[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 157 (Wednesday, August 14, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Page 66137]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-18093]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management [Docket No. BOEM-2023-0065]


Notice of Availability of a Final Environmental Assessment for 
Commercial Wind Lease Issuance on the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, 
Oregon

AGENCY: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announces the 
availability of an environmental assessment (EA) and its finding that 
possible wind energy-related leasing, right-of-way and right of use 
issuance, site assessment, and site characterization activities on the 
U.S. Pacific Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) offshore Oregon (the 
Proposed Action) will not significantly impact the human environment. 
The EA will inform BOEM's decision whether to issue wind energy leases 
on the OCS offshore the U.S. Pacific, Oregon.

ADDRESSES: The final EA and associated information are available on 
BOEM's website at: www.boem.gov/oregonea.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lisa Gilbane, Chief, Environmental 
Analysis Section, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Camarillo, 
California Office, 760 Paseo Camarillo, Suite 102, Camarillo, CA 93010, 
(805) 384-6387 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The final EA analyzes the potential impacts 
from the Proposed Action, which involves BOEM issuing up to two 
commercial wind energy leases in the Oregon Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) 
and granting associated rights-of-way (ROWs) and rights-of-use and 
easement (RUEs) offshore the State of Oregon. A BOEM-issued lease 
provides lessees the exclusive right to submit site assessment and 
construction and operations plans to BOEM for possible approval. The EA 
considers the reasonably foreseeable environmental consequences 
associated with site characterization activities (geophysical, 
geotechnical, archaeological, and biological surveys) and site 
assessment activities (including the installation and operation of 
meteorological buoys) which are the types of activities that 
foreseeably follow BOEM's issuance of the leases, ROWs, and RUEs. BOEM 
prepared an EA for this proposed action to inform its planning and 
decision-making (40 CFR 1501.5(b)).
    Alternative: In addition to the Proposed Action, BOEM considered a 
No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, BOEM would not 
issue commercial wind energy leases, ROWs, or RUEs in the two Oregon 
WEAs. BOEM's preferred alternative is the Proposed Action.
    Finding of no significant impact: After carefully considering the 
alternatives and comments from the public and cooperating and 
consulting agencies on the draft EA, BOEM finds that approval of two 
commercial wind energy leases in the Oregon WEAs, and ROWs and RUEs 
associated with the lease areas, would not significantly impact the 
environment.
    Availability of the final EA: The final EA and associated 
information are available on BOEM's website www.boem.gov/oregonea.
    Authority: 42 U.S.C. 4231 et seq. (National Environmental Policy 
Act, as amended) and 40 CFR 1506.6.

Douglas Boren,
Pacific Regional Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
[FR Doc. 2024-18093 Filed 8-13-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4340-98-P