75304 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2023 / Notices 

In addition, for those eligible bidders 

seeking to be awarded mortgage loans 

on a priority basis and signing the 

Housing Mission Supplemental 

Certification, each prospective bidder 

must provide documentation and certify 

that its charitable or government 

purpose has a qualifying housing 

mission and that its participation in the 

sale is a furtherance of that housing 

mission. 

Freedom of Information Act Requests 

HUD reserves the right, in its sole and 

absolute discretion, to disclose 

information regarding HVLS 2024–1, 

including, but not limited to, the 

identity of any successful qualified 

bidder and its bid price or bid 

percentage for any pool of loans or 

individual loan, upon the closing of the 

sale of all the mortgage loans. Even if 

HUD elects not to publicly disclose any 

information relating to HVLS 2024–1, 

HUD will disclose any information that 

HUD is obligated to disclose pursuant to 

the Freedom of Information Act and all 

regulations promulgated thereunder. 

Scope of Notice 

This notice applies to HVLS 2024–1 

and does not establish HUD’s policy for 

the sale of other mortgage loans. 

Julia R. Gordon, 

Assistant Secretary for Housing FHA 

Commissioner. 

[FR Doc. 2023–24163 Filed 11–1–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4210–67–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Fish and Wildlife Service 

[Docket No. FWS–R4–NWRS–2023–0169; 

FF09M21200–234–FXMB1231099BPP0; 

OMB Control Number 1018–New] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Perspectives on Manatee 

Ecotourism 

AGENCY: Fish and Wildlife Service, 

Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we, 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

(Service), are proposing a new 

information collection. 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before January 

2, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on the 

information collection request (ICR) by 

one of the following methods (please 

reference ‘‘OMB Control No. 1018— 

Manatees’’ in the subject line of your 

comment): 

• Internet (preferred): https://

www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments 

on Docket No. FWS–R4–NWRS–2023– 

0169. 

• U.S. mail: Service Information 

Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. Fish 

and Wildlife Service, 5275 Leesburg 

Pike, MS: PRB (JAO/3W); Falls Church, 

VA 22041–3803. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Madonna L. Baucum, Service 

Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, by email at Info_Coll@fws.gov, 

or by telephone at (703) 358–2503. 

Individuals in the United States who are 

deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have 

a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, 

TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 

telecommunications relay services. 

Individuals outside the United States 

should use the relay services offered 

within their country to make 

international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act (PRA; 44 U.S.C. 3501 et 

seq.) and its implementing regulations 

in the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR) at 5 CFR 1320, all information 

collections require approval under the 

PRA. We may not conduct or sponsor 

and you are not required to respond to 

a collection of information unless it 

displays a currently valid OMB control 

number. 

As part of our continuing effort to 

reduce paperwork and respondent 

burdens, we invite the public and other 

Federal agencies to comment on new, 

proposed, revised, and continuing 

collections of information. This helps us 

assess the impact of our information 

collection requirements and minimize 

the public’s reporting burden. It also 

helps the public understand our 

information collection requirements and 

provide the requested data in the 

desired format. 

We are especially interested in public 

comment addressing the following: 

(1) Whether or not the collection of 

information is necessary for the proper 

performance of the functions of the 

agency, including whether or not the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) The accuracy of our estimate of the 

burden for this collection of 

information, including the validity of 

the methodology and assumptions used; 

(3) Ways to enhance the quality, 

utility, and clarity of the information to 

be collected; and 

(4) How might the agency minimize 

the burden of the collection of 

information on those who are to 

respond, including through the use of 

appropriate automated, electronic, 

mechanical, or other technological 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology, e.g., permitting 

electronic submission of response. 

Comments that you submit in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. We will include or 

summarize each comment in our request 

to OMB to approve this ICR. Before 

including your address, phone number, 

email address, or other personal 

identifying information in your 

comment, you should be aware that 

your entire comment—including your 

personal identifying information—may 

be made publicly available at any time. 

While you can ask us in your comment 

to withhold your personal identifying 

information from public review, we 

cannot guarantee that we will be able to 

do so. 

