federal_register: 2012-2649
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| 2012-2649 | Commercial Wind Leasing and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts | Notice | This Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (Notice) is being published as an initial step for the purpose of involving Federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, offshore wind energy developers, and the public in the Department of the Interior's (DOI) "Smart from the Start" wind energy initiative offshore Massachusetts. The purpose of the "Smart from the Start" wind energy initiative is to identify areas that may be most suitable for wind energy leasing on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), and to obtain public and expert input that will inform the Department's decision-making with regard to issuing leases and approving site assessment activities in these areas, in accordance with applicable DOI regulations and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations implementing the provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.). 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. The initiative focuses on the identification and refinement of areas on the OCS that are most suitable for renewable energy development, known as Wind Energy Areas (WEAs), and utilizes coordinated environmental studies, large-scale planning processes, and expedited review procedures within these areas to achieve an efficient and responsible renewable energy leasing process. In consultation with other Federal agencies and the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Task Force, BOEM has identified an area for consideration for potential future wind energy leasing offshore Massachusetts (Call Area). This Call Area is identified in the document entitled Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf Offshore Massachusetts-Call for Information and Nominations (Call), which is being published concurrently with this Notice. This is the first public step in the potential leasing process which requires several more opportunities for public involvement before leasing can occur, including a proposed sale notice. A commercial lease 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 lessee the right to use the leased area to develop its plans, which BOEM must approve before the lessee can move on to the next stage of the process. See 30 CFR 585.600 and 585.601. More information on the renewable energy task forces and the "Smart from the Start" initiative can be found at: http:boem.gov/ Renewable-Energy-Program/Smart-from-the-Start/Index.aspx and at: http:/ /www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Salazar-Launches-Smart-from-the-Start Initiative-to-Speed-Offshore-Wind-Energy-Development-off-the-Atlantic- Coast.cfim. BOEM intends to prepare an environmental assessment (EA), which is the subject of this Notice, that will consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing commercial wind leases and approving site assessment activities on those leases (within all or some of this Call Area). If a lessee proposes development activity, the specific proposal will be given full environmental review at that time. BOEM is seeking public input regarding the identification of the alternatives to be considered in the EA, as well as the environmental and/or socioeconomic issues to be analyzed. Furthermore, Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470f), and it's implementing regulations (36 CFR 800), require Federal agencies to consider the effects of their actions on historic properties. Therefore, BOEM will conduct Section 106 review for the issuance of leases and approval of site assessment activities within some or all of the Call Area, in coordination with its environmental review. As part of this Section 106 review, BOEM will initiate consultation with state historic preservation officers, tribal officials, and others. BOEM is now reaching out to the general public for comments regarding the identification of historic properties or potential effects to historic properties from leasing and site assessment activities in the Call Area. Submitted information will allow BOEM to consider the views of the public and document historic preservation concerns early in the Section 106 process. | 2012-02-06 | 2012 | 2 | https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2012/02/06/2012-2649/commercial-wind-leasing-and-site-assessment-activities-on-the-atlantic-outer-continental-shelf | https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2012-02-06/pdf/2012-2649.pdf | Interior Department; Ocean Energy Management Bureau | 253,575 | This Notice of Intent to Prepare an Environmental Assessment (Notice) is being published as an initial step for the purpose of involving Federal agencies, states, tribes, local governments, offshore wind energy developers, and the public in the... |