[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34868-34870]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15669]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2018-0034]


Public Input Requested on Potential Impacts to Historic 
Priorities: Sand Resource Assessment and Borrow Area Identification, 
Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico Outer Continental Shelf

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Request for public input.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) invites public 
input on the identification of historic properties or potential impacts 
to historic properties from a comprehensive research program of sand 
resource and borrow area identification on the Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). Sand resources are identified 
using geophysical and geological (G&G) surveys, which constitute 
undertakings subject to Section 106 of the National Historic 
Preservation Act.

DATES: BOEM must receive your comments by August 13, 2018 for your 
comments to be considered. BOEM requests comments to be postmarked or 
delivered by this same date. BOEM will consider only those comments 
received that conform to this requirement.
    ADDRESSES: 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-2018-0034, and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to submit public comments and 
view supporting and related materials available for this notice.
    2. Written comments may be delivered by hand or by mail, enclosed 
in an envelope labeled, ``Sand Resources Assessment Section 106,'' to 
Deputy Preservation Officer, Office of Environmental Programs, Bureau 
of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, Virginia 
20166.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brandi Carrier, BOEM, Office of 
Environmental Programs, 45600 Woodland Road (VAM-OREP), Sterling, 
Virginia 20166, (703) 787-1623 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Authority: This request for public input concerns an action BOEM is 
taking pursuant to 43 U.S.C. 1346.

1 Background

    BOEM's Marine Minerals Program partners with communities to address 
serious erosion along coastal beaches, dunes, barrier islands, and 
wetlands. Erosion affects natural resources, energy, defense, public 
infrastructure, and tourism. To help address this problem, BOEM 
provides sand, gravel, and/or shell resources from the Federal OCS for 
shore protection, beach nourishment, and wetlands restoration with 
vigorous safety and environmental oversight, as authorized by the Outer 
Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA).
    BOEM is proposing a comprehensive research program for sand 
resource and borrow area identification to properly identify and manage 
OCS sand resources, and to enable both long-term and emergency planning 
goals. The study will use state-of-the-art technology and methods to 
collect and analyze data, and will incorporate a rigorous mitigation 
strategy to minimize environmental effects. The field work will use G&G 
surveys to: (1) Identify potential OCS sand resources at a 
reconnaissance-scale; (2) delineate geographically focused areas as 
potential borrow areas at a design-level; (3) monitor specific borrow 
areas and investigate for the presence of objects of archaeological 
significance, munitions of explosive concern, and hard bottom or other 
sensitive benthic habitat in the vicinity of potential borrow areas; 
and (4) collect scientific data on changes in sand resources. The study 
could occur anywhere on the Atlantic or Gulf of Mexico OCS between the 
Submerged Lands Act Boundary to the 50 meter bathymetric contour; 
activities under cooperative agreements (authorized by 43 U.S.C. 
1345(e)) with Atlantic and

[[Page 34869]]

Gulf states may cross the state/Federal boundary. Additional 
information is available at https://www.boem.gov/Building-a-National-Offshore-Sand-Inventory/.

2 Description of the Proposed Undertaking

    Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 
306108), and the act's implementing regulations (36 CFR part 800), 
require Federal agencies to consider the effects of their undertakings 
on historic properties and afford the Advisory Council on Historic 
Preservation a reasonable opportunity to comment. As part of this 
review, BOEM will consult with state historic preservation officers, 
tribal officials, and others. BOEM is now reaching out to the general 
public for comment regarding the potential presence of historic 
properties or potential effects on historic properties from the surveys 
and other activities used in the study. This information will allow 
BOEM to consider and document historic preservation concerns early, and 
allow the agency to consider the views of the public in the decision 
making process.
    This study will involve two different types of sand surveys, each 
with a different potential to affect historic properties:
    (1) Geophysical surveys are conducted to obtain information about 
shallow sediment stratigraphy, shallow hazards (such as presence of 
munitions of explosive concern or buried cables), archaeological 
resources, and sensitive benthic habitats. Typical equipment used in 
these surveys includes sub-bottom profilers, swath bathymetric sonars, 
side-scan sonars, and magnetometers. Geophysical surveys do not have 
the potential to affect historic properties.
    (2) Geological surveys involve seafloor-disturbing activities, such 
as sample collection through use of grab samples or a platform-mounted 
vibracore, which are conducted to evaluate the quality of mineral 
resources for their intended use as sand resources. Vibracores are 
shallow in nature, focusing on characterizing the sand layer, and 
penetrate to a depth of no more than 20 ft (6 m) or the extent of the 
sand layer. The seafloor-disturbing portions of the geological surveys 
may have the potential to affect historic properties on the OCS, so 
BOEM is requesting public input on the existence and location of 
historic properties on the OCS and on the potential effects geologic 
surveys could have on any such historic properties.
    Once beach quality sand resource areas have been identified, these 
sand resources could be available to local, state, and Federal agencies 
for beach nourishment, and coastal restoration to provide protection of 
infrastructure, create coastal habitat, and reduce damage caused by 
storms, currents, and waves. Those potential future actions would 
undergo a separate Section 106 consultation process if they are 
determined to be undertakings under 36 CFR part 800, with additional 
opportunities for public comment.

