Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 159 / Friday, August 20, 2021 / Notices 46877 

1BOEM acknowledges that the generally and 

scientifically accepted spelling for this compound 

is sulfur. Throughout this notice, BOEM uses the 

spelling consistent with its current regulations. 

The BLM also welcomes suggestions 

for other potential approaches to the 

Federal coal program including 

approaches that may differ from those 

articulated below. We encourage 

commenters to be as specific as possible 

in identifying the types of changes to 

the program that the BLM should 

consider, including changes to 

regulations, guidance, and management 

practices. 

BLM also solicits input on the 

following: 

1. Potential new leasing models, or 

potential reforms to the previous or 

existing leasing models of regional 

leasing and lease by application; 

2. Other approaches to increase 

competition in the leasing process; 

3. Data or analyses that justify a 

specific change to the royalty rate; 

4. Potential approaches to improve 

the pre-sale estimate of fair market 

value; 

5. Whether, and how, to account in 

the leasing process for the extent to 

which reclamation responsibilities have 

been met; 

6. Potential approaches to design a 

‘‘budget’’ for the amount of Federal coal 

and/or acreage to be leased over a given 

period; and 

7. How to account for export potential 

in the leasing process. 

In submitting written comments, 

individuals should be aware that their 

entire comment—including personal 

identifying information (including 

address, phone number, and email 

address)—may be made publicly 

available at any time. While the 

commenter can request in the comment 

that the commenter’s personal 

identifying information be withheld 

from public review, this cannot be 

guaranteed. All comments from 

organizations or businesses, and from 

individuals identifying themselves as 

representatives or officials of 

organizations or businesses, will be 

available for public inspection in their 

entirety. 

The DOI will consult with Indian 

tribes on a government-to-government 

basis in accordance with Executive 

Order 13175 and other policies. Tribal 

concerns, including impacts on Indian 

trust assets and potential impacts to 

cultural resources, will be given due 

consideration. Federal, State, and local 

agencies, along with Tribes and other 

stakeholders that may be interested in or 

affected by the Federal coal program, are 

invited to participate in the review. 

Following closure of the comment 

period, the BLM will prepare a 

comment summary report, make the 

report available to the public, and will 

detail the scope and form of its 

programmatic review. The BLM’s goal is 

to announce additional steps for the 

programmatic review by November 

2021. 

(Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1701 et seq., 30 U.S.C. 

181 et seq., 30 U.S.C. 351 et. seq.) 

Nada Wolff Culver, 

Deputy Director, Programs and Policy, Bureau 

of Land Management. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17827 Filed 8–19–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–84–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

[OMB Control Number 1010–0072; Docket 

ID: BOEM–2017–0016] 

Agency Information Collection 

Activities; Commercial Prospecting, 

Noncommercial Geological and 

Geophysical Exploration, and 

Scientific Research for Minerals Other 

Than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur on the Outer 

Continental Shelf 

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 to renew an 

information collection request (ICR). 

DATES: Interested persons are invited to 

submit comments on or before 

September 20, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Written comments and 

recommendations for the proposed 

information collection should be sent to 

the Office of Management and Budget’s 

Desk Officer for the Department of the 

Interior within 30 days of publication of 

this notice at www.reginfo.gov/public/ 

do/PRAMain. Find this information 

collection by selecting ‘‘Currently under 

Review—Open for Public Comments’’ or 

by using the search function. Please 

provide a copy of your comments 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 Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) Control 

Number 1010–0072 in the subject line of 

your comments. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anna Atkinson by email at 

anna.atkinson@boem.gov or by 

telephone at 703–787–1025. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In 

accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995, BOEM provides 

the general public and Federal agencies 

with an opportunity to comment on 

new, proposed, revised, and continuing 

collections of information. This helps 

BOEM assess the impact of the 

information collection requirements and 

minimize the public’s reporting burden. 

It also helps the public understand 

BOEM’s information collection 

requirements. 

Title of Collection: Commercial 

Prospecting, Noncommercial Geological 

and Geophysical Exploration, and 

Scientific Research for Minerals Other 

Than Oil, Gas, and Sulfur on the Outer 

Continental Shelf. 

Abstract: This ICR covers the 

information collection requirements in 

30 CFR part 580, ‘‘Prospecting for 

Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, and 

Sulphur 1 on the Outer Continental 

Shelf [OCS],’’ which concern 

commercial prospecting and scientific 

research. This request also includes 

information collection requirements 

related to authorizations of 

noncommercial geological and 

geophysical (G&G) exploration issued 

pursuant to section 11 of the Outer 

Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCS 

Lands Act), as amended (43 U.S.C. 1340 

et seq., and 43 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). 

