[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15602-15617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-07445]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2018-0004]


Commercial Leasing for Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf 
in the New York Bight--Call for Information and Nominations

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Call for Information and Nominations for Commercial Leasing for 
Wind Power on the Outer Continental Shelf in the New York Bight.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) invites the 
submission of information and nominations for commercial wind leases 
that would allow a lessee to propose the construction of a wind energy 
project on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) in the New York Bight, and 
to develop one or more projects, if approved, after further 
environmental review. Although this announcement is not itself a 
leasing announcement, the areas described herein, or portions thereof, 
may be available for future leasing. BOEM will use responses to this 
Call for Information and Nominations (hereinafter referred to as 
``Call'' or ``notice'') to gauge specific interest in acquiring 
commercial wind leases in some or all of the Call Areas, as required by 
law. Parties wishing to submit a nomination in response to this Call 
should submit detailed and specific information in response to the 
requirements described in the section entitled, ``Required Nomination 
Information.''
    This announcement also requests comments and information from 
interested and affected parties about site conditions, resources, and 
multiple uses in close proximity to, or within, the Call Areas that 
would be relevant to BOEM's review of any nominations submitted and/or 
to BOEM's possible subsequent decision to offer all or part of the Call 
Areas for commercial wind leasing. The information that BOEM is 
requesting is described in the section of this Call entitled, 
``Requested Information from Interested or Affected Parties.''

DATES: BOEM must receive nominations describing your interest in one or 
more, or any portion of, the Call Areas, by a postmarked date of May 
29, 2018 for your nomination to be considered. BOEM requests comments 
or submissions of information to be postmarked or delivered by this 
same date. BOEM will consider only those nominations received that 
conform to this requirement.
    ADDRESSES: If you are submitting a nomination for a lease area in 
response to this Call, please submit your nomination, following the 
``Required Nomination Information'' section below, to the following 
address: BOEM, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road 
(VAM-OREP), Sterling, Virginia 20166. In addition to a paper copy of 
the nomination, include an electronic copy of the nomination on a data 
storage device. BOEM will list the parties that submitted nominations 
and the location of the proposed lease areas (i.e., OCS blocks 
nominated) on the BOEM website after the 45-day comment period has 
closed.
    Comments and other submissions of information may be submitted by 
either of the following two methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2018-0004, and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to

[[Page 15603]]

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, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland 
Road (VAM-OREP), Sterling, Virginia 20166.
    All responses will be reported on http://www.regulations.gov.
    If you wish to protect the confidentiality of your nominations 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 Call 
entitled, ``Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information.'' 
Information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be 
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Luke Feinberg, BOEM, Office of 
Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road (VAM-OREP), Sterling, 
Virginia 20166, (703) 787-1705 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority

    This Call is published pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS 
Lands Act, 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3), which was added by section 388 of the 
Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), as well as the implementing 
regulations at 30 CFR part 585.

Call Areas

    The Call Areas described in this notice are located on the OCS in 
the New York Bight and are delineated as Fairways North, Fairways 
South, Hudson North, and Hudson South. The four Call Areas include 222 
whole OCS blocks and 172 partial blocks in total, and comprise 
approximately 2,047 square nautical miles (nmi) (702,192 hectares). 
These Call Areas were established after considering the New York State 
Area for Consideration for the Potential Locating of Offshore Wind 
Energy Areas (Area for Consideration), as well as additional input from 
the New York State Department of State, New York State Energy Research 
and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the Intergovernmental 
Renewable Energy Task Force for the New York Bight (which includes 
members of the New York and New Jersey Task Forces, as well as regional 
representatives from Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts). 
These areas will be analyzed by BOEM during the area identification 
(Area ID) portion of the leasing process. For context, based on a power 
density ratio of 0.01 megawatts (MW) per acre, New York's goal of 
procuring 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy by 2030 could 
likely be accommodated by developing 14% of the call areas presented. 
Development of approximately 18% of the Call Areas would be required to 
meet New York State's recommendation that BOEM designate four 800 MW 
lease areas (3.2 GW of capacity). A detailed description of the areas 
and how they were developed is described in the section of this Call 
entitled, ``Description of the Area.''

Purpose of the Call for Information and Nominations

    The OCS Lands Act requires BOEM to award leases competitively, 
unless BOEM makes a determination that there is no competitive interest 
(43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3)). BOEM will make this determination after 
reviewing the nominations received in response to this Call. This Call 
also requests information from interested and affected parties on 
issues relevant to potential leasing within the Call Areas.
    The responses to this Call could lead to the initiation of a 
competitive leasing process in some parts of the Call Areas (i.e., 
where competition exists), and a noncompetitive process in other parts 
of the Call Areas (i.e., where no competitive interest exists). The 
leasing process is described more completely under the ``Determination 
of Competitive Interest'' and ``Noncompetitive Leasing Process'' 
sections of this Call. In any parts of the Call Areas where a single 
entity has shown interest, but BOEM determines there is no competitive 
interest, BOEM may proceed with the noncompetitive lease process 
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.232. If BOEM determines that there is 
competitive interest in some or all of the Call Areas, then BOEM may 
proceed with Area ID, as set forth in 30 CFR 585.211(b), and the 
competitive leasing process as set forth under 30 CFR 585.211 through 
585.225.
    A lease, whether issued through a competitive or noncompetitive 
process, does not grant the lessee the right to construct any 
facilities on the lease; rather, the lease grants the lessee the 
exclusive right to submit development plans to BOEM, which BOEM must 
first have approved before the lessee may proceed to the next stage of 
the process (30 CFR 585.600 and 585.601).
    Whether the leasing process is competitive or noncompetitive, it 
will include additional opportunities for the public to provide input, 
and any proposed actions will be reviewed thoroughly for potential 
environmental and multiple use impacts. The area(s) that may be offered 
for lease, if any, has/have not yet been determined, and may include 
less than the total footprint of the Call Areas identified in this 
Call.

1 Background

1.1 Energy Policy Act of 2005

    The EPAct amended the OCS Lands Act by adding subsection 
8(p)(1)(C), which authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to grant 
leases, easements, or rights-of-way (ROWs) on the OCS for activities 
that are not otherwise authorized by law and that produce or support 
production, transportation, or transmission of energy from sources 
other than oil or gas, including renewable energy sources. The EPAct 
also required the issuance of regulations to carry out the new 
authority pertaining to renewable energy on the OCS. The Secretary 
delegated this authority to issue leases, easements, and ROWs, and to 
promulgate regulations, to the Director of BOEM. On April 29, 2009, 
BOEM published regulations entitled, Renewable Energy and Alternate 
Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf, which have 
been codified at 30 CFR part 585, which can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/uploadedFiles/30_CFR_585.pdf.

