### 5560 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 23 / Friday, February 3, 2012 / Notices

characterize and map these

communities.

Protection of Privileged or Confidential
Information

Freedom of Information Act

BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that you submit as required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exemption 4 of FOIA applies to trade secrets and
commercial or financial information that you submit that is privileged or confidential. If you wish to protect the confidentiality of such information, clearly mark it and request that BOEM
treat it as confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information, subject to the requirements of FOIA. Please label privileged or confidential information
‘‘Contains Confidential Information’’ and consider submitting such information as a separate attachment.

However, BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of
such information or comments not containing such information. Additionally, BOEM will not treat as confidential (1) the legal title of the nominating entity (for example, the name of your company), or (2) the list of whole or partial blocks that you are nominating. Finally, information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.

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: December 2, 2011.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

[FR Doc. 2012–2497 Filed 2–2–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4310–VH–P DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR** 

**Bureau of Ocean Energy Management**

**[Docket No. BOEM–2011–0088]**

**Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and**
**Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)**  **Offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia** 

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

**ACTION :**  Notice of the Availability (NOA) of an Environmental Assessment (EA) and a Finding of No Significant Impact.

**SUMMARY :**  BOEM has prepared an EA considering the environmental impacts of issuing renewable energy leases and authorizing site characterization activities (geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys needed to develop specific project proposals on those leases) in identified Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) on the OCS offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. This final EA also considers the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with the approval of site assessment activities (including the installation and operation of meteorological towers and buoys) on the leases that may be issued.

As a result of its analysis in the final EA, BOEM issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI
concluded that the environmental impacts associated with the preferred alternative would not significantly impact the environment; therefore, the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) is not required.

The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the availability of the EA and FONSI, which can be accessed
online at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Smart-fromthe-Start/Index.aspx.

Authority: This NOA of an EA and FONSI is published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170–4817, (703) 787–1340 or michelle.morin@boem.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  On November 23, 2010, Secretary of the
Interior Ken Salazar announced the
‘‘Smart from the Start’’ renewable energy initiative to accelerate the responsible development of renewable energy resources on the Atlantic OCS.
One of the focuses of the initiative is the
identification and refinement of areas on the OCS that appear to be suitable for renewable energy development (WEAs),
within which BOEM will focus its leasing efforts. In consultation with other Federal agencies and BOEM’s Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces, BOEM identified WEAs on the OCS offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.

On February 9, 2011, BOEM
identified these WEAs in a Notice ofIntent (NOI) to prepare an EA for MidAtlantic WEAs (76 FR 7226). The NOI requested public input to identify the important environmental issues associated with leasing and site assessment within the identified WEAs,
and alternatives to be considered in the EA. BOEM considered these public comments in drafting the alternatives and assessing the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with
each alternative. Comments received in response to the NOI can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov, by searching for Docket ID BOEM–2010–

0077.

On July 12, 2011, BOEM published in
the Federal Register a NOA of a draft of the EA for Mid-Atlantic WEAs (76 FR 40925). Public comments on the draft EA were considered in the preparation of this final EA and in determining whether the proposed activities would lead to significant environmental impacts. Comments received in response to the NOA can be viewed at http://www.regulations.gov, by searching for Docket ID BOEM–2011–

0053.

BOEM will use this EA to inform
decisions to issue leases in the refined WEAs, and to subsequently approve site assessment plans (SAPs) on those leases. BOEM may issue one or more commercial wind energy leases in the WEAs. The competitive lease process is set forth at 30 CFR 585.210–585.225, and the noncompetitive process is set forth at 30 CFR 585.230–585.232 (as amended by a rulemaking effective as of June 15, 2011).

A commercial lease, whether issuedthrough a competitive or noncompetitive process, gives the lessee the exclusive right to subsequently seek BOEM approval for the development of the leasehold. The lease does not grant the lessee the right to construct any facilities; rather, the lease grants the right to use the leased area to develop its plans, which BOEM must approve before the lessee may proceed to the next stage of the process. See 30 CFR
585.600 and 585.601. In the event that a particular lease is issued, and the lessee subsequently submits a SAP,
BOEM would then determine whether the EA adequately considers the environmental consequences of the


### 5561 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 23 / Friday, February 3, 2012 / Notices

activities proposed in the lessee’s SAP. If BOEM determines that the analysis in the EA adequately considers these consequences, then no further analysis
under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) would be required before BOEM could approve a SAP. If, on the other hand, BOEM determines that the analysis in this EA is inadequate for that purpose, BOEM would prepare additional NEPA analysis before it could approve the

SAP.

