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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40925-40926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-17455]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement

[Docket No. BOEM-2011-0053]

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

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement 
(BOEMRE), Interior.

ACTION: Notice of the availability of an environmental assessment.

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SUMMARY: BOEMRE has prepared a draft environmental assessment (EA) 
considering the environmental impacts and socioeconomic effects of 
issuing renewable energy leases (which includes reasonably foreseeable 
site characterization activities--geophysical, geotechnical, 
archeological, and biological surveys--on those leases) in identified 
Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and 
Virginia. The draft EA also considers the reasonably foreseeable 
environmental impacts and socioeconomic effects 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.
    The purpose of this notice is to inform the public of the 
availability of the draft EA for review and comment. Public comments on 
the draft EA will be considered in the preparation of the final EA and 
determination of whether a Finding of No Significant Impact would be 
appropriate, or whether an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would 
need to be prepared. The draft EA can be accessed online at: http://www.boemre.gov/offshore/RenewableEnergy/SmartFromTheStart.htm.

    Authority:  This Notice of Availability (NOA) of an EA is 
published pursuant to 43 CFR 46.305.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEMRE Office of 
Offshore Alternative Energy Programs, 381 Elden Street, MS 4090, 
Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817, (703) 787-1340 or 
michelle.morin@boemre.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 23, 2010, Secretary of the 
Interior Ken Salazar announced the ``Smart from the Start'' renewable 
energy initiative to accelerate the responsible development of 
renewable energy resources on the Atlantic OCS. One of the focuses of 
the initiative is the

[[Page 40926]]

identification and refinement of WEAs (areas on the OCS that appear to 
be suitable for renewable energy development), within which BOEMRE will 
focus its leasing efforts. In consultation with other Federal agencies 
and BOEMRE's Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces, BOEMRE 
identified WEAs offshore New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. 
On February 9, 2011, BOEMRE identified these WEAs in a Notice of Intent 
(NOI) to prepare an EA for Mid-Atlantic WEAs (76 FR 7226), which 
requested public input with regard to the identification of the 
important environmental issues associated with leasing and site 
assessment within the identified WEAs, and alternatives to be 
considered in the EA. BOEMRE 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-2010-0077.

Comments

    Federal, state, and local government agencies, tribal governments, 
and other interested parties are requested to submit their written 
comments on the draft EA in one of the following ways:
    1. Electronically: http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled 
``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2011-0053, 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 Mid Atlantic WEA Draft EA'' to Program 
Manager, Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs (MS 4090), 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, 381 
Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817.
    Comments should be submitted no later than August 11, 2011. All 
written comments received during the comment period will be made 
available to the public and considered during preparation of the final 
EA.

    Dated: June 8, 2011.
Robert P. LaBelle,
Acting Associate Director for Offshore Energy and Minerals Management.
[FR Doc. 2011-17455 Filed 7-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P
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