Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 82055 

RECORD SOURCE CATEGORIES: 

DHAP-Ike housing agency grantees, 

case managers, HUD contractors, subcontractors, and HUD employees. 

EXEMPTION(S): 

None. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32767 Filed 12–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 

Regulation and Enforcement 

[Docket No. BOEM–2010–0063] 

Commercial Leasing for Wind Power 

on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 

Offshore Massachusetts—Request for 

Interest (RFI) 

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Regulation and 

Enforcement, Interior. 

ACTION: RFI in Commercial Wind Energy 

Leasing Offshore Massachusetts, and 

Invitation for Comments from Interested 

and Affected Parties. 

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Regulation and 

Enforcement (BOEMRE) invites 

submissions describing interest in 

obtaining one or more commercial 

leases for the construction of a wind 

energy project(s) on the Outer 

Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore 

Massachusetts. BOEMRE will use the 

responses to this RFI to gauge specific 

interest in commercial development of 

OCS wind resources in the area 

described, as required by 43 U.S.C. 

1337(p)(3). Parties wishing to obtain a 

commercial lease for a wind energy 

project should submit detailed and 

specific information as described below 

in the section entitled, ‘‘Required 

Indication of Interest Information.’’ Also, 

with this announcement, BOEMRE 

invites all interested and affected parties 

to comment and provide information— 

including information on environmental 

issues and data—that will be useful in 

the consideration of the RFI area for 

commercial wind energy leases. 

This RFI is published pursuant to 

subsection 8(p) of the OCS Lands Act, 

as amended by section 388 of the Energy 

Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) (43 U.S.C. 

1337(p)(3)) and the implementing 

regulations at 30 CFR part 285. 

The area of interest for commercial 

development is off the coast of 

Massachusetts beginning approximately 

12 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha’s 

Vineyard and Nantucket and extending 

approximately 31 nm seaward, south to 

the 60 meter depth contour, then east 

approximately 65 nm, then north 

approximately 31 nm. The area is 

approximately 2,224 square nm and 

contains 321 whole OCS lease blocks as 

well as 163 partial blocks. This area was 

delineated in consultation with the 

BOEMRE Massachusetts Renewable 

Energy Task Force. A detailed 

description of the RFI area is found later 

in this notice. 

This RFI is being published as a first 

step under the Secretary of the Interior’s 

Smart from the Start OCS renewable 

energy initiative, which was announced 

by Secretary Ken Salazar on November 

23, 2010. Some of the area delineated 

for the Massachusetts RFI may be 

identified as a Wind Energy Area (WEA) 

as referenced and described in the 

Secretary’s announcement. A WEA is an 

OCS location that appears to be most 

suitable for commercial wind energy 

development and is identified by 

BOEMRE for further study and 

consultation to foster responsible and 

efficient leasing and development. The 

Massachusetts RFI was delineated based 

on deliberation and consultation with 

the Massachusetts Renewable Energy 

Task Force and the subsequent selection 

of a WEA will be based on further 

scrutiny resulting from input received 

on this RFI. The comments and 

information responding to this RFI will 

enable BOEMRE to identify focused 

WEA’s for both competitive and 

noncompetitive leasing processes and 

accompanying environmental review 

under the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA). 

DATES: BOEMRE must receive your 

submission indicating your interest in 

this potential commercial leasing area 

no later than February 28, 2011 for your 

submission to be considered. BOEMRE 

requests comments or other submissions 

of information by this same date. We 

will consider only the submissions we 

receive by that time. 

Submission Procedures: You may 

submit your indications of interest, 

comments, and information by one of 

two methods: 

1. Electronically: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled 

‘‘Enter Keyword or ID,’’ enter BOEM– 

2010–0063, then click search. Follow 

the instructions to submit public 

comments and view supporting and 

related materials available for this 

request for information. BOEMRE will 

post all comments. 

2. By mail, sending your indications 

of interest, comments, and information 

to the following address: Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, Regulation 

and Enforcement, Office of Offshore 

Alternative Energy Programs, 381 Elden 

Street, Mail Stop 4090, Herndon, 

Virginia 20170. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jessica Bradley, Renewable Energy 

Program Specialist, Bureau of Ocean 

Energy Management, Regulation and 

Enforcement, Office of Offshore 

Alternative Energy Programs, 381 Elden 

Street, Mail Stop 4090, Herndon, 

Virginia 20170, (703) 787–1300. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose of the Request for Interest 

The OCS Lands Act requires BOEMRE 

to award leases competitively, unless 

BOEMRE makes a determination that 

there is no competitive interest 

(43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)). This RFI is a 

preliminary step in the leasing process 

and the responses to it will assist 

BOEMRE in determining if there is 

competitive interest in the area 

described herein on the OCS offshore 

Massachusetts. If, following this RFI, 

BOEMRE determines that there is no 

competitive interest in this area offshore 

Massachusetts, BOEMRE may proceed 

with the noncompetitive lease process 

pursuant to 30 CFR 285.232 of the 

Renewable Energy and Alternate Uses of 

Existing Facilities on the Outer 

Continental Shelf (REAU) rulemaking. 

If, following this RFI, BOEMRE 

determines that there is competitive 

interest in the RFI area, BOEMRE may 

proceed with the competitive leasing 

process set forth under 30 CFR 285.211 

through 285.225. Whether the leasing 

process is competitive or 

noncompetitive, it will include 

opportunities for the public to provide 

input as well as a thorough 

environmental review, and will be 

conducted in conformance with all 

applicable laws and regulations. 