Abstract: The Endangered Species Act 

of 1973 (ESA; 16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) 

and the Marine Mammal Protection Act 

of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.) place 

importance on public education and 

outreach regarding manatee 

conservation. Researchers conducting 

noninvasive surveys can raise 

awareness about manatees and the 

importance of responsible ecotourism. 

Furthermore, the data collected from 

noninvasive surveys can inform 

management decisions and policies 

related to manatee conservation and 

ecotourism. Authorities and 

policymakers can also use this data to 

develop evidence-based strategies that 

balance the interests of stakeholders 

while safeguarding the well-being of 

manatees and their habitats. 

Ecotourism is broadly defined as 

traveling to an undisturbed area with 

the objective of admiring and studying 

the wildlife (Wallace and Pierce 1996). 

Tourism-based activities can provide 

economic benefits for the community, 

improve conservation, and be used as a 

tool for education (Ambe, Tsi, Chi, Siri, 

and Tita 2010; Hill and Gale 2009; 

Honey 2008; Masud, Aldakhil, Nassani, 

and Azam 2017; Snyman 2014; Stronza 

and Gordillo 2008; Cardenas et al. 

2021). For ecotourism to be sustainable, 

it should encompass the dynamics 

between recreation and conservation of 

wildlife (Catlin et al. 2011). A 

conceptual framework provides 

managers and researchers a tool to assist 

them in achieving the best outcomes for 

both environmental conservation and 

the provision of wildlife tourism 

experiences (Catlin et al. 2011). The 

conceptual framework developed by 

Duffus and Dearden (1990) is referenced 

as nonconsumptive wildlife tourism in 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2023 / Notices 75305 

which ‘‘a human recreational 

engagement with wildlife wherein the 

focal organism is not purposefully 

removed or permanently affected by the 

engagement’’ (Duffus and Dearden 1990, 

p. 215). Their framework identifies three 

major dimensions of wildlife tourism 

interaction: the wildlife user, the focal 

species and its habitat, and the 

historical relationships between them 

(Duffus and Dearden 1990; Catlin et al. 

2011). This study will focus on the 

wildlife user, which encompasses the 

visitor, the tourism operators, and the 

surrounding community that engage in 

ecotourism with manatees in Crystal 

River, Florida. 

Crystal River is a coastal city located 

in Citrus County, Florida. The City of 

Crystal River is adjacent to Kings Bay 

and the Kings Bay Springs Group, also 

referred to as the Crystal River/Kings 

Bay spring complex (Florida 

Department of Environmental Protection 

2018). The Crystal River/Kings Bay 

spring complex (Springs Complex) is a 

first magnitude spring system composed 

of more than 70 springs; these 70 

springs account for 99 percent of the 

freshwater entering Kings Bay (Hammett 

et al. 1996). The most notable spring in 

the complex is Three Sisters Springs, 

which is located within the Crystal 

River National Wildlife Refuge, referred 

to hereon as the Refuge (Howard T. 

Odum Florida Springs Institute 2016). 

The Refuge was established in 1983 for 

the protection of the then endangered 

Florida Manatee, which gather in larger 

numbers at several of the spring vents 

during the wintertime to thermoregulate 

(Hartman 1979). Manatees also rely on 

the warm, calm, clear waters of Kings 

Bay to forage, rest, mate, and nurse. Due 

to the importance of this area for 

manatee survival, the Service 

designated this area as critical habitat 

for manatees under the ESA. During the 

colder months of the year, from 

November to March, several areas 

within the Refuge are roped off, and 

access to the public is restricted 

(manatee refuges) or completely 

prohibited (manatee sanctuaries). 

Manatee ecotourism has been a 

significant part of the Crystal River 

community for over 50 years. This 

ecotourism takes many forms, including 

but not limited to swim-with programs, 

guided kayak tours, boat tours, and 

guests who visit the Refuge on foot to 

view manatees gathered at the springs. 

Swim-with-manatee tours are by far the 

most popular ecotourism activity in 

Crystal River, with tours running from 

the early morning until sunset each day. 

