[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 160 (Thursday, August 18, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55228-55231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-19349]



[[Page 55228]]

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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2016-0051; MMAA104000]


Potential Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer 
Continental Shelf (OCS) Offshore California--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 
unsolicited proposal submitted to BOEM by Trident Winds, LLC (Trident 
Winds) to acquire an OCS commercial wind lease; (2) solicit submissions 
of indications of interest in acquiring a commercial lease for wind 
energy development on the OCS offshore California in the area described 
in this notice; and (3) solicit public input regarding the area 
described in this notice, the potential environmental consequences 
associated with wind energy development in the area, and existing and 
planned multiple uses of the area.
    On January 14, 2016, BOEM received an unsolicited request from 
Trident Winds for a commercial wind lease on the OCS. Trident Winds' 
proposed project would consist of a utility-scale floating wind energy 
facility offshore Morro Bay, California that would interconnect with 
the California electrical grid at the existing Morro Bay Power Plant. 
The project would be located, at its closest point, approximately 15 
nautical miles (nmi) offshore Point Piedras Blancas in water depths of 
approximately 2,900 feet. Additional information on Trident Winds' 
unsolicited lease request can be viewed at http://www.boem.gov/California/.
    This RFI is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS 
Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3), and BOEM's implementing regulations at 
30 CFR part 585. 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] 
determines after public notice of a proposed lease, easement, or right-
of-way that there is no competitive interest.'' This RFI provides 
public notice for the area requested by Trident Winds (the Proposed 
Lease Area) that is described below in the section ``Description of the 
Proposed Lease Area,'' and invites the submission of indications of 
interest in acquiring a commercial wind lease within the Proposed Lease 
Area. Parties wishing to indicate competitive interest in the Proposed 
Lease Area should submit detailed and specific information as described 
in the section entitled ``Required Indication of Interest 
Information.'' BOEM will consider the responses to this public notice 
to determine whether competitive interest exists in the Proposed Lease 
Area.
    This announcement also requests that interested and affected 
parties comment and provide information about site conditions and any 
existing or planned multiple uses within the Proposed Lease Area that 
may be relevant to the proposed project or its potential impacts.

DATES: If you are submitting an indication of interest in acquiring a 
commercial wind lease for or within the Proposed Lease Area, your 
submission must be sent by mail, postmarked no later than September 19, 
2016 for your submission to be considered. BOEM requests comments or 
other submissions of information by this same date.

SUBMISSION PROCEDURES: If you are submitting an indication of interest 
in acquiring a commercial wind lease, please submit it by mail to the 
following address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Pacific Region 
Office of Strategic Resources, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102 (CM 102), 
Camarillo, California 93010. Submissions must be postmarked by 
September 19, 2016 to be considered by BOEM for the purposes of 
determining competitive interest. Your complete submission must be 
provided to BOEM in both paper and electronic formats. BOEM considers 
an Adobe PDF file stored on a compact disc (CD) to be an acceptable 
format for submitting an electronic copy. BOEM will list the parties 
that submit indications of interest and the OCS blocks proposed for 
development 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-2016-0051 and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
    2. U.S. Postal Service or other delivery service. Send your 
comments and information to the following address: Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management, Pacific Region Office of Strategic Resources, 760 
Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102 (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010.
    All responses will be reported on http://www.regulations.gov. If 
you wish to protect the confidentiality of your submissions or 
comments, please identify and clearly label privileged or confidential 
information ``Contains Confidential Information.'' Treatment of 
confidential information is addressed in the section of this notice 
entitled, ``Privileged or Confidential Information.'' BOEM will post 
all comments on http://www.regulations.gov, unless it is labeled in the 
manner described above. 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 
Specialist, BOEM, Pacific Region Office of Strategic Resources, 760 
Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102 (CM 102), Camarillo, California 93010, 
Phone: (805) 384-6303.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Purpose of This Request for Interest

    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 the 
public to comment on the Proposed Lease Area, the proposed project, and 
any potential impacts wind energy development in the Proposed Lease 
Area may have. BOEM may use comments received to further identify and 
refine the area being considered for wind energy development, and 
inform future environmental analyses related to the project.

Background

Trident Winds Proposal

    Trident Winds' proposed Morro Bay Offshore Project would consist of 
a utility-scale floating wind energy facility offshore Morro Bay, 
California. The proposed project would generate an anticipated 765 
megawatts (MW) of electricity from approximately 100 floating units, 
each equipped with up to an 8-MW wind turbine generator and connected 
by inter-unit electrical cabling, with a single transmission cable 
exporting electricity to the mainland. Trident Winds proposes to 
interconnect the project with the California electrical

[[Page 55229]]

grid at the existing Morro Bay Power Plant. The proposal also includes 
plans to increase the project to 1,000 MW at a later date if an 
agreement is reached between the developer and the State of California 
to purchase the additional power produced and additional transmission 
power is available. At its closest point, the project would be located 
approximately 15 nmi offshore Point Piedras Blancas in water depths of 
approximately 2,900 feet. The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is 
located adjacent to the northeast boundary of the proposed project. 
Additional information on Trident Wind's unsolicited lease request can 
be viewed at http://www.boem.gov/California/.

California Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards

    In October 2015, the State of California passed the Clean Energy 
and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015 (SB-350), requiring the amount of 
electricity generated and sold to retail customers per year from 
eligible renewable energy resources be increased to 50 percent by 
December 31, 2030. New and modified electrical transmission facilities 
may be necessary to achieve the SB-350 goals. The proposed Trident 
Winds project may provide additional renewable energy capacity for use 
by the State of California to achieve its SB-350 goals.

Determination of Competitive Interest and the Leasing Process

    After the publication of this notice, BOEM will evaluate 
indications of interest in acquiring a commercial wind 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, in response to this notice, BOEM receives one or more 
indications of interest in acquiring a commercial wind lease 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 585.211-225. If BOEM receives 
no competing indications of interest from qualified companies, BOEM may 
decide to move forward with the lease issuance process using the 
noncompetitive procedures contained in 30 CFR 585.231-232.
    Should BOEM decide to proceed with issuing a lease in the Proposed 
Lease Area, whether competitively or noncompetitively, it will comply 
with all applicable requirements and provide the public with additional 
opportunities to provide input pursuant to 30 CFR part 585 and other 
applicable laws, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). 
BOEM will also 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 central coast of 
California, beginning approximately 15 nmi west of Point Piedras 
Blancas. The area extends approximately 21 nmi northwest to southeast, 
with a maximum width of approximately 6 nmi. The entire area is 
approximately 106 square miles (67,963 acres) and consists of 5 OCS 
blocks and 17 partial OCS blocks (191 sub blocks) (Table 1).

                        Table 1--List of OCS Blocks Included in the Request for Interest
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           Protraction name                 Protraction number      Block number             Sub block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6253  P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6254  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O
                                                                                    ,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6255  E,I,M.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6303  D,H,L,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6304  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O
                                                                                    ,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6305  A,E,I,M.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6353  C,D,G,H,K,L,O,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6354  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O
                                                                                    ,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6355  A,B,E,F,I,J,M,N.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6403  C,D,G,H,K,L.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6404  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O
                                                                                    ,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6405  A,B,E,F,G,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6406  M.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6454  D.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6455  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,L.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6456  A,B,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6457  E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6458  E,F,I,J,M,N.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6506  C,D.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6507  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,K,L,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6508  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O
                                                                                    ,P.
San Luis Obispo.......................  NI10-03..................            6558  A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The boundary of the Proposed Lease Area follows the points listed 
in Table 2 in clockwise order. Coordinates are provided in UTM meters 
(UTM Zone 10N, NAD 83) and latitude/longitude decimal degrees (NAD83).

                      Table 2--List of Boundary Points Included in the Request for Interest
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                 Point number                   UTM (Easting)  UTM (Northing)     Latitude         Longitude
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1............................................          610400         3955200      35.7346059       -121.7791773

[[Page 55230]]

 
2............................................          615200         3955200     35.73405568       -121.7261096
3............................................          615200         3954000     35.72323874       -121.7262819
4............................................          616400         3954000     35.72309758       -121.7130169
5............................................          616400         3945600     35.64737882       -121.7142327
6............................................          617600         3945600      35.6472366       -121.7009804
7............................................          617600         3939600     35.59315144       -121.7018549
8............................................          618800         3939600     35.59300805       -121.6886116
9............................................          618800         3938400     35.58219101        -121.688788
10...........................................          620000         3938400     35.58204622       -121.6755466
11...........................................          620000         3937200     35.57122922       -121.6757246
12...........................................          621200         3937200     35.57108303       -121.6624851
13...........................................          621200         3936000     35.56026607       -121.6626649
14...........................................          622400         3936000     35.56011849       -121.6494272
15...........................................          622400         3934800     35.54930157       -121.6496087
16...........................................          632000         3934800     35.54806908       -121.5437251
17...........................................          632000         3931200     35.51561966       -121.5443115
18...........................................          634400         3931200      35.5152974       -121.5178522
19...........................................          634400         3924000     35.45039878       -121.5190434
20...........................................          629600         3924000     35.45103598       -121.5719198
21...........................................          629600         3926400     35.47266944       -121.5715373
22...........................................          628400         3926400     35.47282524       -121.5847602
23...........................................          628400         3927600     35.48364201       -121.5845706
24...........................................          627200         3927600     35.48379642       -121.5977953
25...........................................          627200         3928800     35.49461323       -121.5976074
26...........................................          624800         3928800     35.49491784       -121.6240607
27...........................................          624800         3930000     35.50573474       -121.6238762
28...........................................          622400         3930000     35.50603368       -121.6503335
29...........................................          622400         3931200     35.51685068       -121.6501524
30...........................................          620000         3931200     35.51714393       -121.6766137
31...........................................          620000         3932400     35.52796103        -121.676436
32...........................................          618800         3932400     35.52810553       -121.6896686
33...........................................          618800         3933600     35.53892267       -121.6894926
34...........................................          615200         3933600     35.53934765       -121.7291961
35...........................................          615200         3934800     35.55016493       -121.7290254
36...........................................          614000         3934800     35.55030374       -121.7422619
37...........................................          614000         3936000     35.56112106       -121.7420929
38...........................................          610400         3936000     35.56152894       -121.7818081
39...........................................          610400         3937200     35.57234641       -121.7816443
40...........................................          608000         3937200     35.57261116       -121.8081251
41...........................................          608000         3945600     35.64833356       -121.8070013
42...........................................          609200         3945600     35.64820154       -121.7937484
43...........................................          609200         3951600     35.70228811       -121.7929341
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Map of the Proposed Lease Area

    A map of the Proposed Lease Area can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/California/. 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, 760 Paseo Camarillo, 
Suite 102, Second Floor, Camarillo, California 93010.

Department of Defense Activities and Potential 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 in an effort to try to 
minimize any potential impacts, and may develop stipulations, as 
appropriate, to mitigate the effects of renewable energy activities on 
any DOD activities in and around the Proposed Lease Area.

Required Indication of Interest Information

    If you intend to submit an indication of interest in acquiring a 
commercial wind lease within the Proposed Lease Area, you must provide 
the following:
    (1) The BOEM Protraction name, number, and specific whole or 
partial OCS blocks within the Proposed Lease Area that are of interest 
for commercial wind leasing, including any required buffer area(s). If 
your area(s) includes partial blocks, include the sub-block letter (A-
P). Additionally, you should submit a shapefile or geodatabase of the 
project area compatible with ArcGIS 10.3 and in either NAD 83 
unprojected, or NAD 83 UTM Zone 10 N. 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 the development of a commercial wind energy project within 
the Proposed Lease Area;
    (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

[[Page 55231]]

in a format compatible with ArcGIS 10.3 in either NAD 83 unprojected, 
or NAD 83 UTM Zone 10 N;
    (5) Documentation demonstrating that you are legally qualified to 
hold a lease as set forth in 30 CFR 585.106-107. 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 paragraph (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/QualificationGuidelines-pdf.aspx. If you wish for any part of your 
technical and financial qualification documentation to be kept 
confidential, clearly identify what should be kept confidential, and 
submit it under separate cover (see ``Protection of Privileged or 
Confidential Information,'' below).
    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 any information that BOEM has deemed missing 
from your original submission. If you do not meet this deadline, or if 
BOEM determines that your second submission is also insufficient, BOEM 
may deem your submission invalid. In such a case, BOEM will not 
consider your submission.

Requested Information From Interested or Affected Parties

    BOEM is also requesting specific and detailed comments from the 
public and interested or affected parties regarding the following:
    (1) Geological and geophysical conditions (including seabed 
conditions and shallow hazards) in the Proposed Lease Area;
    (2) Historic properties and archaeological resources potentially 
affected by the installation of wind facilities in the Proposed Lease 
Area;
    (3) Other uses of the Proposed Lease Area, including, but not 
limited to, navigation (including commercial and recreational vessel 
usage); commercial and recreational fishing; recreational activities 
(e.g., dive sites, surfing, wildlife viewing, and scenic areas); 
Department of Defense activities; aviation; other energy-related 
development activities; scientific research; and utilities and 
communications infrastructure (e.g., undersea energy and/or 
telecommunications cables);
    (4) Other relevant environmental information relating to the 
Proposed Lease Area, including but not limited to: national marine 
sanctuary resources, protected species and habitats, marine mammals, 
sea turtles, birds, fish, zooplankton, and cultural resources; and
    (5) Socioeconomic information relating to the Proposed Lease Area, 
such as demographics and employment or information relevant to 
environmental justice considerations.

Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information

Freedom of Information Act

    BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information you submit 
when required by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Exemption 4 of 
FOIA applies to trade secrets and commercial or financial information 
that is privileged or confidential. If you wish to protect the 
confidentiality of such information, please identify and clearly label 
it with ``Contains Confidential Information'' and request BOEM treat it 
as confidential. BOEM will not disclose such information if it 
qualifies for exemption from disclosure under FOIA. Information not 
labeled as privileged or confidential will be regarded by BOEM as 
suitable for public release.
    BOEM will not treat as confidential any aggregate summaries of 
privileged or confidential information or comments not containing such 
information. Additionally, BOEM will not treat as confidential (1) the 
legal title of any entity submitting an indication of interest (for 
example, the name of your company), or (2) the list of whole or partial 
blocks that you are indicating an interest in leasing.

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

    BOEM is required to withhold the location, character, or ownership 
of historic resources if it determines disclosure may, among other 
things, risk harm to the historic resources or impede the use of a 
traditional religious site by practitioners. Those providing 
information eligible for protection under section 304 of NHPA should 
designate such information as confidential.

    Dated: July 27, 2016.
Abigail Ross Hopper,
Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2016-19349 Filed 8-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P