[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 118 (Wednesday, June 19, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28582-28587]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-12962]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management

[Docket No. BOEM-2018-0067]


Commercial Renewable Energy Transmission on the Outer Continental 
Shelf Offshore New York and New Jersey; Notice of Proposed Grant Area 
and Request for Competitive Interest

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Public notice.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this public notice is to: Describe the New York 
and New Jersey Ocean Grid proposed by Anbaric Development Partners, LLC 
(ADP); determine if there is competitive interest in a right-of-way 
(ROW) grant for renewable energy purposes in the area identified in 
this notice; and solicit public input regarding the proposal, its 
potential environmental consequences, and other uses of the area in 
which the proposal would be located.

DATES: If you are submitting an indication of interest in acquiring a 
ROW grant for the area ADP requested, your submission must be sent by 
mail, postmarked no later than July 19, 2019 for your submission to be 
considered. If you are providing comments or other information, you may 
send them by mail, postmarked by this same date, or you may submit them 
through the Federal Rulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, 
also by this same date.

ADDRESSES:  If you are submitting an indication of competitive interest 
for a ROW grant, please submit it by mail to the following address: 
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 
45600 Woodland Road, Mailstop: VAM-OREP, Sterling, VA 20166. 
Submissions must be postmarked by July 19, 2019 to be considered by 
BOEM in determining whether there is competitive interest. In addition 
to a paper copy of your submission, include an electronic copy on a 
compact disc or portable storage device. BOEM will list the parties 
that submit indications of competitive interest in the area ADP 
requested on the BOEM website after the 30-day comment period has 
closed.
    If you are submitting comments and other information concerning the 
proposed grant area, you may use either of the following two methods:
    1. Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the 
entry entitled, ``Enter Keyword or ID,'' enter BOEM-2018-0067 and then 
click ``search.'' Follow the instructions to

[[Page 28583]]

submit public comments and view supporting and related materials 
available for this notice.
    2. Alternatively, you may submit comments by mail to the following 
address: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Office of Renewable Energy 
Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, Mailstop: VAM-OREP, Sterling, VA 20166.
    If you wish to protect the confidentiality of your submissions or 
comments, clearly mark the relevant sections and request that BOEM 
treat them as confidential. Please label privileged or confidential 
information ``Contains Confidential Information'' and consider 
submitting such information as a separate attachment. Treatment of 
confidential information is addressed in the section of this notice 
entitled, ``Privileged or Confidential Information.'' BOEM will post 
all comments on regulations.gov unless labeled as confidential. 
Information that is not labeled as privileged or confidential will be 
regarded by BOEM as suitable for public release.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Casey Reeves, Project Coordinator, 
BOEM, Office of Renewable Energy Programs, 45600 Woodland Road, 
Mailstop: VAM-OREP, Sterling, VA 20166, (703) 787-1671.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April 30, 2018, the Bureau of Ocean 
Energy Management (BOEM) received an application from ADP, later 
revised on June 22, 2018, for a ROW grant on the Outer Continental 
Shelf (OCS) offshore New York and New Jersey. ADP's proposed project, 
the New York and New Jersey Ocean Grid (NY/NJ Ocean Grid), would entail 
the construction, installation, and operation of an offshore 
transmission system of approximately 185 nautical miles of submarine 
cable on the OCS and approximately 118 nautical miles of submarine 
cable on State submerged lands to deliver offshore wind energy 
generation to the onshore electric grid. The NY/NJ Ocean Grid also 
includes the siting of several offshore collector platforms (OCPs), 
each connected to one or more high voltage submarine cables to onshore 
points of interconnection. Each proposed OCP would be designed to 
handle 800 to 1,200 MW of offshore wind energy generation with the 
ability to connect multiple offshore wind projects and accommodate 
phased development within BOEM's designated Wind Energy Areas (WEAs).
    BOEM is publishing this Request for Competitive Interest (RFCI) 
pursuant to subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 
1337(p)(3)) and 30 CFR 585.306-307. Subsection 8(p)(3) of the OCS Lands 
Act requires that OCS renewable energy leases, easements, and ROWs be 
issued ``on a competitive basis unless the Secretary determines after 
public notice of a lease, easement, or right-of-way that there is no 
competitive interest.'' The regulations at 30 CFR 585.306-307 set forth 
BOEM's procedures for making such determinations for ROW grants. This 
RFCI provides public notice of the proposed ROW grant area that ADP 
requested, and invites the submission of indications of competitive 
interest. BOEM will consider the responses to this public notice to 
determine whether competitive interest exists for the area ADP 
requested, as required by 43 U.S.C. 1337(p)(3). Parties wishing to 
obtain a grant for the area that ADP requested should submit detailed 
and specific information, as described in the section entitled, 
``Required Indication of Interest Information.'' This announcement also 
requests interested and affected parties to comment and provide 
information about site conditions and existing and future uses of the 
area identified in this notice that would be relevant to the proposed 
project or its impacts. BOEM has described the type of information that 
it is requesting in the section entitled, ``Requested Information from 
Interested or Affected Parties.''