To operate a tour within the Refuge, 

commercial operators must apply for a 

Special Use Permit (SUP; OMB Control 

No. 1018–0102). As of 2022, there were 

27 permitted operators in Crystal River, 

and the Refuge estimates that they 

manage over 400,000 guests recreating 

within Refuge waters each year (FWS 

2022). Despite the popularity of manatee 

ecotourism in the area growing over the 

last few decades, only one study has 

investigated the perceptions 

surrounding ecotourism in Crystal 

River. Sorice et al. (2006) interviewed 

State and wildlife employees, the 

business community, resource 

managers, and advocacy groups. The 

study revealed overriding concerns from 

all stakeholders regarding water quality, 

overcrowding, education, harassment, 

and enforcement (Sorice et al. 2006). 

However, the study also reported the 

lack of agreement between stakeholders 

on each issue. One of the suggestions to 

resolve conflict was to create a 

participatory management approach, to 

organize tour operators into an 

association that would work with 

governing officials to establish best 

practices for ecotourism (Sorice et al. 

2006). As such, the Manatee Ecotourism 

Association was created in Crystal River 

in 2011 to create standardization for 

swim-with tours, mainly by practicing 

passive observation with the goal of 

following Refuge regulations and 

reducing manatee harassment. 

The purpose of the surveys is to 

interview manatee tour operators, kayak 

and paddlecraft outfitters, boat rental 

companies, their employees, visitors, 

and the Crystal River community, to 

obtain their perspectives on manatee 

ecotourism in Crystal River. We propose 

to collect the following information to 

determine the effect of tour operations 

on the manatee population: 

A. Swim-With Tour Operator Survey 

(Owners/Employees)— 

This online survey gathers general 

information from business owners and 

tour operators regarding the preparation, 

size, frequency, nature, and content of 

‘‘swim-with-manatee’’ tours, including 

specific questions about interactions 

with manatees. No sensitive or nonsensitive personally identifiable 

information is requested from 

respondents. 

B. Guided Kayak Tours (Owners/ 

Employees)— 

This online survey gathers general 

information from business owners and 

tour operators regarding the preparation, 

size, frequency, nature, and content of 

guided kayak tours. Questions also work 

to build an understanding of how these 

tour firms view their business and the 

regulations surrounding them in 

relation to manatees. No sensitive or 

non-sensitive personally identifiable 

information is requested from 

respondents. 

C. Business Owners of Unguided Boat/ 

Kayak Rental or Lacking Special Use 

Permit— 

This online survey gathers general 

information from tour firm owners 

regarding their business practices, 

preparation, frequency, nature, and 

content of unguided boat or kayak tours. 

Questions also work to build an 

understanding of how these tour firms 

view their business and the regulations 

surrounding them in relation to 

manatees. No personally identifiable 

information is requested from 

respondents. 

D. For Visitors on Trip (Guided Swim 

With Manatees Boat Tour)— 

This online survey gathers general 

information from tour consumers 

regarding their experiences on guided 

boat tours. Questions include 

respondents’ motivations, preparations, 

and overall satisfaction with their tour 

experiences. Apart from zip/postal code, 

no other sensitive or non-sensitive 

personally identifiable information is 

requested from respondents. 

E. Visitors on Guided Trip (Kayak)— 

This survey gathers general 

information from tour consumers 

regarding their experiences on guided 

kayak tours. Questions include 

respondents’ motivations, preparations, 

and overall satisfaction with their tour 

experiences. Apart from zip/postal code, 

no other sensitive or non-sensitive 

personally identifiable information is 

requested from respondents. 

F. Visitors on Unguided/Self-Tours— 

This survey gathers general 

information from tour consumers 

regarding their experiences on 

unguided/self-guided ‘‘swim-withmanatee’’ tours. Questions include 

respondents’ motivations, preparations, 

and overall satisfaction with their tour 

experiences. Apart from zip/postal code, 

no other sensitive or non-sensitive 

personally identifiable information is 

requested from respondents. 

G. Land-Based Visitors at Refuge— 

This survey gathers general 

information from Crystal River National 

Wildlife Refuge visitors regarding their 

experience and perceptions of 

ecotourism and local tour operations. 