1.2 Ocean Planning

    BOEM participates in ocean planning through a collaborative, data-
based approach to foster coordinated and informed decisions about our 
shared ocean resources and the many uses that depend on them.
    BOEM appreciates the importance of coordinating its planning 
endeavors with other OCS users, regulators, and relevant Federal 
agencies--including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the 
National Park Service (NPS), the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and the Department of 
Defense (DoD). BOEM intends to coordinate with the regional planning 
bodies, which include Federal and state agencies; federally recognized 
tribes; and Fishery Management Councils. BOEM will also utilize 
information contained in the Northeast

[[Page 15604]]

and Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portals \1\ in its decision-making, among 
other sources of information, because the Portals include maps of 
marine life, habitat areas, cultural resources, transportation, 
fishing, and other human uses to be considered when new energy or other 
infrastructure projects are proposed. BOEM anticipates that continued 
coordination with its Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces 
(Task Forces) will also help inform comprehensive ocean planning 
efforts.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Northeast Ocean Data Portal (maintained by NROC, the 
Northeast Regional Ocean Council http://www.northeastoceandata.org) 
and the Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal (maintained by MARCO, the 
Mid-Atlantic Regional Council on the Ocean http://portal.midatlanticocean.org) draw upon data from the 
MarineCadastre.gov national data portal, which was developed through 
a partnership between NOAA and BOEM. MarineCadastre.gov is an 
integrated marine information system that provides data, tools, and 
technical support for ocean and Great Lakes planning, designed 
specifically to support renewable energy siting on the OCS, but is 
also being used for other ocean-related efforts and is recognized by 
regional ocean governance groups as the central place for 
authoritative federal data, with data, metadata, and map services.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.3 BOEM Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces

    BOEM has established multiple Task Forces to facilitate 
coordination among relevant Federal agencies and affected state, local, 
and tribal governments throughout the leasing process. Task Forces for 
New Jersey and New York were previously established in 2009 and 2010, 
respectively, and will continue to be engaged during the planning and 
leasing process for the New York Bight OCS area. This engagement 
includes joint Task Force activities, such as the webinar for the New 
York Bight that was held on December 4, 2017. Meeting materials for 
these two Task Forces are available on the BOEM website at: https://www.boem.gov/NY-Bight/.

2 Environmental Review Process

    Prior to deciding whether and where leases may be issued, BOEM will 
prepare an environmental assessment (EA) and conduct consultations to 
consider the environmental consequences associated with issuing 
commercial wind leases within all or some of the Call Areas. The EA 
will consider the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences 
associated with leasing, such as site characterization activities 
(including geophysical, geotechnical, archaeological, and biological 
surveys). BOEM would consider the environmental effects of the 
construction or operation of any wind energy facility under a separate, 
project-specific National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, 
which would include additional opportunities for public involvement. 
BOEM would also conduct several consultations concurrently with, and 
integrated into, the NEPA process. These consultations would include, 
but are not limited to, those required by the Coastal Zone Management 
Act (CZMA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act, Section 106 of the National 
Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), and Executive Order 13175--
``Consultation and Coordination with Tribal Governments.''

3 Actions Taken by the State of New York in Support of Offshore 
Renewable Energy Development

    The State of New York has a stated goal of developing 2.4 GW of 
offshore wind energy by 2030. To facilitate this effort, NYSERDA has 
spearheaded the development of the New York Offshore Wind Master Plan 
(the Master Plan https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Offshore-Wind/New-York-Offshore-Wind-Master-Plan), a comprehensive 
roadmap to advance offshore wind energy development in New York. The 
objective of New York's Master Plan is to ``to ensure that offshore 
wind in New York is developed in the most responsible and cost-
effective manner possible.'' To support the Master Plan, NYSERDA has 
conducted more than 20 studies and engaged with stakeholders and the 
public with the stated objective of ensuring that offshore wind is 
developed thoughtfully, responsibly, and cost-effectively.
    On October 2, 2017, BOEM received the State of New York's Area for 
Consideration. This document identifies an area of the New York Bight 
that the State has determined, based on its compilation and analysis of 
scientific, stakeholder and analytical data, to be most desirable for 
future offshore wind development. BOEM has taken the State's 
recommendation into account in designating areas for this Call, and 
will consider the data and analyses generated by the State at 
subsequent stages of its planning and leasing process in the New York 
Bight area.

4 BOEM's Planning and Leasing Process

4.1 Determination of Competitive Interest

    As stated in 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3), ``the Secretary shall issue a 
lease, easement, or right-of-way . . . 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 
first step in BOEM's leasing process is therefore to determine whether 
or not there is any competitive interest in acquiring a lease within 
the Call Areas for the purpose of offshore wind development. At the 
same time, BOEM will determine whether there is overlapping interest in 
any particular portion of the Call Areas that would result in the need 
for a competitive process. At the conclusion of the comment period for 
this Call, BOEM will review the nominations received and determine 
whether competitive interest exists in any specific locations within 
the Call Areas. After the close of the Call comment period, if BOEM 
determines that competitive interest exists for one or more portions of 
the Call Area, you will be able to submit a bid in a potential future 
competitive lease sale for those portions of the Call Area even if you 
did not submit a nomination in response to this Call.
    For any portions of the Call Area, but particularly portions with 
two or more valid nominations, BOEM may consider proceeding with 
competitive leasing as described in the section of this Call entitled, 
``Competitive Leasing Process.'' For areas where BOEM determines that 
there is a single interested entity, but only one valid nomination, 
BOEM may consider proceeding with noncompetitive leasing, as described 
in the section entitled, ``Noncompetitive Leasing Process.''
    Respondents to this Call and members of the public should be aware 
that BOEM will not issue any leases until it has completed the 
necessary consultations and environmental analysis and given the public 
an opportunity to comment. BOEM reserves the right not to lease certain 
nominated areas, or modify such areas from their original, proposed 
form before offering them for lease.

4.2 Competitive Leasing Process

    If, after receiving responses and nominations to this Call, BOEM 
proceeds with the competitive leasing process for certain areas, it 
will follow the steps required by 30 CFR 585.211 through 585.225.
    (1) Area Identification: Based on the information it receives in 
response to this Call, BOEM will determine the level of commercial 
interest and identify the area(s) that would be appropriate to analyze 
for potential leasing. The area(s) identified will constitute a Wind 
Energy Area(s) (WEA) and will be subject to