Purpose of the RFCI

    Responses to this public notice will allow BOEM to determine, 
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.306, whether or not there is competitive 
interest in acquiring the ROW grant area ADP requested, as described in 
this notice. In addition, this notice provides an opportunity for 
interested stakeholders to provide comments on the ADP ROW request, 
including information relating to potential environmental consequences 
from the proposed project on existing geological, geophysical, and 
biological (habitat and species) conditions, as well as any potential 
impacts to existing ocean users (e.g., fishing industry and mariners) 
in the area described in this notice. If, in response to this notice, 
BOEM receives one or more indications of competitive interest from 
qualified entities that wish to transmit renewable energy in the 
proposed ADP ROW grant area, it may decide to move forward with the ROW 
grant issuance process using competitive procedures pursuant to 30 CFR 
585.308. However, if BOEM receives no qualified competing indications 
of interest, BOEM may decide to move forward with the ROW grant 
issuance process using the noncompetitive procedures contained in 30 
CFR 585.309.

Background

Statutory Authorization

    Under OCSLA subsection 8(p)(1)(C), the Secretary of the Interior 
(the Secretary) may issue leases or ROWs for activities that produce or 
support production, transportation, or transmission of energy from 
sources other than oil or gas, including renewable energy sources. 
Section 8(p) also requires the Secretary to issue any necessary 
regulations to carry out this authority. Regulations were issued for 
this purpose on April 29, 2009, and are codified in BOEM regulations at 
30 CFR part 585. The Secretary has delegated the authority to issue 
leases, easements, and ROWs to the Director of BOEM.

Determination of Competitive Interest and Granting Process

    BOEM will evaluate indications of competitive interest in the ROW 
grant area ADP requested to install cables for the transmission of 
renewable electricity, and will determine whether there is competitive 
interest in accordance with 30 CFR 585.307. At the conclusion of the 
comment period for this public notice, BOEM will review the submissions 
received to ensure that they are complete and that the submitters are 
qualified to hold a ROW grant under 30 CFR 585.106 and 107, and then 
will make its competitiveness determination.
    BOEM may find that competitive interest exists if it receives a 
proposal to acquire an OCS ROW grant that cannot coexist with ADP's 
proposed activities within its requested grant corridor. In rendering 
its determination regarding competitive interest, BOEM will analyze 
whether the proposal by ADP would prevent a known competitor's 
subsequent, or parallel, use of the area for renewable energy 
transmission. Under BOEM's regulations at 30 CFR 585.302(b)(1), the 
rights accorded in a ROW grant do not prevent the issuance of other 
rights in the same area, provided that any subsequent rights BOEM 
grants in the area of a previously issued ROW grant do not unreasonably 
interfere with activities approved under the previously-issued ROW 
grant. Consequently, if you have an interest in obtaining a commercial 
lease for generating offshore wind energy in the area of ADP's ROW 
grant request, it is not necessary to submit indications of interest in 
response to this notice to protect your interest in obtaining a lease. 
This is because BOEM could issue a lease for generating offshore wind

[[Page 28584]]

energy in the same area as the ROW, so long as the lease activities do 
not unreasonably interfere with BOEM-approved activities on the ROW 
grant.
    If BOEM determines that competitive interest exists, it may decide 
to proceed with the competitive granting process outlined in 30 CFR 
585.308. If BOEM determines that there is no competitive interest in 
the proposed grant area, it will publish in the Federal Register a 
notice that there is no competitive interest. At that point, BOEM may 
decide to proceed with the noncompetitive grant issuance process 
pursuant to 30 CFR 585.306(b). If BOEM issues a ROW grant to ADP, ADP 
would need to conduct any construction activities on the ROW pursuant 
to a BOEM-approved General Activities Plan (GAP) pursuant to 30 CFR 
585.600(c).
    Whether BOEM proceeds with the competitive or noncompetitive grant 
process, it will consult and coordinate with relevant Federal agencies, 
affected tribes, and affected state and local governments in issuing a 
grant; developing grant terms and conditions; and deciding whether to 
approve, disapprove, or approve with modifications any activities 
proposed in a GAP.

