[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 6 (Monday, January 10, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1413-1416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-434]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Minerals Management Service


Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Request for Information and 
Interest in a Commercial Sand and Gravel Lease Sale Offshore Northern 
New Jersey

AGENCY: Minerals Management Service (MMS), Interior.

ACTION: Request for Information and Interest (RFII).

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SUMMARY: In 1996, the MMS received a request from a private company for 
a competitive sand and gravel commercial lease sale offshore northern 
New Jersey. A RFII was published in the Federal Register on May 21, 
1996 (Vol. 61, No. 99). The MMS deferred further action, that is, 
preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) after the company 
advised that they were pursuing other sources of sand and gravel. In 
1998, and again in 1999, the company requested that MMS end the 
deferral of the competitive lease sale process and prepare an EIS. 
Because a significant amount of time has passed, MMS has decided to 
issue another RFII and to focus the area being considered to a much 
smaller one than that identified in the 1996 request. This smaller, 
more focused area reflects comments received on the earlier RFII

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and is depicted on the accompanying page-size map.
    This RFII is published pursuant to the Outer Continental Shelf 
Lands Act (OCSLA) as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331-1356 (1988)), and 
accompanying regulations (30 CFR part 281).

Purpose of the RFII

    The purpose of the RFII is to gather comments, information and 
indications of interest from interested parties about a possible 
commercial sand and gravel lease sale offshore northern New Jersey. 
This does not mean that a preliminary decision to lease in this area 
has been made. The MMS would like comments addressing the area 
identified, including information on: Commercial, navigational, 
recreational, and multiple-use considerations; Environmental concerns, 
including information on biological and physical resources; 
Archaeological resources; and Social and economic issues.
    This RFII is one of the early steps in a public-participation 
process that includes a thorough environmental analysis and compliance 
with the State's coastal zone management program. If a decision is made 
to prepare an EIS, the MMS will provide for several additional 
opportunities for public comment.

Description of the Area

    The RFII area is located off the northern coast of New Jersey 
beginning 3 nautical miles (nm) from shore and extending southward 12 
nm from slightly north of Long Branch to slightly south of Belmar. The 
landward boundary is the 3 nm line separating the Federal OCS and State 
submerged land jurisdictions. The seaward edge of the area is narrowest 
on the north (10 nm from shore) and widens slightly on the south (12 nm 
from shore). The area contains 10 whole OCS blocks and 4 partial 
blocks. Generally OCS blocks are 9 square miles. A large scale map of 
the RFII area showing boundaries of the RFII area with numbered blocks 
is available from MMS at the following address: Minerals Management 
Service, Division of International Activities and Marine Minerals, 381 
Elden Street, Mail Stop 4030, Herndon, VA 22070, Phone: (703) 787-1300, 
FAX: (703) 787-1284.

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Relation to Coastal Management Plans

    The MMS specifically requests comments on potential conflicts with 
approved local coastal management plans (CMP) that may result from 
future commercial sand and gravel mining within the RFII area. We 
request that you identify specific CMP policies; the types of conflicts 
you foresee; and possible steps that MMS could take to avoid or 
mitigate these conflicts. Your comments may address the entire area 
under consideration or portions of the area. We request that you list 
block numbers or clearly outline the subject area on the large-scale 
RFII map.

Areas of Specific Industry Interest

    We request that industry respondents indicate specific blocks or 
areas within the RFII area that are of particular interest for 
consideration in a possible OCS sand and gravel lease sale. Industry 
respondents are asked to outline their area(s) of interest on the 
large-scale RFII map and to submit a list of block numbers nominated 
(including both whole and partial blocks). Although identities of those 
indicating interest in specific areas within this RFII become a matter 
of public record, the blocks that the individual company(s) identifies 
are considered proprietary information.
    Industry respondents should rank areas of specific interest 
according to priority: 1 (high), 2 (medium), and 3 (low). Areas 
identified that do not indicate priorities will be considered priority 
3. The name and telephone number of a person in the respondent's 
organization to contact for additional information or clarification 
should be included in the response.

Commenting Procedures

    The MMS must receive your comments, information and/or indications 
of interest (in envelopes labeled RFII Information (or Indication of 
Interest)) no later than 90 days following publication of this document 
in the Federal Register. Please submit the RFII map with comments and/
or indications of interest to: Minerals Management Service, Division of 
International Activities and Marine Minerals, 381 Elden Street, Mail 
Stop 4030, Herndon, VA 22070.
    The MMS will hold information meetings on February 28, 2000, from 7 
p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Bradley Beach Borough Hall, Bradley Beach, New 
Jersey, and on February 29, 2000, at the Holiday Inn, 1000 Roosevelt 
Avenue, Carteret, New Jersey, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Additional Information

    1. The MMS would like to clarify that any possible sand and gravel 
commercial lease sale within the RFII area will not include any 
requirements for the end use of the sand and gravel.
    2. The MMS will restrict dredging to relatively shallow and uniform 
depths to preserve ocean bottom topography and promote rapid 
recolonization of biota in dredged areas. The MMS will prohibit the 
mining of deep pits for use in the disposal of any material.
    3. The MMS has completed an Environmental Report assessing possible 
consequences associated with using OCS sand for beach nourishment along 
the U.S. east coast from Northern New Jersey to the Virginia/North 
Carolina border. A self-contained and separate appendix within the 
Environmental Report assesses potential environmental impacts of 
offshore mining for construction aggregate material. The appendix may 
provide useful information as parties prepare responses to this RFII. 
The Environmental Report, and the appendix are available through the 
MMS's internet web-site at www.mms.gov/intermar/marineac.htm.

Use of Responses to the RFII

    The MMS will use information in response to this RFII in several 
ways. First, MMS will use comments on possible environmental impacts 
and multiple use conflicts to help in our analysis and handling of 
concerns in and near the RFII area. Based on this information we will 
make a preliminary determination on the potential advantages and 
disadvantages of OCS sand and gravel exploration and development within 
the RFII area and whether to prepare an EIS. Second, MMS will use the 
responses to identify specific areas within the RFII area that are of 
interest for potential commercial sand and gravel leasing and 
development. Third, comments will be used to identify potential 
conflicts among offshore activities and State or local coastal zone 
management plans. Finally, comments may be used to develop requirements 
to ensure safe and environmentally sound activities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carol A. Hartgen, International 
Activities and Marine Minerals, (703) 787-1300.

    Dated: January 4, 2000.
WC Rosenbusch,
Director, Minerals Management Service.
[FR Doc. 00-434 Filed 1-7-00; 8:45 am]
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