[[Page 15605]]

environmental analysis as described above, in consultation with 
appropriate Federal agencies, states, local governments, tribes, and 
other interested parties.
    (2) Proposed Sale Notice (PSN): If BOEM decides to proceed with a 
competitive lease sale within the WEAs after completion of the 
environmental analysis, BOEM will publish a PSN in the Federal Register 
with a comment period of 60 days. The PSN will describe the area(s) to 
be offered for leasing, the proposed conditions of a lease sale, and 
the proposed auction format, lease document, including application 
addenda. Additionally, the PSN will describe the criteria and process 
for evaluating bids in the lease sale.
    (3) Final Sale Notice (FSN): After considering the comments on the 
PSN, if BOEM decides to continue to proceed with a competitive lease 
sale, it will publish the FSN in the Federal Register at least 30 days 
before the date of the lease sale.
    (4) Bid Submission and Evaluation: Following publication of a FSN 
in the Federal Register, BOEM would offer the lease areas through a 
competitive sale process, using procedures specified in the FSN. The 
conduct of the sale, including bids and bid deposits, would be reviewed 
for technical and legal adequacy. BOEM will ensure that bidders have 
complied with all applicable regulations. BOEM reserves the right to 
reject any or all bids and/or withdraw an offer to lease an area, even 
after bids have been submitted.
    (5) Issuance of a Lease: Following the selection of a winning 
bid(s) by BOEM, the successful bidder(s) would be notified of the 
decision and provided a set of official lease documents for execution. 
The successful bidder(s) would be required to sign and return the 
lease, pay the remainder of the bonus bid, if applicable, and file the 
required financial assurance within 10 days of receiving the lease 
documents. Upon receipt of the required payments, financial assurance, 
and properly signed lease forms, BOEM would execute a lease with the 
successful bidder(s).

4.3 Noncompetitive Leasing Process

    (1) Determination of No Competitive Interest: If, after evaluating 
the responses to this Call, BOEM determines that there is only one 
respondent interested in a particular area and therefore no competitive 
interest, BOEM would publish a notice of Determination of No 
Competitive Interest in the Federal Register, and could proceed with 
the noncompetitive lease issuance process pursuant to 30 CFR 585.232. 
If BOEM decides to proceed with this process, it will ask the sole 
respondent who nominated a particular area if it wants to lease the 
area by submitting an acquisition fee, as specified in 30 CFR 
585.502(a). If it receives the acquisition fee, BOEM will follow the 
process outlined in 30 CFR 585.231(d) through (i).
    (2) Review of Lease Request: BOEM will comply with the requirements 
of OCSLA, NEPA, CZMA, ESA, NHPA, and other applicable Federal statutes 
before issuing a lease noncompetitively. BOEM will coordinate and 
consult with relevant Federal agencies, affected tribes, and affected 
state and local governments in formulating lease terms, conditions, and 
stipulations, as appropriate.
    (3) Lease Issuance: After completing its review of the lease 
request, BOEM may offer a noncompetitive lease. Within 10 days of 
receiving the lease, the lessee must execute it and provide a $100,000 
lease-specific bond. Within 45 days of receiving the lease, the lessee 
must pay BOEM the first 12 months' rent.

5 Development of the Call Areas

    BOEM delineated the Call Areas in consultation with several parties 
and information sources, including the State of New York (including 
through its Area for Consideration document), and the Intergovernmental 
Renewable Energy Task Force for the New York Bight. The areas selected 
are intended to identify portions of the OCS for further analysis and 
to solicit information and nominations so that potential use conflicts 
can be analyzed and considered in the Area Identification process. 
BOEM's future analysis during Area Identification will evaluate the 
Call Areas for their appropriateness for offshore wind development, 
balanced against potential ocean user conflicts. After environmental 
reviews and associated consultations, public comments, and continued 
coordination with other government agencies through the BOEM 
Intergovernmental Renewable Energy Task Forces, BOEM anticipates 
developing and applying terms and conditions--including any measures 
necessary to mitigate impacts--at the leasing, site assessment, and/or 
construction and operations phases.
    On October 2, 2017, NYSERDA submitted to BOEM its Area for 
Consideration document. The document specifically identifies two areas 
in the Atlantic Ocean south of Long Island that the State of New York 
asked BOEM to consider as potential Call Areas. The State of New York's 
identification of these areas was informed by over 20 scientific 
studies commissioned by the State of New York in consultation with BOEM 
and numerous Federal and state resource agencies. The State of New York 
concluded that the areas identified in their Area for Consideration 
document presented ``the fewest conflicts with ocean users, resources, 
infrastructure, and wildlife, and has the greatest potential for cost-
effective development of offshore wind energy to meet [their] goals.'' 
The State recommended that BOEM ``expeditiously consider this 
submission, and then delineate and lease at least four new WEAs within 
the Area for Consideration, each capable of siting at least 800 MW of 
offshore wind.'' For more information, please refer to: https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Offshore-Wind/New-York-Offshore-Wind-Master-Plan/Area-for-Consideration. The New Jersey 
Department of Environmental Protection has noted that the development 
of the Area of Consideration document did not involve consultation with 
state elected officials, the New Jersey Task Force, or New Jersey state 
agencies.
    The Call Areas outlined in this document contain the areas 
identified in the Area for Consideration document submitted by the 
State of New York, but also include the initial, more expansive areas 
initially identified in New York's Area for Consideration document. 
Many of the factors used to delineate New York's Area for Consideration 
were informed by a series of draft studies, which the State of New York 
finalized and published after it issued its recommendations; BOEM 
believes the final studies should be evaluated prior to modifying the 
initial areas identified by New York. This Call will allow additional 
stakeholders, including other potentially affected states, to provide 
input on these areas prior to further modification during the Area 
Identification process. For context, please note that approximately 18% 
of the Call Areas presented in this document would need to be 
identified as WEAs to meet the State of New York's request for four 800 
MW lease areas (assuming a power density ratio of 0.01 MW per acre); 
however, BOEM may identify more or less of the Call Area for leasing 
after considering stakeholder comments.
    BOEM will consider a wide range of information regarding potential 
use conflicts within the Call Areas and the areas' suitability for 
offshore wind development, but is particularly sensitive to--and 
interested in information regarding--the following issues:

[[Page 15606]]

5.1 Fisheries

    BOEM is soliciting information regarding the use of the areas 
included in this Call as a fishery. BOEM recognizes that several 
commercial and recreational fisheries operate in the Call Areas, 
including, but not limited to: Butterfish, Atlantic mackerel, Atlantic 
sea scallop, Atlantic surfclam and ocean quahog, longfin and Illex 
squid, monkfish, Northeast multispecies, summer flounder, scup, and 
black sea bass fisheries. BOEM also acknowledges that representatives 
from the fishing industry have already provided comments and 
information to NYSERDA regarding fishing in the states Offshore Study 
Area. BOEM will consider that information at the Area Identification 
stage of its planning process. BOEM is also aware that several areas 
identified by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's 
Sport Ocean Fishing Grounds atlas are within the Call Areas. These 
areas include Yankee Spot, Mako Hotel, George's Bank, Bacardi, Triple 
Wrecks North, Texas Tower, The Slough, Little Italy, Yellowfin Lump, 
North East Lump, Mako Hole, The Fingers, Resor Wreck, Dusky Hole, 
Triple Wrecks South, The Bomb, and Glory Hole. BOEM is requesting 
additional information regarding recreational and commercial fisheries 
that operate within these Call Areas, including, but not limited to, 
the use of the area for recreational tuna and marlin tournaments, the 
fishing gear types used, seasonal uses, and suggestions for reducing 
use conflicts.
    If BOEM concludes that fisheries conflicts cannot be properly 
mitigated in certain portions of the Call Areas, it may exclude those 
areas from leasing at the Area Identification stage, during the 
environmental review process conducted under NEPA, and/or as a result 
of essential fish habitat consultations under the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation and Management Act. BOEM may also require measures 
to mitigate or avoid fishery conflicts at the construction and 
operations phase of its regulatory process.
    Although BOEM has largely erred on the side of inclusion of areas 
at this early stage in its process, it has accepted the recommendation 
in the State of New York's Area for Consideration document to exclude 
from the Call Areas the Hudson Canyon Scallop Rotational Area defined 
in 50 CFR 648.60(a)(4).

