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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 152 (Tuesday, August 7, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 47092]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-19256]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2012-0068]

Notice of Determination of No Competitive Interest

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

ACTION: Notice of Determination of No Competitive Interest for Proposed 
Right-of-Way Grant Area

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SUMMARY: This notice provides BOEM's determination of no competitive 
interest (DNCI) for the area requested by the Deepwater Wind Block 
Island Transmission System, LLC, application for a Right-of-Way (ROW) 
grant for renewable energy purposes on the Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) off the coast of Rhode Island as described in the May 23, 2012, 
Notice of Proposed Grant Area and Request for Competitive Interest 
(RFCI) in the Area of the Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission 
System (BITS) Proposal (77 FR 30551).

DATES: Effective August 7, 2012.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jessica Bradley, Project 
Coordinator, BOEM, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 381 Elden 
Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Virginia 20170. (703) 787-1320.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Authority

    This DNCI is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS 
Lands Act, which was added 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 585. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act requires 
that OCS renewable energy leases, easements, and ROWs be issued ``on a 
competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after public notice 
of a proposed lease, easement, or ROW that there is no competitive 
interest.'' The authority to make such determinations has been 
delegated to BOEM.

Determination and Next Steps

    This DNCI provides notice to the public that BOEM has determined 
there is no competitive interest in the proposed ROW grant area, as no 
indications of competitive interest were submitted in response to the 
RFCI.
    In the RFCI, BOEM also solicited public comment on site conditions 
and multiple uses within the ROW grant area that would be relevant to 
the proposed project or its impacts. BOEM received public comment 
submissions from two (2) parties in response. The comments received in 
response to the RFCI will be used to inform BOEM in subsequent agency 
decisions. After the publication of this DNCI, BOEM will proceed with 
the noncompetitive ROW grant process outlined at 30 CFR 585.306(b).

Environmental Review Process

    The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District and 
BOEM both have jurisdiction by law for portions of the BITS. The BITS 
would support Deepwater Wind's proposed Block Island Wind Farm (BIWF), 
a proposed 30-megawatt offshore wind energy project located in Rhode 
Island State waters approximately 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Block 
Island. Since the majority of the activities and permanent structures 
related to the BIWF and the BITS will be sited in state waters and on 
state lands, the USACE will be the lead agency for the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental analysis of both 
projects. The portion of the BITS that would be located on the OCS 
requires a ROW grant from BOEM, and BOEM will be a cooperating agency 
in the NEPA process led by the USACE. BOEM will consider all relevant 
information produced from the NEPA process and, if appropriate, adopt 
the USACE's NEPA document prior to the issuance of any ROW grant.
    BOEM and the USACE intend to conduct consultations required by 
Federal law or executive order jointly during the NEPA process. These 
consultations include, but are not limited to, those required by the 
Endangered Species Act, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act, the National Historic Preservation Act, and Executive 
Order 13175--``Consultation and Coordination with Tribal Governments.''

Map of the Area

    A map of the area proposed for a ROW grant can be found at the 
following URL: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/Rhode-Island.aspx.

    Dated: July 27, 2012.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2012-19256 Filed 8-6-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-VH-P
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