Environmental Review and Permitting Process

    Prior to issuing any ROW grant or authorizing any construction 
activities on that ROW grant, BOEM would conduct a site-specific 
environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, 
during which it would act as the lead agency, coordinate with 
cooperating or consulting Federal agencies, and provide additional 
opportunities for public comment. BOEM would also participate in 
associated consultations under the Coastal Zone Management Act, the 
Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation 
and Management Act, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), 
Executive Order 13175, and other laws, regulations, and authorities 
determined necessary throughout the process.

Description of the Grant Request

    The area for which ADP has requested a ROW grant is located on the 
OCS off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. A ROW grant corridor, in 
which a cable, pipeline, or associated facility is located, is 
generally 200 feet in width centered on the cable and includes areas 
for the associated facilities limited to the area reasonably necessary 
for the OCP's or other necessary accessory facilities (30 CFR 585.301). 
The requested grant corridor crosses portions of the following OCS 
blocks:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Protraction No.                    Lease block           Protraction No.            Lease block
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NK18-12........................................            6457  NJ18-03                                    6001
NK18-12........................................            6458  NJ18-03                                    6002
NK18-11........................................            6540  NJ18-03                                    6003
NK18-12........................................            6501  NJ18-03                                    6004
NK18-12........................................            6505  NJ18-03                                    6053
NK18-12........................................            6506  NJ18-03                                    6054
NK18-12........................................            6507  NJ18-03                                    6055
NK18-12........................................            6508  NJ18-03                                    6104
NK18-12........................................            6509  NJ18-03                                    6105
NK18-12........................................            6551  NJ18-03                                    6152
NK18-12........................................            6552  NJ18-03                                    6153
NK18-12........................................            6555  NJ18-03                                    6154
NK18-12........................................            6558  NJ18-03                                    6155
NK18-12........................................            6559  NJ18-02                                    6240
NK18-12........................................            6560  NJ18-03                                    6201
NK18-12........................................            6561  NJ18-03                                    6202
NK18-12........................................            6562  NJ18-03                                    6203
NK18-12........................................            6601  NJ18-02                                    6289
NK18-12........................................            6602  NJ18-02                                    6290
NK18-12........................................            6604  NJ18-03                                    6251
NK18-12........................................            6605  NJ18-02                                    6338
NK18-12........................................            6610  NJ18-02                                    6339
NK18-12........................................            6611  NJ18-02                                    6340
NK18-12........................................            6612  NJ18-02                                    6387
NK18-12........................................            6652  NJ18-02                                    6388
NK18-12........................................            6653  NJ18-02                                    6389
NK18-12........................................            6654  NJ18-02                                    6437
NK18-12........................................            6661  NJ18-02                                    6438
NK18-12........................................            6662  NJ18-02                                    6487
NK18-12........................................            6702  NJ18-02                                    7078
NK18-12........................................            6703  NJ18-02                                    7079
NK18-12........................................            6704  NJ18-02                                    7128
NK18-12........................................            6711  NJ18-02                                    7129
NK18-12........................................            6712  NJ18-05                                    6028
NK18-12........................................            6713  NJ18-05                                    6029
NK18-12........................................            6714  NJ18-05                                    6078
NK18-12........................................            6715  NJ18-05                                    6079
NK18-12........................................            6752  NJ18-02                                    6831
NK18-12........................................            6753  NJ18-02                                    6832
NK18-12........................................            6754  NJ18-02                                    6833
NK18-12........................................            6764  NJ18-02                                    6881
NK18-12........................................            6765  NJ18-02                                    6882
NK18-12........................................            6802  NJ18-02                                    6930
NK18-12........................................            6803  NJ18-02                                    6931
NK18-12........................................            6804  NJ18-02                                    6979
NK18-12........................................            6851  NJ18-02                                    6980

