be an acceptable
                                              (surveys), site assessment (buoy                                          block) of an OCS block.                                         format for an electronic copy.
                                              installation), or commercial wind                                            2. A description of your objectives                            You are not required to submit a
                                              development. This information will                                        and the facilities that you would use to                        nomination in response to this Call in
                                              inform BOEM’s review of future                                            achieve those objectives.                                       order to participate in a potential future
                                              undertakings under Section 106 of the                                        3. A preliminary schedule of                                 competitive lease sale offshore
                                              NHPA and under NEPA.                                                      proposed activities, including those                            California. You will not be able to
                                                 4. Other uses, including navigation (in                                leading to commercial operations.                               participate in such a competitive lease
                                              particular, commercial and recreational                                      4. Available and pertinent data and                          sale, however, unless you demonstrate
                                              vessel use), recreation, and fisheries                                    information concerning renewable                                prior to the sale that you are legally,
                                              (commercial and recreational).                                            energy resources and environmental                              technically, and financially qualified to
                                                 5. Additional information regarding                                    conditions in the area(s) that you wish                         hold a BOEM renewable energy lease.
                                              recreational and commercial fisheries                                     to lease, including energy and resource                         To ensure that BOEM has sufficient time
                                              including, but not limited to, the use of                                 data and information used to evaluate                           to process your qualifications package,
                                              the areas, the fishing gear types used,                                   the area. Where applicable, spatial                             you should submit this package during
                                              seasonal use, and recommendations for                                     information should be submitted in a                            the PSN 60-day public comment period.
                                              reducing use conflicts.                                                   format compatible with ArcGIS 10.5 in                           More information can be found at:
                                                 6. Available and pertinent data and                                    a geographic coordinate system (NAD                             http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-
                                              information concerning renewable                                          83).                                                            Energy-Program/Regulatory-
                                              energy resources and environmental                                           5. Documentation demonstrating that
                                                                                                                                                                                        Information/QualificationGuidelines-
                                              conditions. Where applicable, spatial                                     you are legally qualified to hold a lease
                                                                                                                                                                                        pdf.aspx.
                                              information should be submitted in a                                      in accordance with the requirements of
                                              format compatible with ArcGIS 10.5 in                                     forth in 30 CFR 585.106 and 585.107(c).                         8 Protection of Privileged or
                                              a geographic coordinate system (NAD                                       Examples of the documentation                                   Confidential Information
                                              83).                                                                      appropriate for demonstrating your legal
                                                                                                                                                                                        8.1       Freedom of Information Act
                                                 7. Information relating to visual                                      qualifications and related guidance can
                                              resources and aesthetics, the potential                                   be found in Chapter 2 and Appendix B                               BOEM will not disclose privileged or
                                              impacts of wind turbines to those                                         of the BOEM Renewable Energy                                    confidential information that you
                                              resources, and potential strategies to                                    Framework Guide Book available at:                              submit if it qualifies for when required
                                              help mitigate or minimize any visual                                      http://www.boem.gov/REnGuidebook_                               by the Freedom of Information Act
                                              effects.                                                                  03/. The documents you provide to                               (FOIA) exemption for trade secrets and
                                                 8. Other relevant socioeconomic,                                       demonstrate your qualifications to lease                        commercial or financial information
                                              biological, and environmental                                             will be placed in a file kept by BOEM                           provided that you clearly label the
                                              information.                                                              that may be made available for public                           submission with ‘‘Contains Confidential
                                                 9. Any other relevant information                                      review. If you wish that any part of your                       Information’’ and request that BOEM
                                              BOEM should consider during its                                           legal qualification documentation be                            treat it as confidential. Please consider
                                              planning and decision-making process                                      kept confidential, clearly identify what                        submitting such information as a
                                              for the purpose of issuing leases in the                                  should be kept confidential, and submit                         separate attachment.
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              Call Area.                                                                it under separate cover (see ‘‘Protection                          BOEM will not treat as confidential
                                                                                                                        of Privileged or Confidential                                   any aggregate summaries of such
                                              7   Required Nomination Information                                                                                                       information or comments not containing
                                                                                                                        Information Section,’’ below).
                                                If you intend to submit one or more                                        6. Documentation demonstrating that                          such confidential or privileged
                                              nominations for a commercial wind                                         you are technically and financially                             information. Additionally, BOEM will
                                              energy lease within any Call Areas                                        capable of constructing, operating,                             not treat as confidential (1) the legal title
                                              identified in this notice, you must                                       maintaining, and decommissioning the                            of the nominating entity (for example,