3 Description of the Study Area

    The potential Study Area lies within the Atlantic and Gulf of 
Mexico OCS, from the Submerged Lands Act boundary to 50 m (164 ft) 
deep. Sand survey activities will not occur across the entire Study 
Area simultaneously, but will be of limited spatial extent at any one 
time. The Study Area includes adjacent transit corridors used for 
mobilization, and demobilization, and access to support bases. 
Sensitive and protected areas, such as within Cape Cod Bay, Stellwagen 
Bank National Marine Sanctuary, and Florida Keys National Marine 
Sanctuary are specifically excluded.
    Prior to commencing sand survey activities, BOEM will coordinate 
with coastal states, Federal stakeholders, and relevant regional 
planning bodies to determine areas with the greatest potential need for 
OCS sand resources and the greatest data gaps, in order to identify 
priority survey sites. A detailed survey and sampling plan will be 
developed prior to undertaking any sand survey activities; this plan 
will define the geographic scope and relative timing of the proposed 
activities.
    Similar resource area identification and delineation activities 
could occur on state submerged lands, but these undertakings would be 
separately analyzed in project-specific environmental reviews, under 
the direction of the appropriate lead entity. BOEM may enter into 
cooperative agreements with Atlantic and Gulf states to assist in the 
inventory of offshore sand resources, which may cross the state/Federal 
boundaries. BOEM's authorization of an agreement to use sand resources 
in a given borrow area, including for beach nourishment and wetlands 
reconstruction, would be considered a separate action. Any such 
proposed undertakings, if received by BOEM, would be considered 
individually and would subject to a separate environmental review and 
Section 106 consultation process.

4 Requested Information From the Public

    BOEM requests specific and detailed comments from the public and 
other interested or affected parties on the identification of historic 
properties or potential effects to historic properties from the 
proposed G&G survey activities. This information will inform BOEM's 
review of this and future undertakings under Section 106 of the NHPA.

5 Protection of Sensitive, Privileged, or Confidential Information

5.1 Freedom of Information Act

    BOEM will protect sensitive, privileged, or confidential 
information that you submit when required by the Freedom of Information 
Act (FOIA).

5.2 Section 304 of the National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. 
307103)

    Exemption 3 of FOIA applies to information specifically exempted 
from disclosure by a statute other than FOIA, but only if the other 
statute's disclosure prohibition is absolute. Section 304 of the 
National Historic Preservation Act at 54 U.S.C. 307103 requires the 
head of a Federal agency, after consultation with the Secretary, to 
withhold from disclosure to the public information about the location, 
character, or ownership of a historic property if the Secretary and the 
agency determine that disclosure may--(1) cause a significant invasion 
of privacy; (2) risk harm to the historic property; or (3) impede the 
use of a traditional religious site by practitioners. If you wish BOEM 
to withhold such information from disclosure, 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.'' In particular, tribal entities should 
designate information that falls under Section 304 of NHPA as 
confidential.

5.3 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. In 
order for BOEM to withhold your personal identifying information from 
disclosure, you must identify any information contained in the 
submittal of your comments that, if

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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.

    Dated: July 17, 2018.
Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2018-15669 Filed 7-20-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P