As part of the renewable energy 

leasing process, BOEMRE has consulted 

with the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts on offshore renewable 

energy development. The 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts has 

expressed that it welcomes expressions 

of interest that support any potential 

commercial scale wind energy 

development. The Commonwealth notes 

that it looks forward in particular to 

expressions of interest that propose the 

integrated development of significant 

generation capacity and a transmission 

system to connect the generation 

project(s) to the New England electric 

grid in Massachusetts or the New 

England region. Additionally, 

Massachusetts will ask respondents to 

provide a preliminary description of 

infrastructure and locations for on-shore 

assembly, supply chain and 

maintenance operations. See companion 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
82056 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 

piece from the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts that provides additional 

information on the State’s interest and 

goals at: http://www.mass.gov/

?pageID=eoeeaterminal&L=4&L0=Home

&L1=Energy%2c+Utilities+%26+

Clean+Technologies&L2=Renewable+

Energy&L3=Wind&sid=Eoeea

&b=terminalcontent&f=doer_renewables

_wind_offshore-wind&csid=Eoeea. 

Parties other than those interested in 

obtaining a commercial lease are 

welcome to submit comments in 

response to this RFI. Further, BOEMRE 

has formed the BOEMRE/Massachusetts 

Renewable Energy Task Force for 

coordination among relevant Federal 

agencies and affected state, local, and 

tribal governments throughout the 

leasing process. Task Force meeting 

materials are available on the BOEMRE 

Web site at: http://www.boemre.gov/

offshore/RenewableEnergy/

stateactivities.htm#Massachusetts. 

Background 

Energy Policy Act of 2005 

EPAct amended the OCS Lands Act 

by adding subsection 8(p), which 

authorizes the Secretary of the Interior 

to grant leases, easements, or rights-ofway (ROWs) on the OCS for activities 

that are not otherwise authorized by law 

and that produce or support production, 

transportation, or transmission of energy 

from sources other than oil or gas. 

EPAct also required the issuance of 

regulations to carry out the new 

authority pertaining to renewable 

energy on the OCS. The Secretary 

delegated this authority to issue leases, 

easements, and ROWs, and to 

promulgate regulations, to the Director 

of BOEMRE. BOEMRE published the 

REAU rule on April 29, 2009. 

Executive Order 13547: Stewardship of 

the Ocean, Our Coasts, and the Great 

Lakes 

In July 2010, the President signed an 

Executive Order establishing the 

National Ocean Council. The Order 

establishes a comprehensive, integrated 

national policy for the stewardship of 

the Nation’s ocean, coasts and Great 

Lakes and outlines procedures for the 

implementation of coastal and marine 

spatial planning through regional 

planning bodies. 

BOEMRE appreciates the importance 

of coordinating its planning endeavors 

with other OCS users and regulators and 

intends to use the efforts of the regional 

planning bodies as a resource to inform 

its regulatory and leasing processes. 

BOEMRE anticipates that continued 

coordination with the State Renewable 

Energy Task Forces will help inform the 

comprehensive coastal and marine 

spatial planning effort. 

Actions Taken by the Commonwealth of 

Massachusetts 

In January 2010, the Patrick 

Administration released a study entitled 

Strategic Options for Investment in 

Transmission in Support of Offshore 

Wind Development in Massachusetts. 

The report was produced by a team at 

Analysis Group, under the leadership of 

Dr. Susan F. Tierney. It analyzes the 

transmission challenges involved in 

creating substantial offshore wind 

generation, and presents a series of 

options for the Commonwealth to 

consider in developing sufficient 

transmission capacity; http:// 

www.analysisgroup.com/uploadedFiles/

Publishing/Articles/Strategic_Options_

Offshore_Wind_12–01–09.pdf. 

In January 2010, the Executive Office 

of Energy and Environmental Affairs 

(EEA) promulgated the Massachusetts 

Ocean Management Plan, which 

establishes new protections for 

significant marine resources and guides 

potential future marine development 

away from environmentally sensitive 

areas in State waters and on the OCS. To 

address renewable energy development, 

the Ocean Management Plan designates 

two locations, the Gosnold and Martha’s 

Vineyard WEAs, for potential future 

commercial-scale wind energy 

development in state waters. Each 

community will have a significant role 

in approving projects within their 

respective jurisdictions. The Ocean 

Management Plan also distributes an 

initial development allotment of 100 

turbines, on a sliding scale (based on 

coastline, ocean area, etc.) among the 

seven coastal regional planning 

authorities for the development of 

community (small-scale) wind energy 

development in state waters. The Ocean 

Management Plan is based on, and 

presents detailed maps of, a 

comprehensive analysis of currently 

available natural resource and human 

use data. Some data from the Ocean 

Management Plan extend sufficiently 

onto the OCS and will help inform 

ongoing planning in association with 

the Federal leasing process; additional 

data will be developed by the state in 

conjunction with BOEMRE. See http:// 

www.mass.gov/eea/mop for material 

associated with the Ocean Management 

Plan. For Ocean Management Plan 

spatial data that extends onto the OCS, 

go to the on-line Massachusetts Ocean 

Resource Information System (MORIS). 

To interactively view the spatial data in 

MORIS, go to http://www.mass.gov/

czm/mapping/index.htm and select 

‘‘Yes’’ to accept the terms of use. Data are 

located in the ‘‘BOEMRE Request for 

Interest (RFI)’’ folder, located within the 

‘‘Ocean Management’’ folder. Directions 

on how to navigate the map and 

download data are available on the 

MORIS Web site. 

The Massachusetts Clean Energy 

Center has solicited a Port and Support 

Infrastructure Analysis for Offshore 

Energy Development, which will 

analyze shore and port facilities with a 

view towards identifying appropriate 

port facilities, estimating upgrades to 

make the locations suitable to support 

offshore energy development, and 

quantifying economic impacts on the 

port area. 