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                                              53104                         Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 203 / Friday, October 19, 2018 / Notices

                                              the name of your company), or (2) the                   SUMMARY:   Consistent with the                        facilities and activities), and potential
                                              list of whole or partial blocks that you                regulations implementing the National                 mitigation measures to be analyzed in
                                              are nominating. Information that is not                 Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the                  the EIS, as well as provide additional
                                              labeled as privileged or confidential will              Bureau of Ocean Energy Management                     information. BOEM will also use the
                                              be regarded by BOEM as suitable for                     (BOEM) is announcing its intent to                    NEPA commenting process to initiate
                                              public release.                                         prepare an Environmental Impact                       the Section 106 consultation process
                                                                                                      Statement (EIS) for the review of a                   under the National Historic Preservation
                                              8.2 Personal Identifying Information                                                                          Act (54 U.S.C. 300101 et seq.), as
                                                                                                      Construction and Operations Plan (COP)
                                                 BOEM does not consider anonymous                     submitted by Deepwater Wind South                     permitted by 36 CFR 800.2(d)(3).
                                              comments; please include your name                      Fork, LLC (DWSF) that would allow it                  Through this notice, BOEM additionally
                                              and address as part of your submittal.                  to construct and operate up to 15                     intends to inform its Section 106
                                              You should be aware that your entire                    turbines, an electric service platform                consultation by seeking public comment
                                              comment, including your name,                           offshore Rhode Island and                             and input regarding the identification of
                                              address, and your personal identifying                  Massachusetts and an export cable to                  historic properties or potential effects to
                                              information, may be made publicly                       East Hampton, New York. This Notice of                historic properties from activities
                                              available at any time. All submissions                  Intent (NOI) serves to announce the EIS               associated with approval of the DWSF
                                              from identified individuals, businesses                 scoping process for the DWSF COP.                     COP.
                                              and organizations will be available for                 Detailed information about the proposed                  Pursuant to the regulations
                                              public viewing on regulations.gov. In                   wind energy facility, including the COP,              implementing NEPA (42 U.S.C. 4321 et
                                              order for BOEM to withhold from                         can be found on BOEM’s website at:                    seq.), BOEM will hold public scoping
                                              disclosure your personal identifying                    https://www.boem.gov/South-Fork/.                     meetings for the DWSF COP. BOEM’s
                                              information, you must identify any                      DATES: Comments should be submitted
                                                                                                                                                            scoping meetings will be held at the
                                              information contained in the submittal                  no later than November 19, 2018.                      following places and times:
                                              of your comments that, if released,                                                                              • Amagansett, New York: Monday,
                                                                                                      FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For                  November 5, 2018; American Legion
                                              would constitute a clearly unwarranted
                                                                                                      information on the DWSF COP EIS, the                  Post 419, 15 Montauk Highway (across
                                              invasion of your personal privacy. You
                                                                                                      submission of comments, or BOEM’s                     from Brent’s), Amagansett, New York
                                              must also briefly describe any possible
                                                                                                      policies associated with this notice,                 11930; Open House 5:00–8:00 p.m.;
                                              harmful consequence of the disclosure
                                                                                                      please contact Michelle Morin, BOEM                   Presentation and Q&A 6:00 p.m.
                                              of information, such as embarrassment,
                                              injury or other harm.
                                                                                                      Office of Renewable Energy Programs,                     • New Bedford, Massachusetts:
                                                                                                      45600 Woodland Road, Sterling,                        Wednesday, November 7, 2018;
                                              8.3 Section 304 of the National                         Virginia 20166, (703) 787–1340 or                     University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
                                              Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C.                    michelle.morin@boem.gov.                              School for Marine Science and
                                              470w–3(a))                                              SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            Technology East, 836 South Rodney
                                                BOEM is required, after consultation                     Proposed Action: The proposed action               French Boulevard, New Bedford,
                                              with the Secretary, to withhold the                     is the construction and operation of a                Massachusetts 02744; Open House 5:00–
                                              location, character, or ownership of                    wind energy facility as described in the              8:00 p.m.; Presentation and Q&A 6:00
                                              historic resources if it determines that                COP submitted by DWSF on Lease Area                   p.m.
                                              disclosure may, among other things, risk                OCS–A 0486. In its COP, DWSF is                          • Narragansett, Rhode Island:
                                              harm to the historic resources or impede                proposing the construction and                        Thursday, November 8, 2018;
                                              the use of a traditional religious site by              operation of up to 15 turbines, an                    Narragansett Community Center, 53
                                              practitioners. Tribal entities should                   electric service platform offshore Rhode              Mumford Road, Narragansett, Rhode
                                              designate information that falls under                  Island and Massachusetts and an export                Island 02882; Open House 5:00–8:00
                                              Section 304 of NHPA as confidential.                    cable to East Hampton, New York.                      p.m.; Presentation and Q&A 6:00 p.m.
                                                                                                      Foundations would likely be monopiles,                   Cooperating Agencies: BOEM invites
                                               Dated: October 15, 2018.                                                                                     other Federal agencies and state, tribal,
                                                                                                      jackets, gravity-based foundations or a
                                              Walter D. Cruickshank,                                  combination of these.                                 and local governments to consider
                                              Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy                    Once BOEM completes the EIS and                    becoming cooperating agencies in the
                                              Management.                                             associated consultations, BOEM will                   preparation of its EIS analyzing the
                                              [FR Doc. 2018–22879 Filed 10–18–18; 8:45 am]            decide whether to approve, approve                    proposed DWSF COP. According to
                                              BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P                                  with modification, or disapprove the                  Council on Environmental Quality
                                                                                                      DWSF COP. If BOEM approves the COP                    (CEQ) guidelines, qualified agencies and
                                                                                                      and the proposed facility is constructed,             governments are those with
                                              DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR                              the lessee must submit a plan to                      ‘‘jurisdiction by law or special
                                                                                                      decommission the facilities before the                expertise.’’ Potential cooperating
                                              Bureau of Ocean Energy Management                                                                             agencies should consider their authority
                                                                                                      end of the lease term.
                                              [Docket No. BOEM–2018–0010]                                Scoping Process: This NOI                          and capacity to assume the
                                                                                                      commences the public scoping process                  responsibilities of a cooperating agency,
                                              Notice of Intent To Prepare an                          for identifying issues and potential                  and should be aware that an agency’s
                                              Environmental Impact Statement for                      alternatives for consideration in the                 role in the environmental analysis
                                              Deepwater Wind South Fork, LLC’s                        DWSF COP EIS. Throughout the scoping                  neither enlarges nor diminishes the final
                                              Proposed Wind Energy Facility                           process, Federal agencies, state, tribal,             decision-making authority of any other
amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES1