If a lessee is prepared to propose a wind energy generation facility on its lease, it would submit a construction and operations plan (COP). BOEM then would prepare a separate site- and project-specific NEPA analysis of the proposed project. This analysis would likely take the form of an EIS and would provide the public and Federal officials with comprehensive information regarding the reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts of the proposed project. In this NEPA analysis, BOEM would evaluate the potential
environmental and socioeconomic consequences of the proposed project. This analysis would inform BOEM’s decision to approve, approve with modification, or disapprove a lessee’s COP pursuant to 30 CFR 585.628. This NEPA process also would provide additional opportunities for public involvement pursuant to NEPA and the
White House Council on Environmental Quality’s regulations at 40 CFR Parts

1500–1508.

Dated: January 20, 2012.
Walter D. Cruickshank, Deputy Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.

[FR Doc. 2012–2494 Filed 2–2–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 4310–VH–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR**

**Bureau of Safety and Environmental**
**Enforcement**

**[Docket ID No. BSEE–2011–0006; OMB Control Number 1014–NEW]** 

**Information Collection Activities: Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations in the**  **Outer Continental Shelf, Subpart A, General; Submitted for Office of**  **Management and Budget (OMB) Review; Comment Request** 

**ACTION :**  60-day Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  To comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), BSEE is inviting comments on a collection of information that we will submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. The information collection request (ICR) concerns a revision to the paperwork requirements in the regulations under ‘‘Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf,’’ Subpart A, General.

**DATES :**  Submit comments by April 3,

2012.

**ADDRESSES :**  You may submit comments by either of the following methods listed
below.

• Electronically: go to http:// www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled ‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter BSEE–
2011–0006 then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments
and view all related materials. We will post all comments.

• Email: nicole.mason@bsee.gov. Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement; Regulations Development Branch; Attention: Nicole Mason; 381 Elden Street, MS–4024; Herndon, Virginia
20170–4817. Please reference ICR 1014– NEW in your comment and include your name and return address.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Nicole Mason, Regulations Development Branch at (703) 787–1605 to request
additional information about this ICR.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 

Title: 30 CFR part 250, Oil, Gas, and Sulphur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf, Subpart A, General.

Form(s): BSEE–0132, BSEE–0143, and

BSEE–1832.

OMB Control Number: 1014–NEW. Abstract: The Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C.

1331 et seq. and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. ), authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the leasing provisions of the Act related to
mineral resources on the OCS. Such rules and regulations will apply to all operations conducted under a lease, right-of-way, or a right-of-use and easement. Operations on the OCS must preserve, protect, and develop oil and natural gas resources in a manner that
is consistent with the need to make such
resources available to meet the Nation’s energy needs as rapidly as possible; to balance orderly energy resource development with protection of human, marine, and coastal environments; to ensure the public a fair and equitable return on the resources of the OCS; and to preserve and maintain free enterprise competition. Section 1332(6) states that ‘‘operations in the [O]uter Continental
Shelf should be conducted in a safe manner by well trained personnel using technology, precautions, and other techniques sufficient to prevent or minimize the likelihood of blowouts, loss of well control, fires, spillages, physical obstructions to other users of the waters or subsoil and seabed, or other occurrences which may cause damage to the environment or to property or endanger life or health.’’

The Independent Offices Appropriations Act (31 U.S.C. 9701), the Omnibus Appropriations Bill (Pub. L. 104–133, 110 Stat. 1321, April 26, 1996), and OMB Circular A–25, authorize Federal agencies to recover
the full cost of services that confer special benefits. Under the Department of the Interior’s implementing policy, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) is required to charge fees for services that provide special benefits or privileges to an identifiable non-Federal recipient above and beyond those which accrue to the public at large. A request for approval required in Subpart A is subject to cost recovery, and BSEE regulations specify a service fee for this request.

This ICR covers 30 CFR 250, Subpart A, General. This request also covers the related Notices to Lessees and Operators (NTLs) that BSEE issues to clarify and provide additional guidance on some aspects of our regulations. To accommodate the split of regulations from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement to BSEE, BSEE is requesting OMB approval of the already approved burden hours that were previously under 1010–0114 to reflect BSEE’s new 1014 numbering system.

Frequency: On occasion; monthly, or varies by section.

Description of Respondents: Potential respondents comprise Federal OCS lessees and/or operators.

Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Hour Burden: We estimate that the reporting burden for this collection will be approximately 50,859 hours. The following chart details the individual components and respective hour burden estimates of this ICR. In calculating the burdens, we assumed that respondents perform certain requirements in the normal
course of their activities. We consider these to be usual and customary and took that into account in estimating the
burden.