On July 26, 2010, Massachusetts 

Governor Deval Patrick and Rhode 

Island Governor Donald Carcieri signed 

a Memorandum of Understanding 

(MOU) to jointly explore the potential 

development of offshore wind energy in 

an ‘‘area of mutual interest’’ (AMI) on the 

OCS offshore both States. BOEMRE will 

work with both states and the BOEMRE/ 

Rhode Island and BOEMRE/ 

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task 

Forces in moving forward with 

renewable energy leasing within this 

area. 

Determination of Competitive Interest 

The first step in determining whether 

there is competitive interest in an area 

on the OCS for wind energy projects 

offshore of Massachusetts will be the 

evaluation of submissions describing 

nominations for particular areas of 

interest as suitable for commercial wind 

energy projects in response to this RFI. 

At the conclusion of the comment 

period for this RFI, BOEMRE will 

review the information received, 

undertake a completeness review and 

qualifications review of the nominations 

received, and make a determination of 

competitive interest. BOEMRE will first 

determine whether there is any 

geographic overlap of the areas of 

interest. If two areas of interest fully or 

partially overlap, the competitive 

process will begin as outlined in 30 CFR 

285.211 through 285.225. BOEMRE will 

consult with the Massachusetts 

Renewable Energy Task Force 

throughout this process. 

Situations may arise in which several 

parties nominate project areas that do 

not overlap. Under these circumstances, 

BOEMRE could choose to employ an 

allocation system of leases that involves 

the creation of competition across tracts. 

This system is referred to as intertract 

competition and would also be 

implemented under the competitive 

process outlined in 30 CFR 285.211 

through 285.225. BOEMRE will consult 

with the BOEMRE/Massachusetts 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 82057 

Renewable Energy Task Force in 

determining intertract competition. 

Competitive Process 

If BOEMRE determines that 

competitive interest exists for this area, 

it would proceed with the following 

defined process, as described in 30 CFR 

285.211 through 285.225, consulting 

with the BOEMRE/Massachusetts 

Renewable Energy Task Force, as 

appropriate: 

(1) Call for Information and 

Nominations (Call). BOEMRE would 

publish in the Federal Register a notice 

of a Call for Information and 

Nominations for leasing in specified 

areas. The comment period following 

the notice of a Call would be 45 days. 

In the notice, BOEMRE may request 

comments seeking information on areas 

that should receive special 

consideration and analysis; on 

geological conditions (including bottom 

hazards); on archaeological sites on the 

seabed or nearshore; on possible 

multiple uses of the proposed leasing 

area (including navigation, recreation, 

and fisheries); and, on other 

socioeconomic, cultural, biological, and 

environmental matters. 

BOEMRE would require potential 

lessees to submit the following 

information in response to the Call: the 

area of interest for a possible lease; a 

general description of the potential 

lessee’s objectives and the facilities that 

the potential lessee would use to 

achieve those objectives; a general 

schedule of proposed activities, 

including those leading to commercial 

operations; data and information 

concerning renewable energy and 

environmental conditions in the area of 

interest, including the energy data, 

natural and cultural resource data, 

potential landside and nearshore project 

elements that may affect historic and 

cultural resources, and information that 

was used to evaluate the area of interest; 

and documentation showing that the 

submitting entity is qualified to hold a 

lease. However, an applicant would not 

be required to resubmit information 

already submitted in response to this 

RFI. The Call may solicit information 

relating to the offshore transmission 

system of interest to the state in 

addition to information relating to 

existing wind generating facilities and 

sites. 

(2) Area Identification. BOEMRE 

would identify areas for environmental 

analysis and consideration for leasing in 

discussion with appropriate Federal 

agencies, states, local governments, 

Indian tribes and other interested 

parties based on the information 

submitted in response to this RFI and 

the Call. 

(3) Proposed Sale Notice. BOEMRE 

would then publish the Proposed Sale 

Notice (PSN) in the Federal Register 

and send the PSN to any affected Tribal 

government, the State Historic 

Preservation Office, the Governor of any 

affected state and the executive of any 

local government that might be affected. 

The PSN would describe the areas 

offered for leasing and the proposed 

terms and conditions of a lease sale, 

including the proposed auction format, 

lease form and lease provisions. 

Additionally, the PSN would describe 

the criteria and process for evaluating 

bids. The PSN would be issued after 

completion of the final National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

documentation, preparation of the 

Consistency Determination as required 

by the Coastal Zone Management Act 

(CZMA) and its implementing 

regulations, and preparation of various 

analyses of proposed lease sale 

economic terms and conditions. The 

comment period following issuance of a 

PSN would be 60 days. 

(4) Final Sale Notice. BOEMRE would 

then publish the Final Sale Notice (FSN) 

in the Federal Register at least 30 days 

before the date of the sale. Should 

BOEMRE proceed with a competitive 

auction to award leases, BOEMRE 

would use one of the following three 

auction formats to select the winner as 

described at 30 CFR 285.220: sealed 

bidding; ascending bidding; or two-stage 

bidding (a combination of ascending 

bidding and sealed bidding). The 

BOEMRE would publish the criteria for 

winning bid determinations in the FSN. 

(5) Bid Evaluation. Following 

publication of the FSN in the Federal 

Register, qualified bidders may submit 

their bids to BOEMRE in accordance 

with procedures specified for the 

auction format to be used. The bids, 

including the bid deposits if applicable, 

would be checked for technical and 

legal adequacy. BOEMRE would 

evaluate the bids to determine if the 

bidder has complied with all applicable 

regulations. BOEMRE reserves the right 

to reject any or all bids and the right to 

withdraw an offer to lease an area from 

the sale. 