Questions also directly address 

respondents’ feelings towards manatee 

conservation and education programs. 

Apart from zip/postal code, no other 

sensitive or non-sensitive personally 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
75306 Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2023 / Notices 

identifiable information is requested 

from respondents. 

H. Crystal River Community 

Perceptions on Manatee Ecotourism— 

This survey gathers general 

information from the Crystal River 

community regarding their perceptions 

of ecotourism, manatee education, and 

local tour operations’ impact on both 

manatees in general as well as on 

Crystal River residents and businesses 

specifically. Apart from zip/postal code, 

no other sensitive or non-sensitive 

personally identifiable information is 

requested from respondents. 

The data collected from tour 

operators, guests, and Crystal River 

residents will be utilized for several 

purposes. First, the information will be 

analyzed to gain insight into the 

perspectives of tour operators. This 

understanding will enable the 

identification of areas for improvement 

and the development of sustainable 

practices in ecotourism. Secondly, the 

perceptions of guests participating in 

ecotours will be evaluated to gather 

valuable feedback. This feedback will 

serve as a crucial resource for tour 

operators to incorporate into their 

operations. By considering guest 

feedback, operators can establish best 

practices for activities conducted during 

ecotours. 

Moreover, a comprehensive 

framework for sustainable ecotourism 

should not solely focus on the interests 

and perceptions of guests and tour boat 

operators. It is equally important to 

involve the local community, including 

businesses such as hotels, restaurants, 

and gift shops, as well as Crystal River 

residents. This inclusive approach aims 

to ensure that the benefits of ecotourism 

are balanced with the concerns and 

needs of the local community. This 

comprehensive approach will contribute 

to the development of sustainable 

ecotourism practices that benefit all 

stakeholders involved. 

The public may request copies of any 

form or document contained in this 

information collection by sending a 

request to the Service Information 

Collection Clearance Officer (see 

ADDRESSES). 

Title of Collection: Perspectives on 

Manatee Ecotourism. 

OMB Control Number: 1018–New. 

Form Number: None. 

Type of Review: New. 

Respondents/Affected Public: 

Individuals/households and private 

sector. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Voluntary. 

Frequency of Collection: On occasion. 

Total Estimated Annual Nonhour 

Burden Cost: None. 

Requirement 

Average 

number of 

annual 

respondents 

Average 

number of 

responses 

each 

Average 

number of 

annual 

responses 

Average 

completion 

time per 

response 

(minutes) 

Estimated 

annual 

burden hours * 

Group A: Swim-With Tour Operator Survey (Private Sector): 

Private Sector ............................................................... 10 1 10 20 3 

Group B: Guided Kayak Tours (Private Sector): 

Private Sector ............................................................... 5 1 5 20 2 

Group C: Business Owners of Unguided Boat/Kayak Rental or Lacking SUP Permit (Private Sector): 

Private Sector ............................................................... 1 1 1 8 0 

Group D: Visitors on Trip (Individuals): 

Individuals ..................................................................... 3 1 3 8 0 

Group E: Visitors on Guided Trip (Private Sector): 

Individuals ..................................................................... 3 1 3 10 1 

Group F: Visitors on Unguided/Self-Tours (Private Sector): 

Individuals ..................................................................... 13 1 13 10 2 

Group G: Land-Based Visitors at Refuge (Private Sector): 

Individuals ..................................................................... 30 1 30 5 3 

Group H: Crystal River Community (Private Sector): 

Individuals ..................................................................... 42 1 42 8 6 

Total ....................................................................... 107 ........................ 107 ........................ 17 

* Rounded. 

An agency may not conduct or 

sponsor and a person is not required to 

respond to a collection of information 

unless it displays a currently valid OMB 

control number. 

The authority for this action is the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 

References 

Ambe, T.A., E.A. Tsi, G.T. Chi, B.N. Siri, and 

D.F. Tita. 2010. Ecological tourism and 

Cameroon–opportunities and threats. In 

Ecotourism: Development, Management 

and Impact (Krause, A., and E. Weir 

(eds.)). Nova Science Pub. Inc., UK, pp. 

