[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
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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]
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