The OCS Lands Act authorizes the 

Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to 

prescribe rules and regulations to 

administer leasing of mineral resources 

on the OCS. Section 8 of the OCS Lands 

Act authorizes the Secretary ‘‘to grant to 

the qualified persons offering the 

highest cash bonuses on a basis of 

competitive bidding leases of any 

mineral other than oil, gas, and sulphur 

in any area of the [O]uter Continental 

Shelf not then under lease for such 

mineral upon such royalty, rental, and 

other terms and conditions as the 

Secretary may prescribe at the time of 

offering the area for lease.’’ 43 U.S.C. 

1337(k)(1). Additionally, the Secretary 

may noncompetitively negotiate 

agreements for the use of OCS sand, 

gravel, and shell resources for use in 

shore protection, beach restoration, or 

coastal wetlands restoration projects 

undertaken by a Federal, State, or local 

government agency, or for use in a 

construction project funded in whole or 

in part by or authorized by the Federal 

Government. 43 U.S.C. 1337(k)(2). 

Section 11 of the OCS Lands Act 

states that ‘‘any person authorized by 

the Secretary may conduct geological 

and geophysical explorations in the 

[O]uter Continental Shelf, which do not 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES
46878 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 159 / Friday, August 20, 2021 / Notices 

2A permit is required for scientific research 

activities that involve the use of solid or liquid 

explosives, the drilling of a deep stratigraphic test, 

or the development of data for proprietary use or 

sale. 30 CFR 580.11(a). 

3Form BOEM–0134 is required for scientific 

research activities involving explosives, deep 

stratigraphic drilling, or proprietary interests in the 

collected data. 30 CFR 580.11(a)(1)–(3). 

interfere with or endanger actual 

operations under any lease maintained 

or granted pursuant to this subchapter, 

and which are not unduly harmful to 

aquatic life in such area.’’ 43 U.S.C. 

1340(a)(1). The OCS Lands Act defines 

the term ‘‘exploration’’ to mean the 

process of searching for minerals by, 

among other things, ‘‘geophysical 

surveys where magnetic, gravity, 

seismic, or other systems are used to 

detect or imply the presence of such 

minerals.’’ 43 U.S.C. 1331(k). Section 11 

authorizes permits or authorizations for 

geological exploration only if the 

Secretary determines that the applicant 

is qualified and the exploration will 

neither interfere with operations on an 

existing lease, unduly harm aquatic life 

in the area, result in pollution, create 

hazardous or unsafe conditions, 

unreasonably interfere with other uses 

of the area, nor disturb any site, 

structure, or object of historical or 

archaeological significance. 43 U.S.C. 

1340(g). 

BOEM considers applications for 

commercial prospecting and 

noncommercial exploration for marine 

minerals, as well as scientific research 

related to marine minerals. Under 30 

CFR part 580, G&G prospecting by any 

person on unleased lands or on lands 

leased to a third party requires a BOEM 

permit. G&G activities conducted for 

scientific or academic purpose require 

submission of a scientific research 

notice.2 See 30 CFR 580.11. Because 30 

CFR part 580 does not apply to 

noncommercial exploration, such 

activities are authorized directly 

pursuant to section 11 of the OCS Lands 

Act. Noncommercial exploration 

includes searching for sand, gravel, and 

other sources of sediment for potential 

use in qualifying beach nourishment 

and coastal restoration projects. 

As a Federal agency, BOEM must 

comply with the National 

Environmental Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 

4321 et seq.), Endangered Species Act 

(16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), National 

Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 

300101 et seq.), and Marine Mammal 

Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), 

among other environmental laws. 

Compliance with the Endangered 

Species Act includes a substantive duty 

to carry out agency action in a manner 

that is unlikely to jeopardize protected 

species or adversely modify designated 

critical habitat and a procedural duty to 

consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service and National Marine Fisheries 

Service, as applicable, before engaging 

in a discretionary action that may affect 

a protected species. 

Under 30 CFR 580.12(a), applicants 

must submit form BOEM–0134, 

‘‘Requirements for Geological and 

Geophysical Prospecting, Exploration, 

or Scientific Research on the Outer 

Continental Shelf Related to Minerals 

Other than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur,’’ to 

provide the information necessary to 

evaluate requests to conduct G&G 

activities for commercial prospecting, 

noncommercial exploration, and certain 

scientific research.3 Under 30 CFR 

580.11(b) and 580.12(c), a notice must 

be filed with BOEM for scientific 

research activities that do not involve 

explosives, deep stratigraphic drilling, 

or proprietary interests in the collected 

data. BOEM uses the submitted 

information for several purposes: (1) To 

ensure there are neither adverse effects 

to the marine, coastal, or human 

environments nor unreasonable 

interferences with other uses; (2) to 

enhance personal and operational 

safety; (3) to analyze and evaluate 

preliminary or planned mining 

activities; (4) to monitor progress and 

activities on the OCS; (5) to acquire G&G 

data and information collected under a 

Federal permit or authorization; and (6) 

to determine eligibility for 

reimbursement from the Government for 

certain costs. 

