Notice2024-12563
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf of the Central Atlantic
Primary source
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Published
June 7, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of a final environmental assessment (EA) and its finding that possible wind energy-related leasing, site assessment, and site characterization activities on the U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) (the Proposed Action) will not significantly impact the human environment. The EA analyses the potential impacts of the Proposed Action and a No Action alternative. The EA will inform BOEM's decision whether to issue leases on the OCS offshore the U.S. Central Atlantic coast and its subsequent review of site assessment plans in the lease areas.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 111 (Friday, June 7, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 48685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-12563]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2024-0029]
Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment for
Commercial Wind Lease and Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic
Outer Continental Shelf of the Central Atlantic
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the
availability of a final environmental assessment (EA) and its finding
that possible wind energy-related leasing, site assessment, and site
characterization activities on the U.S. Atlantic Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) (the Proposed Action) will not significantly impact the
human environment. The EA analyses the potential impacts of the
Proposed Action and a No Action alternative. The EA will inform BOEM's
decision whether to issue leases on the OCS offshore the U.S. Central
Atlantic coast and its subsequent review of site assessment plans in
the lease areas.
ADDRESSES: The final EA and associated information are available on
BOEM's website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/central-atlantic">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/central-atlantic</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lorena Edenfield, BOEM Office of
Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia
20166, (907) 231-7679 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#226e4d50474c430c6746474c444b474e4662404d474f0c454d54"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f7bb9885929996d9b2939299919e929b93b79598929ad9909881">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Action: The final EA analyzes the Proposed Action, which
is to approve commercial wind energy leases in the Central Atlantic
Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) and grant rights-of-way (ROWs) and rights-of-
use and easement (RUEs). A BOEM-issued lease provides lessees the
exclusive right to submit site assessment plans and construction and
operations plans to BOEM for possible approval. A site assessment plan
describes how the lessee will assess the physical characteristics of
the lease area, which is a prerequisite to submitting a construction
and operations plan. The EA considers the reasonably foreseeable
environmental consequences associated with site characterization
activities (geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological
surveys) and site assessment activities (including the installation and
operation of meteorological buoys). BOEM prepared an EA for this
proposed action in order to inform its planning and decision-making (40
CFR 1501.5(b)).
Alternative: In addition to the Proposed Action, BOEM considered a
No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, BOEM would
neither approve commercial wind energy leasing nor grant ROWs and RUEs
in the Central Atlantic WEAs. BOEM's preferred alternative is the
Proposed Action.
Finding of no significant impact: After carefully considering the
alternatives and comments from the public and cooperating and
consulting agencies on the draft EA, BOEM finds that approval of
commercial wind energy leasing and granting ROWs and RUEs in the lease
area would not significantly impact the environment.
Availability of the final EA: The final EA and associated
information are available on BOEM's website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/central-atlantic">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/central-atlantic</a>.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq. (National Environmental Policy
Act, as amended) and 40 CFR 1506.6.
Karen Baker,
Chief, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, Bureau of Ocean Energy
Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-12563 Filed 6-6-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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