(6) Issuance of a Lease. Following the 

selection of a winning bid by BOEMRE, 

the submitter would be notified of the 

decision and provided a set of official 

lease forms for execution. The 

successful bidder would be required to 

execute the lease, pay the remainder of 

the bonus bid, if applicable, and file the 

required financial assurance within 10 

days of receiving the lease copies. Upon 

receipt of the required payments, 

financial assurance, and properly 

executed lease forms, BOEMRE would 

issue a lease to the successful bidder. 

Noncompetitive Process 

If BOEMRE determines that there is 

no competitive interest in a proposed 

lease, it may proceed with the 

noncompetitive lease issuance process 

pursuant to 30 CFR 285.232, consulting 

with the BOEMRE/Massachusetts 

Renewable Energy Task Force, as 

appropriate. Within 60 days of the date 

of a determination of no competitive 

interest, the respondent would be 

required to submit a Site Assessment 

Plan (SAP), as described in 30 CFR 

285.231(d)(2)(i). 

Leases issued noncompetitively need 

to comply with the requirements of 

NEPA, CZMA, the Endangered Species 

Act (ESA), the National Historic 

Preservation Act (NHPA), and other 

applicable Federal statutes. In 

accordance with 30 CFR 285.231(e), 

BOEMRE would coordinate and consult, 

as appropriate, with affected Federal 

agencies, affected Indian tribes, and 

state and local governments, in issuing 

a noncompetitive lease and developing 

lease terms and conditions. 

It is possible that responses to this RFI 

may result in determinations that there 

is competitive interest for some areas 

but not for others. BOEMRE will 

announce publicly its determinations 

before proceeding with a competitive 

process, a noncompetitive process, or 

both. 

Environmental Review 

The following describes BOEMRE’s 

environmental review process, which 

would be coordinated, to the extent 

possible, with any Federal, tribal, and 

State agencies that may have 

jurisdiction over activities associated 

with OCS commercial wind energy 

leases. Other Federal, State, and tribal 

agencies may have additional and 

separate environmental review or 

permitting processes or other 

requirements. 

After evaluating the responses to the 

RFI, but before publishing the PSN for 

a competitive lease sale or issuing a 

lease noncompetitively, BOEMRE 

would prepare a NEPA analysis for 

public review and conduct required 

consultations with Federal, tribal, and 

State agencies. 

Several consultations would be 

conducted, as appropriate, and 

integrated into the NEPA process 

described below. These consultations 

include, but are not limited to, those 

required by the CZMA, ESA, MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and 

Management Act, NHPA, and Executive 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
82058 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 

Order 13175—‘‘Consultation and 

Coordination with Tribal Governments.’’ 

These consultations would be 

completed prior to the issuance of any 

leases. 

BOEMRE will prepare an 

Environmental Assessment (EA) to 

evaluate the effects of issuing renewable 

energy leases. If the EA finds that the 

proposed action would be a major 

Federal action significantly affecting the 

quality of the human environment (42 

U.S.C. 4332(c)), then the BOEMRE 

would begin the process of preparing an 

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) 

to analyze the effects of issuing the 

lease(s) through either a noncompetitive 

or competitive process. This would 

include a public scoping period, 

including a 30-day comment period and 

one or more public meetings conducted 

to solicit input on the alternatives and 

issues to be addressed in a draft EIS. 

The draft EIS would describe the nature 

of the action under consideration, and 

any potential direct, indirect, and 

cumulative impacts that the action will 

have on biological or physical resources, 

as well as on socioeconomic conditions. 

Description of the Area 

The RFI area was delineated through 

consultation with the BOEMRE/ 

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task 

Force. The following whole OCS lease 

blocks are included within the RFI area: 

In Providence NK19–07, blocks, 6976, 

6977, 6978, 7022, 7023, 7024, 7025, 

7026, 7027, 7028, 7029, 7072, 7073, 

7074, 7075, 7076, 7077, 7078, 7079, 

7118, 7119, 7120, 7121, 7122, 7123, 

7124, 7125, 7126, 7127, 7128, and 7129. 

In Providence NK19–07 following 

partial blocks are also included in the 

RFI area: 

Block Number Sub Block 

6972 ............... M,N,O,P 

6973 ............... M,N,O,P 

6974 ............... L,M,N,O,P 

6975 ............... D,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P 

In Chatham NK19–08, blocks 6761, 

6811, 6861, 6862, 6911, 6912, 6913, 

6961, 6962, 6963, 7011, 7012, 7013, 

7014, 7061, 7062, 7063, 7064, 7065, 

7111, 7112, 7113, 7114, and 7115. 

In Block Island Shelf NK19–10, blocks 

6019, 6020, 6021, 6022, 6023, 6024, 

6025, 6026, 6027, 6028, 6029, 6030, 

6069, 6070, 6071, 6072, 6073, 6074, 

6075, 6076, 6077, 6078, 6079, 6080, 

6081, 6082, 6083, 6084, 6125, 6126, 

6127, 6128, 6129, 6130, 6131, 6132, 

6133, 6134, 6175, 6176, 6177, 6178, 

6179, 6180, 6181, 6182, 6183, 6184, 

6225, 6226, 6227, 6228, 6229, 6230, 

6231, 6232, 6233, 6234, 6275, 6276, 

6277, 6278, 6279, 6280, 6281, 6282, 

6283, 6284, 6325, 6326, 6327, 6328, 

6329, 6330, 6331, 6332, 6333, 6334, 

6376, 6377, 6378, 6379, 6380, 6381, 

6382, 6383, 6384, 6428, 6429, 6430, 

6431, 6432, 6433, 6434, 6480, 6481, 

6482, 6483, 6484, 6532, 6533, and 6534. 

