[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 189 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59968-59972]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23699]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2013-0050; MMAA104000]


Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore Oregon, Request for Interest

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Interior.

ACTION: Public Notice of an Unsolicited Request for a Commercial OCS 
Wind Lease, Request for Interest (RFI), and Request for Public Comment.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this public notice is to: (1) Describe the 
proposal submitted to BOEM by Principle Power, Inc. (Principle Power) 
to acquire an OCS commercial wind lease; (2) solicit submissions of 
indications of interest in obtaining a commercial lease for wind energy 
development on the OCS offshore Oregon in the area described in this 
notice; and (3) solicit initial public input regarding the area 
described in this notice, the potential environmental consequences of 
wind energy development in the area, and the multiple uses of the area.
    On May 15, 2013, BOEM received an unsolicited request from 
Principle Power for a commercial wind lease on the OCS offshore Oregon. 
Principle

[[Page 59969]]

Power's proposed project, the ``WindFloat Pacific Project,'' would 
consist of a floating wind energy demonstration facility offshore Coos 
Bay, Oregon. The project is designed to generate 30 megawatts (MW) of 
electricity from five floating ``WindFloat'' units, each equipped with 
a 6-MW offshore wind turbine, connected by inter-unit electrical 
cabling, with a single transmission cable exporting electricity to the 
mainland that would extend across both Federal and state lands. The 
project would be located approximately 16 nautical miles (nmi) west of 
Coos Bay, Oregon in water depths of approximately 1,400 feet. 
Additional information on Principle Power's unsolicited lease request 
can be viewed at http://www.boem.gov/State-Activities-Oregon/.
    This RFI is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS 
Lands Act, as amended 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 585.231(b). 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 of the Interior 
(Secretary) determines after public notice of a proposed lease, 
easement, or right-of-way that there is no competitive interest.'' This 
RFI provides such public notice for the proposed lease area requested 
by Principle Power and invites the submission of indications of 
interest. BOEM is soliciting submissions of interest in commercial wind 
energy development with this notice. BOEM will consider the responses 
to this public notice to determine whether competitive interest exists 
for the area requested by Principle Power, as required by 43 U.S.C. 
1337(p)(3). Parties wishing to obtain a commercial lease for wind 
energy development for the area described below under ``Description of 
the Proposed Lease Area'' should submit detailed and specific 
information as described in the section entitled, ``Required Indication 
of Interest Information.''
    This announcement also requests that interested and affected 
parties comment and provide information about site conditions and 
multiple uses within the area identified in this notice that would be 
relevant to the proposed project or its impacts. This is the first step 
in the OCS renewable energy leasing process. There will be additional 
opportunities to provide comment pursuant to 30 CFR part 585 and 
applicable laws, such as the opportunity to comment on the 
environmental analysis that BOEM will prepare under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), before any lease is issued. A detailed 
description of the proposed lease area can be found in the section of 
this notice entitled, ``Description of the Area.''

DATES: If you are submitting an indication of interest in acquiring a 
lease for the proposed lease area, your submission must be sent by 
mail, postmarked no later than October 30, 2013 for your submission to 
be considered. If you are providing comments or other submissions of 
information, you may send them by mail, postmarked by this same date, 
or you may submit them through the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, also by this same date.
    Submission Procedures: If you are submitting an indication of 
interest in a lease, please submit it by mail to the following address: 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific Region Office of Strategic 
Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor, Camarillo, California 
93010. Submissions must be postmarked by October 30, 2013 to be 
considered by BOEM for the purposes of determining competitive 
interest. In addition to a paper copy of your submission, include an 
electronic copy; BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file stored on a compact 
disk (CD) to be an acceptable format for submitting an electronic copy. 
BOEM will list the parties that submit indications of interest on the 
BOEM Web site after the 30-day comment period has closed.
    If you are submitting comments or other information concerning the 
proposed lease area, you may use either of the following two methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2013-0050 and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
    2. Alternatively, comments may be submitted by mail to the 
following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific Region 
Office of Strategic Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor, 
Camarillo, California 93010.
    If you wish to protect the confidentiality of your submissions or 
comments, clearly mark the relevant sections and request that BOEM 
treat them as confidential. Please label privileged or confidential 
information ``Contains Confidential Information'' and consider 
submitting such information as a separate attachment. Treatment of 
confidential information is addressed in the section of this notice 
entitled, ``Privileged or Confidential Information.'' BOEM will post 
all comments on www.regulations.gov, unless labeled as confidential. 
Information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be 
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jean Thurston, Renewable Energy 
Program Specialist, BOEM, Pacific Region Office of Strategic Resources, 
770 Paseo Camarillo, Second Floor, Camarillo, California 93010, Phone: 
(805) 384-4704.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Purpose of this RFI

    Responses to this public notice will allow BOEM to determine, 
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.231, whether or not there is competitive 
interest in acquiring an OCS commercial wind lease in the proposed 
lease area. In addition, this notice provides an opportunity for 
interested stakeholders to comment on the proposed lease area, the 
proposed project, and any potential impacts wind energy development may 
have in the area. BOEM may use comments received to further identify 
and refine the area requested and inform future environmental analyses 
related to the project. This is the first opportunity for public input; 
additional opportunities will be provided pursuant to 30 CFR part 585 
and applicable laws and BOEM practices.
    If, in response to this notice, BOEM receives one or more 
indications of interest in offshore wind energy development from 
qualified entities that wish to compete for the proposed lease area, 
BOEM may decide to move forward with the lease issuance process using 
competitive procedures pursuant to 30 CFR Part 585. If BOEM receives no 
competing indications of interest from qualified companies, BOEM may 
decide to move forward with the lease issuance process using the non-
competitive procedures contained in 30 CFR part 585.

Background

National Offshore Wind Strategy

    In 2011, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of the 
Interior Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy released the 
National Offshore Wind Strategy, which identified challenges facing 
development of offshore wind energy and outlined actions to support the 
goals of developing an offshore wind industry in the United States. 
DOE's

[[Page 59970]]

Wind and Water Power Program released a formal Offshore Wind Innovation 
and Demonstration Initiative, consistent with the National Offshore 
Wind Strategy goals, to promote and accelerate responsible commercial 
offshore wind development in the United States. To address the 
objectives of the Strategy, funding was planned for Advanced Technology 
Demonstration Projects that verify innovative designs and technology 
developments and validate full performance and cost under real 
operating and market conditions. On December 12, 2012, the DOE 
announced award funding for seven proposed offshore wind demonstration 
projects under the ``Financial Assistance Funding Opportunity 
Announcement (DOE-FOA-0000410) U.S. Offshore Wind: Advanced Technology 
Demonstration Projects.'' The awards went to projects that demonstrated 
the ability to progress toward achieving the national goals of the 
National Offshore Wind Strategy. Principle Power submitted an 
application in response to the DOE-FOA-0000410 and was selected as one 
of the seven award recipients. From the seven original projects 
selected for an award, DOE will choose three projects for continued 
funding in the spring of 2014. Principle Power has submitted a lease 
request to BOEM in an effort to move forward in the DOE funding 
process.

Determination of Competitive Interest and Leasing Process

    After the publication of this announcement, BOEM will evaluate 
indications of interest in acquiring a commercial lease in the proposed 
lease area. At the conclusion of the comment period for this public 
notice, BOEM will review the submissions received and undertake a 
completeness review for each of those submissions and a qualifications 
review for each of the nominating entities. BOEM will then make a 
determination as to whether competitive interest exists.
    If BOEM determines that there is no competitive interest in the 
proposed lease area, it will publish a notice stating that there is no 
competitive interest in the Federal Register. At that point, BOEM may 
decide to proceed with the noncompetitive lease issuance process 
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.231, and Principle Power would need to submit 
any required plan(s). If BOEM determines that there is competitive 
interest, it may move forward with the leasing process outlined in 30 
CFR 585.211.
    Whether following competitive or non-competitive procedures, BOEM 
would consult with the BOEM Oregon Intergovernmental Renewable Energy 
Task Force and comply with all applicable requirements before making a 
decision on whether or not to issue a lease and approve, disapprove, or 
approve with modifications any associated plan(s). BOEM would 
coordinate and consult, as appropriate, with relevant Federal agencies, 
affected tribes, affected state agencies and affected local governments 
during the lease development and issuance process.

Description of the Proposed Lease Area

    The proposed lease area is located off the coast of Oregon, 
approximately 16 nmi west of, Coos Bay, Oregon. From its most 
northeastern point the area extends approximately 5.18 nmi south and 
2.59 nmi west. The project area consists of four partial OCS blocks. 
The entire area is approximately 15.01159 square miles (9,607.419 acres 
or 3,888 hectares).

                        Table 1--List of OCS Blocks Included in the Request for Interest
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                                                               Block
          Protraction name             Protraction number      number                   Sub block
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Coos Bay...........................  NK 10-01..............       6573  L,P
Coos Bay...........................  NK 10-01..............       6574  A,B,C,E,F,G,I,J,K,M,N,O
Coos Bay...........................  NK 10-01..............       6623  D,H,L,P
Coos Bay...........................  NK 10-01..............       6624  A,B,C,E,F,I,J,M,N
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    The boundary of the proposed lease area follows the points listed 
in Table 2 in clockwise order. Point numbers 1 and 25 are the same. 
Coordinates are provided in X, Y (eastings, northings) UTM Zone 18N, 
NAD 83 and geographic (latitude, longitude) NAD83.

                      Table 2--List of Boundary Points Included in the Request for Interest
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            Point number                X (Easting)    Y (Northing)         Latitude              Longitude
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1...................................          360800         4804800       43.383163617505      -124.71850250843
2...................................          359600         4804800      43.3829400824461     -124.733310553746
3...................................          359600         4806000      43.3937405007104     -124.733618431238
4...................................          359600         4807200      43.4045408967447     -124.733926479511
5...................................          359600         4808400      43.4153412705474     -124.734234698679
6...................................          359600         4809600      43.4261416221169     -124.734543088854
7...................................          359600         4810800      43.4369419514513      -124.73485165015
8...................................          359600         4812000      43.4477422585492     -124.735160382679
9...................................          360800         4812000      43.4479662972019     -124.720336552948
10..................................          360800         4813200      43.4587666660974     -124.720642820982
11..................................          360800         4814400      43.4695670127825     -124.720949259014
12..................................          362000         4814400      43.4697892973427     -124.706119986029
13..................................          363200         4814400      43.4700096596489     -124.691290544395
14..................................          364400         4814400      43.4702280996417     -124.676460935576
15..................................          364400         4813200      43.4594275050812     -124.676162410122
16..................................          364400         4813200      43.4486268883978     -124.675864050282
17..................................          364400         4810800       43.437826249593     -124.675565855946
18..................................          364400         4809600      43.4270255886685     -124.675267827005
19..................................          364400         4808400      43.4162249056256      -124.67496996335

[[Page 59971]]

 
20..................................          363200         4808400      43.4160068748692     -124.689786398592
21..................................          363200         4807200      43.4052062514705     -124.689486069775
22..................................          363200         4806000       43.394405605928     -124.689185907484
23..................................          363200         4804800      43.3836049382433     -124.688885911607
24..................................          362000         4804800      43.3833852361241     -124.703694293898
25..................................          360800         4804800       43.383163617505      -124.71850250843
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Map of the Area

    A map of the area proposed by Principle Power and included in this 
RFI can be found at the following URL: http://www.boem.gov/State-Activities-Oregon/. A large scale map of the proposed lease area 
showing boundaries of the area with the numbered blocks is available 
from BOEM at the following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 
Pacific Region Office of Strategic Resources, 770 Paseo Camarillo, 
Second Floor, Camarillo, California 93010.

Department of Defense Activities and Stipulations

    The Department of Defense (DOD) conducts offshore testing, 
training, and operations on the OCS and may request that BOEM condition 
any activities that might take place in the proposed lease area. BOEM 
will consult with DOD regarding potential issues concerning offshore 
testing, training, and operational activities, and will develop 
appropriate stipulations to mitigate the effects of renewable energy 
activities on any DOD activities in the proposed lease area.

Required Indication of Interest Information

    If you intend to submit an indication of interest in a lease for 
the area identified in this notice, you must provide the following:
    (1) A statement that you wish to acquire a commercial wind lease 
within the proposed lease area. For BOEM to consider your indication of 
interest, it must include a proposal for a wind power project within 
the proposed lease area. Any request for a commercial wind lease 
located outside of the proposed lease area should be submitted 
separately pursuant to 30 CFR 585.230;
    (2) A general description of your objectives and the facilities 
that you would use to achieve those objectives;
    (3) A general schedule of proposed activities, including those 
leading to commercial operations;
    (4) Available and pertinent data and information concerning 
renewable energy resources and environmental conditions in the area 
that you wish to lease, including energy and resource data and 
information used to evaluate the area of interest. Where applicable, 
spatial information should be submitted in a format compatible with 
ArcGIS 9.3 in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83);
    (5) Documentation demonstrating that you are legally qualified to 
hold a lease as set forth in 30 CFR 585.106 and part 107. Examples of 
the documentation appropriate for demonstrating your legal 
qualifications and related guidance can be found in Chapter 2 and 
Appendix B of the Guidelines for the Renewable Energy Framework Guide 
Book available at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx. Legal qualification documents will 
be placed in an official file that may be made available for public 
review. If you wish that any part of your legal qualification 
documentation be kept confidential, clearly identify what should be 
kept confidential, and submit it under separate cover (see ``Protection 
of Privileged or Confidential Information Section,'' below); and
    (6) Documentation demonstrating that you are technically and 
financially capable of constructing, operating, maintaining and 
decommissioning the facilities described in (2) above. Guidance 
regarding the documentation that could be used to demonstrate your 
technical and financial qualifications can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/Index.aspx. If you wish that any part of your technical and financial 
qualification documentation be kept confidential, clearly identify what 
should be kept confidential, and submit it under separate cover (see 
``Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information Section,'' 
below).
    Your complete submission, including the items identified in (1) 
through (6) above, must be provided to BOEM in both paper and 
electronic formats. BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file stored on a CD to 
be an acceptable format for submitting an electronic copy.
    It is critical that you provide a complete submission of interest 
so that BOEM may consider your submission in a timely manner. If BOEM 
reviews your submission and determines that it is incomplete, BOEM will 
inform you of this determination in writing and describe the 
information that BOEM needs from you in order for BOEM to deem your 
submission complete. You will be given 15 business days from the date 
of the letter to provide the information that BOEM found to be missing 
from your original submission. If you do not meet this deadline, or if 
BOEM determines your second submission is also insufficient, BOEM may 
deem your submission invalid. In such a case, BOEM would not consider 
your submission.

Requested Information From Interested or Affected Parties

    BOEM is also requesting from the public and other interested or 
affected parties specific and detailed comments regarding the 
following:
    (1) Geological and geophysical conditions (including seabed 
conditions and shallow hazards) in the area described in this notice;
    (2) Historic properties and archaeological resources potentially 
affected by the construction and installation of meteorological buoys 
or commercial wind development in the area identified in this notice;
    (3) Other uses of the area described in this notice, including but 
not limited to navigation (commercial and recreational vessel usage), 
commercial and recreational fishing, recreational activities (e.g., 
wildlife viewing, and scenic areas), aviation, other energy related 
development activities, scientific research, and utilities and 
communications infrastructure (e.g., undersea cables);
    (4) Other relevant environmental information, including but not 
limited to: protected species and habitats, marine mammals, sea 
turtles, birds, fish, and cultural resources;
    (5) Socioeconomic information, such as demographics and employment, 
or

[[Page 59972]]

information relevant to environmental justice considerations.

Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information

Freedom of Information Act

    BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that you 
submit as required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exemption 
4 of FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial or financial 
information that you submit that is privileged or confidential. If you 
wish to protect the confidentiality of such information, clearly mark 
it and request that BOEM treat it as confidential. BOEM will not 
disclose such information, subject to the requirements of FOIA. Please 
label privileged or confidential information, ``Contains Confidential 
Information,'' and consider submitting such information as a separate 
attachment.
    However, BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate 
summaries of such information or comments not containing such 
information. Additionally, BOEM will not treat as confidential: (1) The 
legal title of the nominating entity (for example, the name of your 
company) or (2) the geographic location of nominated facilities. 
Information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be 
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.

Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470w-
3(a))

    BOEM is required, after consultation with the Secretary of the 
Interior, to withhold the location, character, or ownership of historic 
resources if it determines that disclosure may, among other things, 
cause a significant invasion of privacy, risk harm to the historic 
resources, or impede the use of a traditional religious site by 
practitioners. Tribal entities and other interested parties should 
designate such information that they wish to be held as confidential.

    Dated: September 19, 2013.
Tommy P. Beaudreau,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2013-23699 Filed 9-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P