5.2 Avian Species

    BOEM attempts to avoid leasing areas with high concentrations of 
marine bird species that may be most impacted by offshore wind 
development. BOEM's preliminary analyses suggest, however, that the 
Call Areas do not contain high concentrations of such marine birds. 
These preliminary analyses were based on maps created from an ongoing 
BOEM/NOAA study entitled, ``Integrative Statistical Modeling and 
Predictive Mapping of Seabird Distribution and Abundance on the 
Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf,'' which can be found at http://www.boem.gov/AT-13-03/. These maps are publically available at http://www.northeastoceandata.org/data-explorer/?birds. However, more recent 
maps from the study suggest that the Hudson South Call Area may have 
relatively high concentrations of Northern Gannets in winter 
(unpublished, Atlantic Marine Bird Mapping Statistical Model 
Predictions Release version 2.0). This finding appears to be confirmed 
by the high resolution aerial surveys that the State of New York 
conducted in the winter of 2017 (https://remote.normandeau.com/portal_data.php?public=1), and supported by observations in a satellite 
tracking study available at https://www.boem.gov/BOEM-2017-069/. 
Lastly, during the fall survey in 2017, a roseate tern (listed as 
endangered under ESA) was identified just north of the Fairways North 
Call Area. BOEM will further analyze and assess available avian data as 
part of its Area Identification process.

5.3 Marine Protected Species

    Various marine protected species utilize the New York Bight in the 
vicinity of the Call Areas, including marine mammals, sea turtles, and 
Atlantic sturgeon. All marine mammal species are protected under the 
Marine Mammal Protection Act, while certain whale species (including 
the North Atlantic right whale), all sea turtles species, and the 
Atlantic sturgeon are afforded additional protections as listed species 
under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). While ESA-listed species are 
known to be present in the Call Areas, they do not contain National 
Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)-designated critical habitat for any 
ESA-listed species.
    The Atlantic Marine Assessment Program for Protected Species study 
data show that several species may utilize the habitats in the Call 
Areas for feeding, resting, migrating, and communication (https://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/psb/AMAPPS/). BOEM's preliminary analyses suggest 
that the continental shelf edge and slope (located generally at or near 
the 200 m contour) contain the greatest densities and species diversity 
of marine mammals compared to less frequent occurrences over the 
continental shelf regions, where the Call Areas are located (http://seamap.env.duke.edu/). The exception is harbor porpoises, which are a 
species that is commonly found in high numbers over the continental 
shelf in the winter and spring. The available data further indicates 
the presence of endangered North Atlantic right whales primarily in the 
Call Areas during the late fall and winter seasons, while endangered 
and threatened sea turtles are highly migratory species that seasonally 
utilize the continental shelf, including the Call Areas, for foraging. 
The initial data collected in recent surveys by the State of New York's 
high resolution aerial surveys conducted in 2017 also confirms marine 
mammal and sea turtle sightings of various species in the Call Areas 
(https://remote.normandeau.com/portal_data.php?public=1).
    In addition to marine mammals and sea turtles, five Distinct 
Population Segments of the Atlantic sturgeon, an ESA-listed marine 
fish, likely occur in the New York Bight. The occurrence of Atlantic 
sturgeon in the New York Bight has been well documented through 
fisheries bycatch information, New York bottom trawl sub-adult Atlantic 
sturgeon surveys, a variety of tagging studies, and more recently 
through an offshore telemetry study funded by BOEM and the New York 
Department of Environmental Conservation (see: https://www.boem.gov/Atlantic-Fish-Telemetry-Monitoring/). Atlantic sturgeon may use the 
Call Areas as overwintering and foraging areas. These data, as well as 
ongoing passive acoustic efforts by the Wildlife Conservation Society's 
New York Aquarium and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, will 
provide additional information for BOEM's consideration during the Area 
Identification process.
    BOEM will utilize information received in response to the Call to 
assist with its verification of any migratory periods, persistent or 
seasonally occurring oceanic habitat features associated with the 
presence of protected marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish, periods of 
high species abundance or diversity that may occur within the Call 
Areas. BOEM also seeks any additional information regarding the use of 
the Call Areas by Atlantic sturgeon, including specific known 
overwintering habitats, such as holes or troughs adjacent to shoals 
where Atlantic sturgeon are regularly encountered, as well as the time 
of year

[[Page 15607]]

when those encounters are most likely to occur.
    BOEM will consider all the best available information to identify 
and assess potential areas of conflict with marine protected species 
within the Call Areas and consult with resource agencies during the 
Area Identification process, as necessary.