In Block Island Shelf, NK19–10 the 

following partial blocks are also 

included in the RFI area: 

Block Number Sub Block 

6119 ................................................ A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O 

6120 ................................................ A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L 

6121 ................................................ A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L 

6122 ................................................ A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L 

6123 ................................................ A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L 

6124 ................................................ A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,N,O,P 

6169 ................................................ A,B,C,E,F,G,I,J,K,M,N,O 

6174 ................................................ B,C,D,F,G,H,J,K,L,N,O,P 

6219 ................................................ A,B,C,E,F,G,I,J,K,M,N,O 

6224 ................................................ B,C,D,F,G,H,J,K,L,N,O,P 

6269 ................................................ A,B,C,E,F,G,I,J,K,M,N,O 

In Hydrographer Canyon NK19–11, 

blocks 6011, 6012, 6013, 6014, 6015, 

6016, 6051, 6052, 6053, 6054, 6055, 

6056, 6057, 6058, 6059, 6060, 6061, 

6062, 6063, 6064, 6065, 6066, 6067, 

6101, 6102, 6103, 6104, 6105, 6106, 

6107, 6108, 6109, 6110, 6111, 6112, 

6113, 6114, 6115, 6116, 6117, 6151, 

6152, 6153, 6154, 6155, 6156, 6157, 

6158, 6159, 6160, 6161, 6162, 6163, 

6164, 6165, 6166, 6167, 6201, 6202, 

6203, 6204, 6205, 6206, 6207, 6208, 

6209, 6210, 6211, 6212, 6213, 6214, 

6215, 6216, 6217, 6251, 6252, 6253, 

6254, 6255, 6256, 6257, 6258, 6259, 

6260, 6261, 6262, 6263, 6264, 6265, 

6266, 6267, 6301, 6302, 6303, 6304, 

6305, 6306, 6307, 6308, 6309, 6310, 

6311, 6312, 6313, 6314, 6315, 6316, 

6317, 6351, 6352, 6353, 6354, 6355, 

6356, 6357, 6358, 6359, 6360, 6361, 

6362, 6363, 6364, 6365, 6366, 6367, 

6401, 6402, 6403, 6404, 6405, 6406, 

6407, 6408, 6409, 6410, 6411, 6412, 

6413, 6414, 6415, 6416, 6417, 6451, 

6452, 6453, 6454, 6461, 6462, 6463, 

6464, 6465, 6466, 6467, 6501, 6502, 

6511, 6512, 6513, 6514, 6515, 6516, 

6562, 6563, and 6564. 

The area of interest is located off the 

coast of Massachusetts beginning 

approximately 12 nautical miles (nm) 

south of Martha’s Vineyard and 

Nantucket and extending approximately 

31 nm seaward, south to the 60 meter 

depth contour, then east approximately 

65 nm, then north approximately 31 nm. 

The area is approximately 2,224 square 

nm and contains 321 whole OCS lease 

blocks as well as 163 partial blocks. The 

boundary of the RFI follows the points 

listed in the table below in clockwise 

order. Point numbers 1 and 57 are the 

same. Coordinates are provided in X, Y 

(eastings, northings) UTM Zone 18N, 

NAD 83 and geographic (longitude, 

latitude), NAD83. 

Point No X easting Y northing Longitude Latitude 

1 ............................................................................................................................... 327200 4540800 ¥71.0546 41.000088 

2 ............................................................................................................................... 346400 4540800 ¥70.826429 41.003931 

3 ............................................................................................................................... 346400 4551600 ¥70.829121 41.101169 

4 ............................................................................................................................... 359600 4551600 ¥70.671998 41.103557 

5 ............................................................................................................................... 359600 4552800 ¥70.672272 41.114362 

6 ............................................................................................................................... 362000 4552800 ¥70.643698 41.114774 

7 ............................................................................................................................... 362000 4554000 ¥70.643967 41.125579 

8 ............................................................................................................................... 364400 4554000 ¥70.615387 41.125983 

9 ............................................................................................................................... 364400 4555200 ¥70.615653 41.136789 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 82059 

Point No X easting Y northing Longitude Latitude 

10 ............................................................................................................................. 380000 4555200 ¥70.42984 41.139245 

11 ............................................................................................................................. 380000 4550400 ¥70.428902 41.09602 

12 ............................................................................................................................. 384800 4550400 ¥70.371762 41.096715 

13 ............................................................................................................................. 384800 4531200 ¥70.36818 40.923806 

14 ............................................................................................................................. 452000 4531200 ¥69.570139 40.930514 

15 ............................................................................................................................. 452000 4574400 ¥69.573517 41.319642 

16 ............................................................................................................................. 456800 4574400 ¥69.516168 41.319914 

17 ............................................................................................................................. 456800 4564800 ¥69.515487 41.233442 

18 ............................................................................................................................. 461600 4564800 ¥69.458213 41.233685 

19 ............................................................................................................................. 461600 4560000 ¥69.457911 41.190448 

20 ............................................................................................................................. 466400 4560000 ¥69.400673 41.190661 

21 ............................................................................................................................. 466400 4550400 ¥69.400147 41.104187 

22 ............................................................................................................................. 471200 4550400 ¥69.342985 41.104371 

23 ............................................................................................................................. 471200 4545600 ¥69.34276 41.061133 

24 ............................................................................................................................. 476000 4545600 ¥69.285634 41.061289 