[[Page 28585]]

 
NK18-12........................................            6852  NJ18-02                                    6981
NK18-12........................................            6853  NJ18-02                                    7029
NK18-12........................................            6854  NJ18-02                                    7030
NK18-11........................................            6939  NJ18-02                                    6537
NK18-11........................................            6940  NJ18-02                                    6538
NK18-12........................................            6901  NJ18-02                                    6585
NK18-12........................................            6902  NJ18-02                                    6586
NK18-11........................................            6989  NJ18-02                                    6587
NK18-11........................................            6990  NJ18-02                                    6635
NK18-12........................................            6951  NJ18-02                                    6636
NK18-11........................................            7039  NJ18-02                                    6684
NK18-11........................................            7040  NJ18-02                                    6685
NK18-11........................................            7089  NJ18-02                                    6686
NK18-11........................................            7090  NJ18-02                                    6733
NK18-12........................................            7051  NJ18-02                                    6734
NK18-11........................................            7140  NJ18-02                                    6735
NK18-12........................................            7101  NJ18-02                                    6781
NK18-12........................................            7102  NJ18-02                                    6782
NK18-12........................................            7103  NJ18-02                                    6783
                                                 ..............  NJ18-02                                    6784
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    BOEM requests public comments and indications of competitive 
interest in the ROW grant area identified by this notice. The 
centerline of the eventual ROW grant may be adjusted based on the 
results of future surveys or new information obtained from stakeholder 
outreach and public comments, but the proposed project, if approved, is 
expected to occur within the listed lease blocks.

Map of the Area

    You can find a map of the area proposed for a ROW grant at the 
following URL: https://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/State-Activities/Regional-Proposals.aspx. A large-scale map of the RFCI area 
showing boundaries of the area is available from BOEM upon request to 
the contact listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section 
above.

Multiple Use Considerations

    BOEM has identified the following multiple use issues through early 
coordination and outreach efforts:

Department of Defense

    The Department of Defense (DoD) conducts offshore testing, 
training, and operations on the Atlantic above the OCS. BOEM would 
consult with the DoD on any activities proposed on the requested ROW 
grant to ensure that they are compatible with DoD activities on the 
Atlantic above the OCS.

Shipping Traffic

    Shipping traffic occurs within the vicinity of the requested ROW 
grant. BOEM will coordinate with the United States Coast Guard to avoid 
or minimize potential conflicts.

Protected Resources

    Several species of birds, marine mammals, sea turtles, and fish 
listed as threatened or endangered under the ESA may occur permanently 
or seasonally in the proposed ROW grant area. Protection of such 
species falls within the jurisdiction of the United States Fish and 
Wildlife Service (FWS) or the NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service 
(NMFS). The proposed route would cross North Atlantic right whale 
habitat and would therefore likely require consultation with NMFS to 
ensure adequate protection through mitigation measures. In addition to 
ESA-listed species, the area likely contains, seasonally or 
permanently, seabirds protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and 
marine mammals protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. BOEM 
will coordinate with the FWS and NMFS to avoid, mitigate, and/or 
minimize potential impacts to the resources under their jurisdiction.

Existing Infrastructure

    The proposed ROW grant crosses international fiber optic 
telecommunications cable. In order to construct its proposed project, 
ADP is expected to establish crossing agreements with their owners and 
ensure that installation activities do not cause any disruption to 
service, maintenance, or decommissioning, or otherwise damage those 
pipelines and cables identified by the affected parties.

Fisheries and Essential Fish Habitat

    Portions of the area identified are used by the commercial and 
recreational fishing industry, and NMFS has designated essential fish 
habitat (EFH) in much of the area. Consultations with NMFS may be 
required to identify measures to avoid and minimize impacts on EFH 
during the siting and installation phases of development.

Required Indication of Competitive Interest Information

    If you intend to submit an indication of competitive interest for a 
ROW grant for the area identified in this notice for the purpose of 
transmitting electricity generated from a renewable source, you must 
provide the following:
    (1) Documentation demonstrating that you are legally qualified to 
hold a lease or grant in accordance with the requirements of 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/REnGuidebook03/. 
The documents you provide to demonstrate your qualifications to hold a 
lease or grant will be placed in a file kept by BOEM 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).
    (2) Documentation demonstrating that you are technically and 
financially capable of constructing, operating, maintaining, and 
decommissioning the facilities described in (4) below in accordance 
with the requirements of 30 CFR 585.107(a). Guidance regarding the 
documentation required to demonstrate

[[Page 28586]]

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.
    (3) A statement that you wish to acquire a renewable energy ROW 
grant for the proposed grant corridor ADP requested for the NY/NJ Ocean 
Grid project, and a description of how your proposal would interfere 
with, or suffer interference from, the proposed project. You should 
submit any request for a ROW grant that does not conflict with the 
proposed grant corridor separately pursuant to 30 CFR 585.305.
    (4) A description of your objectives, including:
     Devices and infrastructure involved (if your project would 
require the use of bottom-founded structures such as booster stations, 
please indicate where those platforms would be located);
     Anticipated capacity;
     How the project would support renewable energy; and
     A statement that the proposed activity conforms with 
applicable state and local energy planning requirements, initiatives, 
or guidance.
    (5) A schedule of proposed activities, including those leading to 
commercial operations.
    (6) Available and pertinent data and information concerning 
environmental conditions in the area, including any energy and resource 
data and information used to evaluate the area.
    Further guidance for the qualifications process and requirements is 
available at: http://www.boem.gov/Renewable-Energy-Program/Regulatory-Information/QualificationGuidelines-pdf.aspx. Your complete submission, 
including the items identified in (1) through (6) above, must be 
provided to BOEM in both paper and electronic formats. BOEM considers 
an Adobe PDF file stored on a compact disc (CD) or portable storage 
device to be an acceptable format for submitting an electronic copy. 
Where applicable, you should submit spatial information in a format 
compatible with ArcGIS in a geographic coordinate system (NAD 83).
    It is critical that you provide a complete submission of 
competitive interest so that BOEM may consider your submission in a 
timely manner. If BOEM reviews your submission and determines that it 
is incomplete, BOEM will inform you of this determination and describe 
the information necessary in order for BOEM to deem your submission 
complete. If BOEM determines your second submission is also 
insufficient or that it has not received the requested information by a 
date BOEM specified, we reserve the right to deem your submission 
invalid. In such a case, BOEM would not consider your submission.

Requested Information From Interested or Affected Parties

    BOEM is also requesting specific and detailed comments from 
interested or affected parties regarding the following:
    (1) The current and future need for a regional transmission system 
in the proposed area, including utility, available grid connections, 
economics, efficiency or other relevant metrics.
    (2) Whether BOEM should develop a broader strategic approach for 
regional transmission cables in which BOEM considers limits on the 
number and location of future ROW grants or, alternatively, processes 
unsolicited ROW grant requests on a case-by-case basis as it receives 
them from industry.
    (3) Conditions to make such a network compatible with offshore wind 
projects.
    (4) Offshore wind project developer interest in use of regional 
transmission networks on the OCS.
    (5) Geological and geophysical conditions (including bottom and 
shallow hazards) in the area described in this notice.
    (6) Known archaeological, historic or cultural resource sites on 
the seabed in the area described in this notice.
    (7) Multiple uses of the area described in this notice, including 
navigation (in particular, commercial and recreational vessel usage) 
and commercial and recreational fisheries.
    (8) Potential impacts to existing communication cables.
    (9) DoD operational, training, and testing activities (surface and 
subsurface) in the area described in this notice that may be impacted 
by the proposed project.
    (10) Potential future uses of the area.
    (11) Advisable setback distance for other offshore structures, 
including other cables, and renewable energy structures.
    (12) The potential risk to the proposed offshore transmission cable 
posed by anchors or other hazards, and burial depths that would be 
required to mitigate such risks.
    (13) Relevant environmental and socioeconomic information.

Protection of Privileged or Confidential Information

Freedom of Information Act

    BOEM will not disclose privileged or confidential information that 
you submit if it qualifies for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 
exemption for trade secrets and commercial or financial information, 
provided that you clearly label the submission with ``Contains 
Confidential Information'' and request that BOEM treat it as 
confidential. Please 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 confidential or privileged 
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.

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 consequences of the disclosure of 
information, such as embarrassment, injury or other harm.

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 as confidential 
information

[[Page 28587]]

that falls under Section 304 of the NHPA.

Walter D. Cruickshank,
Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2019-12962 Filed 6-18-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MR-P