5.4 Navigation

    Portions of the Call Areas are regularly trafficked by multiple 
types of vessels entering and leaving ports in New Jersey and New York, 
based on BOEM's preliminary analysis of Automatic Identification System 
(AIS) data between 2010-2012, and the State of New York's analysis of 
2013 AIS data as part of its Area for Consideration document. Portions 
of the Call Areas are also used by cargo and tanker vessels transiting 
between Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay ports to eastern Long Island 
and southeastern New England. A majority of the vessels transiting the 
Call Areas are cargo ships and tankers. Other types of vessels using 
the area include tug and barge, passenger, military, recreational, and 
commercial fishing. AIS data used to conduct this analysis, in addition 
to other AIS tools, can be downloaded at www.marinecadastre.gov/AIS.
    BOEM excluded the following portions of the OCS from the Call Area 
based on the State of New York's Navigation Study recommendations:
     Between the Hudson North and Hudson South Call Areas, an 
area 30 nmi in length and approximately 15 nmi wide from the entrance/
exit of the New York Southeastern Approach (Hudson Canyon to Ambrose 
and Ambrose to Hudson Canyon traffic lanes).
     All sub-blocks that overlap with a 1 nmi buffer along all 
outer edges of traffic lanes, shipping safety fairways, and the above-
mentioned 30 nmi delineated area.
    BOEM coordinates with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) on navigational 
issues and will continue its engagement throughout all phases of its 
regulatory process. In 2015, as an outcome of its Atlantic Coast Port 
Access Route Study, USCG issued Marine Planning Guidelines (MPG), which 
recommends a 2 nmi parallel buffer between the outer or seaward 
boundary of a traffic lane and offshore structures, and a 5 nmi buffer 
for a Traffic Separation Scheme entry or exit. USCG has stated that 
these buffers are guidelines, and has acknowledged that navigational 
risks can be mitigated on a project-by-project basis, pending more 
detailed analysis following the lessee's submission of a Navigational 
Safety Risk Assessment at the construction and operations phase of 
BOEM's regulatory process. Pending the outcome of future analysis, BOEM 
may not offer some portions of the Call Areas for leasing or 
development based on information provided in response to during the 
Call regarding safety concerns and historic routes of vessel traffic.
    BOEM is also seeking information regarding the following:
     Commercial Vessel Port-to-Port or Port-to-Fishing Location 
Transit. AIS data suggest the existence of historic transit corridors 
through the Call Areas between Chesapeake Bay ports and New York/Newark 
ports; Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay to smaller ports, such as 
Buzzards Bay, MA; Providence, RI; and Long Island East, NY.
     Recreational Port-to-Port Transit. The State of New York 
identified an Annapolis, MD to Newport, RI distance sailing race route 
through its offshore wind study area. BOEM seeks information on other 
races or other recreational port-to-port transit routes.

5.5 Department of Defense and United States Coast Guard Training Areas

    The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts offshore testing, 
training, and operations within portions of the Call Areas. BOEM 
refined the Call Areas based on the most recent DoD assessment of 
compatibility between commercial offshore wind development and DoD 
testing, training and operations. BOEM excluded from consideration all 
OCS blocks that DoD has determined to be incompatible.
    BOEM is working with DoD to update the offshore wind compatibility 
assessment for the Atlantic that identifies wind energy exclusion areas 
and those OCS blocks that may require site-specific conditions and 
stipulations to ensure offshore wind facilities are compatible with DoD 
activities. These stipulations could include, but may not be limited 
to: Hold and save harmless agreements; mandatory coordination with DoD 
on specified activities; restrictions on electromagnetic emissions; and 
evacuation procedures from the lease area for safety reasons when 
notified by the DoD. BOEM may remove from leasing consideration any OCS 
blocks identified as incompatible in DoD's updated compatibility 
assessment.
    Interested parties should also be aware that the Call Areas contain 
some OCS blocks that have never been assessed by DoD, but will be 
included in the updated compatibility assessment. These OCS blocks and/
or portions thereof include:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Protraction
                Protraction name                       No.          Block No.               Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6233  D.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6306  M.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6356  A, E, I, J, M, N.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6406  A, B, E, F, I, J, K, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6455  D, H, L, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6456  A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                  L, M, N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6505  D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6506  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6507  A, E, I, M, N.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6555  C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P.

[[Page 15608]]

 
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6556  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6557  A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6605  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6606  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6607  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                  M, N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6655  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6656  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6657  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6658  E, I, M.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6705  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6706  ...............................
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6707  ...............................
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6708  A, B, E, F, I, J, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6755  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6756  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6757  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6758  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K, M,
                                                                                  N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6805  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6806  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6807  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6808  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6809  I, M.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6855  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6856  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6857  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6858  All.
Hudson Canyon..................................         NJ18-03            6859  A, E, F, I, J, M, N.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The USCG Sector New York identified the northern portion of the 
Hudson South Call Area as an unofficially designated weapons training 
range for maintaining law enforcement proficiency. They requested that 
this area be given consideration as an existing use. These OCS blocks 
and/or portions thereof include:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Protraction
                Protraction name                       No.          Block No.               Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6854  H, L, P.
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6855  I, M.
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6904  D, H, L.
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6905  A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, N,
                                                                                  O, P.

[[Page 15609]]

 
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6954  G, K, L, O, P.
New York.......................................         NK18-12            6955  I, M, N.
New York.......................................         NK18-12            7004  C, D.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

5.6 Bathymetric Conditions

    The 60m water depth is a reasonable estimate of the maximum limit 
for likely development of utility scale fixed foundation projects at 
the present time. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) 
2016 assessment of US offshore wind potential identifies three 
categories of foundation types based on water depth: 0-30 meters for 
gravity base or monopiles, 30 to 60 meters for jackets or tripods, and 
60 meters or greater for floating structures. However, BOEM is aware of 
nascent floating foundation technology that has been deployed on a 
limited basis in water deeper than 60m, and new support structure 
technologies are continually under development. Given the likelihood of 
continued technological advancement in the offshore wind industry in 
terms of foundation design, materials use, and turbine efficiency, BOEM 
requests comment on the appropriateness of the 60m water depth contour 
as a factor delineating the Call Areas.

5.7 Visual Impacts

    The New Jersey and New York coastlines to the north and west of the 
Call Areas contain various natural areas, lighthouses, beaches, and 
other public spaces. These coastlines also contain numerous National 
Historic Landmarks (NHLs) and historic properties listed in, or 
eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places. 
Additionally, two units of the National Park Service, Fire Island 
National Seashore (Fire Island) and Gateway National Recreation Area 
(Gateway) are located in the vicinity of the Call Areas. Fire Island 
was established by Congress to preserve the beaches, dunes, and other 
natural resources within Suffolk County, New York, and is also a 
designated Wilderness Area. Gateway was established to preserve natural 
and recreational resources in and around Staten Island, Long Island, 
and northern New Jersey.
    BOEM previously consulted with stakeholders regarding viewshed 
concerns and completed a study entitled, ``Renewable Energy Viewshed 
Analysis and Visualization Simulation for the New York Outer 
Continental Shelf Call Area'' (https://www.boem.gov/New-York-Visual-Simulations), during the Area Identification process for the New York 
WEA designated on March 16, 2016 and later refined into what is now 
Lease OCS-A 0512 (https://www.boem.gov/OCS-A-0512/). This study 
included a meteorological assessment, viewshed analysis, and 
photographic documentation of a hypothetical commercial wind facility 
from a series of publicly accessible key observations points. The 
National Park Service (NPS), New York State Historic Preservation 
Office (NY SHPO), and New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office (NJ 
SHPO) each expressed concern regarding the potential for visual impacts 
to NHLs and other onshore historic properties from renewable energy 
development within the New York Bight, including portions of the Call 
Areas. Additionally, NPS expressed concern that development within 
these areas could negatively impact historic and natural resources 
within Fire Island and Gateway, particularly with respect to the 
aircraft and vessel collision avoidance safety lighting to adversely 
affect the natural darkness, night sky, and ocean views.
    The State of New York initially excluded areas within 15 nmi (17.3 
statute miles) of shore from its Area for of Consideration document in 
order to reduce potential visual impacts to onshore areas. Based on the 
results of BOEM's visual simulation study and additional outreach 
conducted by the State of New York, the state limited its Area for 
Consideration document to include areas at least 20 statute miles (17.4 
nautical miles) from shore. BOEM has elected to use the State's initial 
15 nmi limit at this preliminary stage, and seeks further stakeholder 
feedback regarding viewshed concerns in response to this Call--
including specific concerns about potential impacts to the landscape or 
seascape of coastal areas of New York and/or New Jersey, as well as 
potential mitigation measures.