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26 ............................................................................................................................. 480800 4536000 ¥69.228209 40.974938 

27 ............................................................................................................................. 480800 4531200 ¥69.22806 40.931698 

28 ............................................................................................................................. 485600 4531200 ¥69.171045 40.931797 

29 ............................................................................................................................. 485600 4488000 ¥69.170052 40.542625 

30 ............................................................................................................................. 480800 4488000 ¥69.226735 40.542528 

31 ............................................................................................................................. 480800 4483200 ¥69.226589 40.499285 

32 ............................................................................................................................. 471200 4483200 ¥69.339882 40.499007 

33 ............................................................................................................................. 471200 4478400 ¥69.339664 40.455764 

34 ............................................................................................................................. 456800 4478400 ¥69.509491 40.455141 

35 ............................................................................................................................. 456800 4483200 ¥69.509818 40.498382 

36 ............................................................................................................................. 452000 4483200 ¥69.566462 40.498119 

37 ............................................................................................................................. 452000 4492800 ¥69.567191 40.5846 

38 ............................................................................................................................. 423200 4492800 ¥69.907473 40.582428 

39 ............................................................................................................................. 423200 4488000 ¥69.906889 40.539191 

40 ............................................................................................................................. 413600 4488000 ¥70.020234 40.538246 

41 ............................................................................................................................. 413600 4483200 ¥70.019579 40.495009 

42 ............................................................................................................................. 389600 4483200 ¥70.302734 40.492164 

43 ............................................................................................................................. 389600 4488000 ¥70.303571 40.535396 

44 ............................................................................................................................. 380000 4488000 ¥70.416893 40.534062 

45 ............................................................................................................................. 380000 4492800 ¥70.417805 40.577291 

46 ............................................................................................................................. 370400 4492800 ¥70.531192 40.575844 

47 ............................................................................................................................. 370400 4497600 ¥70.532179 40.619071 

48 ............................................................................................................................. 360800 4497600 ¥70.645631 40.61751 

49 ............................................................................................................................. 360800 4502400 ¥70.646693 40.660734 

50 ............................................................................................................................. 356000 4502400 ¥70.703452 40.659911 

51 ............................................................................................................................. 356000 4512000 ¥70.705656 40.746356 

52 ............................................................................................................................. 352400 4512000 ¥70.748279 40.745718 

53 ............................................................................................................................. 352400 4522800 ¥70.750833 40.842965 

54 ............................................................................................................................. 330800 4522800 ¥71.006912 40.838793 

55 ............................................................................................................................. 330800 4507200 ¥71.002689 40.698345 

56 ............................................................................................................................. 327200 4507200 ¥71.045274 40.697598 

57 ............................................................................................................................. 327200 4540800 ¥71.0546 41.000088 

Specific mitigation, stipulations, or 

exclusion areas may be developed as a 

result of site-specific environmental 

reviews and associated consultations, as 

well as continued coordination through 

the BOEMRE/Massachusetts Renewable 

Energy Task Force. Multiple use issues 

raised through consultation with the 

BOEMRE/Massachusetts Renewable 

Energy Task Force are described below. 

BOEMRE established the 

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task 

Force in November 2009, at the request 

of Governor Deval Patrick. The first 

meeting was held on November 19, 

2009, to introduce the 

intergovernmental members, discuss the 

purpose of the task force, explain 

BOEMRE renewable energy leasing and 

environmental review process, and 

discuss a draft charter. The next meeting 

was held January 27, 2010, to present 

and discuss a draft RFI developed in 

consultation with the Commonwealth’s 

Executive Office of Energy and 

Environmental Affairs. The 

Commonwealth initially proposed a 

development buffer of 9 nautical miles 

from the shore based on review of visual 

analysis materials. Based on input from 

the BOEMRE/Massachusetts Renewable 

Energy Task Force, the draft RFI was 

revised to begin 12 nautical miles 

offshore, which was presented at the 

September 8, 2010, Massachusetts 

Renewable Energy Task Force meeting. 

BOEMRE collected comments from task 

force members and held another 

meeting on October 15, 2010, to discuss 

additional requested changes. Several 

Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task 

Force members, including the State 

Historic Preservation Officer, the 

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head 

(Aquinnah), the Mashpee Wampanoag 

Tribe, and representatives from the 

towns of Tisbury and Oak Bluffs, 

expressed a preference for the RFI area 

to begin 21 nautical miles offshore. 

BOEMRE has not changed the RFI 

boundary to begin 21 nautical miles 

offshore, but has depicted the 21 

nautical mile delineation on the RFI 

map as a point of information for 

potential developers. 

Nantucket Lightship Habitat Closure 

Area 

Through consultation with the 

BOEMRE/Massachusetts Renewable 

Energy Task Force, the National Oceanic 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
82060 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 

and Atmospheric Administration’s 

National Marine Fisheries Service 

(NMFS) has identified the Nantucket 

Lightship Habitat Closure Area within 

the RFI Area. NMFS has closed this area 

to all bottom-tending mobile fishing 

gear in order to minimize adverse effects 

of fishing on essential fish habitat 

(EFH). The NMFS has indicated that 

commercial wind development within 

this area may be subject to additional 

review in order to ensure that 

conservation efforts in this area are 

maintained. This area can be located at 

the following URL: http:// 

www.nero.noaa.gov/nero/regs/infodocs/ 

MultsClosedAreas.pdf. BOEMRE has 

also included this area on the RFI map 

as a point of information for potential 

developers. 

Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) and 

Navigational Issues 

BOEMRE is aware that the RFI area 

lies adjacent, or in close proximity to a 

Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS) and 

thus the areas nominated in response to 

this RFI may need to be modified. The 

U.S. Coast Guard will require buffers 

from the edges of a TSS and from the 

entrance and exit to a TSS. Because 

proposed project characteristics will be 

unique to each individual project, the 

buffers will be further defined as more 

information is collected, such as vessel 

traffic types, density and routing 

direction. Further, it is important to 

note that two-way routes, fairways and 

TSSs are various forms of routing 

measures and that buffer dimensions 

will vary because of many factors, one 

of which is vessel traffic density/ 

composition and rules-of-the-road 

protocol. 

BOEMRE will take into consideration 

and review data including but not 

limited to Automatic Identification 

System (AIS) data that is used on ships 

and vessel traffic services. The BOEMRE 

also will also consult with relevant 

agencies such as the U.S. Coast Guard 

regarding potential issues concerning 

the TSS and other navigational and 

safety issues and will use best 

management practices. Depending on 

the findings, BOEMRE and the U.S. 

Coast Guard will develop reasonable 

and appropriate mitigations such as 

conditions on turbine placement, 

preservation of adequate navigation 

buffers and setbacks, protection of 

vessel traffic lanes or other operational 

restrictions utilizing their existing 

authorities, policies, and procedures. 

If such mitigation cannot be achieved, 

portions of certain nominated areas may 

need to be excluded. The following 

blocks are highlighted for consideration 

of U.S. Coast Guard concerns: In Block 

Island Shelf NK19–10, blocks 6428, 

6429, 6430, 6431, 6432, 6433, 6434, 

6480, 6481, 6482, 6483, 6484, 6532, 

6533, 6534; In Hydrographer Canyon 

NK19–11, blocks 6317, 6356, 6357, 

6358, 6359, 6360, 6361, 6362, 6363, 

6364, 6385, 6366, 6367, 6401, 6402, 

6403, 6404, 6405, 6406, 6407, 6408, 

6409, 6410, 6411, 6412, 6413, 6414b, 

6415, 6416, 6417, 6451, 6452, 6453, 

6454, 6461, 6462, 6463, 6464, 6465, 

6466, 6467, 6501, 6502, 6511, 6512, 

6513, 6514, 6515, 6516, 6562, 6563, 

6564. 

Department of Defense Activities on the 

Outer Continental Shelf 

The Department of Defense conducts 

offshore testing, training, and operations 

on the Outer Continental Shelf. 

BOEMRE will consult with the 

Department of Defense on all proposed 

offshore wind energy projects to ensure 

that projects are compatible with 

Defense activities on the Outer 

Continental Shelf. 

Map of RFI area 

A map of the RFI area can be found 

at the following URL: http:// 

www.boemre.gov/offshore/

RenewableEnergy/stateactivities.htm#

Massachusetts. 

A large scale map of the RFI area 

showing boundaries of the RFI area with 

numbered blocks is available from 

BOEMRE at the following address: 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 

Regulation and Enforcement, Office of 

Offshore Alternative Energy Programs, 

381 Elden Street, Mail Stop 4090, 

Herndon, Virginia 20170, Phone: (703) 

787–1300, Fax: (703) 787–1708. 

Required Indication of Interest 

Information 

If you intend to submit an indication 

of interest in a commercial lease from 

BOEMRE for the development of wind 

resources in the area(s) identified in this 

RFI, you must provide the following: 

(1) The BOEMRE Protraction Diagram 

name, number, and specific whole or 

partial OCS blocks or areas within the 

RFI area that are of interest for 

commercial development, including any 

required buffer area. If your proposed 

project area includes one or more partial 

blocks please describe those partial 

blocks in terms of a sixteenth of an OCS 

block. Note that any indications of 

interest identifying areas greater than 

what would be reasonably necessary to 

develop a commercial wind facility will 

not be considered as valid indications of 

interest. In addition, BOEMRE will not 

consider any areas outside of the RFI 

area in this process; 

(2) A description of your objectives 

and the facilities that you may use to 

achieve those objectives; 

(3) A 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 RFI area, including 

energy and resource data and 

information used to evaluate the RFI 

area; and 

(5) Documentation demonstrating that 

you are legally, technically and 

financially qualified to hold a lease as 

set forth in 30 CFR 285.106 and 285.107. 

Your technical and financial 

documentation should demonstrate that 

you are capable of constructing, 

operating, maintaining, and 

decommissioning the facilities 

described in (2) above. Documentation 

of financial qualification should include 

information establishing access to 

sufficient capital to carry out 

development. Examples of 

documentation of technical 

qualification may include evidence of 

international or domestic experience 

with renewable energy projects or other 

types of electric-energy-related projects. 

In addition, the Commonwealth has 

requested a description of plans for 

transmission to connect the wind energy 

project(s) to the on-shore grid. Please 

refer to the companion piece from the 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts that 

provides additional information on the 

State’s interest and goals at: http:// 

www.mass.gov/?pageID=eoeeater

minal&L=4&L0=Home&L1=Energy%2c+

Utilities+%26+Clean+Technologies

&L2=Renewable+Energy&L3

=Wind&sid=Eoeea&b=terminalcontent

&f=doer_renewables_wind_offshorewind&csid=Eoeea. If you include a 

description of plans for transmission, 

please follow the instructions in the 

companion piece, and include (a) a 

description of the physical 

configuration of the transmission system 

including specific points of 

interconnection to the grid and (b) the 

ownership structure of the transmission 

system. For example, with respect to 

physical configuration, do you 

anticipate one or more radial line(s) or 

a network system (i.e., connected to the 

grid in more than one location); and 

would the radial line(s) or network be 

sized to support only the proposed wind 

energy project(s) or to accommodate 

future projects as well? With respect to 

ownership structure, would the 

transmission system be owned by the 

developers of the wind energy project(s) 

or otherwise on a merchant basis, by a 

traditional transmission company, or 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 249 / Wednesday, December 29, 2010 / Notices 82061 

through some other arrangement? 

