[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20367-20368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-8341]
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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
[Docket No. BOEM-2011-0008]
Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Off Delaware, Determination of No Competitive Interest
AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement
(BOEMRE), Interior.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: This notice provides BOEMRE's determination that no
competitive interest exists in acquiring a commercial wind lease in the
area offshore Delaware proposed in the January 26, 2011, Notice of
Proposed Lease Area and Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) (76 FR
4716). The location of a proposed lease area was identified through the
issuance of a Request for Interest (RFI) in the Federal Register on
April 26, 2010 (75 FR 21653).
Bluewater Wind Delaware, LLC submitted the only valid expression of
commercial interest in response to the April 26, 2010, RFI and BOEMRE
received no additional expressions of interest in response to the
January 26, 2011, RFCI. BOEMRE will proceed with the noncompetitive
lease process for the proposed lease area offshore Delaware as
described in the RFCI.
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 285. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act requires
that OCS renewable energy leases, easements, and rights-of-way be
issued ``on a competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after
public notice of a proposed lease, easement, or right-of-way that there
is no competitive interest.'' The authority to make such determinations
has been delegated to BOEMRE. This DNCI provides notice to the public
that BOEMRE has determined that there is no competitive interest in
leasing the proposed area.
BOEMRE received public comment submissions from four parties in
response to the January 26, 2011, RFCI. A discussion of these comments
is found below.
DATES: Effective April 12, 2011.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Erin C. Trager, Projects and
Coordination Branch, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement, Office of Offshore Alternative Energy Programs, 381 Elden
Street, Mail Stop 4090, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817; telephone (703)
787-1713.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of This DNCI
This DNCI provides public notice that BOEMRE has determined that
there is no competitive interest in acquiring a lease in the area
described in the January 26, 2011, RFCI. Bluewater Wind Delaware, LLC
submitted the only valid expression of commercial interest in response
to the RFI and BOEMRE received no additional expressions of interest in
response to the RFCI. As a result, no competitive interest exists in
the proposed leasing area. Subsequent to the publication of this
determination, BOEMRE may proceed with the noncompetitive lease process
outlined at 30 CFR 285.231(d) through (i).
Summary of Public Comments Received in Response to the January 26,
2011, RFCI
On February 10, 2011, the comment period closed for the Delaware
RFCI. BOEMRE received four responses during the public comment period,
including comments from two groups representing waterway users, one
marine waterway operator, and one company associated with the surf
clam/ocean quahog fishing industry. Comments received in response to
the RFCI are available at the following URL: http://www.boemre.gov/offshore/RenewableEnergy/stateactivities.htm#Delaware
Some of the comments received requested a change to the area of
interest considered for leasing, and included suggestions such as
identifying areas for exclusion, mitigation, or further study. Other
comments suggested that BOEMRE undertake a more coordinated outreach
effort with public stakeholders, to complement existing coordination
efforts with government stakeholders in the BOEMRE/Delaware Renewable
Energy Task Force. In addition, other comments expressed concern with
navigational safety and socioeconomic impacts to the surf clam/ocean
quahog fishery in the proposed lease area as a result of wind facility
development.
In identifying a lease area for analysis under the National
Environmental Policy Act, BOEMRE will consider excluding the area
designated as a potential U.S. Coast Guard vessel anchorage area, first
identified by the U.S. Coast Guard in its response to the Delaware RFI.
Comments received from waterways operators in response to the Delaware
RFCI indicate support for excluding a designated anchorage area from a
proposed lease area to replace unofficial anchorage areas currently in
use throughout the area of interest, which may be displaced by future
development.
In response to concerns regarding the proposed 500-meter buffer
between the proposed lease area and the adjacent Traffic Separation
Scheme (TSS), BOEMRE has decided that additional information is needed
to evaluate whether this proposed buffer should be widened. BOEMRE will
collaborate with the U.S. Coast Guard to better quantify the amount and
location of vessel activity and research ways to analyze the effects of
wind energy facility infrastructure on marine vessel traffic in the
area to better inform any future mitigation in a proposed lease area.
If data suggest that heavy traffic transits within 0.5 nautical mile of
the edge of the TSS, BOEMRE has the discretion to
[[Page 20368]]
require a larger buffer either as a stipulation in the lease or as a
condition of Construction and Operations Plan approval.
In response to concerns regarding potential impacts to the surf
clam/quahog fishery in the area of interest, BOEMRE intends to consider
potential impacts to the fishery in a proposed lease area as well as
the industry associated with this fishery as part of our compliance
process.
In response to requests that BOEMRE conduct outreach to the mariner
and fishing communities, BOEMRE will continue its ongoing outreach
efforts, including but not limited to, participation in meetings with
the Mariners Advisory Committee for the Bay and River Delaware and
outreach to the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and regulators
of associated activities offshore Delaware.
Dated: March 29, 2011.
Michael R. Bromwich,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and
Enforcement.
[FR Doc. 2011-8341 Filed 4-11-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P