5.8 Cables and Other Existing Infrastructure

    As discussed in the Area for Consideration document, the Call Areas 
contain a significant number of fiber-optic and electrical transmission 
cables traversing the seabed, as well as other existing infrastructure, 
such as natural gas pipelines. If BOEM ultimately leases portions of 
the Call Areas that contain existing infrastructure, lessees may need 
to develop site-specific crossing and proximity agreements with 
applicable infrastructure owners, per BOEM's Construction Operation 
Plan Guidance-Attachment H: Coordination Efforts Relating to Existing 
Telecommunications Cables.

6 Description of the Area

    The Call Areas described in this notice are located on the OCS in 
the New York Bight and are delineated as Fairways North, Fairways 
South, Hudson North, and Hudson South. The four Areas include 222 whole 
OCS blocks and 172 partial blocks in total, and comprise approximately 
2,047 square nmi (702,192 hectares). A map of the Call Areas, and 
associated GIS files, which are located in UTM Zone 18 and UTM Zone 19, 
NAD83 Datum, can be found at the following URL: https://www.boem.gov/NY-Bight/.

6.1 Call Area Fairways North

    The boundary of Call Area Fairways North begins 15 nmi offshore and 
is parallel to the coast. The area is 15 nmi from both South Hampton, 
New York and Montauk, New York. The area is about 46 nmi in length from 
east to west and at its widest point is about 11nmi from north to 
south. Respondents should be aware that New York NK18-12 Blocks 6233, 
6283, 6333, 6383, 6433 and Block Island Shelf NK19-10 Blocks 6202, 
6252, 6302, 6352, 6402 border the edge of Universe Transverse Mercator 
(UTM) Zones 18 and 19. As a result, while these blocks are considered 
full OCS lease blocks, they vary in area and are smaller than standard 
OCS blocks. Official acreages for the blocks located within Official 
Protraction Diagrams (OPD) New York NK18-12 and Block Island Shelf 
NK19-10 can be found at: https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-and-Data/NK18-12-01-MAY-2006.aspx and https://www.boem.gov/Oil-and-Gas-Energy-Program/Mapping-and-Data/NK19-10-01-MAY-2006.aspx.
    The entire area is approximately 250 square nmi (85,728 hectares) 
and is described in the table below:

[[Page 15610]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Protraction
               Protraction name                       No.          Block No.                Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York......................................         NK18-12            6233  P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6281  P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6282  H, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6283  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                 M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6330  K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6331  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                 M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6332  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6333  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6378  K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6379  C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6380  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6381  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6382  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6383  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6425  O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6426  H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6427  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                 M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6428  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6429  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6430  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6431  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6432  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6433  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6474  D.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6475  A.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6058  O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6059  M.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6107  L, M, N, O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6108  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                 M, N, O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6109  A, E, F, I, J, M.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6154  O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6155  H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6156  C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6157  A, B, E, F, I, J, M.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6158  A.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6202  L, M, N, O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6203  F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6204  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6205  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6206  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6207  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6252  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6253  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6254  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6255  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6256  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6302  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6303  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6304  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6305  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6306  A, B, C, E, F, I, M.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6352  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6353  All.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6354  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6355  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6402  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6403  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
Block Island Shelf............................         NK19-10            6404  A, B, C.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call Area Fairways South

    The boundary of Call Area Fairways South begins at 15 nmi offshore 
Fire Island National Seashore in New York. The area is about 43nmi in 
length from east to west and about 4 nmi in width from north to south. 
The entire area is approximately 126.4 square nmi (43,344 hectares) and 
is described in the table below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Protraction
               Protraction name                       No.          Block No.                Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York......................................         NK18-12            6526  O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6527  M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6528  M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6529  M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6530  K, L, M, N, O, P.

[[Page 15611]]

 
New York......................................         NK18-12            6531  I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6532  I, J, K, L, M, N, O.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6568  O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6569  G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6570  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6571  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6572  C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6573  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6574  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6575  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6576  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6577  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6578  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6579  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6580  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6581  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6582  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6616  K, L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6617  D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6618  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6619  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6620  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6621  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6622  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6623  A, B, C, D.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6624  A, B, C, D.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6625  A, B, C, D.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6626  A, B, C, D.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call Area Hudson North

    The boundary of Call Area Hudson North begins at about 20 nmi from 
shore, the closest coastal location being Robert Moses State Park in 
New York. Jones Beach State Park in New York is about 25 nmi from the 
area. The area is about 47 nmi in length from east to west and about 30 
nmi in width from north to south. The entire area is approximately 
696.9 square nmi (239,040 hectares) and is described in the table 
below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Protraction
               Protraction name                       No.          Block No.                Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6018  D.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6019  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L,
                                                                                 O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6020  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6021  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6022  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6023  A, B, E.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6069  D.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6070  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L,
                                                                                 O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6071  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6072  A, B, C, D, E, F, I, J, M.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6120  D.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6121  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, K, L.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6122  A.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6678  M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6679  M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6716  N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6717  I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6718  I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6719  I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6720  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6721  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6722  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6723  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6724  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6725  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6726  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6727  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6728  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6729  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6730  E, I, J, K, M, N.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6764  L, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6765  C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6766  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6767  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6768  All.

[[Page 15612]]

 
New York......................................         NK18-12            6769  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6770  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6771  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6772  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6773  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6774  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6775  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6776  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6777  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6778  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6779  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6780  A.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6813  K, L, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6814  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                 M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6815  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6816  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6817  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6818  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6819  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6820  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6821  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6822  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6823  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6824  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6825  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6826  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6827  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6828  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6829  A.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6862  L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6863  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L,
                                                                                 M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6864  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6865  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6866  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6867  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6868  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6869  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6870  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6871  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6872  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6873  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6874  A, B, M, N.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6913  C, D, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6914  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6915  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6916  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6917  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6918  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6919  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6920  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6921  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6922  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6923  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6924  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6925  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6926  M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6964  C, D, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6965  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6966  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6967  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6968  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6969  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6970  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6971  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6972  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6973  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6974  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6975  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6976  A, E, I, M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7015  C, D, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7016  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7017  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7018  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7019  All.

