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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 80 (Wednesday, April 25, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24734-24735]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-9983]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2012-0011]

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Renewable Energy Program Leasing 
for Marine Hydrokinetic Technology Testing Offshore Florida

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the Availability of an Environmental Assessment.

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SUMMARY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has prepared an 
environmental assessment (EA) considering the reasonably foreseeable 
environmental impacts and socioeconomic effects of issuing a lease in 
Official Protraction Diagram NG 17-06, Blocks 7003, 7053, and 7054, 
offshore Florida. The proposed lease would authorize technology testing 
activities, including the installation, operation, relocation, and 
decommissioning of technology testing facilities. The purpose of this 
notice is to inform the public of the availability of the EA for review 
and to solicit public comments on the EA.
    Pursuant to 36 CFR 800.4(d)(1), which is a section in the 
regulations implementing section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act, 16 U.S.C. 470f, BOEM has made a finding of ``no 
historic properties affected'' for this proposed project. The finding 
and supporting documentation have been submitted to the Florida State 
Historic Preservation Officer and the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation and are included in the EA for public inspection.
    BOEM will conduct a public information session at the following 
location and time to explain the proposed activities and provide 
additional opportunities for public input on the EA: Broward County 
Main Library, 100 S Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301-7528, 
Wednesday, May 9, 2012, 2 p.m.
    The EA and information on the public session can be found online 
at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/Florida.aspx.

[[Page 24735]]

    Authority:  This Notice of the Availability (NOA) of an EA 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 May 24, 2011, BOEM published a Notice of 
Intent (NOI) to prepare an EA, which requested public comments on 
alternatives to be considered in the EA as well as identification of 
important environmental issues associated with data collection and 
technology testing activities (76 FR 30184). BOEM considered these 
public comments in drafting the alternatives and assessing the 
reasonably foreseeable environmental impacts associated with each. 
Comments received in response to the NOI can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket ID BOEM-2011-0012.
    BOEM is seeking public input on the EA, including comments on the 
completeness and adequacy of the environmental analysis, and on the 
measures and operating conditions in the EA designed to reduce or 
eliminate potential environmental impacts. BOEM will consider public 
comments on the EA in determining whether to issue a Finding of No 
Significant Impact (FONSI), or to conduct additional NEPA analysis.

Comments

    Federal, state, and local government agencies, tribal governments, 
and other interested parties are requested to submit their written 
comments on the EA in one of the following ways:
    1. Electronically: http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry 
entitled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2012-0011, then click 
``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view 
supporting and related materials available for this document.
    2. In written form, delivered by hand or by mail, enclosed in an 
envelope labeled ``Comments on OCS Renewable Energy Program Leasing for 
Marine Hydrokinetic Technology Testing Offshore Florida EA'' to: 
Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, 381 Elden Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170-
4817.
    Comments must be received or postmarked no later than May 25, 2012. 
All written comments received or postmarked during the comment period 
will be made available to the public.

    Dated: April 20, 2012.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Deputy Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-9983 Filed 4-24-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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