Notice2024-26424
Notice of Availability of the California Offshore Wind Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
November 14, 2024
Issuing agencies
Interior DepartmentOcean Energy Management Bureau
Abstract
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the availability of the draft programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for California Offshore Wind. The Proposed Action of the draft PEIS is the identification of programmatic mitigation measures to lessen the environmental impacts of commercial-scale offshore wind energy development in the five lease areas offshore Northern and Central California on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These mitigation measures may be required as conditions of approval for activities proposed within future construction and operations plans (COPs) prepared by leaseholders for approval to begin construction within the lease areas. This PEIS, if finalized and approved, will not result in the approval of any construction and operation activities.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 220 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 90051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-26424]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
[Docket No. BOEM-2023-0061]
Notice of Availability of the California Offshore Wind Draft
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
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 the draft programmatic environmental impact statement
(PEIS) for California Offshore Wind. The Proposed Action of the draft
PEIS is the identification of programmatic mitigation measures to
lessen the environmental impacts of commercial-scale offshore wind
energy development in the five lease areas offshore Northern and
Central California on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). These
mitigation measures may be required as conditions of approval for
activities proposed within future construction and operations plans
(COPs) prepared by leaseholders for approval to begin construction
within the lease areas. This PEIS, if finalized and approved, will not
result in the approval of any construction and operation activities.
ADDRESSES: The draft PEIS and associated information are available on
BOEM's website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/california-offshore-wind-programmatic-environmental-impact">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/california-offshore-wind-programmatic-environmental-impact</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Gilbane, Chief, Environmental
Analysis Section, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Camarillo,
California Office, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, CA 93010,
(805) 384-6387 or <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2844415b49064f41444a49464d684a474d45064f475e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7814110b19561f11141a19161d381a171d15561f170e">[email protected]</span></a>.
Submission of Public Comments: The 90-day comment period begins on
February 12, 2025. Public comments can be submitted in two ways: (1)
Through the <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> web portal: Navigate to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and search for Docket No. BOEM-2023-0061. Select
the document in the search results on which you want to comment, click
on the ``Comment'' button, and follow the online instructions for
submitting your comment. A commenter's checklist is available on the
comment web page. Enter your information and comment, then click
``Submit.'' (2) By mail or delivery service: Send comments in an
envelope labeled, ``CALIFORNIA OSW PEIS'' and addressed to Lisa
Gilbane, Environmental Assessment Section, Office of Environment,
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102,
Camarillo, California 93010.
BOEM's virtual public meetings will be held on the following date
at the time (Pacific time) indicated.
Tuesday January 28, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 30, 2025, 12:00 p.m.
Please go to <a href="https://www.boem.gov/caoffshorewindpeis">https://www.boem.gov/caoffshorewindpeis</a> for
registration links, dates, times and for additional information and
updates. Meetings are open to the public and free to attend.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This draft PEIS assesses potential
biological, socioeconomic, physical, and cultural impacts that could
result from floating offshore wind energy development associated with
the two leases offshore Humboldt Bay (OCS-P 0561 and 0562) and three
leases offshore Morro Bay (OCS-P 0563, 0564, and 0565) and considers
the reduction or avoidance of those impacts that could result from
adopting mitigation measures. BOEM issued these five leases May 16,
2023. The leases total approximately 373,000 acres (~583 square miles)
and are the first wind energy leases offshore California. Water depths
in the lease areas range from 1,640 to 4,265 feet (500 to 1,300
meters); the use of floating foundations that anchor to the sea floor
is anticipated.
The existing wind leases grant the lessees the exclusive right to
submit a COP to BOEM proposing the construction, operation, and
decommissioning of offshore wind energy facilities in the lease area.
BOEM will conduct site-specific National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) analyses on all COPs submitted and may conclude that the
inclusion of additional mitigation measures not identified in this
draft PEIS is required.
The Proposed Action is BOEM's adoption of a suite of program-level
mitigation measures that could be applied to activities to reduce or
avoid potential impacts.
Alternatives: In addition to the Proposed Action, BOEM considered
two alternatives: A No Action Alternative, and an alternative that does
not include the addition of mitigation measures in order to assess the
effectiveness of mitigation in avoiding or reducing impacts.
Availability of the Draft PEIS: The draft PEIS and associated
information are available on BOEM's website at: <a href="https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/california-offshore-wind-programmatic-environmental-impact">https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/california-offshore-wind-programmatic-environmental-impact</a>.
Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq. (National Environmental Policy
Act, as amended), NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR 1500-1508), and
U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI) NEPA regulations (43 CFR part
46).
Douglas P. Boren,
Pacific Regional Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-26424 Filed 11-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P
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