[[Page 15613]]

 
New York......................................         NK18-12            7020  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7021  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7022  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7023  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7024  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7025  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7066  C, D, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7067  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7068  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7069  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7070  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7071  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7072  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7073  M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7117  D.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7118  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7119  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7120  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7121  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7122  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7123  All.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Call Area Hudson South

    The boundary of Call Area Hudson South begins 15 nmi offshore 
Neptune, New Jersey. The area is about 62 nmi in length from north to 
south and about 30 nmi in width from east to west. The entire area is 
approximately 974 square nmi (334,080 hectares) and is described in the 
table below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Protraction
               Protraction name                       No.          Block No.                Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6005  B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6006  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6007  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6008  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6009  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6010  I, M, N.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6055  B, C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6056  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6057  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6058  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6059  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6060  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6061  I, M, N.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6105  C, D, G, H, L, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6106  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6107  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6108  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6109  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6110  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6111  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6112  I, M, N.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6155  D, H, L.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6156  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6157  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6158  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6159  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6160  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6161  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6162  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6163  E, I, J, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6206  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6207  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6208  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6209  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6210  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6211  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6212  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6213  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6214  E, I, J, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6256  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6257  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6258  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6259  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6260  All.

[[Page 15614]]

 
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6261  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6262  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6263  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6264  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6265  E, I, J, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6306  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6307  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6308  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6309  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6310  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6311  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6312  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6313  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6314  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6315  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6316  E, I, J, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6355  D, H, L, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6356  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6357  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6358  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6359  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6360  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6361  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6362  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6363  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6364  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6365  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6366  A, E.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6405  D, H, L, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6406  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6407  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6408  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6409  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6410  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6411  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6412  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6413  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6414  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6415  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6455  D, H, L, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6456  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6457  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6458  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6459  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6460  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6461  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6462  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6463  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6464  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6465  A, B, C, E, F, I, J, M.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6505  D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6506  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6507  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6508  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6509  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6510  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6511  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6512  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6513  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6514  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6515  A.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6555  C, D, G, H, K, L, O, P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6556  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6557  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6558  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6559  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6560  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6561  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6562  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6563  A, B, E, I.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6605  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6606  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6607  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6608  All.

[[Page 15615]]

 
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6609  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6610  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6611  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6612  A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, M, N.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6655  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6656  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6657  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6658  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6659  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6660  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6661  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L, M, N, O.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6662  A.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6705  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6706  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6707  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6708  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6709  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6710  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6711  A, B, C, E, F, I, M.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6755  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6756  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6757  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6758  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6759  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6760  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 M, N.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6805  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6806  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6807  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6808  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6809  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6810  A, B, E
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6855  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6856  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6857  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6858  All.
Hudson Canyon.................................         NJ18-03            6859  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 M, N.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6854  H, L, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6855  I, M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6904  D, H, L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6905  A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6954  G, K, L, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6955  I, M, N, O.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7004  C, D, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7005  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7006  E, F, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7007  M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7055  B, C, D, F, G, H, J, K, L, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7056  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7057  A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N,
                                                                                 O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7058  M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7105  B, C, D, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M,
                                                                                 N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7106  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7107  All.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7108  A, B, E, F, G, I, J, K, L, M, N,
                                                                                 O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            7109  I, M, N.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

6.2 Unsolicited Lease Request--PNE Wind

    On December 30, 2016, BOEM received an unsolicited lease request 
from PNE Wind USA, Inc. (PNE) for 40,920 acres offshore New York. PNE 
seeks a lease to develop a 300-400 MW project approximately 28 nmi 
southeast from the Ruland Road Substation, as described below. BOEM is 
subsuming portions of PNE's unsolicited request into the Call Areas, 
and will subject the unsolicited request to the same Area ID analysis 
and determination of competitive interest as the remainder of the Call 
Areas.
    The unsolicited request is mostly located within the Call Area 
Fairways South and begins approximately 13.5 nmi from the shore near 
Fire Island National Seashore in New York and extends roughly 3 nmi 
seaward. It extends from west to east approximately 15 nmi. It should 
be noted that 15 lease blocks of the original unsolicited requests have 
not been included as part of this Call. Specifically, 11 blocks in the 
northwest portion of the original request have been excluded by the 15 
nautical mile visual buffer, and four blocks along the southern and 
south eastern border of the original request were removed to 
accommodate a one nautical mile buffer from an existing navigational 
fairway. The entire area is approximately 48.3 square nmi (16,560 
hectares) and is described in the table below:

[[Page 15616]]



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Protraction
               Protraction name                       No.          Block No.                Sub-block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New York......................................         NK18-12            6567  K, L, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6568  I, J, K L,M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6569  H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6570  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6571  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6572  E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O,
                                                                                 P.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6573  E, I, M.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6617  C, D, G, H, K, L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6618  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K,
                                                                                 L.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6619  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6620  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6621  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6622  A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H.
New York......................................         NK18-12            6623  A, E.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