Additionally, on what funding 

assumptions are plans for the wind 

energy project(s), including the 

transmission system, predicated? With 

regard to transmission, we recommend 

that the potential lessee(s) review the 

report entitled ‘‘Strategic Options for 

Investment in Transmission in Support 

of Offshore Wind Development in 

Massachusetts,’’ dated January 8, 2010; 

http://www.analysisgroup.com/

uploadedFiles/Publishing/Articles/

Strategic_Options_Offshore_Wind_12- 

01-09.pdf. 

It is critical that you submit a 

complete indication of interest so that 

BOEMRE may proceed with the 

commercial wind leasing process 

offshore Massachusetts in a timely 

manner. If BOEMRE reviews your 

indication of interest and determines 

that it is incomplete, BOEMRE will 

inform you of this determination in 

writing. This letter will describe the 

information that BOEMRE determined 

to be missing from your indication of 

interest, and that you must submit in 

order for BOEMRE to deem your 

submission complete. You will be given 

15 business days from the date of the 

letter to submit the information that 

BOEMRE found to be missing from your 

original submission. If you do not meet 

this deadline, or if BOEMRE determines 

this second submittal to be insufficient 

as well, then BOEMRE retains the right 

to deem your indication of interest 

invalid. In that case, BOEMRE would 

not move forward with your indication 

of interest submitted in response to this 

RFI. 

Protection of Privileged or Confidential 

Information 

BOEMRE 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 

BOEMRE treat it as confidential. 

BOEMRE 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, BOEMRE will not treat as 

confidential any aggregate summaries of 

such information or comments not 

containing such information. 

Additionally, BOEMRE 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. 

Section 304 of NHPA (16 U.S.C. 470 et 

seq; 1966, as amended) 

BOEMRE is required, after 

consultation with the Secretary, to 

withhold the location, character, or 

ownership of historic resources if 

determination is made that the 

disclosure may, among other concerns, 

risk harm to the historic resources or 

impede the use of a traditional religious 

site by practitioners. Tribal entities 

should designate information that 

qualifies for protection under this 

section as confidential. 

Dated: December 17, 2010. 

Michael R. Bromwich, 

Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Regulation and Enforcement. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32853 Filed 12–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[FWS–R5–FHC–2010–N045; 53330–1335– 

0000–J3] 

Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control 

Alternatives Workgroup 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of meeting. 

SUMMARY: We, the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service (Service), announce a 

meeting of the Lake Champlain Sea 

Lamprey Control Alternatives 

Workgroup (Workgroup). The 

Workgroup’s purpose is to provide, in 

an advisory capacity, recommendations 

and advice on research and 

implementation of sea lamprey control 

techniques alternative to lampricide that 

are technically feasible, cost effective, 

and environmentally safe. The primary 

objective of the meeting will be to 

discuss potential research initiatives 

that may enhance alternative sea 

lamprey control techniques. The 

meeting is open to the public. 

DATES: The Workgroup will meet on 

Tuesday, January 18, 2011, 9 a.m. to 12 

p.m., with an alternate date of Tuesday, 

January 25, 2011, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., 

should the meeting need to be cancelled 

due to inclement weather. Any member 

of public who wants to find out whether 

the meeting has been postponed may 

contact Ms. Stefi Flanders of the U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, 802–872– 

0629, extension 10 (telephone); 

Stefi_Flanders@fws.gov (electronic mail) 

during regular business hours on the 

primary meeting date. 

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at 

the Lake Champlain Basin Program/ 

Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department 

facility at the Gordon Center House, 54 

West Shore Road, Grand Isle, VT 05458; 

802–372–3213 (telephone). 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Dave Tilton, Designated Federal Officer, 

Lake Champlain Sea Lamprey Control 

Alternatives Workgroup, Lake 

Champlain Fish and Wildlife Resources 

Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 

11 Lincoln Street, Essex Junction, VT 

05452 (U.S. mail); 802- 872–0629 

(telephone); Dave_Tilton@fws.gov 

(electronic mail). 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We 

publish this notice under section 

10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory 

Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). The 

Workgroup’s specific responsibilities 

are to provide advice regarding the 

implementation of sea lamprey control 

methods alternative to lampricides, to 

recommend priorities for research to be 

conducted by cooperating organizations 

and demonstration projects to be 

developed and funded by State and 

Federal agencies, and to assist Federal 

and State agencies with the 

coordination of alternative sea lamprey 

control research to advance the state of 

the science in Lake Champlain and the 

Great Lakes. 

Dated: December 16, 2010. 

James G. Geiger, 

Assistant Regional Director—Fisheries, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service, Hadley, 

Massachusetts 01035. 

[FR Doc. 2010–32754 Filed 12–28–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–55–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Land Management 

Notice To Amend an Existing System 

of Records; Privacy Act of 1974; as 

Amended 

AGENCY: Bureau of Land Management, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of amendment to an 

Existing System of Records. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of 

the Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, 

the Department of the Interior (DOI) is 

issuing public notice of its intent to 

amend the Bureau of Land 

Management’s (BLM) Range 

Management System—Interior, LLM–2 

notice. The amendment includes 

changes to ‘‘System location,’’ 

‘‘Disclosures outside the Department of 

the Interior,’’ ‘‘Storage,’’ ‘‘Retrievability,’’ 


srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with NOTICES