113–133. 

Ca ́rdenas, S., M.V. Gabela-Flores, A. Amrein, 

K. Surrey, L.R. Gerber, and H.M. 

Guzma ́n. 2021. Visitor Knowledge, ProConservation Intentions, and Visitor 

Concern for the Impacts of WhaleWatching in Las Perlas Archipelago, 

Panama. Frontiers in Marine Science 

8:627348. 

Catlin, J., R. Jones, and T. Jones. 2011. 

Revisiting Duffus and Dearden’s wildlife 

tourism framework. Biological 

Conservation 144(5):1537–1544. 

Duffus, D.A., and P. Dearden. 1990. Nonconsumptive wildlife-oriented 

recreation: A conceptual framework. 

Biological Conservation 53(3):213–231. 

Florida Department of Environmental 

Protection. 2018. Crystal River/Kings Bay 

Basin Management Action Plan, 86 pages 

Hartman, D.S. Ecology and behavior of the 

manatee (Trichechus manatus) in 

Florida. 1979. American Society of 

Mammalogists Special Publication, 5, 1– 

153. 

Hammett, K.M., C.R. Goodwin, and G.L. 

Sanders. 1996. Tidal-Flow, Circulation, 

and Flushing Characteristics of Kings 

Bay, Citrus County, Florida. United 

States Geological Survey Open-File 

Report 96–230. Tallahassee, Florida. 

Hill, J.L., and T. Gale (Eds.). 2009. 

Ecotourism and Environmental 

Sustainability: Principles and Practice. 

Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. 261 pages. 

Honey, M. 2008. Ecotourism and Sustainable 

Development: Who Owns Paradise? (2nd 

ed.). Island Press, Washington, DC. 

Odum, H.T. 2016. Florida Springs Institute. 

Kings Bay/Crystal River Springs 

Restoration Plan, 139 pages. 

Masud, M.M., A.M. Aldakhil, A.A. Nassani, 

and M.N. Azam. 2017. Community-based 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 88, No. 211 / Thursday, November 2, 2023 / Notices 75307 

ecotourism management for sustainable 

development of marine protected areas 

in Malaysia. Ocean and Coastal 

Management 136:104–112. 

Snyman, S. 2014. The impact of ecotourism 

employment on rural household incomes 

and social welfare in six southern 

African countries. Tourism and 

Hospitality Research 14(1–2):37–52. 

Sorice, M.G., C.S. Shafer, and R.B. Ditton 

2006. Managing endangered species 

within the use-preservation paradox: The 

Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus 

latirostris) as a tourism attraction. 

Environmental Management 37(1):69–83. 

Stronza, A., and J. Gordillo. 2008. 

Community views of ecotourism. Annals 

of tourism research 35(2):448–468. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2023. Special 

Use Permit; OMB Control No. 1018– 

0102. 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Crystal River 

National Wildlife Refuge. www.fws.gov/ 

refuge/crystal-river#:∼:text=Visitor%20

Services%20%E2%80%93%20In%20

addition%20to,top%20

priorities%20for%20the%20refuge. 

Accessed Aug. 21, 2023. 

Wallace, G.N., and S.M. Pierce. 1996. An 

evaluation of ecotourism in Amazonas, 

Brazil. Annals of Tourism Research 

23(4):843–873. 

Madonna Baucum, 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, U.S. 

Fish and Wildlife Service. 

[FR Doc. 2023–24192 Filed 11–1–23; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4333–15–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

[OMB Control Number 1010–NEW; Docket 

ID: BOEM–2023–0004] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Piloting an Approach to 

Community-Informed Characterization 

of Communities With Environmental 

Justice Concerns 

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management, Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of information collection; 

request for comment. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with the 

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

(BOEM) proposes this new information 

collection request (ICR) to the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB). 