                                              Offshore Rhode Island and                               and local governments, and the general                agency involved in the NEPA process.
                                              Massachusetts                                           public have the opportunity to help                   Upon request, BOEM will provide
                                              AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy                          BOEM determine significant resources                  potential cooperating agencies with a
                                              Management, Interior.                                   and issues, impact-producing factors,                 written summary of expectations for
                                                                                                      reasonable alternatives (e.g., size,                  cooperating agencies, including time
                                              ACTION: Notice of intent to prepare an
                                                                                                      geographic, seasonal, or other                        schedules and critical action dates,
                                              Environmental Impact Statement.
                                                                                                      restrictions on construction and siting of            milestones, responsibilities, scope and


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Document Created: 2018-10-19 01:25:17
Document Modified: 2018-10-19 01:25:17
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionCall for Information and Nominations (hereinafter referred to as ``Call'' or ``notice'') for Commercial Leasing for Wind Power Development on the OCS offshore California.
DatesBOEM must receive nominations describing your interest in one or more, or any portion of, the Call Areas, by a postmarked date of January 28, 2019 for your nomination to be considered. BOEM requests comments or submissions of information to be postmarked or delivered by this same date.
ContactJean Thurston, BOEM California Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Force Coordinator, BOEM, Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo (Suite 102), Camarillo, California 93010, (805) 384-6303 or [email protected]
FR Citation83 FR 53096 

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