7 Requested Information From Interested or Affected Parties

    BOEM requests specific and detailed comments from the public and 
other interested or affected parties regarding the following:
    1. Geological, geophysical, and biological conditions (including 
bottom and shallow hazards and live bottom) in the area described in 
this notice.
    2. Information regarding the identification of historic properties 
or potential effects to historic properties from leasing, site 
assessment activities (including the construction of meteorological 
towers or the installation of meteorological buoys), or commercial wind 
energy development in the areas identified in this Call. This includes 
potential offshore archaeological sites or other historic properties 
within the areas described in this notice and also onshore historic 
properties that could potentially be affected by renewable energy 
activities within the Call Areas. This information will inform BOEM's 
review of future undertakings under Section 106 of the NHPA and under 
NEPA.
    3. Information relating to whether or not the visibility of wind 
turbines located in the offshore Call Areas identified in this notice 
would adversely affect the landscape or seascape of coastal areas of 
New York and/or New Jersey, and ideas or strategies that could be used 
to help mitigate or minimize any adverse visual effects, such as: How 
far offshore turbines should be placed to minimize the visual impact 
from the coastline; specific locations or areas to avoid development 
altogether; or any other strategies to help reduce the visual footprint 
(for example, the color of the turbines [towers, nacelle, blades], the 
arrangement or pattern of the turbine array, the dimension of the 
turbines (e.g., height and blade span), visual navigational aviation 
lighting requirements, the maximum number of turbines that should be 
allowed in a specific area, etc.).
    4. Information about potentially conflicting uses of the Call 
Areas, including navigation (commercial and recreational vessel use), 
recreational fishing hotspots, and commercial fishing areas (see 
Section 5.1 for additional information regarding known fishing grounds 
located in the Call Areas).
    5. Additional information about port-to-port or port-to-fishing 
location corridors, determination of appropriate buffers for safety 
based on the type of vessel between these routes, and the placement of 
structures in the Call Areas, as well as the density of the types of 
vessels that utilize these corridors and their ability to use 
alternative corridors.
    6. Additional information regarding recreational and commercial 
fisheries that operate within these Call Areas, including, but not 
limited to, the use of the area for recreational tuna and marlin 
tournaments, the fishing gear types used, seasonal use, and suggestions 
for reducing use conflicts in response to this Call.
    7. BOEM is currently participating in interagency discussions with 
DOD, Department of Energy, Federal Aviation Administration, and NOAA 
and conducting research on the potential effect of offshore wind 
facilities on coastal radar systems. BOEM is requesting additional 
information regarding the potential for interference with radar systems 
covering the Call Areas, including, but not limited to, the use of 
coastal oceanographic radar observations for offshore search and rescue 
operations and for environmental monitoring.
    8. General interest by a developer(s) in constructing a backbone 
transmission system that would transport electricity generated by wind 
projects located offshore in the New York Bight, including a general 
description of the transmission's proposed path and potential 
interconnection points.
    9. Available and pertinent data and information concerning 
renewable energy resources and environmental conditions in and around 
the Call Areas. Where applicable, spatial information should be 
submitted in a format compatible with ArcGIS 10.0 in a geographic 
coordinate system (NAD 83).
    10. Potential buffers between WEAs within the Call Area. Within the 
Area for Consideration document, the State of New York also included 
``indicative areas'' intended to provide a sense of scale and outline 
what potential WEAs could look like. The indicative areas were drawn 
with buffers between the leases, as seen in Europe. Should BOEM 
delineate its WEAs with buffers to allow for mitigation of potential 
conflicts, not limited to wake effect, navigation, and/or cumulative 
environmental effects? Alternatively, should BOEM consider adding 
stipulations in its leases limiting development within a certain 
distance of adjacent development without the consent of the other 
developer (and if so, what distance is appropriate)?
    11. Size and number of WEAs within the Call Areas. How should BOEM 
determine the appropriate size and number of wind energy areas to offer 
for leasing? As discussed in Section 5, approximately 18% of the Call 
Areas presented in this document would need to be identified as WEAs to 
meet the State of New York's request for four 800 MW lease areas. 
Considering the goals of states within the region of a potential wind 
energy area is a crucial component of BOEM's process. However, BOEM is 
seeking further information on what additional factors should be 
considered in this process.
    12. Habitats that may require special attention during siting and 
construction.
    13. Biologically important areas (whether persistent or seasonal) 
for fish (also see Section 5.3), avian, marine mammal, or sea turtle 
species, which may be vital for migration, foraging or

[[Page 15617]]

other biologically important behaviors, or that may seasonally 
concentrate these species in high numbers.
    14. Other relevant socioeconomic, biological, and environmental 
information.

8 Required Nomination Information

    If you intend to submit one or more nominations for a commercial 
wind energy lease in the Call Areas identified in this notice, you must 
provide the following information for each nomination:
    1. The BOEM Protraction name, number, and specific whole or partial 
OCS blocks within the Call Area(s) that you are interested in leasing, 
inclusive of any potential buffers with adjacent leases. Each area you 
identify should be sized appropriately to accommodate the development 
of a reasonable wind energy facility. For context, BOEM would consider 
the nomination of a block of approximately 80,000 acres reasonable, as 
it would likely be able to support an 800 MW wind energy facility 
(assuming a power density of 0.01 MW per acre). Nominations that 
considerably exceed approximately 80,000 acres, e.g. all of the Call 
Areas, may be deemed unreasonable and not accepted by BOEM. This 
information should be submitted as a spatial file compatible with 
ArcGIS 10.0 in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83) in addition to 
your hard copy submittal. If your proposed lease area(s) includes one 
or more partial blocks, please describe those partial blocks in terms 
of a sixteenth (i.e., sub-block) of an OCS block. If you are 
commercially interested in an area outside the Call Areas deeper than 
60m of water depth, BOEM may consider your nomination either as part of 
this leasing process or in a separate process at a later date.
    2. A description of your objectives and the facilities that you 
would use to achieve those objectives.
    3. A preliminary 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 block(s) 
area(s) that you wish to lease, including energy and resource data and 
information used to evaluate the Call Area. Where applicable, spatial 
information should be submitted in a format compatible with ArcGIS 10.0 
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 585.107(c). Examples 
of the documentation appropriate for demonstrating your legal 
qualifications and related guidance can be found in Chapter 2 and 
Appendix B of the BOEM Renewable Energy Framework Guide Book available 
at: http://www.boem.gov/REnGuidebook_03/. 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).
    6. Documentation demonstrating that you are technically and 
financially capable of constructing, operating, maintaining and 
decommissioning the facilities described in (2) above, as set forth in 
30 CFR 585.107(a). Guidance regarding the required documentation to 
demonstrate your technical and financial qualifications can be found 
at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/QualificationGuidelines-pdf.aspx. Any documentation you 
submit to demonstrate your legal, technical, and financial 
qualifications must be provided to BOEM in both paper and electronic 
formats. BOEM considers an Adobe PDF file on a storage media device to 
be an acceptable format for an electronic copy.
    It is not required that you submit a nomination in response to this 
Call in order to participate in a potential future competitive lease 
sale in the New York Bight, if BOEM determines that competitive 
interest exists in one or more portions of the Call Area after the 
close of the Call comment period. However, you will not be able to 
participate in such a lease sale unless you demonstrate prior to the 
sale that you are legally, technically, and financially qualified to 
hold a BOEM renewable energy lease. To ensure that BOEM has sufficient 
time to process your qualifications package, you should submit this 
package during the PSN 60-day public comment period. More information 
can be found at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/QualificationGuidelines-pdf.aspx.

9 Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information

9.1 Freedom of Information Act

    BOEM will protect privileged or confidential information that 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 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 if it qualifies 
for exemption from disclosure under FOIA. Please label privileged or 
confidential information ``Contains Confidential Information'' and 
consider submitting such information as a separate attachment.
    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 
list of whole or partial blocks that you are nominating. Information 
that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be regarded by 
BOEM as suitable for public release.

9.2 Personal Identifying Information

    BOEM does not consider anonymous comments; please include your name 
and address as part of your submittal. You should be aware that your 
entire comment, including your name, address, and your personal 
identifying information, may be made publicly available at any time. 
All submissions from identified individuals, businesses and 
organizations will be available for public viewing on regulations.gov. 
In order for BOEM to withhold from disclosure your personal identifying 
information, you must identify any information contained in the 
submittal of your comments that, if released, would constitute a 
clearly unwarranted invasion of your personal privacy. You must also 
briefly describe any possible harmful consequence(s) of the disclosure 
of information, such as embarrassment, injury or other harm.

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

    BOEM is required, after consultation with the Secretary, to 
withhold the location, character, or ownership of historic resources if 
it determines that disclosure may, among other things, risk harm to the 
historic resources or impede the use of a traditional religious site by 
practitioners. Tribal entities should designate information that falls 
under Section 304 of NHPA as confidential.

    Dated: April 5, 2018.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-07445 Filed 4-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P