DATES: Comments must be received by 

BOEM no later than January 2, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: Send your comments on 

this ICR by mail to the BOEM 

Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Anna Atkinson, Bureau of 

Ocean Energy Management, 45600 

Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 

20166; or by email to anna.atkinson@

boem.gov. Please reference OMB Control 

Number 1010–NEW in the subject line 

of your comments. You may also view 

and comment on the ICR and its related 

documents by searching the docket 

number BOEM–2023–0004 at http://

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anna Atkinson by email at 

anna.atkinson@boem.gov, or by 

telephone at 703–787–1025. Individuals 

in the United States who are deaf, 

deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a 

speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, 

TDD, or TeleBraille) to access 

telecommunications relay services. 

Individuals outside of the United States 

should use the relay services offered 

within their country to make 

international calls to the point-ofcontact in the United States. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, BOEM provides 

the general public and other Federal 

agencies with an opportunity to 

comment on new, proposed, revised, 

and continuing collections of 

information. This helps BOEM assess 

the impact of its information collection 

requirements and minimize the public’s 

reporting burden. It also helps the 

public understand BOEM’s information 

collection requirements and provide the 

requested data in the desired format. 

BOEM is soliciting comments on the 

proposed ICR described below. BOEM is 

especially interested in public 

comments addressing the following 

issues: (1) is the collection necessary to 

the proper functions of BOEM; (2) what 

can BOEM do to ensure that this 

information is processed and used in a 

timely manner; (3) is the burden 

estimate accurate; (4) how might BOEM 

enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 

of the information to be collected; and 

(5) how might BOEM minimize the 

burden of this collection on the 

respondents, including minimizing the 

burden through the use of information 

technology? 

Comments submitted in response to 

this notice are a matter of public record. 

BOEM will include or summarize each 

comment in its ICR to OMB for approval 

of this information collection. You 

should be aware that your entire 

comment—including your address, 

phone number, email address, or other 

personally identifiable information 

included in your comment—may be 

made publicly available at any time. 

Even if BOEM withholds your 

information in the context of this ICR, 

your comment is subject to the Freedom 

of Information Act (FOIA). If your 

comment is requested under the FOIA, 

your information will only be withheld 

if BOEM determines that one of the 

FOIA exemptions to disclosure applies. 

Such a determination will be made in 

accordance with the Department’s FOIA 

regulations and applicable law. 

In order for BOEM to consider 

withholding from disclosure your 

personally identifiable information, you 

must identify, in a cover letter, any 

information contained in your comment 

that, if released, would constitute a 

clearly unwarranted invasion of your 

privacy. You must also briefly describe 

any possible harmful consequences of 

the disclosure of information, such as 

embarrassment, injury, or other harm. 

Note that BOEM will make available for 

public inspection, in their entirety, all 

comments submitted by organizations 

and businesses, or by individuals 

identifying themselves as 

representatives of organizations or 

businesses. 

BOEM protects proprietary 

information in accordance with FOIA 

and the Department’s implementing 

regulations. Items of a sensitive nature 

are not intended to be collected. 

Title of Collection: ‘‘Piloting an 

Approach to Community-Informed 

Characterization of Communities with 

Environmental Justice Concerns.’’ 

Abstract: Various Federal statutes, 

including the National Environmental 

Policy Act (NEPA), require BOEM to 

examine the social and economic 

impacts of BOEM-authorized activities 

at the community level. Additionally, 

Federal policy and guidance state that 

agencies should meaningfully engage 

communities with environmental justice 

(EJ) concerns in their decision making. 

(Executive Orders 12898, 13985, and 

14008). 

BOEM plans to pilot an approach to 

community-informed characterization of 

communities with EJ concerns 

potentially impacted by BOEMauthorized activities by selecting nine 

communities to participate in the study. 

The goal of this initiative is to improve 

BOEM’s decision making through more 

detailed environmental analyses that 

include information on the communities 

with EJ concerns that may be affected by 

BOEM-authorized activities. Sections 

within NEPA documents currently 

discuss potential EJ impacts in a general 

sense. To improve its analyses, BOEM 

proposes to obtain information about 

specific potential impacts, unique 

contextual considerations, and the 

potential for detailed mitigation 

measures designed based on the affected 

community. 

Baseline information to support 

community characterization is available 

but could be better applied in analyses 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES