[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 108 (Monday, June 6, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 36344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-13170]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2016-0038]


Environmental Assessment for Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and 
Site Assessment Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) Offshore New York; MMAA104000

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

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: BOEM is announcing the availability of an Environmental 
Assessment (EA) for commercial wind lease issuance, site 
characterization activities (geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, 
and biological surveys), and site assessment activities (including the 
installation and operation of a meteorological tower and/or buoys) on 
the Atlantic OCS offshore New York. The EA considers the potential 
impacts of the proposed action and an analysis of reasonable 
alternatives to the proposed action (excluding the area within two 
nautical miles of the traffic separation schemes, and no action). This 
Notice of Availability (NOA) also serves to announce the beginning of 
the public comment period on the EA. The EA and associated information 
are available on BOEM's Web site at http://www.boem.gov/New-York/.
    Should a lessee propose to construct a commercial wind facility 
through submission of a Construction and Operations Plan, BOEM would 
conduct a separate site- and project-specific National Environmental 
Policy Act (NEPA) analysis, likely an Environmental Impact Statement, 
and would provide additional opportunities for public involvement 
pursuant to NEPA and the CEQ regulations at 40 CFR parts 1500-1508.

DATES: Comments on this EA will be accepted until July 6, 2016. See 
public meeting dates in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michelle Morin, BOEM Office of 
Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 
20166, (703) 787-1340 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Public Availability: BOEM will consider public comments on the EA 
in determining whether to issue a Finding of No Significant Impact, or 
conduct additional analysis under NEPA. Federal, state, tribal, and 
local governments and/or agencies and the public may submit written 
comments on this EA through the following methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
field entitled ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2016-0038, and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this notice;
    2. In written form, delivered by hand or by mail, enclosed in an 
envelope labeled ``Commercial Wind Lease Issuance and Site Assessment 
Activities on the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf Offshore New York 
Environmental Assessment'' and addressed to Program Manager, Office of 
Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland 
Road, Sterling, Virginia 20166. Comments must be received or postmarked 
no later than July 6, 2016.
    Before including your address, phone number, email address or other 
personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware 
that your entire comment, including your personal identifying 
information, may be made publicly available at any time. While you can 
ask us in your comments to withhold your personal identifying 
information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be 
able to do so.
    Public Meetings: BOEM will also hold public meetings to explain the 
proposed activities analyzed in the EA and to provide additional 
opportunity for public comment on the EA. The meetings are scheduled as 
follows:
     Monday June 20, 2016; Long Branch Middle School 
(Auditorium), 404 Indiana Avenue, Long Branch, New Jersey 07740; 6:00-
8:00 p.m.
     Tuesday June 21, 2016; Hofstra University (MPR Room), 900 
Fulton Avenue, Hempstead, New York 11549; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
     Wednesday, June 22, 2016; Westhampton Beach High School, 
49 Lilac Road, Westhampton Beach, New York 11978; 6:00-8:00 p.m.
     Thursday, June 23, 2016; University of Rhode Island, 
Narragansett Bay Campus, Coastal Institute Building (Hazard Rooms A & 
B), 215 S Ferry Road, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882; 6:00-8:00 p.m.

    Authority: This Notice of Availability (NOA) is published 
pursuant to the regulations (43 CFR 46.305) implementing the 
provisions of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, 
as amended (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (1988)).

    Dated: May 31, 2016.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-13170 Filed 6-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P