Upon approval, BOEM issues 

applicants a permit or an authorization 

(as currently titled form BOEM–0135, 

‘‘Permit for Geophysical Prospecting for 

Mineral Resources or Scientific 

Research on the Outer Continental Shelf 

Related to Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, 

and Sulphur,’’ or form BOEM–0136, 

‘‘Permit for Geological Prospecting for 

Mineral Resources or Scientific 

Research on the Outer Continental Shelf 

Related to Minerals Other than Oil, Gas, 

and Sulphur). 

BOEM may use the information 

collected during G&G activities to 

understand the characteristics of marine 

mineral-bearing physiographic regions 

of the OCS. The information aids BOEM 

in analyzing and weighing the potential 

for environmental damage, the 

discovery of marine minerals, and any 

associated impacts on adjacent coastal 

States. 

OMB Control Number: 1010–0072. 

Form Number: Please note: Upon 

OMB approval of this ICR, BOEM will 

implement new titles for the three 

existing forms discussed previously as 

follows. BOEM–0134, ‘‘Requirements 

for Geological and Geophysical 

Prospecting, Exploration, or Scientific 

Research on the OCS Related to 

Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and 

Sulphur.’’ 

The following forms are the permits 

or authorizations issued by BOEM based 

on information provided in BOEM– 

0134: 

BOEM–0135, ‘‘Permit for Geophysical 

Prospecting, Authorization of 

Noncommercial Geophysical 

Exploration or Permit for Scientific 

Research Related to Minerals Other 

Than Oil, Gas, and Sulphur on the 

Outer Continental Shelf.’’ 

BOEM–0136, ‘‘Permit for Geological 

Prospecting, Authorization of 

Noncommercial Geological Exploration, 

or Permit for Scientific Research Related 

to Minerals Other Than Oil, Gas, and 

Sulphur on the Outer Continental 

Shelf.’’ 

Type of Review: Renewal of a 

currently approved collection. 

Respondents/Affected Public: 

Permittees, applicants, and other 

respondents, including those required to 

only file notices (scientific research). 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Responses: 49 responses. 

Total Estimated Number of Annual 

Burden Hours: 730 hours. 

Respondent’s Obligation: Mandatory 

or required to obtain or retain a benefit. 

Frequency of Collection: On occasion, 

annual, or as specified in permits or 

authorizations. 

Total Estimated Annual Non-Hour 

Burden Cost: $4,024 non-hour cost 

burden. 

Estimated Reporting and 

Recordkeeping Hour Burden: BOEM 

estimates 730 burden hours for this 

renewal, which is a 245-hour increase in 

annual burden hours over the currently 

approved information collection. The 

increase in burden hours is attributed to 

the expected increase in the number of 

annual applications, permits, and 

authorizations. 

A Federal Register notice with a 60- 

day public comment period on this 

proposed ICR was published on April 5, 

2021 (86 FR 17636). BOEM did not 

receive any comments during the 60-day 

comment period. 

BOEM is again soliciting comments 

on this proposed ICR. BOEM is 

especially interested in public comment 

addressing the following issues: (1) Is 

the collection necessary to the proper 

functions of BOEM; (2) what can BOEM 

do to ensure this information will be 

processed and used in a timely manner; 

(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; 

(4) how might BOEM enhance the 

quality, utility, and clarity of the 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 159 / Friday, August 20, 2021 / Notices 46879 

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 that you submit in 

response to this notice are a matter of 

public record. BOEM will include or 

summarize each comment in its request 

to OMB for approval of this ICR. You 

should be aware that your entire 

comment—including your address, 

phone number, email address, or other 

personally identifying information— 

may be publicly disclosed. In order to 

inform BOEM’s decision whether it can 

withhold from disclosure your 

personally identifiable information, you 

must identify any information contained 

in your comment that, if released, 

would clearly constitute an 

unwarranted invasion of your privacy. 

Also, you must briefly describe possible 

harmful consequences of disclosing that 

information, such as embarrassment, 

injury, or other harm. While you can ask 

BOEM in your comment to withhold 

your personally identifiable information 

from public disclosure, BOEM cannot 

guarantee that it will be able to do so. 

BOEM protects proprietary 

information in accordance with the 

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA, 5 

U.S.C. 552), and the Department of the 

Interior’s implementing regulations (43 

CFR part 2). 

A Federal 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 44 

U.S.C. 3501 et seq. (Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995). 

Signed: 

Deanna Meyer-Pietruszka, 

Chief, Office of Policy, Regulation, and 

Analysis. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17831 Filed 8–19–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 

[Docket No. BOEM–2021–0066] 

Notice of Availability of a Final 

Environmental Impact Statement for 

South Fork Wind, LLC’s Proposed 

Wind Energy Facility Offshore Rhode 

Island 

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy 

Management (BOEM), Interior. 

ACTION: Notice of availability; final 

environmental impact statement. 

SUMMARY: In accordance with National 

Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 

regulations, BOEM announces the 

availability of the final environmental 

impact statement (FEIS) for the 

construction and operation plan (COP) 

submitted by South Fork Wind, LLC, 

(South Fork Wind) for its proposed 

South Fork Wind Farm (SFWF) and 

South Fork Export Cable (SFEC) Project 

(Project). The FEIS analyzes the 

potential environmental impacts of the 

Project as described in the COP (the 

proposed action) and alternatives to the 

proposed action and will inform 

BOEM’s decision whether to approve, 

approve with modifications, or 

disapprove the COP. 

ADDRESSES: The FEIS can be found on 

BOEM’s website at: https://

www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/stateactivities/south-fork. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For 

information on the FEIS or BOEM’s 

policies associated with this notice of 

availability (NOA), please contact: 

Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of 

Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 

Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 

20166, (703) 787–1722 or 

michelle.morin@boem.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Proposed Action: South Fork Wind 

seeks approval to construct, operate, 

maintain, and eventually decommission 

the Project—a wind energy facility on 

the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) 

offshore Rhode Island and an associated 

export cable. The Project would be 

developed within the range of design 

parameters outlined in the South Fork 

Wind COP, subject to applicable 

mitigation measures. The SFWF as 

proposed in the COP would include up 

to 15 wind turbine generators with a 

nameplate capacity of 6 to 12 megawatts 

per turbine, submarine cables between 

the wind turbine generators (inter-array 

cables), and an offshore substation. The 

SFWF would be located entirely on the 

OCS in the area covered by Renewable 

Energy Lease OCS–A 0517 (Lease Area), 

approximately 19 miles southeast of 

Block Island, RI, and 35 miles east of 

Montauk Point, NY. The SFEC is an 

alternating current electric cable that 

would connect the SFWF to the existing 

mainland electric grid in East Hampton, 

NY. The Project also would include an 

operations and maintenance facility 

located onshore at either Montauk in 

East Hampton, NY, or Quonset Point in 

North Kingstown, RI, and a facility to 

connect the SFEC with the Long Island 

Power Authority electric transmission 

and distribution system in the town of 

East Hampton, NY. 

Alternatives: BOEM considered 22 

alternatives when preparing the draft 

environmental impact statement (DEIS) 

and carried forward four alternatives for 

further analysis in the DEIS and FEIS. 

These four alternatives include three 

action alternatives and the no action 

alternative. Eighteen alternatives were 

rejected because they did not meet the 

purpose and need for the proposed 

action or did not meet screening criteria. 

The screening criteria included 

consistency with law and regulations; 

operational, technical, and economic 

feasibility; environmental impact; and 

geographical considerations. 

Availability of the FEIS: The FEIS, 

South Fork Wind COP, and associated 

information are available on BOEM’s 

website at: https://www.boem.gov/ 

South-Fork/. BOEM has distributed 

digital copies of the FEIS to all parties 

listed in the FEIS appendix B, which 

also includes the location of all libraries 

receiving a copy. If you require a CD or 

paper copy, BOEM will provide one 

upon request, as long as copies are 

available. You may request a CD or 

paper copy of the FEIS by calling (703) 

787–1662. 

Cooperating Agencies: The following 

10 agencies and governmental entities 

participated as cooperating agencies in 

the preparation of the FEIS: Bureau of 

Safety and Environmental Enforcement; 

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 

National Marine Fisheries Service; U.S. 

Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Coast 

Guard; the Massachusetts Office of 

Coastal Zone Management; Rhode 

Island Department of Environmental 

Management; Rhode Island Coastal 

Resource Management Council; and 

Town of East Hampton, and Trustees of 

the Freeholders and Commonality of the 

Town of East Hampton. 

Authority: This NOA was prepared 

under 42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq. (NEPA, as 

amended) and 40 CFR 1506.6. 

William Yancey Brown, 

Chief Environmental Officer, Bureau of Ocean 

Energy Management. 

[FR Doc. 2021–17829 Filed 8–19–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4310–MR–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

Bureau of Reclamation 

[RR83550000, 212R5065C6, 

RX.59389832.1009676] 

Quarterly Status Report of Water 

Service, Repayment, and Other WaterRelated Contract Actions 

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, 

Interior. 


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