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AGENCY:

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), Interior.

ACTION:

Direct Final rule.

SUMMARY:

BOEMRE is revising regulations that pertain to noncompetitive acquisition of an Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) renewable energy lease. We are taking this action because the current regulations covering noncompetitive leasing of an OCS renewable energy lease and an unsolicited request for an OCS renewable energy lease are inconsistent. This rulemaking will make the two processes consistent with each other by eliminating an extra step in the noncompetitive leasing process.

DATES:

Effective Date: This rule becomes effective on January 25, 2011 unless BOEMRE publishes a notice withdrawing this rule before that date.

Comment Due Date: Submit comments on the direct final rule by December 27, 2010.

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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Timothy Redding at (703) 787-1219.

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ADDRESSES:

You may submit comments on the rulemaking by any of the following methods. Please use the Regulation Identifier Number (RIN) 1010-AD71 as an identifier in your message. See also Public Availability of Comments under Procedural Matters.

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. In the entry titled “Enter Keyword or ID,” enter BOEM-2010-0045, then click search. Follow the instructions to submit public comments and view supporting and related materials available for this rulemaking. BOEMRE will post all comments.
• Mail or hand-carry comments to the Department of the Interior; Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement; Attention: Regulations and Standards Branch (RSB); 381 Elden Street, MS-4024, Herndon, Virginia 20170-4817. Please reference “Acquire a Lease Noncompetitively, 1010-AD71” in your comments and include your name and address.

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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

Background

The regulations at 30 CFR part 285 cover renewable energy and alternative uses of existing facilities on the OCS. This direct final rule revises the regulations at §§ 285.231 and 285.232. The regulations at § 285.231 cover unsolicited requests for noncompetitive leases. The regulations at § 285.232 cover acquisition of noncompetitive leases in response to a Request for Interest (RFI) or a Call for Information and Nomination (Call). The process outlined in these two sections is currently inconsistent now for awarding of noncompetitive leases.

As currently written, § 285.231 allows for the awarding of a noncompetitive lease after BOEMRE receives an unsolicited request for a noncompetitive lease, and after BOEMRE determines that there is no competitive interest after publishing a single notice of a request for interest relating to the unsolicited request for a noncompetitive lease. As currently written, § 285.232 provides that if a respondent to an RFI or a Call submits an area of leasing interest to BOEMRE for which no other nominations are submitted, BOEMRE may offer a lease through a noncompetitive process. However, the process requires publication of a second RFI notice to confirm the absence of competition before proceeding with the noncompetitive process. We believe that this requirement for a second notice is unnecessarily redundant and at odds with the noncompetitive process prescribed for cases in which a party submits an unsolicited request for an OCS renewable energy lease, where BOEMRE is required to publish only a single notice.

To remedy this inconsistency, BOEMRE is revising § 285.231(d)(1) to say that we will publish in the Federal Register a notice that there is no competitive interest. We will also revise § 285.232(c) to cite § 285.231(d) through (i) instead of the current § 285.231(b) through (i).

This is a direct final rulemaking with request for comments. We have provided a 30-day comment period for this direct final rule. We believe that 30 days is sufficient time for comments because this rulemaking is noncontroversial, and the revision was recommended by the American Wind Energy Association, the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium (established by the Secretary of the Interior), and individual coastal states. If we receive no significant adverse comment during the 30-day comment period, this rule will go into effect 30 days after the end of the comment period. However, if a significant adverse comment is received, BOEMRE will withdraw the rule by publishing a notice of withdrawal in the Federal Register within 30 days after the public comment period closes and will publish a notice of proposed rulemaking. A significant adverse comment is a comment where the commenter explains why the rule would be inappropriate, including challenges to the rule's underlying premise or approach or would be ineffective and unacceptable without a change.

Procedural Matters

Regulatory Planning and Review (Executive Order (E.O.) 12866)

This rule is not a significant rule as determined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and is not subject to review under E.O. 12866.

(1) This rule will not have an annual effect of $100 million or more on the economy. It will not adversely affect in a material way the economy, productivity, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local, or tribal governments or communities.

(2) This rule will not create a serious inconsistency or otherwise interfere with an action taken or planned by another agency. The rule is intended to eliminate unnecessary redundancy and inefficiency.

(3) This rule will not alter the budgetary effects of entitlements, grants, user fees, or loan programs or the rights or obligations of their recipients.

(4) This rule will not raise novel legal or policy issues arising out of legal mandates, the President's priorities, or the principles set forth in E.O. 12866.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The Department of the Interior certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic effect on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.). The Department prepared a regulatory flexibility analysis for 30 CFR part 285, and concluded that the regulations will impact a substantial number of small entities but will not have a significant economic impact on the small entities in comparison to the impacts on large entities. That analysis was discussed in detail in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on July 9, 2008 (73 FR 39376).

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the industries affected by this rule is 221119 (Other Electric Power Generation). The definition for this code is:

• “This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in operating electric power generation facilities (except hydroelectric, fossil fuel, nuclear). These facilities convert other forms of energy, such as solar, wind, or tidal power, into electrical energy. The electric energy produced in these establishments is provided to electric power transmission systems or to electric power distribution systems.”

It is possible that this rule could eventually affect entities that produce hydrogen and fall under NAICS Code 325120 (Industrial Gas Manufacturing). The definition for this code is:

• “This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing industrial organic and inorganic gases in compressed, liquid, or solid forms.”

Given the original findings of the regulatory flexibility analysis done for 30 CFR part 285, as well as the minor adjustment to the renewable energy leasing process that is entailed, the revised rule will not have a significant effect on a substantial number of small entities.

