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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33908-33909]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13199]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2013-0008; MMAA104000]

Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment Activities on 
the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Rhode Island and 
Massachusetts

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

ACTION: Notice of the Availability of a revised Environmental 
Assessment and a Finding of No Significant Impact.

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SUMMARY: BOEM has prepared a revised environmental assessment (EA) 
considering the reasonably foreseeable environmental and socioeconomic 
impacts of issuing renewable energy leases and subsequent site 
characterization activities (geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, 
and biological surveys needed to develop specific project proposals on 
those leases) in an identified Wind Energy Area (WEA) on the OCS 
offshore Rhode Island (RI) and Massachusetts (MA). The revised EA also 
considers the reasonably foreseeable 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 in the identified WEA.
    As a result of the analysis in the revised EA, BOEM issued a 
Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The FONSI concluded that the 
reasonably foreseeable 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 revised EA and FONSI, which can be accessed online 
at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Smart-from-the-Start/Index.aspx.

    Authority:  This notice 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 July 3, 2012, BOEM published a Notice of 
Availability (NOA) for an EA, which requested public comments on 
alternatives considered in the 2012 EA, as well as measures (e.g., 
limitations on activities based on technology, distance from shore, or 
timing) that would mitigate impacts to environmental resources and 
socioeconomic conditions that could result from leasing, site 
characterization, and site assessment in and around the Call Area (76 
FR 51391). The Call Area is located within the Area of Mutual Interest, 
as described in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Governors of 
RI and MA dated July 2010.
    The 2012 EA considered the entire WEA for leasing and approval of 
site assessment plans (SAPs) as the proposed action under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321-4370f). Comments 
received in response to the NOA can be viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov by searching for Docket ID BOEM-2012-0048.
    Based on comments received and the results of required 
consultations (e.g., Endangered Species Act), BOEM has revised the 2012 
EA. BOEM will use the revised EA to inform decisions to issue leases in 
the WEA and to subsequently approve SAPs on those leases. BOEM may 
issue one or more commercial wind energy leases in the WEA. 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 issued through a competitive or non-
competitive 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 
revised EA adequately considers the impacts of the activities proposed 
in the lessee's SAP. If BOEM determines that the analysis in the 
revised EA adequately considers these impacts, then no further analysis 
under NEPA would be required before BOEM could approve a SAP. If, on 
the other hand, BOEM determines that the analysis in this revised EA is 
inadequate for that purpose, BOEM would prepare additional NEPA 
analysis before it could approve the SAP.

[[Page 33909]]

    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 and socioeconomic impacts 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: April 29, 2013.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-13199 Filed 6-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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