Your comments are important. The Small Business and Agriculture Regulatory Enforcement Ombudsman and 10 Regional Fairness Boards were established to receive comments from small businesses about Federal agency enforcement actions. The Ombudsman will annually evaluate the enforcement activities and rate each agency's responsiveness to small business. If you wish to comment on the actions of BOEMRE, call 1-888-734-3247. You may comment to the Small Business Start Printed Page 72681Administration without fear of retaliation. Allegations of discrimination/retaliation filed with the Small Business Administration will be investigated for appropriate action.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

This rule is not a major rule under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act (5 U.S.C. 801 et seq.). This rule:

a. Will not have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more.

b. Will not cause a major increase in costs or prices for consumers, individual industries, Federal, State, or local government agencies, or geographic regions.

c. Will not have significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of U.S.-based enterprises to compete with foreign-based enterprises. The requirements will apply indiscriminately to entities operating on the OCS to lease and develop renewable energy under 30 CFR part 285.

Unfunded Mandate Reform Act of 1995

This rule will not impose an unfunded mandate on State, local, or tribal governments or the private sector of more than $100 million per year. The rule will not have a significant or unique effect on State, local, or tribal governments or the private sector. A statement containing the information required by the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (2 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.) is not required.

Takings Implication Assessment (E.O. 12630)

Under the criteria in E.O. 12630, this rule does not have significant takings implications. The rule is not a governmental action capable of interference with constitutionally protected property rights. A Takings Implication Assessment is not required.

Federalism (E.O. 13132)

Under the criteria in E.O. 13132, this rule does not have federalism implications. This rule will not substantially and directly affect the relationship between the Federal and State governments. To the extent that State and local governments have a role in OCS activities, this rule will not affect that role. A Federalism Assessment is not required.

Civil Justice Reform (E.O. 12988)

This rule complies with the requirements of E.O. 12988. Specifically, this rule:

(a) Meets the criteria of section 3(a) requiring that all regulations be reviewed to eliminate errors and ambiguity and be written to minimize litigation; and

(b) Meets the criteria of section 3(b)(2) requiring that all regulations be written in clear language and contain clear legal standards.

Consultation With Indian Tribes (E.O. 13175)

Under the criteria in E.O. 13175, we have evaluated this rule and determined that it has no substantial effects on federally recognized Indian tribes.

Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)

This rulemaking contains no new reporting or recordkeeping requirements; therefore, an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) submission under the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) is not required. The PRA provides that an agency may not conduct or sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Until OMB approves a collection of information and assigns a control number, you are not required to respond. The revisions in this rulemaking refer to, but do not change, information collection requirements in 30 CFR part 285. The OMB approved the referenced information collection requirements under OMB Control Number 1010-0176 (expiration 3/31/2013).

National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

This rule does not constitute a major Federal action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment. BOEMRE has analyzed this rule under the criteria of the National Environmental Policy Act and 516 Departmental Manual 15. This rule meets the criteria set forth in 516 Departmental Manual 2 (Appendix 1.10) for a Departmental “Categorical Exclusion” in that this proposed rule is “* * * of an administrative, financial, legal, technical, or procedural nature and whose environmental effects are too broad, speculative, or conjectural to lend themselves to meaningful analysis * * * This rule also meets the criteria set forth in 516 Departmental Manual 15.4(C)(1) for a BOEMRE “Categorical Exclusion” in that its impacts are limited to administration, economic or technological effects. Further, BOEMRE has analyzed this rule to determine if it meets any of the extraordinary circumstances that would require an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement as set forth in 516 Departmental Manual 2.3, and Appendix 2. BOEMRE concluded that this rule does not meet any of the criteria for extraordinary circumstances as set forth in 516 Departmental Manual 2 (Appendix 2).

Data Quality Act

In developing this rule, BOEMRE did not conduct or use a study, experiment, or survey requiring peer review under the Data Quality Act (Pub. L. 106-554, app. C section 515, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-153-154).

Effects on the Energy Supply (E.O. 13211)

This rule is not a significant energy action under the definition in E.O. 13211. A Statement of Energy Effects is not required.

Clarity of This Regulation

We are required by E.O. 12866, E.O. 12988, and by the Presidential Memorandum of June 1, 1998, to write all rules in plain language. This means that each rule we publish must:

(a) Be logically organized;

(b) Use the active voice to address readers directly;

(c) Use clear language rather than jargon;

(d) Be divided into short sections and sentences; and

(e) Use lists and tables wherever possible.

If you feel that we have not met these requirements, send us comments by one of the methods listed in the ADDRESSES section. To better help us revise the rule, your comments should be as specific as possible. For example, you should tell us the numbers of the sections or paragraphs that you find unclear, which sections or sentences are too long, the sections where you feel lists or tables would be useful, etc.

Public Availability of Comments

Before including your address, phone number, email address, or other personal identifying information in your comment, you should be aware that your entire comment—including your personal identifying information—may be made publicly available at any time. While you can ask us in your comment to withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to do so.

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List of Subjects in 30 CFR Part 285

• Continental shelf
• Environmental protection
• Public lands

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For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE) amends

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PART 285—RENEWABLE ENERGY ALTERNATE USES OF EXISTING FACILITIES ON THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF

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The authority citation for part 285 continues to read as follows:

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Authority: 43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq., 43 U.S.C. 1337.

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In § 285.231, revise the section heading and paragraph (d)(1) to read as follows:

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Amend § 285.232 by revising paragraph (c) to read as follows:

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